Brooklyn Zoo NY
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Brooklyn Zoo NY primarily excels as an indoor physical activity center offering structured classes and well-organized birthday parties, particularly beneficial for energetic children and convenient for Brooklyn residents. While classes and parties receive high praise for engagement and instruction, the 'open play' experience appears to suffer from space constraints, resource competition with ongoing classes, and facility maintenance issues.
Key Highlights
- ✓Highly interactive activities tailored for children.
- ✓Exceptional instructors and coaches who are 'incredible at instructing' and 'kept kids entertained' with 'structured games and free play' (e.g., Frances & Ian mentioned).
- ✓Offers structured physical classes like Parkour Basics (on the 2nd floor) and Ninja Training (on the 1st floor) for kids interested in obstacle courses or American Ninja Warrior.
- ✓Classes include essential safety practices such as warm-ups, stretching, and water breaks.
- ✓Birthday parties are well-managed with dedicated hosts who 'set everything up beautifully' and ensure a 'breeze from start to finish' for parents.
- ✓Party activities span two floors, providing ample space for entertainment.
- ✓Features a dedicated area for pizza and cake for birthday parties.
- ✓Offers a great indoor option for kids to release energy during cold or bad weather.
- ✓Convenient location for Brooklyn residents.
Standout Features
- ⭐Structured Parkour Basics class with proper running and jumping techniques.
- ⭐Engaging Ninja Training class featuring stunts and obstacle courses.
- ⭐Indoor obstacle courses on both the 1st and 2nd floors.
- ⭐Highly skilled and attentive instructors/coaches.
- ⭐Dedicated birthday party packages that handle setup and entertainment.
- ⭐Separate space for food and cake during birthday events.
- ⭐Two-floor layout for diverse activities during parties and classes.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →For classes: Create an account on their website and sign up online prior to arrival. Check in at the front desk to confirm class location.
- →If attending for 'open play,' be aware that the space might be small and activities limited if classes are concurrently running.
- →Do not pay for adult passes if you are just supervising for 'open play,' as the experience seems designed for kids and adults may not receive value.
- →Adhere strictly to instructors' guidance and consult them before attempting stunts to prevent injuries.
- →Consider booking classes or birthday parties over general 'open play' to maximize value and experience quality.
Things to Consider
- ⚠The 'open play' area is described as 'sooo small' and 'definitely not like advertised,' with potentially outdated pictures online.
- ⚠During 'open play,' ongoing classes may monopolize 'most of the few activities that were available,' limiting options for other kids.
- ⚠Facility described as 'dark, old and dingey' in certain areas, particularly for open play.
- ⚠Poor customer service reported at the front desk; staff can be hard to find and appear 'annoyed to be asked any questions.'
- ⚠Website may be misleading regarding adult passes, with parents being charged for an adult pass for 'kids only' activities, leading to wasted money.
- ⚠The 'open play' experience is explicitly stated as 'NOT worth the money' by one reviewer due to aforementioned issues.
Price & Value
Classes are priced at $25 individually, or $180 for a 10-pack (making each class $18), which offers good value for a 1-hour instructor-led session. However, 'open play' is reported as $60 (likely for a child, possibly including a misleading adult pass) and deemed 'DEFINITELY not worth the money' due to perceived lack of space, activity competition, and facility condition. Birthday party pricing is not mentioned, but positive reviews suggest good value for the experience provided. The website's lack of clarity on adult passes for open play can lead to unexpected and wasted costs.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Activities are spread across 'two floors,' implying stairs or ramps, but no specific accessibility accommodations like elevators or sensory-friendly options are mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •A dedicated 'area for pizza and cake was nice' for birthday parties, suggesting outside food is permitted or provided for private events. No information is available regarding outside food or on-site food sales for general admission or classes.
🚗Parking Info
- •No information regarding parking availability or cost is mentioned in the reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •During 'open play,' the space can feel crowded due to its 'sooo small' size, and concurrently running classes may use up 'most of the few activities that were available,' leading to competition for resources.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Instructors emphasize and teach warm-ups and stretching before beginning training.
- •Water breaks are provided during classes to ensure hydration.
- •Explicit advice is given to follow instructors and consult them to 'avoid injuries,' indicating a focus on proper technique and supervision.
- •Classes are led by instructors who 'focus the children's energies by having them do specific stunts,' which contributes to a more controlled and safer environment.
⏰When to Avoid
- • General 'open play' sessions, especially if classes are known to be running, due to potential crowding and limited access to activities.
- • If your primary expectation is a large, pristine, or traditional 'zoo' experience.
- • Paying for adult open play passes, as they may be unnecessary and not provide value.
- • If you are looking for a venue with consistently high customer service at the front desk for general inquiries.
- • If facility aesthetics and modern upkeep are a top priority, as some areas are described as 'dark, old and dingey.'
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Birthday Parties
Available for booking online
Not specified
Can be booked online.
Corporate Events
Scheduled via email
Not specified
Private events for corporate groups, requires emailing to schedule.
Mitzvahs
Scheduled via email
Not specified
Private events for Mitzvahs, requires emailing to schedule.
📅Booking Policy
- • Birthday parties can be booked online.
- • Other private events (Corporate or Mitzvahs) require emailing to schedule.
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 4 reviews)
- Great for birthday parties (mentioned in 4 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Aigo M (Miss Aigo)
7 months agoNice place I didn’t know we have a zoo in Brooklyn, it is smaller than Bronx but it is so convenient to us who stay in Brooklyn. It is also very interactive for kids.
niemah Lasco
a month agoGot charged 60$ for "open play" but the room was sooo small and they were "teaching classes" nobody was even at the door and all the class kids were using up most of the few activities that were available. It's DEFINITELY not like advertised. The picture thats posted looks like how it might've looked 6 years ago. But now its dark, old and dingey. The workers didn't even greet you at the front desk you had to search for someone and they seemed annoyed to be asked any questions. Definitely NOT worth the money. Oh and dont pay for adults, the website does not say that its kids only yet they took my money for an adult pass.
Tracy Davis
7 months agoAwesome place! Had our son's 7th birthday party here and the kids had a lot of fun. Instructors were great and kept them entertained with a mix of structured games and free play across two floors. Area for pizza and cake was nice too. Recommend!
Bonnie Bottorf
3 years agoWe had the most amazing time at Brooklyn Zoo for our 7 yr old’s birthday today! The coaches, Frances & Ian, were incredible at instructing and making it super fun for the kids! Our party host set everything up beautifully and made it a breeze from start to finish. Everyone absolutely loved it.
Wendy F
7 years agoWhen the weather dips into the teens and your little ones have tons of energy to release, the Brooklyn Zoo is a great place to let them release their inner animals. I signed my 7-year-old nephew up for the Parkour Basics class. He had a great time learning how to properly run and jump in the different indoor obstacle courses on the 2nd floor. Next, he took the Ninja Training class on the 1st floor, which is great for kids into the American Ninja Warrior shows. In both classes, the kids are taught to stretch and warm up before beginning their training, and they are given a water break in the middle of the class. Each class is an hour long and led by instructors who focus the children's energies by having them do specific stunts. When asked, my nephew said he preferred the Ninja Training class more because the stunts were more fun. Each class is $25, but you can purchase a 10-pack for $180. It's best to create an account on their website first, sign up for the classes you want to take, then just check in at the front desk to see where the class is held. Classes are available for any age group, including adults. And like with any type of physical activity, care must be taken to avoid injuries, so instructors should be followed or consulted before attempting the stunts.