FunKidsActivities

PLAYzona

8190 W Union Hills Dr Suite 100, Glendale, AZ 85308, USA

Overview

Category:Best Indoor Playgrounds
Location:Phoenix, AZ

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

PLAYzona stands out as a highly clean and well-maintained indoor playground offering diverse themed play areas suitable for a wide range of ages, from infants to school-aged children. Its unique value comes from providing both active and imaginative play options in a comfortable, air-conditioned environment, with additional benefits like dedicated age-specific zones and optional art/music classes, making it a comprehensive choice for family entertainment.

Key Highlights

  • Multiple themed play areas (e.g., market, large middle area for movement).
  • Dedicated crawling space specifically designed for babies (0-12 months).
  • Separate play area designated for children aged 6 and older.
  • Toys and facilities are consistently described as immaculate, well-maintained, and in great shape, suggesting frequent cleaning and replacement.
  • Staff actively cleans and sanitizes toys and surfaces regularly.
  • Offers a variety of 'sit/stand/car type toys' (ride-on toys) that encourage sharing.
  • Provides age-group activities and special events.
  • Offers art and music classes as an added bonus.
  • A private room is available for parties.
  • Generally friendly and courteous staff (though one review noted issues with cleaning staff).
  • Good for beating the heat on hot days.

Standout Features

  • Multiple distinct theme areas offering varied play experiences.
  • Large central area designed for active movement and physical play.
  • Dedicated crawling space for infants.
  • Extremely well-maintained toys and facilities that appear frequently updated.
  • A wide selection of ride-on vehicles promoting sharing.
  • Snacks, drinks, and 'knickknacks' available for purchase on-site.
  • Availability of art and music classes.
  • Dedicated party room for events.
  • Foam flooring in active areas for safety.

Perfect For

Babies (0-12 months): Features a dedicated, well-thought-out crawling space for safe exploration.
Toddlers (1-3 years): Highly recommended, 1.5-year-olds loved it, described as having 'pretty' and 'cool' toys perfect for little ones.
Preschool (2-5 years): Popular with 2, 4, and 5-year-olds, offering cute pretend play areas and many ride-on toys.
School-aged (6+ years): Has a specific designated area catering to this age group.

Ideal For

Parents seeking to 'beat the heat' during hot weather.
Families with infants, toddlers, and young children (up to 6+ years old) who need a diverse play environment.
Playdates for multiple children with varied interests.
Birthday parties for younger children.
Parents prioritizing a clean, safe, and well-maintained indoor play space.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

  • Bring grippy socks as they are a must for safety and traction on climbing toys and foam floors.
  • Consider visiting earlier in the day to avoid potential disruptive cleaning activities that may occur closer to closing time.
  • It's a great choice for families with multiple children across different age groups, thanks to its varied play areas and age-specific zones.
  • Be prepared to observe staff actively cleaning throughout your visit; while ensuring cleanliness, this can occasionally be intrusive.
  • If planning a party, note that a party room is available.

Things to Consider

  • Some staff members have been reported to clean disruptively, interfering with children's play (e.g., putting away items kids are actively using in pretend play).
  • Staff has been observed vacuuming around children and guests up to an hour before closing, which made some customers feel unwelcome and rushed.
  • Inconsistent staff approach to cleaning; while some are lauded for thoroughness, others are seen as overly zealous to the point of hindering guest experience.

Price & Value

Described as a place where parents of toddlers can 'not break the bank,' suggesting it offers good value for money. Specific pricing details are not mentioned in the reviews. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase on-site, but no information regarding their pricing or any hidden costs like mandatory sock fees.

Accessibility & Special Needs

  • No specific information regarding accessibility for individuals with special needs was mentioned in the reviews.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

  • Snacks and drinks are available for purchase on-site.
  • No explicit mention of whether outside food or drinks are permitted or prohibited.

🚗Parking Info

  • No specific details about parking availability or cost were mentioned in the reviews.

👥Crowd Levels

  • No specific crowd level indicators are mentioned, but the mention of a 'not that big' market area suggests certain zones could feel busy. The disruptive cleaning might imply it's not overwhelmingly crowded in the final hour.

🛡️Safety Features

  • Mandatory grippy socks for enhanced traction.
  • Foam flooring in active play areas to cushion falls.
  • Staff observed actively cleaning and sanitizing toys and play surfaces regularly.
  • Dedicated crawling space for babies (0-12 months) designed for their safety and stimulation.
  • Parents generally 'felt safe' with their children playing there.

When to Avoid

  • Visiting during the last hour before closing, as staff may begin disruptive cleaning activities like vacuuming.
  • If you or your children are sensitive to staff actively cleaning around them, which may feel unwelcoming or interrupt play.

What People Say

What's Great

  • Clean and well-maintained facilities (mentioned in 4 reviews)
  • Safe environment for children (mentioned in 3 reviews)
  • Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
  • Great for birthday parties (mentioned in 2 reviews)
  • Spacious play areas (mentioned in 8 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Joanna J

Joanna J

6 months ago

Beating the heat at this adorable place with multiple theme area to play. Large middle area that had a ton of activities for movement. Items were in great shape so must be frequently changed as nothing seemed worn out. Grippy socks are a must and with the climbing toys and foam floor it definitely helps with traction, but this is common for play places. Multiple sit/stand/car type toys so that the kids can share easier. And they have a few snacks and drink along with knickknacks for sale so you can enjoy your time while watching the kids run and play. Hidden gem! Actually saw employees cleaning up the toys and actually cleaned the surface! Area for 6 and older to play. Also learned they do some age group activities and special events. There is a room to the side so you can even do a party. Definitely recommend! Still adorable! The kids love it and asked to come back.

Marie King

Marie King

a month ago

We love this place and will absolutely be back! So many cute pretend play areas, as well as tons of ride alongside that all four of my kids love. We drive 20 minutes and will continue to do so to come play! The reason I only gave 4 stars was solely due to the staff during our last visit. While I appreciate a clean environment, I feel like they actually hindered my kids playing with their obsessive cleaning. For example, all 4 of my kids were in the market area, which is not that big. They were collecting food, checking out and pushing the shopping carts. One of the attendants came in and was literally putting back the food items they were playing with. They had to walk around her to play. It was off-putting to me, was very unwelcoming and honestly made my kids so uncomfortable they moved to another room. We also were 2 hours before close and at 2pm (1 hour before close) they broke out the vacuum and were vacuuming around the kids! I worked in retail management for 7 years and I would have NEVER done something similar with customers in my store. It was obvious both women were desperate to get out of there right at 3pm. It might be beneficial for management to build in an extra 30 min to 1 hour after close to reset the location and clean, instead of interfering with guests playing and making us feel very unwelcome. Again, love the location and we will be back, but if I was the owner(s) I would want to know how my customer's were feeling.

Chau Tran

Chau Tran

a year ago

I recently visited a brand new indoor playground designed for toddlers in the local area, and I must say that my experience was nothing short of exceptional. The place has so many cool toys that are not only pretty but also perfect for the little ones. The staff members are incredibly friendly and courteous. They go above and beyond to make the experience enjoyable for everyone who visits the place. One thing that really stood out to me was their dedication to cleanliness and safety. They always made sure to clean and sanitize the toys and the entire playground area regularly, which gave me peace of mind as a parent. I was also impressed by the dedicated crawling space designed specifically for babies aged 0-12 months. This area was well-thought-out and well-constructed, offering a safe and stimulating environment for young ones to explore and play. Overall, I highly recommend this indoor playground for parents looking for a safe and fun place for their toddlers to play and learn. The toys are fancy, the staff is friendly, and the cleanliness is top-notch. The added bonus of art and music classes makes this place stand out among other indoor playgrounds in the area.

Aura Asselin

Aura Asselin

2 months ago

I love this place! It's super cute and my 1.5 year old loved it! I would definitely recommend this for any parent of toddlers who wants to beat the heat but not break the bank.

Aubrey Templeton

Aubrey Templeton

5 months ago

We visited with my 5, 4 and 2 year old, along with my 2 year old nephew. This place was awesome! The staff was cleaning up after all of the kids (putting toys back, organizing cars, etc). The facilities were immaculate and well maintained. I felt safe with my kids being here. We will definitely be back!

Contact Information

8190 W Union Hills Dr Suite 100, Glendale, AZ 85308, USA

View on Google Maps

Opening Hours

Monday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

Quick Stats

Overall Rating
4.9
Total Reviews75
Recent Reviews5