Carousel Gardens Amusement Park
4.6(1,593)4.6 out of 5 stars, 1593 reviews New Orleans, LA
About Carousel Gardens Amusement Park
Carousel Gardens Amusement Park offers a charming, nostalgic amusement experience within New Orleans' City Park, specifically catering to babies, infants, and young children with over 20 rides. It provides unlimited rides with admission, a magical ambiance (especially during the Christmas season), and often includes access to the adjacent Storyland. It's lauded as a unique and essential family-friendly destination in the city, despite its rides being older.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families with babies, infants, and young children seeking a charming amusement park experience.Spending 'a few hours' as part of a visit to City Park.Families planning multiple visits, as a season pass offers good value.Experiencing a 'magical' holiday outing, especially during the Christmas season.Parents looking to relive childhood memories with their own children.
Why families love it
- Over 20 distinct rides, including a Train, Ferris wheel, roller coaster, and the classic carousel.
- Unlimited rides are included with the single admission price.
- Clean restrooms are available on-site.
- Creates a 'magical' atmosphere, particularly noted around Christmas time with lights and music.
- Access to Storyland, a free storybook-themed playground located next door (also included with a season pass).
- Friendly staff, primarily consisting of teenagers.
Insider tips
- Consider purchasing tickets in advance for specific time slots, especially for popular holiday events like 'driving tours' around Christmas.
- Look for 'discounted tickets midweeks', particularly during special seasons.
- For frequent visitors, a 'Family season pass for 4 for $265' is available and includes Storyland access.
- Parents should 'pay attention to the height chart' but note that a parent 'can always accompany a child almost on all the rides'.
- Visiting on 'Sundays' is recommended as there's 'no rush whatsoever'.
- Budget for admission costs: $21 for a child and just over $12 per parent.
Good to know before you go
- If your children are older and primarily seek modern, high-tech, or thrilling rides.
- If you expect brand new, state-of-the-art amusement park infrastructure.
- Rides are described as 'old and run down' by some parents.
- Children, particularly around 7 years old, may 'outgrow the rides' in a few years, limiting the park's long-term appeal for older kids.
- Crowds
- Reports of 'no lines on a Sunday afternoon in April' and 'no rush whatsoever' on Sundays, suggesting manageable crowds.
- Value
- Admission costs $21 for a child and just over $12 per parent, offering 'unlimited rides' for the day. A 'Family season pass for 4' is available for $265 and includes access to both Carousel Gardens and Storyland, presenting good value for repeat visitors. Discounted tickets are available midweeks, particularly during holiday seasons. The free adjacent Storyland adds to the overall family value.
- Food
- Sells pizza and ice cream on-site.
- Accessibility
- No specific special needs accommodations mentioned.
- Safety
- Parents are advised to 'pay attention to the height chart' for rides.
What parents say
"This place is magical, especially at Christmas time. They have discounted tickets midweeks. You must buy tickets in advance for a specific time slot for the driving tours."
3 months ago
"Perspective is everything. To my seven-year-old, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park provided two hours of fun running from ride to ride. They sell pizza and ice cream. Kids love this place. (At least my seven-year-old did. However, in a few years, she'll outgrow the rides.) To parents, this place is a great way to spend a few hours visiting City Park, but it comes with a price. It was $21 for our daughter and just over $12 per parent. However, once you pay, you get unlimited rides. The rides themselves are old and run down, but the plus is there were no lines on a Sunday afternoon in April. It "
a year ago
"Great spot for the kiddos. Would definitely visit again next time I'm in NOLA!"
a week ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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