The Whole World Is Our Playground - Playground Review Playtown Mississauga

It was a very chilly long weekend and the minions were going buggy.  Maybe it was the rush of Valentine's chocolate, or maybe it's that they hadn't been outside in days because it felt like minus 100. Either way it was time to work off some energy, so we decided to venture out to an indoor play centre to work off some much needed energy and sugar.

My park review disclaimer: If you don't live in the area I hope you enjoy the pics and can use some of the ideas to inspire and explore in your own city. If you have any recommendations for great playgrounds ideally some in Toronto proper (indoor or out or new criteria I haven't thought of) please post a comment on this post or email me at multiplemomstrosity@gmail.com

Playground Name:
Playtown

Location:

2170 Dunwin Drive #6 Mississauga, ON  L5L 5M8 (Erin Mills Pkwy & Dundas Street)

Jack at the fire station

Paging Dr. Molly to the Bunny cages

Parking:

There is free parking in the lot.  This location is a not near a Go Station.

Theme of Park:

Innovative, interactive and imagination based play town for young children.  .

Cost:

$11 per child ages 1-12.  Two adults may accompany any one child and kids under 12 months get in for free. There are annual passes available for purchase for $199.

French Fries, Order up, Large size!

Variety of Equipment for different ages:

There are a number of activities and play are geared towards kids aged 3-8 with some great staple play stations.  There is a small play area focused on infants, so they don't get trampled by older kids running from station to station in this recreation of a small town.

Outside the Beauty Boutique Salon

Best Part(s) of the Park:

This playground featured standard staple play areas that kids love including: a veterinary office, grocery store, restaurant, house, fire station, theatre with dress-up clothes and a stage, and mini roadway with ride-em toy cars.  Innovative play ideas that I haven't seen elsewhere (that the minions really got a kick out of) were the beauty salon complete with brushes, toy scissors, toy, hair dryers, bows, mirrors, and doll busts (like toy versions of the real ones used at beauty schools) to let the kids practice their "craft".  Jack got a big kick out of the scanner at the "grocer" that beeped whenever you ran any groceries over it.  The space has party rooms for birthdays, and a kitchen with a microwave where you can bring (and heat up) your own food.  The people running the centre do a very good job of ensuring that there isn't overcrowding, so kids get to play where they want, when they want,  I'd recommend calling ahead on weekends to reserve your space.
  

Downfalls:

This is more an interactive play centre than playground.  Yes, kids will get a chance to run around and use their imagination, but if your lil one needs monkey bars and climbing to work off their energy this isn't the place to visit.  There isn't a lot for infants or small toddlers to do, and while the vast facility is great for kids, it would be challenging for one guardian trying keep an eye on multiple kids, particularly if one was an infant.

Overall Rating:
I give this indoor playground a 3.5/5 score.  I base this on the satisfaction level of both kids in combination with the price paid.  For Molly who likes more imagination based play, this was a great find, however for a kid like Jack who needs a little more physical play I'd like something with a little more opportunity to climb, run and jump.  The staff was fantastically available, but didn't interfere with playing kids, which was refreshing! Kids who enjoy this playground would get a big kick out of Toronto's Children's Discovery Centre.

The slide beside the fire station

To read my review of Toronto's Children's Discovery Centre click here.

To read my indoor playground review for Balls of Fun in Mississauga click here.

To read my indoor playground review for Lil Monkeys Playground in Burlington click here.


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Welcome to the Jungle - An Indoor Playground Review - Kidsopolis

Even though we've had a warm winter so far, it's been damp.  We haven't been able to hit the hills for any tobogganing, skating or other outdoor winter activities.  We decided that it was time to check out an indoor playground and work off some energy.   I first heard about this place because of a promotion on Groupon, unfortunately they were all sold out of the deal for weekend play, but we decided we'd check it out anyway.

My park review disclaimer: If you don't live in the area I hope you enjoy the pics and can use some of the ideas to inspire and explore in your own city. If you have any recommendations for great playgrounds ideally some in Toronto proper (indoor or out or new criteria I haven't thought of) please post a comment on this post or email me:

Playground Name:
Kidsopolis

Location:

Unit 15-16 407 Speers Road ,Oakville

Parking:

There is free parking in the lot.  This location is a five minute drive from the Oakville Go Station, or 30 minute walk.

Theme of Park:

Innovative, interactive and safe play for children of all ages.  The design of the playgrounds feels like it's come out of the imagination of Dr. Seuss.

Cost:

$12 for the first child, $10 for any additional siblings.  Two adults may accompany any one child. There are also multi-passes available for purchase.  Anyone who wants to visit between 6PM-8PM Monday to Thursday can take advantage of $6 admission.

 The Minions swinging on the hanging vines that look like candy gumdrops

Variety of Equipment for different ages:

This playground's activities and play are geared towards kids aged 1-6, with the candy coloured Yu Kids Play Structures (all as pictured above) only available for use for kids under 48 inches tall.  The other section of the playground is available for kids of all ages and admission provides kids over 48 inches in height with two laser game tokens (Mission Impossible type game, avoid the lasers and enter the code into a keypad across the room.  I would've liked to have played myself).

Jack in the moving balloons fan room.

Best Part(s) of the Park:

This playground featured ideas I have seen no where else, ever.  The balloon room is a caged room at the top of a play structure with four fans blowing in from all angles, with the addition of a number of fairly durable balloons kids can chase, bump and actually feeling like they're catching bubbles.  Other unique items included a transparent jumping bubble where you can look down at kids below you and exit via an inflatable slide, and the hanging vines which slowly rotate. There was also a more traditional play structure/maze that has slides, tunnels, and interactive games.  The kids played happily for around two hours.  Basic snacks and drinks (think juice and granola bars) are available for sale at reasonable prices.  Molly said her favourite part was "absolutely everything" while Jack was crazy about the "bubble room".

Molly getting ready to take aim on target.

Downfalls:

I witnessed a "Dad Fight" (some dads getting into a very loud "discussion" over a pre-schooler bowling over a toddler in the playground) but it quickly quieted, and both parents left pretty shortly after.  Like any playground my issue generally stems from kids behaving badly and absent parents, although none of these things have anything to do with the playground itself.

Overall Rating:
I give this indoor playground five stars/a near perfect 5/5 score.  I base this on the satisfaction level of the kids in combination with the price paid.  This is a really neat place and I've never seen anything quite like it. Both kids have repeatedly asked if we can go back.  While I wish that Toronto had either some more indoor play options within the city or (even better) free indoor play structures for kids in colder weather, I know we need to usually head west to get to this type of facility and am thrilled this place exists just over a 30 minute drive away.

A part of the all ages play structure

To read my indoor playground review for Balls of Fun in Mississauga click here.

To read my indoor playground review for Lil Monkeys Playground in Burlington click here.


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Welcome to the Jungle - An Indoor Playground Review

I don't think anyone who lives anywhere in the vicinity of South Western Ontario is going to disagree when I say that this winter has been brutal so far.  If we are to believe the weather reports, we're in for another stretch of weather in the minus teens this week, so we decided to go out to another Indoor Playground this weekend to work off some energy.

My park review disclaimer: If you don't live in the area I hope you enjoy the pics and can use some of the ideas to inspire and explore in your own city. If you have any recommendations for great playgrounds ideally some in Toronto proper (indoor or out or new criteria I haven't thought of) please post a comment on this post or email me:

Unfortunately this location is now closed.  If anyone has any other recommendations for indoor playgrounds or kid-focused/friendly coffee shops please add them in the comments.  

Playground Name:
Amazon Indoor Creative Playground

Location:

1070 St. Clair West, Toronto, ON (you can take the St. Clair Street Car or the 29 Dufferin Bus North to Dufferin and St. Clair)

Parking:

There is street parking which is free in the morning on Sunday, but it could be tough to find a spot that isn't a bit of a distance from the playground.

Theme of Park:

Indoor jungle play with added elements of arts and crafts for mind and body development.

Cost:

$8 per child.

Variety of Equipment for different ages:

This playground's activities and play are geared towards children aged 0-9.  There is a ball pit, climbing tunnels, a bridge and slides.

Best Part(s) of the Park:

The balance between active and creative play is key for keeping both Molly and Jack happy and it worked!  The playground has a costume centre, a kitchen play area, a cafeteria style "snack" centre (bring your own snacks) and books for story breaks.  The centre of the climbing structure has a giant monkey head that kids can climb into and play in - which Jack fell in love with.  I'm fairly certain a giant monkey head may be the only liveable solution possible to successfully transition Jack into a toddler bed.  

Downfalls:

The washrooms were in the basement and there were only two.  This meant that by the time potty training Molly told me she had to go and waited 5 minutes for a washroom, it was too late.  For kids on the cusp of toilet training bring diapers, or a change of pants or both!  The playground hosts several private birthday parties so hours are limited. Weekends, they are open to the public from 9:30AM-11:30AM - so check the hours and plan your trip in advance.    

Overall Rating:

I rate this playground a 4/5 based on value of money and time - it was only a ten minute drive from our house and both kids were content to stay for an hour and a half.


To read my other indoor playground review click here

  I was nominated for VoiceBoks Top 50 Hilariously Funny Parent Bloggers - If you can please take the time to vote for my blog http://voiceboks.com/top-50-hilariously-funny-nominated-parent-bloggers-2014/- Just click and vote for me (Multiple Momstrosity)

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Blue Monday - The Indoor Playground Review

I don't think anyone who lives anywhere in the vicinity of South Western Ontario is going to protest when I say that this winter has been brutal so far.  Two major ice storms, cold weather advisories and a constant state of skating rink walking and driving conditions has made the past three weeks seem like Ground Hog Day in the worst possible way.  Today is also Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year.  We've been barely able to get the kids outside because it's been so nasty, so this weekend we decided it was time to try something new to keep the kids active and entertained.

Behold the winterized version of my playground review series, The Indoor Playground Review!  

My park review disclaimer: If you don't live in the area I hope you enjoy the pics and can use some of the ideas to inspire and explore in your own city. If you have any recommendations for great playgrounds ideally some in Toronto proper (indoor or out or new criteria I haven't thought of) please post a comment on this post or email me:

Playground Name:

Balls of Fun

Location:

3615 Laird Rd #15, Mississauga, ON (you need a car to get there, or to live close enough to walk)

Parking:

There is a decent amount of parking in the lot.  The other businesses in the complex don't seem very busy on the weekend, but this could change during the week. 

Theme of Park:

Balls...of.....Fun.  Ball themed indoor playground.

Cost:

$10 per child for kids 1-8 years old, kids under 1 are free when with a sibling.  (We used a coupon from the Toronto Entertainment Book that got us buy one get one free entrance).  Parents/Guardians/ Sitters (over 16) are free.  

Variety of Equipment for different ages:

This playground is open to kids aged six months to eight years old.  There is a toddler room for kids aged zero to three and the larger gym with ball pit, climbing tunnels and bigger slides geared towards older kids. The really large slides were for kids aged four and over.

Best Part(s) of the Park:

The toddler room and other equipment in the area for older kids have mini padded steps to help small ones climb.  There are bean bag chairs in the big gym (where the older kids play) for parents to supervise at a distance and unwind as well as tables with a food and drink area for nut-free snacking.  It's also a six minute drive away from Once Upon a Child Oakville if you need to stock up on any items for your little ones. 

Downfalls:

Some of the older kids aged six to eight were bored and rough housing, throwing balls in the ball pit and racing around smaller kids in the climbing structures.  I understand that parents are there for a break, but it's not hard to see that your eight year old is whipping balls at other kids and stop them, just saying.  Another downfall would be that it would be difficult for one parent to supervise kids between the toddler and big kid gym.  

Overall Rating:

I rate this playground a 3.5/5 based on value of money and time. Molly was ready to go home after close to an hour, while Jack had a major meltdown because he didn't want to leave yet.  Maybe a section with some books or some crayons and colouring books could have kept us longer. That being said, Jack wore off a lot of energy and was able to get out and be active, which was exactly what we were all looking for.

  I was nominated for VoiceBoks Top 50 Hilariously Funny Parent Bloggers - If you can please take the time to vote for my blog http://voiceboks.com/top-50-hilariously-funny-nominated-parent-bloggers-2014/- Just click and vote for me (Multiple Momstrosity)

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