Fantasy Kingdom

After reading all of these reviews and the personal responses from the owner, I had decided to book my daughters 4^th birthday party here. I went to their website to find out they closed their doors yesterday! I am so sorry we never got the opportunity to enjoy this place and am sorry that the economy is really destroying a lot of great places. I wish you well Mark & Delia, in your new endeavors!

If I had reviewed in 2010, it would have been 4 stars. It’s still a fun place for the kids, but the wear and tear on the toys (especially the costumes, which need to be washed or replaced) and the play sets generally is an issue. This place is not cheap — I’ll think twice before going again given the other indoor play options.

I’ve decided to bump my review up to four stars (from three, previously). We’ve come back to Fantasy Kingdom several times, and it’s really grown on me (and my son). Having been to many a play space around town, I can say that this one is a great choice for boys in particular. They have a lot of boys’ dress up clothes, two train tables, and two really fast slides, not to mention both a fire station and a jail! I’ve also come to appreciate their lenient policy on outside food. Basically, as long as it’s nut free, you’re welcome to bring it. Plus they have a microwave and a fridge, so you’re not just limited to sandwiches. It may not be as shi-​shi as some other places around town, but it’s a great option for indoor play.

First post for me because I have very strong feelings about this place. Just had my daughter’s 2^nd birthday party at FK and of course being a parent I wanted this to be special. Also since I was inviting 15 other kids and their parents, the anxiety of making sure that I was a good host and everything goes smoothly was in the back of my mind.
It started off by following the guidelines provided of what to provide, plates, napkins tablecloths, etc. I followed the checklist which helped because shopping for a big party can be daunting and I probably would have forgotten some details. I then dropped off the non perishable items the day before.
When we dropped off the items, our coordinator, Anna, went thru our checklist to make sure everything was there. Being a guy, I stocked up on pop and juice but Anna suggested that I bring additional water… good tip, because a lot of the Moms weren’t into pop and it probably helps not to sugar up the kids… way to promote the benefits of water!
The one thing the Lil Lady and I noticed when we went there to drop off our items was a bad odor. It smelled like diapers and we were initially worried but didn’t say anything. It was a kids place and accidents happen. As we were going home we started talking about it and started getting worried about it. We scoured Unilocal and found no mention of foul odors and actually there was postings of «CLEAN». There was one blah posting, but Mark Allen the owner actually responded in a positive manner. Seeing the business owner actually respond to constructive criticism gives you a sense that he wants his business to succeed and that was a positive for me. Yes I could’ve brought up the odor at the time or even called and asked about it, but being a guy, I didn’t. I just trusted my instinct and Unilocal that it wasn’t going to be an issue!
Let me tell you… instinct and Unilocal were correct. When we arrived for our party, we found the place to be very clean, Toy Story themed party all set up and NO ODORS! Anna went over the flow of the party and told us to just enjoy ourselves and leave everything up to her. Anna and another Anna did a great job of allowing us to mingle with guests and playing with our child and the other children. I got to see the place thru the eyes of the children as I slid down the slide (yes a little steep), but my 2 year old seemed to love it! The costumes which ranged from police, fire, animals, kings, ladybugs etc, allowed the kids to use their imagination. I was thrown into jail by the kid police and actually was able to educate the kids that prison was a bad place! The boys felt like kings in their castles and the girls felt like princesses. Of course not to stereotype, the girls also dressed up as police officers so they could be anything that they wanted.
The parents were able to let the kids do their own «thang» and they got to eat while the kids played. The kids ranged from 1 – 7 years of age which I would say is the target group. Of course common sense says you have to watch out for the younger kids when you have the older kids running around, but this wasn’t too much of an issue. Honestly, watching all the kids just running around having a good time, through the eyes of a parent, there is nothing more satisfying. The kids were also setup to eat after an hour of play and that worked out well because they seemed to devour the pizza and cake! All taken care of by the Annas! They then got to play a little more after eating.
I got many comments from the parents that they loved how the kids got their hands cleaned upon leaving the play area and after eating and going back into the play area… once again reassuring me of the cleanliness factor.
In closing, many props go out to Anna and Anna for making our party successful. They took out the stressful part of running a party and allowed us to enjoy ourselves. Through the eyes of a child and as a parent, I saw what a fun place Fantasy Kingdom can be. While I may be blinded by how much fun I had and not see any negatives, I would recommend this place whole heartedly. I wish for continued success to Fantasy Kingdom and raises or bonuses for the Annas!

Love this place and so does my kids. They have things for all ages of kids. The owners are very nice as well! It gets pretty crowded, so you might have to wait.

We have been going to Fantasy Kingdom for 4 yrs. We love what it has to offer, as it encourages imaginative play and has an enclosed section for toddlers only. We have 2 kids, ages 5 & 1 y.o., and this is the perfect play place for both of them.
We recently had a semi-​private birthday party with Fantasy Kingdom. My daughter specifically requested her birthday party be there, and we chose the semi-​private party because we were on a limited budget.
It was FANTASTIC! The staff were amazing, we were able to focus on our guests while they took care of set up and take down. I was concerned it might be awkward for a semi-​private party, since there would be other moms & kids there that we didn’t know — but the staff made it feel very comfortable. The owner, Mark, is great, and the party coordinator Ana was fantastic. She has mastered decoration and party preparation — the party room couldn’t have been better decorated with the supplies I provided.
We had the best experience, I can not recommend this place more strongly for a birthday party. It is well worth it! We will definitely be throwing a birthday party at Fantasy Kingdom again.

Fantasy Kingdom is a good play place for young kids (18 mos through maybe 5 yrs) especially during the winter months; HOWEVER, my kids have gotten sick from playing here almost every time we’ve visited. Unfortunately, other parents/​nannies don’t seem to keep their kids home when they’re sick and because of the young ages (and everyone slobbering and putting the toys in their mouths), it seem that 24 – 48 hours after every winter-​time visit we’ve caught a virus. I’ve stopped going because of this. I realize it must be impossible to try to keep sick kids out of FK. It’s a good idea, but if you go in the winter you will see kids with runny noses and coughs… beware.

A great place to take kids. The entire place area is one long room, plus a separate area for children under two. They also have an area for snacks or meals. A bit pricey, but overall a great place to take the kids to play.

This review is from Mommy’s perspective, not my kids. They love it. They love everywhere that they are allowed to run around, yell, drop toys where ever and see lots of other kids.
The photos make it seem bigger. It’s a bit claustrophobic. We’ve been twice-​once on a school holiday. It was jammed packed that day especially with giant kids running all over my wee toddlers. Lesson learned-​we went back on a quieter day and had more fun.
I can’t figure out the target age because I see such a range there. The slides are sooooo steep and closed that it scares me to let my little ones go down alone, yet I feel like a creep going down them with them. There is a fenced in under 2 area, but all the toys are kinda junky and old. And no one enforces the under 2ness so those big, mean kids sneak in.
Love the indoor parking (wish it was included in the steep prices) and the separate little snack area. Staff is nice too.
Bottom line-​like most of these places-​fun for the kids, chaotic for the grownups!

FK is a decent enough place for kids under 5.
Pros: Indoor parking garage. Seperate eating area with a fridge for your own food. No limit on play time.
Cons: Can get a bit cramped and feels cramped due to under ground location. Men’s bathroom is a bit dirty. Industrial Location can be a bit tough to navigate through especially with the Mega Whole Foods now open.

Fantasy Kingdom has what every parent or nanny needs on a rainy, snowy, or otherwise slow day! The staff is kid centric and the play space is clean as well as entertaining!
It is an added bonus that at 10:30 they often have music or actors dressed as familiar characters. They have a great police and fire station set up and the boys love it.

Fun for about age 5 (maybe 6) and under. Hit FK for a 5 year old girl’s birthday party today and was pleasantly surprised. Though the location is a bit industrial, the ‘kingdom’ is a great escape for little girls.
The boys at the party got into the slides, fireman costumes, etc. but I believe this place leans a bit to little girls. Characters appear at parties and at scheduled times during the week to entertain and play with the kids – Disney Princesses, Buzz Lightyear, etc.
My seven year-​old niece was at the party and revealed to me that she thought the place was for ‘little kids’ because the princess was fake! So just consider age when doing a drop in visit here.
Healthy snacks available for purchase. Muy importante. Try it out and enjoy. Nothing like dramatic play in a grand way.

Just spent the entire morning here with my daughter. If your looking for a safe, CLEAN, fun environment for your young children, this is the place. The owner Mark greeted me, explained the layout and had us playing in no time at all. The staff is incredibly friendly and there is plenty to keep the little ones occupied. Children’s music kept the atmosphere upbeat and they have scheduled activities throughout the week. Cannot stress enough how clean this place was. I was really impressed! I would absolutely recommend FK to those with young children.

I’m probably not going to be able to take advantage of Fantasy Kingdom for too much longer because the kids are getting a little old to enjoy it, but while they are still young enough, this is fantastic for a day when it is too cold/​rainy/​snowy/​miserable to be outside.
Only drawback is that there is no WiFi.

Like the other reviewer I’ve taken my daughter here a few times, but I never really enjoy it. There aren’t that many things to do. Most of the toys are the kind of stuff we have at home (dress up, exersaucer, train set, dolls and strollers) with the exception of the cars which are a favorite of my 2.5 yr old. But for $ 12 visit (and $ 5) to park… riding in the cars for an hour is not at all worth the price.
And the owner is always trying to sell you something when you come in. They have a little eating area for you to do lunch with your child, but they sell all kinds of unhealthy snacks to try to get more money out of you. Choc and vanilla milk– no thank you. I’ll stick to the sippy cup of water or regular milk I brought from home.
Sometimes they have vendors come in to pitch you about new products (ex. organic baby food), but I’m not here for a sales pitch, I’m here to play with my child or maybe zone out for 5 min while my child plays with another child. I can learn about baby food at the grocery store.
Even the staff is awful. The owner almost never opens his mouth unless he’s trying to convince you to buy whatever the vendor is selling, probably because the vendors pay to come advertise there and he’s trying to make it look worthwhile. And the grumpy woman behind the counter (his wife? his mother?) literally sits on her ass all day and stares at her computer and barely even looks up to take your money. SO RUDE! Granted we don’t come to play with her, but would it kill them to act like they appreciate our patronage?
As far as cleanliness it also leaves MUCH to be desired. A few times a day they have a gopher girl run around and put all the toys back in place, but they never «clean» anything. Ewwww! How many kids a day pick up (and often eat or lick) these toys and they just get put right back for the next child to use. And while they have a sign for parents of sick kids to please visit another day, many of the kids running around have runny noses and coughs. So I guess each visit comes with a chance to take home a case of H1N1 for no additional charge. At least something is free.
Overall not a good place to spend time or money.
PROS:
Out of the house
CONS:
Bad location
Hardly any natural light, dim lighting resulting in depressing environment
EXPENSIVE $ 12day and $ 5 parking
Rude/​unfriendly staff!

I get the sense that FK is run by very nice, well-​intentioned individuals. The space and choice of toys, however, leave much to be desired…
First of all, the equipment is one-​size-​fits-​most. There wasn’t much in the way of accommodations for the bigger children among the small-​fry. My four-​year-​old is tall for her age, and she could not fit into any of the toy cars which royally cheesed her off. Secondly, all the toys revolving around play-​acting were pretty domestic — for the $ 12 admission, I was hoping for more variety — for example, sensory-​based toys, board games for the younger set, et cetera. Third, FK falls woefully short when it comes to having an ability-​diverse environment. There didn’t appear to be any modifications for children with special needs, beyond the token «handicapped» stall in the restroom.
Good, but not good enough. Definitely not good enough to warrant a repeat visit –for us, anyway.

Was invited for a birthday party for my one-​year old’s friend about a month ago The little guys had tons and tons of fun there, but upon entering the room I was repulsed by the smell. My babysitter and I almost didn’t go in because the place reeked of urine. : — /​Not a good idea to have carpeting at a place like that unless you’re going to clean it daily! Would love to go back for the sake of my son’s enjoyment, but I don’t think I will ever go there again unless they eliminate the carpet and odor.

Don’t let the location throw you. You gotta pass a couple of strip clubs to get to this unassuming industrial location. However, once you park and follow the signs through the building, Fantasy Kingdom is a great place for a party of the under-​6 set.
It is a nice space, pretty large for this type of kid-​gathering/​party place, which has play area with many climbing structures, a food/​eating area and also a baby/​toddler corral.
We were there for a 4-​year old girl’s birthday party and I am guessing there were about 30 kids or so. The space was totally ample for the kids and parents that were with them. Fantasy Kingdom provided (at a cost, of course) the food and an event coordinator. The three varieties of Starbucks coffee made an immediate positive impression on the parents.
One great thing about Fantasy Kingdom was the level of cleanliness of everything in the joint. I’m not a crazy germophobe, but sometimes a kid-​centered play area business can get quite skeezy. The toys, the play stuctures, even the bathroom was in good clean shape. Maybe in a year it will look a bit different, but for this party it was great.

So it’s seemed as of late that my kid is getting a little too old for the open play at Bubbles Academy and all I can wonder was «where did all those other kids go?»
Well, they are apparently all here!
If you’re reading this you probably know that during that precarious age between 2 and 3 there’s not a whole lot for your kid to participate in: most of the park district programs start at age 3, «pre-​pre-​school» programs are just too expensive to justify, heck, even Gymboree and Bubble classes add up to a Montessori tuition in a year’s time. And even if you DO load up on classes (esp. for the winter months when outside play is out of the question) the odds are high, between erratic nap schedules, potty-​training and meltdowns that you’re going to end up missing a bunch of them anyway. I mean c’mon…whose 2 year old values the concept of puncuality?
Fantasy Kingdom is a drop-​in play-​place. You can go anytime you like between the hours of 9am and 5:30pm. Unlike Corner Playroom it’s CLEAN (at least it seems that way). They even have a designated employee who spend the entire day wandering around and cleaning up after the dozens of tykes so nothing ever gets too out of place so NO ONE can enjoy it (I wish I had one of her for my house… oh…wait…that would be me).
The room is set up like a little mini Renaissance Faire with a 2-​story castle on one side that has 2 tube slides. The other side of the room have a few «storefronts» including a Firehouse, a police station, a grocery and a clothing store (?). Each little storefront has all the accompanying make believe toys and outfits… a toddler version of LARP, I guess. There are a couple of tables with train sets, several ride-​in cars, tubes to climb through, rocking toys, blocks, etc. There’s also a separate little 2-​and-​under hoosegow with age-​appropriate toys and nice big windows that look outside onto the river.
Shoes, drinks and food are prohibited in the play area so they provide a coat rack, shoe cubbies and a snack room with paper plates, cutlery and a microwave. You can buy snacks, juice boxes and other drinks at the front desk. There are tissue boxes and antibacterial pumps everywhere and they’ll even provide complimentary diapers in case you forgot yours.
Really, it seems they’ve thought of everything. Now, if they provided wi-​fi for me I think maybe we’d stay ’til spring!

Super, super, super. There need to be more places like this for kids and adults. I only regret we found this so late.
Awesome fantasy areas that include a police station, a castle, a fire station, costumes, trikes, learning toys and more…