Play All Day at Kids Empire

My kids and I went to Kids Empire for the first time in February 2023, and I can’t even count how many people I’ve told about it since then. (Sorry it’s taken so long to get an actual blog post written!) Since that first visit to the Moorestown location, we’ve been back to THAT location at least 3 times, Cheltenham once, and Warminster once. It has quickly become my favorite of the indoor playgrounds, and that says a lot.

Locations:

We’ve been to all three Kids Empire locations that are within an hour of our house, and the Moorestown one remains my favorite. They are all very similar, so if one is significantly closer to you, then stick with that one!

BUT, if you’re within a reasonable drive to Moorestown, we prefer that one. YES, it is a few dollars more expensive. However, the Moorestown has the most natural light (which I LOVE). And the layout if more horizontal, meaning that it stretches more ACROSS than DEEP. This makes is easier to locate your child from the outside of the playground area. It’s in a shopping center that’s easy to navigate with a lot of food options nearby. We typically go to Chick-fil-A, but recently had lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings with friends and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality/pricing. And, the claw machines at Moorestown are the only ones that are play until you win. (HUGE deal to my kids because that’s really the only time I let us play those!)

In my ranking, I’d put Moorestown, then Warminster, then Cheltenham. Warminster IS by Nifty Fifty’s, which is a favorite of ours, so we’ll go back to that one if we want to combine with food there like we did this past summer. And I’d go to any location if we were meeting friends nearby.

What age is it for?

The internet says ages 0-12 years. I would say 3 years to 10 years is probably best, but we took my 11-year old nephew with us on his birthday, and he loved it too!

If you have kids under 3 years old, they’ll probably be more comfortable in the toddler area. There are smaller slides and climbing areas and a shallow ball pit.

I wouldn’t bring a baby unless they are at least crawling, and walking would be better.

According to the website, babies under 12 months are free ONLY if they’re there with other siblings. Otherwise, you pay for every child.

What is there to do at Kids Empire?

The main attraction is the giant maze/playground! This thing is huge and takes up almost the entire back wall of the space. There are all different ways to move throughout – climbing, crawling, spinning, bridges, balance beams, etc.

Within the playground maze, there are three main slides. One is super wide (3-5 people can fit), steep and FAST. You have to be a little brave for this one, but it’s probably the most fun. The next slide has 4 lanes and there are little hills that you actually get air on sometimes because they’re so fast. (Great one for racing.) And the last slide is for single riders. It’s made up of those rollers that make it a little bumpy, and you can ride on little seats with wheels and a handle. The slides are definitely highlights of Kids Empire.

Within the maze, there’s also a section for some soccer with plenty of space to run around, nets, and soft bouncy soccer balls.

And on the bottom floor of the maze, there’s an area for building with giant blocks. This seems to be the spot where my kids most often make friends and will spend quite a bit of time building “cities” with these big LEGO-like blocks. It’s great for taking a breather if they’re getting tired from all the running and climbing!

Below the maze, there are ride-on motorized motorcycles for one or two people. They move pretty slowly, but still fun to take a few loops around the track. These are one of the few attractions that are NOT included with your admission. You’ll need to purchase one of the game cards to ride.

If you don’t want to splurge on the motorcycles, there are also a few foot-powered ride-on bikes that kids can use to scoot around the main floor.

If kids need a break from the Maze, they can show off their dance moves in the glow dance room. It’s space themed with dark walls and ceiling, as well as lots of glow decor and disco lights to keep it from being spooky.

And if your kids like video games and claw machines, there are a few of those, too! Note: This is another feature that isn’t included with admission.

Details:

• You will need to fill out a waiver at whatever location you visit. You can do it there, but save yourself the time and do it from home. Your kids will want to start playing right away!
• Shoes are not allowed once you’re inside the play area, with the exception of the bathrooms. After you pay, they’ll hand you a plastic tub that you can put your things in and carry to a table. There are also lockers and cubbies.
• Socks are mandatory, but they do not make your purchase their socks. Socks from home are fine!
• Outside food/drink are not allowed. BUT I have brought water bottles every time, and I don’t think they’d stop you if you had snacks in your bag. I wouldn’t show up with full-on meal though. There is a snack bar with a few packaged snacks and drinks. (I didn’t pay attention to pricing.) And there are water fountains. At the Moorestown location, there are several restaurants either within walking distance or just across the road. We go to Chick-Fil-A!
• There are several bathrooms: Male, Female, and some single person/family. All seemed clean.
• Pricing is $22.90 per child at the Moorestown location and $19.90 at Cheltenham and Warminster. This includes all-day access with re-entry. Two adults are FREE with every child. No cash accepted, card only.
• For the motorcyles, arcade and cranes, you’ll need to purchase a rechargeable playcard. The card is $1, and then you charge them with “flames.”
• Kids Empire is open every day, including holidays! And even stays open at night.
• Kids Empire does offer birthday parties! There are several packages available. While we’ve done all our parties at home so far, I think this would be a great spot for one. It’s fun for a variety of ages (including grownups that are willing to get in there with their kids!) There are a ton of tables so people can sit and chat. And since it’s just one big room, you don’t need to spend the party worrying that your child has wandered up to another area.

What We Love About Kids Empire

Besides for just the general description of why it’s fun, you might be wondering why I’ve been recommending Kids Empire so much. (And no, this is not sponsored in any way. I’ve paid every time, and they don’t know me!) Here are a few of the main pros for us.

• It’s clean, cheerful and bright! SO many of the indoor play areas we visit have next to no natural light. They tend to feel dark and drab. The Moorestown location has huge windows on the side where you enter in addition to plenty of overhead lighting, making the whole place feel so much brighter.
• The lightning and overall structure of the place makes it easier than a lot of other big indoor playgrounds to be able to spot your kids. If you’ve ever felt that panic of not knowing WHERE they are in a place like this, you’ll know what I mean.
• You pay one admission fee, and then you can come and go. Each time we’ve visited, we’ve arrived around 11 a.m., played for a while, taken a lunch break, and then gone back to play for another couple hours.
• It’s fun for a variety of ages and athletic ability. It can be hard finding places that siblings and friends of different ages can enjoy. This fits that perfectly.
• Parents are encouraged to join in and have fun with the kids. Yes, there are spots that are tighter for adults. But overall, the structure is built so that you can easily walk/climb through with them without spending the entire time crawling on your knees! My kids still love for me to play with them. And it makes it more fun for me, too!
• There are plenty of tables and chairs, so you can set your things down and make a designated spot to meet up if you every do get separated, or just need to take a break.
• It’s a great place to have a playdate because parents can participate AND also take a break to chat. Because of the way it’s set up, you can see the whole place pretty easily from any of the tables. You don’t need to follow your kids from area to area.
• It feels safe and clean.
• It’s a great indoor option for rainy, hot, or cold days!