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PlayWerx
Rating Details »
Category: Amusement Parks [Edit]
Neighborhood: Carlsbad6060 Avenida Encinas
#B
(between La Costa Blvd & Palomar Airport Rd)
Carlsbad, CA 92011
(760) 804-1600
- Hours:
Tue-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
15 reviews for PlayWerx
Great place. Not cheap but totally worth it.
My 2 and 4yr olds had a blast for 2+ hours. Nice owners run the place, and the structure is the best one I've ever had the pleasure of playing on. It was easy to climb for small ones and for big ones like me; I'm 6'3".
We highly recommend it for in-between days on your family's trip to Legoland. It's less than a mile away from where we stayed.
I don't know what the people who rated this poorly are thinking and they should take their crappy attitudes and reviews and find a McDonald's or something instead. **Playwerx is a god-send!**
Since My wife beat me to the bunch along time ago I'm going to include my review also.
What can you say about PlayWerx. What a great concept for children, kids and adults. Their mega structure is a mega structure. It is huge and has 3 levels. It is big enough for adults to go in and have fun with their kids. Two fast slide, a huge ball pit, plenty of holes to crawl through and much more to keep your kids going for hours.
One of the best things is that you pay 5 bucks or so for your child and there is no time limit. How can you beat that. For the adults they have a coffee bar which has good coffee and free WIFI so if you have to do work and you have to get on the Internet you can.
They do Birthday Parties their. You get a room and with a table and chairs and from what I have seen you decorate it how ever you want. Then the kids run till they drop.
Check this place out if you have a chance, My family and I have been coming since xmas time last year.
Wow, I'm surprised to see many so negative comments. I bought a value card for $60 which gives you 8 plays and 2 free coffees. It's pretty crowded if you go there on weekends, so parking can be hard. With one kid, I feel that it's safe to walk from the additional parking to the entrance. It's about 30 feet walking to the side walk in front the building. I don't think that it's that horrible. The cafe offers sandwich, pizza, cookies, fruit snacks, ice cream bars, and milk, etc. Well, this is not a restaurant. The food option is good enough I think. Many places don't allow outside food, for instance, place like Legoland. I don't think at all that it's outrageous to do so. Food brings pretty good money, so a good business like this can go a long way.
The place has free wifi. It's very convenient to work while watching your kids play. Aircondition is very good in the cafe area. It's almost cold there. They are aware that the kids are sweating. Kids always do when they play so hard.
I think that it's very good the management checks your bracelets before you go. What if someone takes your kid!
We have been there for 9 times. I think I can tell management's attitude pretty well by now. I have never ever encountered anyone who is rude. In fact, when I mentioned to the staff that there is no power outlet in the cafe area and my battery was running out, they just let me use an empty party room!
In any ways, I would recommend this place.
I used to love this place. So too did my daughter. It's still a clean and nice facility but their parking has taken a serious hit. They enforce their "Zero Outside Food" policy rather heavy-handedly and unevenly.
Parking, which used to be safe, free & ample...is now a terrible nuisance. There are hardly any spaces provided within a safe or comfortable walking distance from the entry door. The neighboring business, a tire shop, has managed to reserve most of the spaces for itself.
You are forbidden to park along the fence way between the many businesses. This becomes even more significant once you enter the property and are accosted by numerous employees...who demand you return to your car with all food and drink.
Now, I can certainly understand one thing...they are in this business to generate income. Plain and simple. Outside food and drink keeps the parents from paying top dollar for foods from their snack bar.
But not all of the parents here live close enough to be regulars...and to be aware of their policy. Heather & Lisa were the two employees who very rudely accosted us. They were unyielding and smug in their demeanor. They demanded we immediately walk out ...in the rain.... to return our bagels to our car...which is parked several city blocks away.
The entry price for my four year old was a flat $10 fee. There are package rates available but they cost $60.
Our birthday party here last summer was a lot of fun. That said...I was planning to hold her next party here as well but have now reconsidered.
There is no employee assigned to help you set up, run or dismantle your party. We would gladly have paid someone to help us out. There was one person apparently assigned to our party...and we tipped him gladly...but he was reluctant to pitch in. We did most of the work ourselves.
They would do well to offer a preferred vendor list. The cake they provided was promptly delivered, moist & delicious. Unfortunately...the pizza they provided was mediocre at best.
They have a snack bar on premises...but the food offerings are rather limited. They would do well to even buy bulk fresh pizzas from Costco (right down the street) or a selection of Costco frozen foods to heat and sell.
I'm not thrilled with this place. Reading the reviews on here makes me wonder if some person at the business is generating some of them.
I've attended one birthday party here. it was nothing too special. Hot as hell (the kids were sweating).
They over charge for the privilege of admission. $10 just to walk in the door is just too steep. As the other reviewers just noted, they forbid you to bring in any off site food. You are forced to buy from their meager food offerings from their snack bar.
Unfortunately, they offer only one type of sandwich: peanut butter. Good luck if your child has a nut allergy. Pre-packaged cookies and a few other offerings (a couple of frozen packaged foods) and that's about it.
Costco is situated just a few blocks away. This place would do well to buy their ready made pizzas ($10 for a large) and heat them up in their ovens to sell by the slice. They would also do well by picking up some frozen foods from Costco to heat up and serve. Pickings are just too scant and too slim.
Both of the employees we really loved before are now long gone. In their place are some arrogant and not too obliging posers.
Bathrooms are clean and nice.
Their "gift shop" is a joke.
Parking is dangerous, scant and a nightmare. Little toddlers running in between cars. Parents overloaded with items, trying to keep their kids in check. It will be only a matter of time before this place has some kid run over.
They would also do well to offer parents a "year pass".
What a downturn this place has taken.
My 17 mo old son and I enjoyed ourselves. He got to run through the structure, play in the balls and climb around and I didn't have to worry or 'hover' over him. It was fun to sit next to him and climb along and watch him play with the other kids. I haven't seen him that happy and giggly at regular parks!
We loved the snack bar-I love that they have soy for their coffees! Lots to choose from on their menu. (So much its almost hard to read while trying to chase after my son.) but they have lots set out on the bar to choose from-which was very helpful! Prices are fair-I don't feel cheated at all.
We were there mid day on a Friday, parking was plentiful-on our way out we noticed that it was a bit busier-after school rush?? I would love to go again. Thinking about taking the 4 yr old twins I care for. :)
I have a one year old that basically learned to walk at Playwerx because she wanted to keep up with her older cousins that were having SO MUCH FUN! The kids never want to leave. I love that there is a separate area for 2 years and younger which allows the little ones to experience a slide just their size and an area we call "the swinging vines."
The snacks for adults are great and seem to be reasonably priced. Keep in mind, they do not want you bringing in outside food (like even a box of raisins), but rules are rules.
We made the mistake of going on a Saturday and there were 4 birthday parties going on. The number of kids wasn't what bothered me, it was all the adults! Every single seat was taken with what seemed to be a dad on his laptop . . . I guess I have to appreciate the guys for at least being there.
I totally recommend this place!
Great concept and it's fun the first time, but for $10 a child, it is pretty steep and not that great of a deal. The parking is crazy.
If it were $7 or $8, we might go more often, but I think once or twice a year is okay.
You remember that one night you went out and had the perfect evening?
You were young and reckless, you took some drugs maybe, you danced with perfect people to perfect music at the most amazing party ever. Everyone was smiling and every now and then a friend would just come up and hug you for no reason.
At some point, the sun started to come up, orange fingers piercing the darkness and thinning the crowd. People started to check their watches and phones and all you could think was, "No! No! This perfect evening must NEVER end!" and you felt a little empty inside.
Remember how crappy that feeling was?
I imagine that it was an identical feeling to the one that drove my son to have a little temper tantrum when I said, "Come on, time to go home..." and picked him up out of the ball pit to leave.
He had spent almost two hours running and bouncing and climbing himself ragged but his sweaty, grinning, happy little self just did not want to leave.
I really felt for him because I didn't want to leave either. This place is amazing.
If you're thinking about taking your kids to this business, think again. Parking used to be plentiful but is now atrocious. Customers and their young children have to walk through congested, busy parking lots and on the street while dodging cars. Additionally, a dramatic change in policy now prohibits the customer from bringing in their own food or beverages, although the food selection at the facility is quite limited and over-priced. One would think that the $10.00/child admission requirement would be more than enough to make a healthy profit. It would appear, however, that greed has now become the order of the day. You can now look forward to being repeatedly accosted by rude employees with smug expressions on their faces as they inform you of the change in policy.
For the record, I have always made a custom of buying the over-priced, low selection of food items in order to promote this business, which I previously had thought was quite nice. I did this even if I brought other food with me and I tipped the staff, as well. Today, after being treated like a presumed criminal by employees, Heather and Lisa, I went outside and hiked back to my car with my children to eat our snacks. It would have been tempting to simply abide by the unfair change in rules for the purpose of convenience. However, I am a man of principle and I'd like to think that a business that I once valued greatly would also value me. Unfortunately, that is obviously not the case with this business.
Come to this business if you like being treated rudely after walking over Hell's Halfacre and dodging cars with your small children to get there. If you're especially masochistic and like being abused, this is the place for you. One last word: When I informed the rude employees who exhibited the paint-by-the-numbers guest relations skills, I requested to speak to the owner/manager. The latter rude employee, Lisa, informed me that the owner would be "right over". As of the time of this writing, approximately 50 minutes later, the owner has still not appeared and no other employee of the facility has cared enough to follow up with my stated concerns. Evidently, it would appear that the attitude is that Playwerx can afford to lose paying customers although, in fairness to the owner/manager, I would think it also may be possible that the errant employee did not even bother to inform her of the existence of problem.
Parking does SUCK here, but I think the prices are fair and reasonable. The food thing doesn't bother me, a lot of businesses do this to boost profits. My son loves this place, but we recently moved to about 25 minutes away and haven't gotten a chance to go back recently.
Anyways, this place is clean and has plenty of seating for the parents. I do think the weekends get too crowded though. I found it annoying trying to keep my 3 year old out of the birthday party room. There is no door and he really didn't understand. A gate would be cool! The age range here is broad and varies from infants to prob 8 or 9 year olds so it would be a good idea to watch your child in the structure to make sure they don't get trampled.
They have a prepaid deal for children 4 and older I believe
It's 5 bucks each time for children under 4
10 bucks for children 4 and up.
Still rockin'!!!
They have new coffee options (try the iced mocha!) and I love Whale Tail chips!!!!
If you're looking to have your kid's birthday party there, for your child's sake, reserve early! They are booked out quite a ways...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/8/2008 First to Review
Just opened in Carlsbad. It has a huge two-story play structure with an area just for toddlers, a… Read more »
This place is awesome not only for kids but for the parents too! If your a parent who needs some relax time to enjoy one of thier coffee's and a snack while your kid plays hey you can do just that, but if your the kind of parent who loves to play with thier kids holy moly you will have so much fun in thier play structure. They have a section for kids 2yrs and under and for the older kids as well. The staff is friendly and they keep the place clean which is great! I love thier iced and hot mexican mocha and my son loves everything about this place. I highly recommend it!
I've attended two birthday parties at PlayWerx with my 4 and 2-year-old daughters. The birthday party facilities are barely adequate (relatively small rooms, to be honest), but that's okay because the real star of PlayWerx is its enormous play structure and its food and drink bar.
I haven't personally tasted the food and drink, but others have told me its good. I _have_ personally clambered through the play structure with my kids, and let my experience with bruised knees caused by too many McDonald's play structures assure you, the PlayWerx play structure is AWESOME.
It's big, yes. But it's also varied and creative, with much more than the usual fare of tunnels and slides. (It does have slides, but they are _serious_ slides. Fun even for adults.) The structure includes little rope bridges the kids can cross (safely 1 foot above the floor), ball pits, the aforementioned big slides, swings, trampolines, and plenty of paths to climb through and up and down. But the best thing about the play structure is that it's clearly been designed for adults too. It's still kid-sized, but it's big enough that adults can go through it in relative comfort, and all of the elements (slides, etc.) are built to support adult weight. And as an added benefit, the structure is made out of mesh fabric strips atop a (cushioned) metal structure. This means that those inside the structure can see out, so you can see your kids from the outside and they can see you.
The one downside I will note (and the reason I haven't rated PlayWerx with five stars) is that staff supervision is inadequate. I've only been there on the weekends with several birthday parties occurring simultaneously, so perhaps things are better on the weekdays, but while I was there, there was NO staff supervision of the play structure. (There were two staff members working, one was at the front desk in another room, and the other was serving people at the food and drink bar.) Apparently PlayWerx expected the parents to police the children's behavior inside the structure. This largely worked fine, but there were a couple of times during both my visits when older kids (6-8 years old) would cannonball into the ball pit and start throwing balls at one another. This was dangerous to my 2 and 4 year olds who were in the pit at the time, and I would expect the PlayWerx staff to be close at hand to enforce their own rules. Instead, I had to climb into the structure to break up the shenanigans. I don't mind doing that (and as noted above, the sides of the structure are mesh, so some of this parent policing can occur from outside), but I can't ban kids from the structure entirely, and clearly some of the older ones needed a "time out."
I hope what I experienced was just an anomaly, and that at other times the play structure is better supervised. And if that's not the case, I hope PlayWerx realizes the error of their ways soon and adds another staff member to the regular shifts. If they do, this indoor play area will be just about perfect.
PlayWerx is a clean, safe, fun place for kids. I own a local business that teaches children and PlayWerx is as good as it gets. When I look at reviews that complain about food and drinks not being permitted on site, people need to understand that customers for the most part do not clean up after themselves. At my business we pride ourselves on being clean. Our policies are generally put in place for a reason, not to alienate our customer base. As far as parking is concerned, I get the same complaints. If being a few steps away from the front door is your biggest issue, try coming when it's slower. You'll be right in front. It's like having an issue with a gym and their parking when you go at 5:30 PM. Besides, most of the people I see complain about parking need to do some walking anyway. Good luck Playwerx. You have a great, immaculate business. It's too bad people are more concerned about their own inconveniences instead of how much their own children enjoy your facility.
