So I feel a bit torn about Build-A-Bear. I remember when Build-A-Bear was a new concept back in the…read more90s when I was a kid, and I have memories of it feeling really fun and kind of magical to walk through, pick out a bear, stuff it, dress it, and take it home. Of course, as a child, I wasn't paying for my bear and had no understanding of the process, so from a 90's 8 year old perspective, this place was great. Flash forward to 2024 and I took my daughter here on her fourth birthday as a special morning outing for us. I found Build-A-Bear much as I had left it in the late 90s. It was clean, but the format was the same, the footprint at Oak Park Mall the same, and it felt similar to what I remembered from childhood. I let my kiddo pick out a "bear" (hers was a Chase dog from Paw Patrol) and we started our journey. I guess the first thing that was sort of a let down for me, is how fast the whole experience was. I feel like for Build-A-Bear to be around for nearly 30 years, it would have seen some innovation to stay competitive with other entertainment options for children. I was dismayed that for a whopping $72 we were in there for maybe 30 minutes, and that is honestly being generous. With such a fun concept, and such an insane price point, I was hoping for something more immersive, and more magical. It felt like we were kind of just moving through a production line. Aside from the obnoxious price point here, my other major quip was with how they upsell children on items for their bear. Asking a four year old if she wants sound for her bear, or a scent, or whatever the extras are - that all cost more money - is insane and unethical. There should be a better system. Sure is an extra 12 dollars going to hurt me? Probably not, but it's gross to me to propose these things to kids that are going to say yes, because they don't understand the concept of money. Ultimately, for the price point I think they should invest in making this a more special experience for children and parents. Think you walk into an actual workshop, there are sounds, you can't see the mall, and as you go through all steps it's a new room with a new environment. Something has to change here to make this a worthwhile destination. I could honestly also see an option where parents and kids pick out what extras they want up front so there is no asking and it's all on your barcode as you move through. The bottom line is that your kid will enjoy it, they are getting a fun new toy! But is the experience of building the bear fun or worth the extra price? Not really. There is a ton of room for improvement here.

Sheltered us as a tornado passed nearby after we got locked out of Coach. Amazing team, so grateful.read more

This is a cute little spot. I brought my son here when he was one to play with his cousin. They…read morehave a nice selection of drinks and snacks. I feel like 1-3 is a good age range for the equipment they have, but it's also been a few years since I've been so I'm not sure if anything has been upgraded or changed. The ladies at the counter were very pleasant as well.

My son and I absolutely love this place :) I love the drinks and he loves the toys hehehe everyone…read morewins!!! Staff is super friendly and welcoming. It's nice to walk in and see the same faces, too.

I've been to Creative Culture twice now, and loved it both times!…read more The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and answer questions clearly so there's no confusion about what to do or where to go. They also keep the space clean and organized, which is no easy feat given the nature of the business! The selection of crafts, while a bit pricey, is excellent. I've found that if it's in budget (you can find info on pricing on their website), you can find something fun for just about anyone. And regarding the price points, to me it does make sense given the cost of materials and labor involved. Whenever I go, I always leave room in my budget to add the suggested tip for the employees since they do such a great job and deserve to be paid well for it. Their specialty shakes are also AMAZING! Seriously, the price point they're at makes sense considering all of the extra goodies that are piled on top of the shake itself, and they're delicious! Just be sure to grab a napkin or two if you order one since it can get a bit messy. My one complaint, if I can even call it that, is that when it's especially busy it can be a bit cramped trying to walk around between the tables. That said, it's not bad enough for me to dock them a star since they use and manage their space well, and when I've been there people were generally conscientious of their surroundings which in turn reduced potential problems. All in all, Creative Culture is a bit pricey but very fun and well run! I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a unique place to go for a celebration, special occasion, or even just because. I can't wait to go again someday!

Came here with my girlfriend for a date, and it was a ton of fun! The employees were so nice and…read morehelpful to explain how everything worked, and were very attentive. When you first come in, you can look around and decide which craft you want to do, and then check out at the desk to pay and order your shakes. Then you seat yourself and can get started on your craft. we were there for like 3 hours, and no one tried to rush us. There was a 2-3 week wait for our clay painting pieces to get finished to pick up, but that's reasonable. Highly recommend this as a cute date or activity spot! It does get a little busy, and you may be sitting right next to people you don't know. But it didn't feel too cramped or crowded still, and it's perfect for chatting if you're up for it! And to add since this is something I often look up as well. LGBT friendly, we felt safe and comfortable.

I booked a party for my 12 year old. The owners were amazing! I did not lift a finger!!! They set…read moreup, ran the party, and took down everything themselves. They were so great with the kids teaching them how to use the taggers and play the games. 10/10 highly recommend!

Came here for music time this morning. Ms. Candy did a fabulous job. $10 for class, included open…read moreplay. Cute boutique shop with lots of sweet treats!

A friend brought me here for my birthday. The reserve is nice place to visit if you are interested…read morein rescued lions and tigers. They are family oriented and have a well stocked gift shop. Our tour guide was very informative, but may have tried to relay too much information as several in our group tended to wander as if losing interest. The group was 50/50 adults and children. The group in front of us moved out of sight while the group behind, caught up and had to wait, due in particular to our guide imparting a lot of information. I was touched by the fact that these animals came from private homes where they were neglected for the most part and in some cases, abused. I think Cedar Cove has done an excellent job caring for these wonderful creatures. It's a drive out but worth the trip to learn and support their efforts.

I ordered tickets online, and the tour started on time. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about…read morethe animals but spent a lot of time bashing the individuals from where the animals came from and took too long to where we didn't end up finishing our tour before the feeding time which we were almost late to that as well. I would have loved to actually learn more about the animals with a little of the back story, not the bashing of then previous owners. That took away from the animals themselves.

LOVE IT! love all the staff, very many options to paint and many many colors! went to get my…read moredaughters hands done on a plate and it turned out AMAZING!

Arrived at 6:50 and had to order a smoothie due to them not wanting to make a coffee. Proceeded to…read morelook around at the ceramic pieces and was not made aware that we could not paint anymore after 6:30. One girl told us and we asked if we could still paint and be out before 8 and she walked away and never gave us a response so we left. The girls working were very rude and not helpful. It would have been nice to know that we could not paint before paying $8 for a smoothie.

I love this zoo and so did the great grandkids! We especially enjoyed the aquarium, Africa and…read moreAustralia enclosures. Actually, there wasn't anything we didn't love! We were there on Saturday, July 4, so you would expect it to be hot, humid and packed. But, because there were light showers off and on and mostly cloudy, it was none of those things. The only downside to that is that none of the rides were open, although the tram to Australia was open. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience, definitely recommend and will be back on one of our future visits to the KC area!

I have been to the zoo several times now. I wound up signing up for a membership after my first…read morevisit. I wish they would offer the Missouri resident discount to those of us that live right over the state border but visit often. Maybe call it the Kansas friend's discount. Lol If you are a MO resident you should definitely take advantage of the discount membership. I am unable to pick my favorite part of the zoo. I love animals so much. I used to be anti zoo but over the years, I've decided that as brutal as we are to the world around us, some of these animals probably couldn't survive and if they are given great habitats and love, then I can support this. I also think it's good for humans to learn about and experience being around these majestic beings. I do wish some of them had larger areas to roam. I think the zoo is trying to accomplish that and I look forward to seeing the new giraffe space! I wish the polar bear had a companion. They seem lonely, I don't know the full story so I don't want to judge the situation. The penguins are high on my list of loving to watch. Riding the train to the African section is fun. We went to the holiday lights show (which costs extra but members get a discount) and I really enjoyed it. They have a gift shop and some food options in several locations around the zoo! The food can be a bit pricey but if you have a membership, you get a small discount on all food and in the gift shops! I have plans to go back soon now that it's spring and the giraffes will be back!!! Support your local zoos and aquariums!