Hi Moms,
I'm so completely saddened with the closing of Kiddieland. I've seen some places in passing - "Go Bananas" in Norridge and "Safari Land" in Lombard. Have any of you been there? Are they clean? I just don't know where to take the kids now. "Pirates Cove" is nice but is only good up to a certain age. My kids love little rollercoasters, but I really don't care for Great America at all. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Go Bananas is GREAT, but CRAZY and SUPER crowded on the weekends. It takes FOREVER for the kids to enjoy the games. I would recommend going during the week if you plan on checking this place out.
Hi, Go Bananas has great rides and games, and pretty inexpensive. You can get an all day ride wristband w/ game tokens for like 6.99 and if you need to ride w/ your little one parents ride for free. I wouldn't say it's the cleanest facility, but they do spray sanitizer on rides after each child. I've been w/ my 2 1/2 yr old during the week, week end and had her b-day party there. And I haven't found a time that wasn't tolerable. Have fun
Went to Go Bananas recently and hated it it. Smelly and dirty. Very crowded on the weekends.
Hi E.,
Here's a link to the indoor play places on kidwinks.com (a site for parents in the Chicago area to find things to do and places to go with their kids): http://www.kidwinks.com/FamilyFun/IndoorKidsActivities/In.... Go Bananas (the one in Arlington Heights is now called Go Bonkers) and Safari Land both have reviews there. My girls love both places, but my youngest (6 years) did not like the roller coaster at Safari Land - it scared her for some reason and she wouldn't go on it after her first time. She loves the one at Go Bonkers and also loved the one at Kiddieland (which has been moved to Great America from what I understand). We've only been to Safari Land once, and went on a weekday when the girls didn't have school. They loved it, and I found it to be very clean. It can get expensive though, especially if you're specifically going for the roller coaster.
Good luck!
J.
Safari Land, especially on the weekends, has become very seedy. It also seemed pretty expensive. I might try it on a weekday day, but that's about it. We are just going to be hitting all the summer fairs and fests for our roller coaster fix now.. couldn't go to Kiddieland in the winter anyway!
Well I took my 5 year old and his 6 year old friend to Safari Land, I hated it.
The people who worked there had been really depressing, like they hated their job.Most of the stuff didn't work,I would skip it.
You should check out Party Time Palace in Des Plaines at Golf and Elmhurst. They have something for every age. Inflatables, games, mini golf, train, for older kids bull rides (even adults were seen riding) and Awesome Laser tag. Very clean and friendly staff. They are always upgrading too.
We go to Go Bananas all the time, my son loves it! Sign up for their mailing list on the website, and you will get coupons for an unlimited wristband for $6.99 and 20 or so tokens. I like it b/c the kids spend their time active and not screen driven like at Chuck E Cheese. There are a few token games but more rides and ski ball, bowling, etc.
