The Family Playhouse in North East Mall
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The Family Playhouse in North East Mall is a newly expanded indoor play area offering a large, clean, and gated environment with diverse activities, specifically praised for its separate toddler and big kid zones. It provides an inexpensive, all-day play option for families, often without large crowds.
Key Highlights
- ✓Very clean play space.
- ✓Entire play space is closed in with gates, enhancing safety and containment.
- ✓Dedicated, separated toddler play area and a separate big kid area.
- ✓Much bigger play area with a variety of things to do in its new location.
- ✓Often not crowded or full, allowing for a more relaxed play experience.
- ✓Inexpensive admission, especially for babies and accompanying parents.
- ✓Provides all-day access with admission.
Standout Features
- ⭐Gated play space for child containment.
- ⭐Separated play zones for different age groups (toddler and big kid).
- ⭐New, larger location with an enhanced variety of activities.
- ⭐All-day access included with admission.
- ⭐Cleanliness of the overall play space.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Call ahead to confirm opening hours, as they have been reported as unreliable.
- →Bring your own sticky/grip socks to avoid purchasing them on-site.
- →Plan for restroom breaks, as facilities are not inside the playhouse and require leaving the area to walk to nearby JPC restrooms or across the mall.
- →Children receive a bracelet upon entry, which may be for safety/tracking.
- →Parents with children aged 0-2 can play with their child for free.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Significant lack of restrooms directly within the playhouse, requiring a trip to a nearby JPC restroom or one 'across the opposite side of the building,' which is inconvenient for parents with multiple children.
- ⚠Inconsistent and unreliable opening hours, with reports of the venue being closed despite online claims and vague answers about future availability.
- ⚠Poor staff response to hygiene issues; a child who vomited was allowed back into the play area without adequate assurances of cleanliness or proper monitoring, and staff showed an arrogant attitude when questioned.
- ⚠Mandatory sticky socks required for entry; if not brought, they must be purchased on-site.
Price & Value
Admission for two toddlers and two adults costs $19 for all-day access. Entry for children aged 0-2 is free, and one accompanying parent is also free for this age group. Cost is $8 per kid to play, plus the cost of socks if not brought. Generally considered inexpensive, offering good value for all-day play.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accommodations mentioned for special needs beyond the separation of play areas for different age groups.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No information provided regarding outside food or on-site food sales.
🚗Parking Info
- •Located within North East Mall, implying mall parking availability, but no specific details about the type or cost of parking were mentioned in the reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Frequently reported as 'never crowded or full,' suggesting a generally uncrowded experience, even during visits.
- •Appears to offer a more relaxed environment compared to venues that are often packed.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Entire play space is closed in with gates, providing a contained environment.
- •Separate play areas for toddlers and big kids help prevent collisions and ensure age-appropriate play.
- •Children are required to wear entry bracelets, likely for tracking or security.
- •Mandatory sticky socks are required, which are a safety feature for traction on play equipment.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Visiting without confirming current opening hours, especially if traveling a distance.
- • Visiting if you anticipate frequent restroom breaks for your children or yourself, due to the inconvenient external facilities.
- • If you are concerned about strict hygiene protocols, especially regarding illness, given a reported incident of a sick child being allowed back into the play area and poor staff communication.
- • If you forget sticky socks and prefer not to purchase them on-site.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Birthday Parties
We do birthday parties.
Team Events
We do team events.
School Trips
We do school trips.
Daycare Trips
We do daycare trips.
Home School Meetings
We do home school meetings.
🍎Food Policy
- • No outside meals.
- • Only covered drinks and snacks allowed.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Non-slip socks are required.
What People Say
What's Great
- Clean and well-maintained facilities (mentioned in 3 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 9 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Can get crowded during peak times (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Kristen Westbrook
a month agoFirst time visiting, and was very impressed! I wanted to make sure to leave a review because I don't think this place gets as much credit as it should. The space is so clean! I love that the entire play space is closed in with gates, and that the toddler area is separated from the big kid area. As a mom of twin toddlers I really appreciate that! We enjoyed all of the spaces, and felt like we didn't even touch everything we could have. With two toddlers and two adults we spent $19 and that gives access for all day. We'll be back!
Wonjee Beh
5 months agoThis is a new location within the same mall. It's a much bigger play area with a variety of things to do than before. Age 0 to 2 and one parent is free. There is also a separate play area for toddlers. Requires sticky socks, if not, you'll need to buy one here before entering. The only one negative I have is the lack of restroom. You'll have to go to JPC restroom (which is pretty close) to use it as there isn't one in the playhouse itself. Having to wrangle multiple little ones every time when needing to go use the restroom can be very inconvenient. Overall, I do love all the improvements and enhancements this location brings.
Dee R
2 months agoThis place says its open but it's not. We went to have a play date and were greatly disappointed. Another family said they were looking for it too as we all thought maybe the suite within the mall had changed. I called to see if I made a mistake and the lady just said they THINK they'll be open next week! I don't know what that means or what was going on because nothing else was offered. Maybe if we feel up to trying to visit again in the future, I could potentially update my review. Update: there is a new location within the mall that is nice. It's never crowded or full when we go and my baby has fun. It's inexpensive and I can play with her for free. They make her put on a bracelet, which I don't get when we're the only one's there, but I guess Lol.
Val Haas
5 months agoKid comes running out and throws up right next to the counter on the floor. Continues to throw up in the trashcan. They get that cleaned up. The Kid goes back to the play area to continue playing. A mom asks about if he had thrown up inside the play area or of they were monitoring. The employee asked her in an arrogant tone "What's the problem?" She just wanted to make sure there weren't other piles of puke in the play area. Time to go home, get showered and take some extra vitamin C I guess.
Lauren Jones
a year agoClean. But it’s $8 to play plus socks per kid. We brought our own socks. Be prepared if your kid needs to go to the restroom. It’s far from the playscape. You must leave and walk across the opposite side of the building. You’re better off going to Living Spaces. It’s free.
Contact Information
by JCPENNEY, 1101 Melbourne Rd Suite# 3085, Hurst, TX 76053, USA
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