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    Balboa Fun Zone

    3.7 (140 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

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    caricature
    Nikki T.

    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!

    DeLayne B.

    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!

    Lynda B.

    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.

    Mher M.

    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.

    Ferris wheel
    Janae P.

    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.

    Fun zone
    Madeleine L.

    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.

    Jason V.

    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.

    13th Birthday Party Photos

    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.

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    1 month ago

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    11 months ago

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    11 months ago

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

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    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.

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    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 :)

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    2 years ago

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

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    Balboa Fun Zone Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Balboa Fun Zone

    I heard the arcade was shut down for a reconstruction in 2023 did that affect the Ferris wheel? Is it still open 2025 December?

    Is Skee Ball still available?

    Yes

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Balboa Fun Zone

    Rides include the "Happy Swing," "Ocean Motion" (an anchored trampoline ride), and the classic ferris wheel ride.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Once Upon An Island - Mermaid hair

    Once Upon An Island

    4.5(215 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    We had Elsa for my daughter's birthday on 05/09, and she was absolutely amazing! First, she arrived…read moreright on time. Second, she looked just like Elsa from the movie -- if not even more beautiful! Most importantly, she was so engaged and connected with my daughter the entire hour. I truly appreciated how professional and wonderful she was throughout the whole experience. When I asked my daughter what her favorite part of her birthday was, without any hesitation she said, "Meeting Elsa!" Thank you, Elsa, for coming all the way out to Irvine on 05/09. Everyone had such a blast with you, and you made the day so special for our daughter. Thank you so much!!

    This is one of the primary family activities I love doing with both my children…read more Since Ariel turned 3, she has never been more star struck by the princesses that make her over and have tea parties with her. Every event is so personalized and special, it has helped us through monumental milestones of family transition, deployment, etc. They have something nice for the parents as well so that they can also enjoy the experience like champagne, lattes, and a lovely seating area. My son Wilder also really enjoyed being a pirate and finding treasure and has joined Ariel for the Elsa and Anna event last year as Olaf, also enjoying the fondu and fun activities the kids were there to enjoy. These experiences are so wonderful because even an hour makes such a big difference to their lives and we don't have to schlep around giant parking lots or worry about extra expenses and lines like at Disney. They just feel special and get the greatest experience for a lot less expenses and hassle. The location by the beach with the nicest folks also makes it great. Sometimes we walk around after or take the ferry and have ice cream. The park across the street is inviting as well.

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    Once Upon An Island
    Once Upon An Island
    Once Upon An Island

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    K1 Speed Irvine - A F1 car hangs on the wall at K1 Speed Irvine

    K1 Speed Irvine

    3.2(745 reviews)
    7.0 mi

    Great place for teens who enjoy a little adrenaline and adventure go carting! We've brought our…read moreteens here for birthday gatherings and it's always a blast! Parking is spacious. The venue is roomy, clean and safe. There's a bar/ restaurant area you can order food and plenty of space with couches to watch racers. Staff is friendly and service is great! The teens opted for 3 races at $70/racer. They also had a package where you can get a K1 tshirt & 2 races at $70/racer. Great team building event space for employers & adults too! Definitely coming back!

    We took three 12 year old boys here and they had an absolute blast. We went on a Saturday afternoon…read moreand we didn't have to wait much at all. When you walk in, it's a little confusing at first since it's not super clear where to go and the place is pretty spacious. We initially went to the cashier, and they directed us to the computers on the side to sign the waivers first, then come back to pay. After we paid, they told us the wait would be about 30 minutes, but surprisingly they called our names within just 2 to 3 minutes while we were still walking around. That was a nice bonus. :) They provided headsocks for free, and we didn't have to pay extra or sign up for any annual membership. Each race is supposed to be 12 laps, but if someone finishes early, you might end up doing less. One of the boys completed 11 laps, but didn't affect the experience at all. As we were exiting, we saw a podium area so kids hopped on for a quick photo. I've been here before for birthday parties and even with coworkers, and every time has been consistently fun. The staff was friendly and everything ran smoothly. Not really sure why this place gets some negative reviews. I haven't experienced anything negative. Would definitely come back.

    Photos
    K1 Speed Irvine - 100% electric go karts speed by the Paddock Lounge inside K1 Speed Irvine

    100% electric go karts speed by the Paddock Lounge inside K1 Speed Irvine

    K1 Speed Irvine - There are two indoor go kart tracks at K1 Speed Irvine

    There are two indoor go kart tracks at K1 Speed Irvine

    K1 Speed Irvine - Our go karts are all-electric and capable of reaching speeds of up to 45 mph

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    Our go karts are all-electric and capable of reaching speeds of up to 45 mph

    Six Flags Magic Mountain - Amazing sunset and view

    Six Flags Magic Mountain

    2.9(4.4k reviews)
    69.4 mi

    What's up Flavor Budz!!…read more So, it's been a minute since I've been to Six Flags. I was feeling the burn, seriously, walked for hours! But anything for my niece, she wanted to be there for her birthday, so there we were. The family showed up and showed out for my baby girl. She and her closest girlfriends had a blast. The park wasn't crowded, so they got through lines pretty quick. The park is still in good shape, most rides are running, I just didn't realize how hilly it was! Eh! Good thing I had my cute walking shoes on, auntie was cute! Ok! My hubby upgraded our day pass, so Six Flags, I'll be back! P.S. If you're interested, upgrade your day pass inside the park for $50 a ticket. You get access to all four parks: Knott's Soak City, Six Flags, and Hurricane Harbor! - You're welcome

    For context, this is for my experience back in January 2024, my second or third visit to the park…read more For someone who loved thrill rides, it is indeed a coaster paradise (loved Tatsu, Full Throttle, X2 in particular). Couldn't get on Twisted Colossus due to size, barely got on Batman. But that isn't why I'm rating this low. No, I'm rating this low because of how the park responded to lost/found items. Fast forward to 2025 briefly; got a Disney pass, lost some Sunglasses on Splash mountain ride, got them back within the week, despite being lost on an obscure part of the ride. So what happened in January then? I was riding the dueling coasters based on cars. A fun concept, truly. Was really enjoying myself... until we stopped back into the station. I do blame myself for losing my phone after stupidly placing it in my back pocket of my pants; the phone slipped out during one of the loops in the second half of the ride, landing in an obscure part of the park below the tracks. However, I certainly do not blame myself for what happened after, but on the park: Once I got home 60 miles later, I uploaded the phone's location via Find My to the park's lost and found website, along with a link to a POV video where the loss approximately took place. A report was made shortly after. Fast forward to July of that year: I'm at my work's conference, and get a random text... from China. Evidently my phone was actually found at Six Flags, but was sold on some black market to be taken into China. Keep in mind: despite a report being made, no official response was made from Six Flags about the phone's fate. It's partially why I stopped visiting Six Flags altogether after my birthday in June... the Magic and thrill of visiting that Mountain died out, all because one bad customer service experience, and lack of due diligence. I certainly hope the lost/found experience had gotten better since the merger, but in case it hadn't? Let this be a warning, and god help you.

    Photos
    Six Flags Magic Mountain - Strawberry shortcake shake

    Strawberry shortcake shake

    Six Flags Magic Mountain - Loaded tots. I think they would have been $16.99 (had the dining pass and could get food or snack every 90 minutes $44.99 + tax for the pass

    Loaded tots. I think they would have been $16.99 (had the dining pass and could get food or snack every 90 minutes $44.99 + tax for the pass

    Six Flags Magic Mountain - Full Throttle

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    Full Throttle

    Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park - Eli Home staff

    Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

    4.1(397 reviews)
    17.5 mi

    Review challenge 58/365 Day Challenge…read more We frequently visit UA for casual Play dates or bday celebration either it's for a friend or a mini celebration for my 2 youngest kids, this past year. Especially hearing that there's a new attraction SKYRIDER that opened mid September 2025, my son came here w 2 of his closet bud to celebrate his bday. They were so excited to ride the Skyrider, it's a zip line across partial of the park. I highly definitely recommend this indoor playground. It's probably the best one in OC. We've gone to a lot the past years. This place has so much for your kids to do. Met the manager Terry and Sally. They are both amazing and friendly. Always there to answer your questions and needs. Our school Mabel Paine had a day of fundraising here also. UA loves to support and gives back to the community. Love a friendly oriented company. What's awesome is they now have a security here that I love since it's open. Security really nice. The indoor playground is pretty clean and well taken care of. Love the mascot Urbie. He's also cool with the kids. We are regulars here and definitely plan to return. They have great yearly membership at a great value. Must check it out!

    We celebrated my daughter's 3rd birthday at this location and it was truly the best! It was our…read morefirst time here and it did not disappoint. Total stress- free experience. They offer birthday packages that include EVERYTHING- private room/s, food, beverages, hosts, decor (I was able to bring my own decor/cake too which was a plus). The entertainment/attractions are perfect for kids of all ages. Our assigned hosts were Natalie and Andre - I completely recommend!! They were both WONDERFUL. As soon as I walked in everything was decorated/setup as I had requested. Natalie was on top of it all - she reviewed my food order one last time day of to ensure all was accurate (we communicated food allergies and she made sure the right pizza crusts/ orders were in place - Thank you this truly meant a lot) . She was so sweet and attentive she answered all my questions and executed the party flow perfectly. Andre did an amazing job getting my guests checked it and set with wristbands/socks. They both were patient and welcoming! They truly made this such an unforgettable fun, smooth and well organized experience for us! THANK YOU!

    Photos
    Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park - Friyay Funday #GirlsNightOut 10.10.24

    Friyay Funday #GirlsNightOut 10.10.24

    Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park - Salad & chicken tenders 11.03.24

    Salad & chicken tenders 11.03.24

    Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park - Ball pit, nuff said!!!

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    Ball pit, nuff said!!!

    Great Wolf Lodge

    Great Wolf Lodge

    3.4(3.4k reviews)
    12.2 mi

    I booked online and used Applepay to pay for the room, which turned out to be a big mistake that…read morecost me 40 minutes in line. Use a credit card to book your room, so you can use their quick check in line. Either way, make sure you take the exact card you use to book for checking in. Before you go, buy the discounted dining deal. You can only buy it in advance, and the food and drinks are pretty pricey, so you will spend $$$. I also suggest attaching your credit card to your wristband for convenience. We really enjoyed the pizza place onsite. We checked in on a Sunday and it was a bit crowded, but we managed to do it all in three hours. The kids loved the bunk bed, and my only complaint about our room is that the tub faucet leaked. The next day, we packed a bag with a change of clothes that we fit into a small locker for $12, and went back into the waterpark for a couple more hours. I recommend packing travel toiletries for a quick shower before leaving. They have plenty of showers, changing rooms, and a swimsuit dryer, but no toiletries in the waterpark bathrooms. Waterpark towels are provided and must be checked out and in or you'll be charged, so don't lose them. There's a water bottle refill station in the waterpark near the bathrooms. We didn't try many of the activities offered except for the arcade that offered packages starting at $35. Lastly, be sure to pay for parking before you leave. That was also $35. All in all, we got a deal on the room but spent more on food, drinks, games, and parking combined. My kids are 5 and 10, and they were able to go on just about everything that was open. One day was plenty of time if you don't plan on doing all of the activities.

    Our experience trying to plan my son's birthday event at Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove was…read morebeyond frustrating and honestly one of the worst customer service experiences I've had. The issue is not necessarily that every employee was rude -- the real problem is the completely broken system and lack of communication between departments. We booked THREE rooms for 18 guests for a birthday celebration and simply wanted to reserve and pay for a place where everyone could eat lunch together and celebrate with cake. Something that should have been straightforward became an exhausting process filled with confusion, conflicting information, and endless transfers between departments. The front desk had no idea about the policies of the events department. The front desk also had no clear understanding of pool policies. Every single question required someone to "leave a note" for another department and wait for an email response that never came. No callbacks. No follow-up. No accountability. The most frustrating part was trying to contact the front desk directly. First, you are forced through an AI system. Then you finally reach someone in the "reservation department," who is not even onsite. Despite politely asking multiple times to be transferred directly to the front desk, they refused and insisted they could help. They could not. Instead, they placed me on hold supposedly to ask the front desk themselves -- and after 11 minutes on hold, they never came back. At that point, yes, the reservation department representatives themselves became part of the problem: rude, dismissive, unprofessional, poorly trained, and completely incapable of resolving even simple questions. This company has far too many unnecessary departments that clearly do not communicate or work together. Planning an important family event here became stressful instead of enjoyable. I will never host another birthday event at Great Wolf Lodge again, and I would strongly caution families against wasting their time and money here for important celebrations.

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    Great Wolf Lodge
    Great Wolf Lodge
    Great Wolf Lodge

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    Balboa Fun Zone - amusementparks - Updated May 2026

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