Kids Empire Great Lakes Crossing review, pics, video, and info for the NEW indoor playground and café for kids at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills. Kids Empire is a chain of indoor playgrounds and playplaces, they have more than 70 locations throughout the country including a 2nd Metro Detroit location in Sterling Hts.
You may remember the Kids Empire location as being the old Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill restaurant location. The Auburn Hills / Great Lakes Crossing Kids Empire location is HUGE with floor to ceiling slides, mazes, dance floor, scooters, climbing toys, ball pits, scooter tracks, climbing nets, and more. The overall size and amount of play space dwarfs many other indoor playgrounds we’ve reviewed.
Kids Empire Great Lakes Crossing Review
The playscape structures form an “L” shape on the perimeter walls. The other walls include lockers, the front desk, and the entryway. In the center, there are several tables with seating. Seating is conveniently located so that you can see all areas of the playscape from any seat. They’re not the coziest lounge chairs, but they will do. Some picnic tables.
METRO DETROIT INDOOR PLAYGROUNDS
The playscape setup starts near the entrance with an area for smaller children. It includes a ball pit and small soft structures to climb and slide on. There is a disco ball black-lit room for dancing, as well as some foot powered tricycles for the little ones. Not sure if there is much interest… but there are also air hockey and foosball tables. As the playscape wraps around to the adjoining wall, it is more suited for older children. The structures are tall and more adventurous. There are mazes and many levels and activities inside. On the ground level in the center is where you will find a Moto Speedway with riding cars for kids 5 and older (must be tall enough to reach the pedal and stop). Under 5 must be accompanied by an adult.
There are certain parts of the play areas that require an additional purchase. Guests can purchase a rechargeable playcard for $1 that they load up with “flames” – $2 for 8 flames, $5 for 24 flames, $10 for 50 flames, and $20 for 102 flames. Flames can be used for the moto rides, arcades, and cranes. I wish these areas were included with the admission price, but alas.
I’ll say that the fun at Kids Empire skews a little older than most indoor playgrounds. Other indoor playplaces in the area are great for toddler-aged children to around 8 or 9 years old. I’d bump the ceiling of those ages by a couple of years due to sheer size of Kids Empire Great Lakes Crossing and the amount of things to do. Sure, Kids Empire has a lot of fun play areas for toddlers. I’m just stating that I would recommend Kids Empire to parents whose children are closing in on double digit ages versus other Metro Detroit indoor playgrounds that cater well to children 8 & under.
Kids Empire Auburn Hills Review – Pics
Kids Empire Auburn Hills Review – The Café
The café (Snack Bar) at Kids Empire is a little sterile but utilitarian. They sell over-priced gas station snacks, chips, and soft drinks. They do offer a snack box that features a PB&J “jamwich”, chips, cheese or apple sauce option, and juice drink of choice. There are better menu and drink options at other Metro Detroit indoor playground cafés.
If you are your kids are hungry, you’re better off just going to the Great Lakes Crossing food court and then returning. Daily admission to kids empire includes all day readmission so this is the best option food-wise. Don’t let the lack of an elegant, expansive café hold you back. The kids come for the fun, not the food.
Kids Empire Great Lakes Crossing Birthday Parties
3-hour birthday party packages are offered at Kids Empire. Kids Empire provides the food, the invites, a goody bag, drinks, goodie bag per child, & candy. Choose either the Kids Snack plan or the Kids Meal plan.
Like the snack bar options, these party packages are sparse and utilitarian… but not in a bad way. You won’t be crammed into a small party room as is the case at other indoor playground locations like T&B Play, the central sitting area is like a gigantic school cafeteria.
METRO DETROIT BIRTHDAY PARTY PLACES
INDOOR WINTER FUN PLACES FOR KIDS
Kids Empire Great Lakes Crossing Video Walkthrough
Kids Empire Auburn Hills Indoor Playground Admission Info
You can pay by the day at Kids Empire at nearly $20 per visit or purchase a 10 pass punchcard that averages about $16 per visit. Visits are for all-day access to the entire playplace. 1 or 2 adults per child are FREE but each additional adult must pay a $3 fee. Socks, of course, are mandatory but they sell them at the desk for $3 should your child forget theirs.
OAKLAND COUNTY MOMS BUSINESS REVIEWS
Kids Empire Great Lakes Crossing Outlets
4688 Baldwin Road
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
248-270-5495
www.kidsempire.com
Kids Empire Auburn Hills Hours
Mondays through Thursdays – 10a-8p
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays – 10a-10p
Visit the Oakland County Moms Birthday Party Directory to find more info on Oakland County and Metro Detroit, Michigan Birthday party packages and venues. Contact us or call us at 248-534-3934 to be listed in our Birthday Party Directory.
We hope you found this Kids Empire Great Lakes Crossing Indoor Playground review helpful. For more info, contact www.kidsempire.com.
