Really cute and fun place for little ones. Loved walking around. The shops are so cute. Kids also loved the candy store. Parking is hectic, like everywhere else by the beach. read more

Balboa Fun Zone - Amusement Parks Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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This is a great place to spend an afternoon. There's a couple of fun little rides--the Ferris wheel was our favorite--an arcade, some other activities and some fun places to eat or grab a quick snack to get back to the fun. Plenty of places to sit and find some shade as well. There's staff was friendly as well. We enjoyed spending some time in the arcade and exchanging our tickets for fun little prizes. Definitely a fun experience! read more

Balboa Fun Zone - Amusement Parks Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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A forgotten memory unlocked! This is a great place to spend an afternoon at, from the eateries to the arcade, watching the Duffy boats play chicken with the ferry, etc. Balboa is a hidden gem for sure. It doesn't stay alive as late as I remember, but there's still plenty of fun to be had even @ 10p on a Saturday. :) read more

Balboa Fun Zone - Amusement Parks Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Are you looking for a fun spot to spend with your family in Newport Beach? Check this place out! Fun zone filled with a Ferris Wheel, arcade, good eateries, stores for souvenirs, rent a boat, cruises, and even a saloon for adults to enjoy drinks while kids explore around. Brought some family members from Washington to this destination as they don't see the beach often. Was the perfect way to show them around options to go shopping and delicious eats. Then walked over to the pier soaking in Cali sun. I usually bring the kids here often when we visit Newport Beach. They loved the arcade even though I think it's small, but as long my kids enjoys it. Great area to spend a few hours with loved ones. read more

Balboa Fun Zone was one of the most playful places I have visited. I went there with someone and was instantly drawn to the amusement park vibe. There were arcade games rides and colorful setups that made it feel like a mini carnival. I saw a lot of teenagers there laughing playing games and taking pictures. The atmosphere was cheerful and nostalgic with bright colors and fun sounds. Teens would love the playful and energetic vibe. The service at the game booths and snack stands was friendly and quick. The value was great because the games and snacks were affordable and fun. The quality of the rides and arcade machines was solid and wellmaintained. The selection was perfect for teens with games food and photospots everywhere. I highly recommend it to teenagers who love games rides and colorful photo opportunities. read more

if you're ever walking around the balboa funzone, there's a man who draws caricatures for such an affordable price!! we paid $30 for a full body, activity, colored in drawing!! in recent years it's been ~$50+ to get these caricatures at amusement parks/fairs so i found this an amazing score!! we had our activity done as pickleball & he had creative freedom with that, but you can ask for almost anything!!!! it was done in less than 15 minutes and turned out amazing! read more

Balboa Fun Zone - caricature - Amusement Parks Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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It was a beautiful day, and we had friends and family visiting from Australia with their kids so we decided a perfect outing to the Balboa Fun Zone was in order! I think any child who has not been here or adult lol, is missing out. I was glad to find that this place is still as fun and active as ever. From the unique shops to the fun filled arcade and great food, and then the rides, it's fun for everyone! After enjoying the mermaid shop, and the bicycle shop and the candy shop, we spent some time in the super fun arcade, skee ball is my favorite! Then some people opted for the Ferris wheel before we took off on our Duffy ride journey of the Newport Harbor. What a fantastic day, and I highly recommend it especially if you have kids along or maybe not because there's a lot of adult fun to be had to! read more

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Take a stroll back into nostalgia while visiting Balboa Fun Zone with a carnival rides, plenty of games in the arcade and be sure to pop in to one of the many shops or restaurants along the boardwalk. Balboa Fun Zone allowed our lil FamBam just that FUN during our visit!! We rode the Happy Swing, watched our granddaughter jump, jump on the stationary bungee jumper plus we rode the world's longest Ferris wheel with spectacular views. This is a MUST if you are in the area as your family, kids and even if you are a kid at heart will have FUN enjoying the rides and enjoying the arcade andd you can take a stroll along the boardwalk. read more

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Fun Zone is just that - super fun for kids and adults alike. It is a bit nostalgic for me. Only disappointed they got rid of the old school/vintage arcade. New one is okay (see separate review for that). Rides include the "Happy Swing," "Ocean Motion" (an anchored trampoline ride), and the classic ferris wheel ride. They do give you a really lengthy ride. True it could possibly be the world's longest. Employees are hit and miss. Some are super outgoing and friendly, some are friendly but more reserved, other seem devoid of personality and enthusiasm. I wish they were consistently marvelous. There are a few cute little boutiques and souvenir shops. There are some snack bars, little restaurants, and there is one higher end seafood restaurant. We have been here many, many times over the years ... Usually multiple times each trip to New Port. You can always catch an easy ferry ride to Balboa Island for a frozen banana, more boutique shopping, and additional dining options. read more

Came here to enjoy a short visit with old friends and do something fun with their kid. There's something for the whole family to enjoy. We all had fun riding the Ferris Wheel and Happy Swing. I realized after the Ferris Wheel ride that we (their 7 yo kid and I) didn't buckle up --- oops! Skinny/little kids can easily slide out of those seats, so make sure you pay attention and not just rely on the attendants. We took a stroll at the Pier while the kid and dad were at the arcade. Then hang out a little bit by the beach/bay area before heading out. read more

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We came for our annual visit this Christmas Eve and it was so great! The guy who was the attendant was super nice and helpful! I wish I had gotten his name - best service in years! They've updated a lot of the machines, and everything was working with no out of orders. read more

This is a nice place to bring the kids. They have a few rides out there and it's surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. You can grab some sweet treats too. read more

Balboa Fun Zone - Ferris wheel - Amusement Parks Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Small little fun area for families. Parking is not free and can be tight and limited during peak seasons. I recommend parking across at the Balboa Pier side and walking over. There's a few little attractions, shops, and restaurants here. You can also access the ferry from here to Balboa Island as well. read more

Worth a visit but don't expect much. Fair type food and the souvenir shops all have the same stuff. Some rides, but beware that it is not cheap. read more

Balboa Fun Zone - Fun zone - Amusement Parks Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Kinda fun, kinda nostalgic, kinda seedy, kinda smelly, kinda dirty. LOL We played in the arcade and spent $20 playing a few games and having fun. It was quite crowded but still a lot of fun. From there we rode the ferris wheel and got a beautiful view of the bay and surrounding area. Had to hit up a couple of food establishments - my guy had a slice of pizza and I had a corndog and then we split a churro. Everything was great! Finished off our time by having the caricature artist do a drawing of my husband and I. Overall, a good time was had by all. read more

This is an alright place to hang out for an hour. Seems like the focus is less on "Fun Zone" and more on tourist type shops with overpriced food and merchandise. The local carnival style rides are pricy for the what they are but still fun for the little kids, however the arcade is run down and disappointing. The nostalgia and the Ferris Wheel seems to be what is keeping this location as popular as it is. If you are looking for a unique beach/ocean side walk, you might be better served going to the HB pier Main Street for better food/shops and more lively entertainment. read more

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Fun little place to go after getting lunch! The two gentleman Elliot and Nick were super kind and helpful. Would definitely go again next time I'm down there! read more

Had such a great time! This place is very clean and workers are great! Eliot and Beckham are great employees overall!

Came here today to enjoy some family time. Found 2 hour parking in the lot for $2.10. Kid went on the ocean motion in air trampoline for $10 , she did it twice. It was fun and lasts for 2 minutes each time. There's a line on Saturday. Also ate bbq at restaurant in fun zone and there's outdoor seating. A small pumpkin photo area and petting zoo during this Halloween season. Walked over to Summerland for ice cream too, so easy. read more

This place really has seen better days. The arcade stinks -- half the games don't work and those that do are extremely overpriced ($1.50 for one round of skee-ball??) When you exit the arcade you'll see a mix of tourists who've mistakenly made this an outing for their family and seedy (I think??) doing god knows what. From there, the motif of overpriced items continues as you find you $6 soft serve and $7 chocolate bananas. I don't know who owns this area but it's in dire need of improvement. George Bluth would not approve. There's always money in the banana stand -- it's time to use it! read more

Albert, the owner of The Fun Zone did an amazing job for my daughter Anna's 13th Birthday. All 13 girls had so much fun- beautiful setting and so happy he refurbished this iconic landmark. I highly recommend having your kids birthday here. Great pizza, ice cream, and good fun. Just got new cool looking Fun Zone T-Shirts too. read more

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We had a great time here at fun zone, we won prizes played games and the attendants Beckham and Elliot were helpful in helping us pick out prizes. Definitely will be coming back because of them!!!! read more

This is a great place to bring your family for a few hours to enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of a bygone era. Most carnival type amusement parks around the country are gone and most traveling carnival businesses have dwindled. Well if you want a taste of that, then stop in here. There are a few carnival rides, a boat ferry, an arcade and plenty of carnival fast food to go along with the atmosphere. You can by corn dogs, funnel cakes, hot dogs, pizza, popcorn, etc... Actually the atmosphere is quite exciting with all of the lights and all, it kind of makes you feel like a kid back at the traveling carnival that has once again revisited your neighborhood. Tip: Avoid this area when the kids are let go at nearby beach from surf camp or life guard camp because they flood this place for some quick fun before they head home. read more

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I met up with my mom and daughter and my mom had commented how the owner wouldn't stop looking at her. While I was with her I noticed he made a couple of glances her way. There came moment when my mom was trying to reload the card and I was assisting her. He comes up and I tell him "I'm helping my mom" and a condescending tone tells me he's the owner. I don't give a flying fuck that he's the owner- if I'm helping my mom then your assistance is not needed. Until I reach out and ask for help- PLEASE MIND YOUR BUSINESS. I know how to ask for help and I'm a grown adult. Let US be. Then when we leave because of his attitude I find out he tried helping my friend with my daughter while she's getting a gumball from the gumball machine and my friend told him that she had it under control. I'm in the area to be relaxed not supervised like a child. read more

Recently visited here with my kids and we had fun! The fun zone is very big, but it is a nice area to add in some fun and quick activities with your kids. We rode on the ferris wheel - which goes really fast haha. At least to me it seemed faster than other ones I've gone it. You get a great view of the harbor up top! We also enjoyed playing at the arcade. My kids got more tickets than I expected and they had a lot of fun playing and picking out some treats and toys with their tickets. There are some other shops and restaurants in the area, but we did not go to any of those. There are a couple other rides, but they were not running while we were there. The ferry boat takes you right to the Fun Zone if you are coming from the island - which we were. Very cheap ferry boat ride and a fun way to transport. read more

Im posting this as a WARNING for other women & children. I recently visited the fun zone arcade & ice cream shop with my family and encountered a creeper that followed me into the restroom. He had long hair tied in a pony tail and was dressed in a button up facility/ maintenance worker uniform with a hat on. He works there because at one point I did see him going into an employee / maintenance workers door. He followed me into the restroom and I watched him creep in quietly while I was in my stall. I stood up and screamed at him and he left. It was a very quiet and slow day and there's no security or police around. There were only a couple teenagers working the arcade and icecream shop. I wish I would've taken a picture of him so I can post him on here for you to see! I am truly sickened that this happened and I hope he doesn't do this to someone else. Always be aware of your surroundings and don't go in that restroom alone! read more

So Small! I wouldn't call this a "Fun Zone", maybe more of a "Fun Small Space"... But we know that does not sound very attractive to entice the littles. It is an arcade but as stated a very small arcade that is pretty run down as well. I mean they don't even have any pinball machines for crying out loud, what kind of barbarians do they take us for? You can spend maybe like a half hour in this place before your kids get pretty bored & you don't waste too much money. read more

Balboa Fun Zone - Amusement Parks Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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The guy working tonight has been rude to 6 kids in my group. "Here's your candy, your done" I hope it's just a bad night for this guy.

This review is for the arcade specifically. It's not the biggest place, nor does is have the greatest selection of games, but my kids love it! It's rare to find an open air arcade and now even harder to find somewhere where masks are optional (OC gets it). Most games are a dollar and what kids love more than anything is earning tickets to redeem for prizes. Skee ball, basketball, retro games, etc are what you will find here. Easy to go through quarters quick here! It reminds me a bit of Las Vegas because of the older games and these places are more appealing now since most video games are played on computers or home systems. It's a great find for us and our kids keep asking to go back! read more

Great place to visit + the Ferris wheel is a lot of fun. It's only 5$ and the line isn't crazy long. + they have a harbor Cruise nearby in which you can get two separate cruises. One for the sea lions and one for the house and yache tours + they have the Happy swing ride as well which is 5$ and a small but quick ride if you want a swing + small arcade but still a lot to do from skee ball, Pac-Man, crusin world, Jurassic park. It's not a Dave and busters by any means but you can still find a few good games Theres a lot to do here from visiting the beach nearby, walk on the pier, eat some food. I only wish they had more rides I heard they used to have a merry go round and bumper cars but they took that off a while ago read more

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Such a fun spot! Great place to take your kids, friends, or even dates. Lots of great food, activities, and shops. Our kids really enjoyed the arcade and the Ferris wheel! The wheel costs $5 per person, children under 16 need to ride with an adult, and children under 2 are not permitted to ride. Besides that, there was a bungee trampoline, a swing ride, and plenty of activities to do on the water like jet ski and boating. read more

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On the boardwalk, they hve a few rides, ferris wheel, n a few restaurants to choose from. It's pretty small. read more

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With Covid19 nothing is the same but many still do come out with a mask to walk. It is still perfect for couples to have a romantic mini get away. My boyfriend and I enjoy our walks. Sometimes you can get away with fishing but just be careful because I just learned that if it's low tide it gets pretty stinky. Most bars are shut down. The other little shops for trinkets are still open. We found the ice cream and donuts shops open. Lucky to have some of the venders trying to survive. The pizza parlor is barely surviving. We were happy to see some life left. The artist that draws facial expressions looked depressed as he had no one around. Parking can be tight but if you are okay walking a bit. You will find the community enchanting. Not sure if they will have a Christmas boat parade but with my luck they will. You can also bring your own treats and just hang out. Love it! read more

Sure, it's small but it's a small area! There is plenty to do in the fun zone and if you let your inner child out, you will have fun. If a short walk from the beach too! We rode the Ferris wheel ($4 per person), played in the arcade (each game is $.25-$1), and got some treats from the nearby shops. I highly recommend the Ferris wheel because you can see the view of the peninsula and the beach from the top! It didn't get too crowded - it was a great way to spend an afternoon. read more

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How fun! Lots of activities and shops. The view is so pretty and the restaurants are delicious. It was a great time for the entire family and there is something to do for everyone read more

Balboa Fun Zone - Bigfoot - Amusement Parks Near Me - Newport Beach, California

The Ferris wheel attendant was a delight and made the experience fun. Even counting down the ending to the ride with 1 more minute etc. It was the highlight of our Fun Zone day and the only ride we went on. $5 a rider cash or card.Went in the arcade just to see what was inside, but wanted to enjoy more of what the boardwalk had to offer. There are two more interactive rides, harbor cruises, and plenty of eateries and novelty shops. read more

Balboa Fun Zone - View from the top - Amusement Parks Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Although it's a small little 'fun zone', I still really liked this small Fun Area on the unique PENINSULA in Newport Beach, California! I went there at least 10 times in my 10 years of living in Orange County/LA county, California! If you don't drive a car, you can still take a bus there! Route 71 no longer goes there anymore, however Route 47 via Fairview St still goes there! Only cost 5$ for a day pass! Regarding the surrounding area, bumper car, arcade and lots of new restaurants are there! Moreover, you can actually take the FERRY to the one and only BALBOA ISLAND northside of the peninsula! The Ferris Wheel is quite small because the fun zone is small. However, it's beautiful at night when the Ferris Wheel lights up! On Main st, you can walk southwards towards the sea! There you can enjoy your wonderful relaxing day, evening...whether it's sunrise, sunset, day or night, it's a great place for a promenade or to relax with friends and family! read more

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Sure, this place is a bit cheesy, but it's fun and we had some time to kill. And my husband had to try their ski ball (they have 2 areas with 2 different types of machines, one is more covered with a net, the other has less of a net). So if you want to try the ski ball machine, it's fun and cheap. This area has other games and rides, souvenir shops, over priced touristy restaurants and the Catalina Express landing where you can get your tickets for the Island (leaves once a day from Newport). And other places that offer various boat trips. Great for kids! Fun area to browse and goof around. read more

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The place was fun and all, but it was so expensive. Like the arcade for 150 credits was 50 DOLLARS. But the Ferris wheel was fun :)

Best arcade ever! Family had a blast and the owner is wonderful and so kind! Dog friendly! XXOOXX