We had my son's 4th birthday party at Imagination City this past weekend and I cannot tell you how phenomenal it was. I was able to drop off the decorations a few days early and arrive to the party with everything perfectly setup. When the pizza arrived, Janine managed all of it - setting it up, distributing to the kids, etc. The whole day was incredibly low stress and I was able to be present with my son and guests. I cannot recommend this enough for a birthday party. All the kids had a blast! read more

Really disappointing experience. I walked into Imagination City on a weekend and was immediately met with a very rude and unwelcoming attitude from the woman working there. She abruptly told me, "This is a private party," and that they're only open to the public Monday-Friday. I completely understand being closed for a private event, but the front door was wide open and there was absolutely no sign posted saying they were closed to the public or that a private party was taking place. There was no way for someone walking in to know. A simple, polite explanation would have been completely fine. Instead, the way I was spoken to made me feel like I had done something wrong just by walking through an open door. If you're going to close to the public for a private event, put up a sign or change your online hours and communicate it kindly. The unnecessary rudeness really left a bad impression. read more

This past weekend, I hosted my daughter's 3rd birthday party at Imagination City, and I honestly cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience. From the moment we walked through the doors, the owner, Janine, was there for us in every way possible. When I say she was a big help, I truly mean it. Janine helped us set up everything -- the tables, food, backdrops, kids' snacks, and even a special Build-A-Bear-style station I created for my daughter. She also helped us set up our soda pop station and made sure everything looked great and ran smoothly. My family arrived late (Polynesian time, as always ), and I was so incredibly grateful that Janine was there helping us every step of the way. I honestly don't know what I would have done without her support. She went above and beyond -- helping cut and serve the cake, assisting our guests as they arrived, checking in on us constantly, and making sure everything stayed clean, organized, and stress-free. Most importantly, the kids had so much fun. The space is perfect for toddlers, and the joy on their faces made the day extra special. Janine, thank you, thank you, thank you. You are so kind, thoughtful, and truly passionate about what you do. I appreciate you more than words can say. Blessings to you and your business -- I pray you continue to have abundant, fruitful success throughout 2026 and beyond. Thank you again for hosting my daughter's birthday party and making it such a beautiful, memorable experience. We will definitely be back! read more

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This place is AWESOME! We hosted my daughter's 4th birthday party at Imagination City. My daughter is really into construction vehicles, so we had a construction themed party. My daughter absolutely loved it and had a wonderful experience at Imagination City. All the kids who attended appeared to love it as well and the adults got to sit back and relax knowing the kids were preoccupied in the play area. The staff was incredible with assisting with sit-up. They also allowed us to drop-off items in advance to ease our burden on the day of the party. Everything was organized, clean, and in quality condition. The only negative is having to go offsite to use the bathroom. Other than that, we had no complaints and highly recommend having your kids birthday party at Imagination City! read more

Imagination City - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

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10 stars! Imagination City made my granddaughter's 3rd birthday unforgettable. The owner was wonderful, incredibly attentive, helped set up and clean up, and made sure everything was perfect from start to finish. The space was spotless, the kids were engaged and happy, and the parents were well taken care of too. Our family highly recommends Imagination City for birthday parties or just a fun day out with the kids. We will definitely be back! read more

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Fun place that was clean and lots of things to do for a 4 year old and 2 year old. Truly a place utilizing one's imagination as it has several units dedicated to a certain theme, such as a fire station, pizza parlor, and veterinarian clinic. Paid $20 for each kid for a 2 hour slot (accompanying adult free) which we used up the whole time and my 4 year old didn't want to leave even. No bathrooms inside which wasn't a problem for us. Looks like there is a diaper changing station inside however. Situated inside the mall so we ended up going to the food court after for lunch. read more

Been here a couple times on weekdays when my kiddo doesn't have school. I love the idea of this place and appreciate it as a decent indoor play option. I think it's best for smaller kids who are less active or older kids who can imagine and play with friends. My kiddo did the slides and jumping bars and then wanted to leave under an hour. It's a cute little city, but you definitely need to use your imagination. Some of the units don't have many props and toys to play with, which I think is a miss. read more

My kids loved their birthday party here. Janine was amazing and was a great communicator. She made sure I didn't have to do anything the day of the party. The kids had a blast and I highly recommend it here. Everything went smoothly and would come back for day play! read more

Imagination City - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

We hosted my daughter's 3rd birthday at Imagination City and had an amazing experience. Janine, the owner, was incredible and present throughout our entire 3 hour party. She truly took care of everything, from setup and food refills to coordinating the group photo, cake time, and a smooth wrap-up with goodie bags. We also used their preferred décor vendor, Air Lollipops, and the balloon setup was already beautifully done when we arrived. It looked fantastic and added so much to the party. The kids had an absolute blast. The space is perfect for a wide range of ages. I loved the layout because parents can relax in the party area while still easily watching their kids play. Easy location, good parking, and completely stress-free. We would absolutely come back and highly recommend hosting a party here! read more

Had a play date here with my two kids a few of my friend's kids. They all had a blast! We tried our best to keep all the toys in their correct areas but of course, kids will be kids. There was one worker that night and they got us in quickly. There is a lot for the kids to do here. One down part is not being able to have a bathroom easily accessible but Cheesecake Factory is not far. You can have a private party here. We always love seeing the beautiful balloon setups at the window. My girls love this place! read more

Imagination City - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

'im extremely disappointed with my experience at Imagination City, specifically with their customer service and lack of flexibility. I booked a same-day playtime slot for January 2 at 3:00 pm. Unfortunately, my children woke up from their nap with a fever, and as a responsible parent, I chose not to bring sick children into a shared play space. I reached out that same day to explain the situation and request a refund or at least a credit. I never received a response and had to follow up again two weeks later by calling. Only then was I told that no refund or credit would be issued due to their policy. While they repeatedly stated they "empathize" and agree that sick children should stay home, they still refused to offer any accommodation -- not even a credit -- and abruptly ended the conversation. I was also told comparisons like missing flights or Disneyland trips, which felt dismissive and irrelevant to a small, local children's play facility. I understand businesses have policies, but a children's business should also show compassion and common sense when illness is involved. This experience made it clear that customer service and flexibility are not a priority here. I would not recommend this place to other parents based on how this situation was handled. read more

Absolutely love Imagination City! I've taken my kids here on a rainy day or day off from school and they never want to leave this year I decided to host a joint birthday for my children and each little guest had a blast. There are a ton of different playhouse areas for pretend play, slides, cars, even an area to get some jumping energy out. My kids were 3&5 so I think at a perfect age. Everything was super easy and I felt like I could stress less about setup and cleanup. Highly recommend this wonderful place! Janine was amazing. read more

Imagination City - Our birthday setup - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

We had our son's birthday there this year and from start to finish, Janine and her team were super accommodating. They are quick to respond to questions and inquiries and provide good directions for week of and day of the party. They were also very helpful with making sure everything was set up before the event the way I wanted it, and helped to make sure the event ran smoothly. It was a huge bonus that they also help to clean up and tear down at the end of the party. It was a wonderful, low stress event for me! All the kids and parents also enjoyed the space. We had a pretty broad range of kids attend the event, from 6mo to 6 or 7 and they all found something to do and keep them entertained. I also felt comfortable having my son playing in the play area supervised by other parents because I knew the play area was behind a childproof locked gate and there was no way he could escape. I think the set up of the venue is great! I'll definitely be brining my son back again! read more

This place is super cool, my one year old loved it. My complaint is that I got a gift card to use here and it says "no reservations required" on the certificate. I showed up to the store and they were booked and said they highly recommend a reservation. I left and went online the next day and there's no way to even use their gift cards online. Seems scammy to buy a gift card here if you can't get in without a reservation typically. I left them a voicemail and have not heard back. read more

Cute little play place inside Hillsdale mall, probably best suited for under 5 set. Pros: Appeared very clean Check in was fast and they have QR codes while you wait in line so you don't have to do all the forms at the counter. Looks to have a cute, modern party area, spacious and open. A lot of make believe setups, make believe toys and costumes Cons: Pretty small and not the most to do imo... if you already own a lot of Melissa and Doug players for make believe, this place just has a lot of them. Not a lot of space for the scooting toys they have, as mentioned it's really for kids under 5. My daughter is 6 and I felt like she was way overgrown for the setup even though there were older kids there. There's not a lot of active play structures, it is more like a children's museum in format. Pricey for the value, maybe because my child was done 1 hour into a 2 hour session we paid for. read more

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I hosted my daughter's 4th birthday here and it was the best birthday party ever! I highly recommend this venue to anyone who is looking for a safe, fun, and memorable birthday party venue for their child. I actually hosted my older daughter's party at their old tanforan location and even she still says that was her favorite and most memorable birthday to date. The owner Janine was on site and she is a party pro! I opted to bring my own balloon display and as soon as we arrived, she quickly helped me put it together in a blink of an eye. She also timed everything perfectly from play and lunch to photo ops and before I knew it, had everything packed up and consolidated so that we could load up the car. Truly seamless and magical! The venue is spotless and beautifully maintained, which allowed for my daughter and all her friends to play together...they had the best time! Thank you so much Janine and imagination city! Your space is such a valuable addition to the community and we are so grateful you're here! read more

Imagination City - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Made the trek to San Mateo on a Wednesday to check this place out and it was so much fun! It's a smaller place than I expected but I kind of liked that aspect after a while of chasing my toddler around haha. Admission is $18 for walkers & $16 for crawlers. One free adult per admission & there's an additional cost for more adults. They request that kids wear socks with grips for good reason, it's pretty slippery for the kiddos without it. If you don't have any on hand they have it available for $3. My son had so much fun going to each little play place. They had a diner, auto shop, construction site, ice cream truck, theater area, boat, firehouse, vet hospital, grocery store, a couple slides, and a pizzeria. Each area has fun, interactive toys for the kids to play with. And not to mention, this place is super picturesque and IG worthy! My only "gripes" - the area to keep bags & shoes is outside the play area closer to the front entrance where anyone can come in and out easily, which makes me a little apprehensive lol. May be personal preference but would've liked it closer to the cash register/employees. - if you are potty training or have a potty trained kiddo: be aware that they do not have a restroom in the store itself. You'd have to go down the escalator, to the left, and down the stairs/elevator to get to the restrooms. It's a short walk but for a small toddler holding their bladders, I'm not sure how ideal it is. read more

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Thankfully I called earlier to ask about availability and heard about online booking for my toddler to play at Imagination City! The adorable storefronts paired with toys and lots of ride-on vehicles made this a delight for both kid and parent. Everything was clean and staff were friendly. Totally would come back, someone invite us to their toddler birthday party at Imagination City! read more

Imagination City - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

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As a new partner I was looking for things to do with my son. I happened to remember this place from going to the mall a while back. This place is fantastic! It's very clean and my son loves it! Make sure you see the times they are open because they close for a bit to clean, understandable. Definitely love this place! read more

Cute place to play for toddlers but not providing a bathroom or a space to use personal potties is pretty disappointing for a play place made for toddlers. A potty training toddler is definitely not making it to the mall bathroom every time. read more

Imagination City - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

Out little one loved playing here! He also met a friend here too! Great for parties or even just quality family playtime too! We are greatful to the owners because we new about them through IG. They started this by themselves while having kids of their own. I think they did amazing, in terms of having a safe playspace that's clean and tidy. We love that they have bins all over for toys that were put in kids mouths for sanitizing. And then also, at the end of the time frame you chose, they announce it person to person to make the experience even more personalized. Please continue to have these places here! read more

Amazing space to have a party! The play area is beautiful and kept clean. You can tell a lot of thought and effort was put into creating a space for kids that is inviting and fun for all ages. The party area is also great and the perfect backdrop for pictures. Janine and John have made it so simple for parents to plan the perfect party for their little ones from beginning to end. From their list of partner vendors to help with food and decor, to set up and clean up the day of- everything was so well planned. We can't say thank you enough for taking things off our plate so we can enjoy the party. Highly recommend! read more

We finally made time and traveled from SF to this place! lol. Wish we went when they were closer at Tanforan. The place was smaller than I thought it would be but it was the perfect play space for my 1.5 year old. My 5-year old had fun too but I don't think any older would have much fun. Like many said, make sure to check online and reserve a time slot and do the waiver. They book up quickly. Prices are all the same now in the bay area. So eh it is what it is. No restrooms, so you do have to go in the mall, but if you have a stroller, it isn't easy to get to. It does feel a bit crowded at times but the time slots help and make it easy. read more

Lots of fun stations for the kid. Clean space. Friendly parents. There's a lot of stations for make believe fun. Fire station with house, grocery store with checkout and groceries, pizza shop with pizza and toppings, veterinarian with animals and implements Well worth the cover cost read more

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It's great for kids from the ages of 2-5. The kids had a great time with all the innovative things. The cost is pretty good. It was fun and easy to play at. The toys were simple and mostly wood. The birthday party arrangements seemed very nice as well. read more

The price has increased, and they can't have a children's bathroom? I'm taking my son to the bathroom and they wouldn't let me take him to the changing room even though I brought my portable potty. They rudely told me I had to take my two-year-old baby to the outside restrooms that it wasn't allowed to take him to the bathroom there! When I took my baby to the mall restrooms he had already peed. It's not fair that they can't have a children's bathroom. Adults can wait and go to the other restrooms, but children? They should take that into consideration and be more aware! read more

My 2 year old loves coming here, and asks me to bring her here often. They've so many different areas for her to explore. You should make a reservation online before you head over because they could get booked up! They do limit how many kids are allowed each session. My only question is I wonder how often they wash costumes and sanitize the helmets. read more

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Came here for a kids play date and I was very impressed! Check in was a breeze as I bought my kids tickets and filled out their waivers online. All I had to do was tell the employee my children's name and buy some grippy socks which were $3. The play area is fenced in with a safety fence. Outside of the play area where you check in, are tables where you can eat and cubbies to put your shoes and bags in. The play area is very cute! It has a diner, auto shop, construction site, ice cream truck, theatre, fire station, vet, grocery store, pizza shop, boat and 2 slides! I wore brand new white socks there and I was nervous to see if they would be filthy by the end of our play date, however, they were still white by the end of the two hours! I think that shows how well they clean! There were a bunch of play toys such as cars, food, animals and tools to go with each building. Plenty of them to go around with all of the kids without any of them fighting over things. My friends and I agree that we would definitely have a party here for our kids. It would be perfect as they have the whole play area blocked off and an eating area. The only thing missing is a bathroom but there is one located nearby. read more

Really cute and creatively made for children. Brought my 18 month old here last week and he loved the "grocery store," after an hour he was tired and ready to leave. He had a really long nap that day :) You pay for a 2-hour window for $18/hr. Shoes off, socks on and play time switched on. The place had many kids with their Nannie's so after we left we quickly found the bathroom to wash our hands, and when we got home I gave him a shower. I have just a few observations that I hope they correct asap: - their cleaning supplies are out in the open in the back and under the cabinet in the front... easy for kids to reach if their Nanny's are busy talking to other nanny's, playing on their phones or video calling people (as they were all doing). read more

Imagination City - Play area - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great place to come to and allow your little ones to let their imagination free. There are many different stations for the kids to explore, such as pretending to be a vet, stocking items in a grocery store, pretending to eat at a diner, and many more! My 1.5-year-old had a blast while she was here. This place is definitely more for the gentle player who understands the concept of moving from station to station and putting items back when you're done. For the kids that are more physical in how they play - probably better to go somewhere else. Imagination City is only open during the weekdays which is a bummer. I would highly recommend booking tickets online ahead of time, especially on a high-traffic day. There were kids being turned away at the front, cue meltdowns. And make sure that both kids and adults have grippy socks otherwise you will have to purchase some before you go in. read more

We have been here once before about 1.5 years ago and recently booked my son's 2nd birthday party. Janine has been a pleasure to work with from the moment I reached out until the end of the party! She was patient and understanding with all my questions. She was responsive, easy to communicate with and made things clear. My mom and guests were very impressed with how clean the place is and how helpful she was, ensuring that my husband and I were enjoying ourselves while making it stress-free. My husband and I are normally stressed out people when it comes to parties, so I'm glad we opted for this venue and had the pleasure of working with Janine. We also worked their vendor, Airlollipops, who made things pretty easy. I was very hands off in the process and everything turned out great! Thank you, Janine!! read more

Imagination City - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

Such a wonderful place for a birthday party! They did everything and all we did was show up. We have also had drop in play sessions here and we have loved it. The creativity behind the set up is high quality. It's way better than those gross jumpy places, this place is well thought through and done right. We love it and so glad they came to Hillsdale!! read more

Imagination City - Cars movie theme birthday party for our 7 year old! - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Ok, look, if my parents found out that I was willing to pay to take my child to a play area when there's a free one located in the mall.. well, let's just say there would be words. But this wasn't for my child. This was for my godson and he's precious and he needs to have the best time and his parents paid for my entry fee so there's that.. although I would've gladly paid! Each section of Imagination City is decked out in a specific theme - veterinarian, fire department, grocery store... there's really no limit to what a child could be/could explore. It's not just a place to walk around and sit, oh no, this place lets your child explore and lets you, the parent, start picturing what career to suggest to your kid as they get older. My godson had a blast here, although it didn't captivate his attention enough for 2 hours, but his parents and I both got great pictures to look back on. It's a good option if you're at the mall and your child needs to burn off some energy. read more

Very clean- they have trashcans everywhere so you can place toys inside that need to be cleaned. It is a little pricey in all honesty since other indoor playgrounds that are bigger w more options are about the same price. Only 2 play times (2hrs each) during the weekdays. Weekends are for private parties. Kids enjoyed the different themes. There's also a seating area in the front where kids can have their snacks. read more

Imagination City - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

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ABSOLUTELY DISAPPOINTING Birthday Party Experience - Save Yourself the Headache! If you're considering hosting a birthday party here, DON'T. I'm giving this place 2 stars solely because the kids had fun, but the service was abysmal, and the mandatory 18% service fee on a $950 package felt like highway robbery!! The staff? Practically nonexistent. The two people "working" the event spent most of their time glued to their phones, offering zero help and not once proactively checking if we needed assistance. For the amount we paid, their attitude and effort were downright INSULTING!! What They Managed to Do (Bare Minimum): - Set up the tables with the items I dropped off ahead of time (kids' plates, tablecloths, goodie bags, snacks, etc.). - Herded kids from the play area to the tables and eventually out the door. - Cut the cake and plated it. - Helped pack up at the end and loaded items into our cars. What They DID NOT Do (Despite Charging an 18% Service Fee): - Juices and water bottles: I dropped them off ahead of time, but when I arrived, they were still sitting in their packaging. I had to unpack and arrange everything myself--my guests had to step in to help. - Arrival setup: I arrived with a wagon full of items: cake, 6 pizzas, napkins, etc. Again, I was left to set it all up myself while the staff barely looked up. My guests helped me again. - Cake prep: They didn't even bother to put candles on the cake. They handed me a broken lighter and left me to deal with it. Luckily, I brought my own. - Party flow: Be prepared to shout at your own guests and corral the kids yourself. They didn't help organize anything! Did not give a little prompt or a few words to help organize the kids to sing the happy birthday song, or take a group photo, tasks that many other venues (even less expensive ones) do as part of their package. - Food service: I handed out all the pizza and cake myself while the staff were glued to their phone. Many other venues help with this. My guests helped me again. Bottom Line: If you hate your job, at least don't make it so painfully obvious to paying customers. This was supposed to be a joyous occasion, and instead, it was a stressful mess. I've already warned my guests not to book events here, and I'll continue spreading the word. Do yourself a favor and take your celebration somewhere that values their customers. Response to Owner's comment: It's laughable that you'd claim your team went "above and beyond" when all they did was the bare minimum--and even that was riddled with poor execution. Comparing your service to other, less expensive venues makes it painfully clear how subpar your operation is. At other venues, the same services you failed to provide are standard practice, including loading items into the car. Calling this a disappointment is an understatement. Your defense of your staff by making excuses and outright LIES is exactly why this place is hopeless. The bar for service here is so low it's practically underground. Let me set the record straight: 1. Bottled Water Fiasco: When I arrived, the water bottles weren't even at the table--they were still on the shelf! I specifically asked the girl to bring them over. She dropped them off like they were radioactive and immediately went back to browsing on her phone. There was zero initiative to help beyond the bare instruction I gave. 2. Broken Lighter Incident: When the lighter didn't work, I called the same girl over. Did she offer a solution? Nope. She just stood there, forcing us to use our own lighter. When I asked, "Do you want me to put all the candles on the cake?" her response was simply, "Yes." Once again, no help, no effort, no care. Charging an 18% service fee for this level of "service" is robbery, plain and simple. You should be upfront with your guests about what they're really paying for so they can think twice before booking. Your defensiveness and misrepresentation of the facts only make things worse. Do better--your customers deserve it. read more

Main thing: get a space in advance. They haven't allowed walk ins the last 2 mondays I've come. I have 1 kid- The staff : one was very nice and was going to let us in as a couple families/kids walked out, the other has no kid- friendly attitude, and my kid says "why does she have a mean face" That says everything. read more

Great place to take your toddler to play on a weekday. PARKING - park near Cheesecake/Yayoi and all you have to do is go up the escalators (or elevator) and you'll see Imagination City. It's also somewhat near the Macy's parking if you need to take the elevator if you have a stroller. ADMISSION - they only allow open play during the weekdays and for certain slots. I chose the 10-12 slot since it worked with my toddler's nap schedule. We got there right at 10 and were the first ones in the door! We paid $18 for the two hours and just signed a waiver and paid using apple pay. I believe if you have a non-crawling infant sibling they get in for free. They let you leave to use the bathroom and come back but they don't really let you leave and come back if you're going home for a nap for example (although that would be tough in only 2 hours). ENTRANCE - they have lots of cubbies for you to store your bags or shoes and they have stroller parking along the outside. The outside area also has 3 tables and chairs (chairs are small for kids) where you can eat snacks or hang out before or during your session. BATHROOM - they currently don't have a bathroom inside for people to use, just a changing table/station for kids 2 years and under. The bathroom isn't that hard to get to, you just have to go down the escalators and a bit further down to the family restrooms. The family restrooms have an adult and a small/kid potty. The only complaint is that the kid potty didn't flush for some reason. It's nice but it is far and having no sink is also annoying since you can't wash your kids hands if they want to eat snacks, you'd have to leave Imagination City and go downstairs to the bathroom. PLAYSPACE - their playspace is actually fairly spacious, it's like one big square with the little buildings lining the outside and a pretend road. Scattered throughout are some benches for people to sit and rest while watching the kids. We came on a Monday and it was still pretty crowded. I would recommend getting there right at the start of the session but still expect that there will be lots of kids and their parents running around, it can be a bit chaotic at times. My toddler sometimes doesn't like to be around too many people so he got overwhelmed but you can always find a building without too many or no kids. They have lots of variety in terms of buildings (fire station, ice cream truck, diner, grocery store etc.) and each one has fun things to do inside. They have little trucks/cars for your kids to ride on as well. After a while a lot of the exhibits start to blend together since kids bring things from all over so it can be a bit messy but no issue. They also have a "Garbage Can" which is for dirty toys that kids place in their mouth which is nice. The 2 hour time slot flew by and even then we were the last ones to leave. I liked that we could stop and eat our lunch and then play again. Overall, would recommend if you need a place to entertain your toddler for a few hours during the weekday. It is a bit tiring for the parents though! read more

Words cannot express how grateful I am to Ms. Janine, her staff and family! They made planning my daughter's 3rd birthday party a breeze. I was in the middle of midterms and did not have to stress about decorating, tear down, serving cake, etc. I was able to sit back, live in the moment, watch my baby girl soak up all the love, and cry tears of joy. She has some amazing vendors that I worked with as well. Airlollipops did the decor and Nana's Bears provided custom bears for each attendee. I also love that we were allowed to bring in outside food and drinks with no issues. I highly recommend them for private parties and even open play time. read more

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Get there early as it gets packed later on with kids taking everything they can get their little hands on. Just pay for the children to play and you can go inside with them to play with them and help with their development. Just be mindful that it can get crazy inside where parents are littering the streets with their tired bodies. read more

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Fantastic place for toddlers and young kids! Highly recommended for special play time.