1 Star - Dangerous and disappointing experience on the Big Wheel…read more I rode the Boardwalk Big Wheel at Arizona Boardwalk today with my two young boys, ages 2 and 4. The experience was honestly terrible and, more importantly, felt unsafe. It was 105°F outside, and we were placed in the orange #15 gondola. The gondolas are primarily enclosed by glass and have no effective air conditioning. The AC in ours was clearly broken and was blowing hot air instead of cooling the cabin. Within minutes, all three of us were drenched in sweat and the heat inside was becoming extremely uncomfortable. The biggest issue was that the attendant locked us inside the gondola despite the extreme heat. We waved at her to let us out, but she didn't. We went around the entire wheel and, when we came back around, we waved again. She saw us, but still didn't open the door. I ultimately had to yell and knock on the glass to get her attention before she finally let us out after the second trip around. When we got off, I explained what had happened to the attendant. Her response was essentially an unenthusiastic, unapologetic "sorry." There was no concern about whether my children or I were okay, no offer to move us to a functioning gondola, and no refund or other attempt to make the situation right. I paid $22.71 for the ride, but the money isn't really the issue. What concerns me is putting young children into an enclosed, extremely hot gondola with a malfunctioning cooling system and then failing to respond when the passengers are clearly asking to get out. I would strongly recommend that Arizona Boardwalk inspect and properly maintain these gondolas and, more importantly, make sure attendants respond immediately when passengers are signaling that they need to exit. I would not recommend riding the Boardwalk Big Wheel, particularly with young children in extreme heat.

Such a fun place to visit! There are so many restaurants and activities all in one area, plus…read moreparking is easy. Not too fun during the summer though because it's open parking! It's also a great spot to entertain and tire out the kids! Lol There's even a Ferris wheel, but it was way too hot for us to ride. We also found a photo booth near the restrooms ($8), which was a fun little bonus. It's conveniently located near OdySea, Topgolf, and Talking Stick, and it's super easy to get to from the freeway. If you're visiting during the summer, I'd recommend saving the outdoor walking for the cooler months and spending the hotter afternoons indoors at OdySea.

Castles-N-Coasters has always been a total vibe in Phoenix. My only concern with this place is that…read morethe employees do not seem to care if people are buckled in or not. So I'm always very careful when I come with my kids, especially on the bigger posters. None of the rides are super dangerous, but I would hate for somebody to fall out! So thankful that it's still there and has survived all of the businesses closing around it. Will definitely be back.

The employees who work here are incredibly disrespectful and uninformed…read more I was coming from out of town and wanted to ride the coasters and called on the phone to verify both were operating today, and that they had low wait times. I had very limited free time on this trip and wanted to budget it well with my family. I was informed on the phone that, yes, both coasters were operating and that they had low wait times (2-4 minutes). When I arrived, around 30 minutes later, I was informed that the coasters would not be open for another four hours and that the park does not open till 5 PM. I had been lied to on the phone, and when I met the person I spoke to on the phone, she had a very dismissive attitude and lied to me saying that she had informed me that they wouldn't open till later. I believe she was only doing this to save herself as her boss was there. What's worse is that the website did not post the operating hours of opening at 5 PM, and neither did the Apple Maps/Google Maps operating hours of the business. It said that it opened at 10 AM everywhere, including on the phone. I wish I could've experienced the park because the coasters actually looks very enjoyable, but with the horrible customer service that I received, I have no intention of returning.

We stopped by the zoo a few months ago and wanted to give a review of all the amazing animals and…read morethe fantastic staff! We have been here a few time over the years. We love the conservation efforts Wildlife World zoo does and does consistently. They are always trying to improve living quarters for the animals. They always have many toys for the birds, which is so great to see, since exotic birds need lots of metal stimulation. We fed the lorikeets this time around and that was so fun and beautiful. We can't wait until we stop in again for a fun day trip to The Wildlife World Zoo.

It's a giant zoo & the aquarium has some really cool features. However, I just don't think it's…read moreworth the cost. I purchased the annual membership and it costs more than the family plan at the Phoenix Zoo. As a stay at home mom, I was looking for things to entertain my daughter during the week. Most of the restaurants and exhibits were closed the days I came by. I purchased a membership so of course I want to come on a day other than Saturday to avoid the huge crowds, but I felt like I couldn't use my membership to its full advantage because it was practically deserted during the week staff/amenity wise. Could only buy a drink/food at one of the food courts at the front of the zoo which was frustrating considering how huge this place is and when it's hot, the rides were closed most of the time (plus they cost extra, even for members), and the giraffe feedings weren't ever available either. I tried multiple days during the week as well and had the same experience. I'm not sure if the little snack shacks & places are open on Saturdays or if they are closed permanently, but there were a ton of unused/unopened spaces that look like they'd be cool... if they were operable. $261.59 felt like a lot to just walk around in dirt to look at animals in an outdated space. Plus only I could take my daughter alone or else we would need to spend an additional $262 for my husband to have a membership. If you have kids 3+, it would be an additional $133 per child! Greeeeeedy if you ask me considering the Phoenix zoo prices. We didn't renew and will make the drive to the Phoenix zoo. The gas money will be worth the much lower membership price over there.

it's was really good and I liked it and it's really…read moreenjoyable I highly reccomand going to slick city

Slick City on Thunderbird Rd in Glendale is now one of my favorite places to show off to friends…read moreand visitors. Among all the different slides there is something for everyone from 6 (my grandkid) to 76 (me)! Although they are all fun, my favorite slide is the Python, followed by the Royal Flush. But I recommend you try all the slides! This is a great place for birthday parties, there's a cafe and lots of tables overlooking the playing floor. There is also a special area with toddler-size activities. One thing I especially like about Slick City is that through the adventure of slides, it teaches children self confidence and helps give them the courage to overcome fear in a healthy environment. Granddaughter (7 yrs) climbed up to the top of one of the tallest slides, only to start crying from fear and then she'd climb back down. 15 minutes later she'd go up again, only to come down, defeated by her fear. She kept it up (learning determination) until she finally found the courage to slide down from the top. The smile on her now self-confident face was priceless. She had conquered her fear! She went back and rode that slide again at least 10 times. The place is pricey but well worth it. Note: you must purchase a pair of their special traction socks in the slide areas. They do not allow any other brand, so save yours for subsequent trips.

I can not say enough good things about this place. I love coming here, the staffs are super super…read moresweet. If you spend a ridiculous amount of money on a machine and still can not win, they will help you out for sure, and you will leave feeling happy. Not sure why this place has lower average rating than the other one in Chandler, but this Glendale location is superior in every way. The claws machine aren't rigged, and the toys are very very win-able. I love coming here to play, destress, and donate to the kiddos over at PCH. When one of the staffs learned that I was trying to win more for the kiddos, she was more than willing to help make it easier. Thank you for your kindness!!!! The kiddos appreciate it ! Photo 1 in review by Minh Phan

Took my wife here during the daytime to spend some quality family time on her birthday. While the…read moreprices may seem reasonable at first, do note that shoe rentals adds up, and while you are there, you eat and play arcade, so overall expenses comes high. We took the VIP lane that comes with some $7 extra without knowing it all, and once we completed our hour, we realized that VR was never ON for the game. We checked with guest services, and they mentioned that some games only offer that feature, and we selected the wrong game from the console. Well, I wish someone had mentioned that when we initially bought the package. They did not offer any credit or refunds to us. We got multiple foods from there. While the pizza was good but the chicken burger had a bad taste in it and we did not even finish the food. I wouldn't recommend it when Arrowhead Mall has multiple options in the food court.

This place has been our go-to birthday spot for both of my kids for years, and we keep coming back…read morefor good reason. The train ride is a blast, the climbing wall is massive, and watching kids lose their minds on the bumper boats never gets old. The party packages are reasonably priced, which is a huge plus when you're hosting a group. They also recently added fans and misters to the party area, and it makes a world of difference especially on hot days. If you're looking for a fun, affordable spot for a kids' party (or just a family outing), definitely check this place out. Highly recommend!

We attended a birthday party here yesterday, and it was not a bad experience! My friend got the…read morehighest package for the party: which was a private area and it's own tables, play area, and grill. They were also given a set of tickets for the kids to ride on, which was pretty cool! My son was too young for the rides, but we were able to walk around. It is not a very big space, and I think there was maybe 8 rides total. The amusement park area was very clean, and the workers seemed helpful and chipper. We had a good time, and did not have any expectations when we came in, but it was pretty good. I would recommend this place for a lowkey birthday party and to rent out the cove!

Nice aquarium. I went with my buddy for an afternoon activity. We enjoyed looking at the various…read moreaquariums with a mix of both freshwater and saltwater exhibits. The shark tank was very nice with several different species on display. We also enjoyed the sea turtles. The portion of the aquarium where you sit in theater style seats and rotate through 4 different aquariums in 20 minutes is a unique experience and definitely worth while. Price was $50 per person with discounts for military and children.

Odysea Aquarium A…read moremust is the bathroom, voted as one of the top bathrooms in the country, it is spectacular and well deserved of the honor. Been here 3 times, what a nice place to take the family for fun and education. Took the 3 year old granddaughter and she loved the jellyfish portion and of course the hands on water table. She generally is fascinated by the whales or penguins but the penguins were in the far back where she could not see them. The is a toucan and a slough, but the wonderful thing is the Aquarium Carousel where you sit and the seats rotate to different tanks. We went in April, purchased a year pass to attend during the hot summer days with our granddaughter, a great relief from the summer heat. Locals and visitors please support this amazing place, plus in the same structure is the Butterfly Wonderland, great place to alternate for the family

We took the family to Great Wolf Lodge for an end-of-summer getaway before school starts, and it…read morewas such a fun trip! Check-in was a little busy and hectic, but we quickly got our wristbands for the water park. Our room wasn't quite ready yet, but by the time we had lunch and everyone changed into their swimsuits, it was ready. We dropped off our bags and spent the rest of the day enjoying the water park. The kids had an absolute blast! We stayed one night, which included two days at the water park, and I thought that was the perfect amount of time--especially for a 5-year-old and a 9-year-old. The room was clean, comfortable, and easily slept all six of us. Everyone had a great time, and we'll definitely be back. Another wonderful family trip in the books!

We came here in August 2024 and again in July 2026. I…read moreforgot how expensive it was, and somehow it got even more expensive! Lol If you have money, and you don't have a thing called a budget, then come! Your family will probably love it. The food here is okay at best, and over priced. Buy food and bring it in. Or just go out to eat. Local and staying multiple nights? Get a Lyft/Uber. It'll save you $ from the parking fees. Overall fun but pricey. So many add on options too. Staff was friendly from our interactions. Might come back in 2-3 years, we'll see.

Great atmosphere great food great and entertaining people. Band were great especially the…read moremultitalented piano player amazing.

Never been to cottonwood and just looked up something to do on my gps with my kids and service…read moreanimal and this popped up (I did not go to the website bc I assumed I could get information there). The gate was open so we went in, no one was manning the door and it was wide open, also no signs posted it was super dark but open till 9pm so still open at this time. I tried to ask what looked like an entertain there on a horse about how it all kind of works and she was busy so she asked me to give her a moment, and that's totally fine so I stepped aside. Then some other chick from the far off corner asked us to get around the fence to which we obliged again. Then the entertainer on the horse asked us what questions we had and answered what she could but then looked at my service dog and said he can't be here thought. To which I reply he's a service animal and she questioned whether or not my pet was one stating they are more behaved. He was wagging his tail bc he's only 11months! He was behaving just happy! Then the other women came over with attitude telling us how dangerous it was to walk in the gate! To which I replied well we are just looking for information and there is no sign or anyone at your door to, plus it is wide open! Then she looked at my service dog and said he can't be here so again I told her he's a service pet and she again stated he can not come in so we just left the entertainer eventually was very helpful and nice but I'm sorry you can not refuse a service animal but it's all good we'll never go back here. anyone else with service pets may want to stay away from here.

I had a lot of fun here. I brought my sister along and we both enjoyed exploring the grounds. We…read morearrived at 2:30pm so we missed all the fun but still go to see all the animals. The animals were up and about walking around their areas. We walked around pretty quick and made it back to the front right on time for the last safari ride of the day. The safari ride was the best. We got to feed the giraffes which I thought was super cool. Def worth the stop!

Wanting a safari-like experience, we came out to Out of Africa to see the animals on their 104 acre…read morewildlife preserve. Pro-tip: If you come on your birthday month, it's only $12 for admission which is substantial savings! I booked the expedition tour which included the general admission, Super Mog tour, and a chance to feed a tiger. The Super Mog tour is an hour long ride in an all terrain open-aired truck. You have to be at least 5yo and able to climb up the steps to get into the vehicle. They offer 2 times, 11AM or 2PM. Because it was June, I opted for the 11AM tour bc of the heat. Even though there was no AC, it was fully shaded and we didn't feel too hot. Our tour guide Robby was incredible and gave each of us a small stalk of willow-like leaves to feed the giraffes. We had the option to feed them from our hands or if we're brave, our mouths! We started off on the super mog tour visiting some apex predators like their mountain lion, hyena, grizzly bear and Robby would tell their stories and also do a live feeding. We also drove past their rhino, lions, zebras and much more. Then we got to feed the giraffes as they walked up to our vehicle. It definitely had more of a natural feel vs a zoo. Then we got some snacks, walked around for a little bit to see their smaller mammals (sloth, lemurs, marmoset) and reptiles. Lastly, we attended the tiger splash show. It was as adorable show watching the tigers play with their trainers using various toys, balloons, and meat. After the show, we got to feed a tiger through a special feeding tube and you can also request a picture with the lion. Out of Africa is also know for their popular predator zip lines where you have views of the animals and the Verde Valley. We didn't do this bc my kiddo is still quite young. We got the chance to run into the owner Prayeri who described how many of the animals were raised at a young age or rescued. There is a strong emphasis on the human-animal bond and trust at this park. Love that mission and much love to all the animals!