Jordan's Corner in Scottsdale

Jordan's Corner in Scottsdale was an indoor playground I found "by accident" on Instagram when looking up bounce house rentals. They have a physical location as an inclusive indoor playground, but also provide rentals for bounce houses and other soft play equipment.

I would highly recommend following them on Instagram because they post about upcoming special events and other fun events.

Last weekend we were out and about and I saw they were having a Minnie Mouse meet and greet, included with day play entry to the facility. We had nothing better to do, and I've been wanting to check them out, so we headed over. 

At 3pm, Minnie Mouse waltzed through the parking lot (causing quite a few cars to stop due to joy of seeing a childhood favorite or absolute confusion), and made her arrival. She was followed by a small group of children who were already besides themselves at the opportunity to meet Minnie Mouse (adorable).

Grippy socks are required for both adults and children, and are available for purchase at the front desk at $3/pair. (I would like to note, as a chronic-sock-forgetter, these are plain block socks with white grippy dots, which are rather nice compared to some of the more garish socks other places sell.)

The check in process was very straight forward. Prior to going, I signed up for a KidCheck account which made the whole thing quick and easy. When I walked in I was asked if I was there for play or only to see Minnie Mouse, signed in, and had a sticker for me and a sticker for my son. You wear the sticker like a name tag, and this is what is used to track how long you were actually at the facility when cashing out.

As of September 2022, their prices are as follows:

• $15 per child for 1 hour
• $17 per child for 1.5 hours
• $20 per child for 2 hours

Wednesdays are discount days with $15 per child for all day play, which is a fantastic value. They also have daily passes for $29.99 for all day play, or monthly memberships starting at $100 per month.

Unlike most of the other indoor playgrounds in Phoenix, Jordan's Corner is a 6 and under facility, which is great for those of us with little minis. No fear of a big kid being in the "little kid" section, bowling your child over. They have also managed to jam pack so many different activities into a 2800 square feet facility, all while still feeling spacious, and offering plenty of places for parents to sit and relax.

They had a bounce house, a ball pit area, a "road" with rideable cars, grocery store, softplay slides and balance beam, a small wooden climbing structure and so much more. In the grocery section, they use real food packaging - such as creamer containers and a box of Cheezits. In a room filled with amazing toys, my son decided that box of Cheezits was the hottest thing and carried it around nearly the entire time. :) 

Due to the Minnie Mouse meet and greet, it did get relatively busy, but there was still plenty of room and toys for everyone to enjoy, and excellent line of sight no matter where your kiddo was playing. This would be an outstanding place for a playdate with a fellow parent, or a place to catch up on a few work emails while letting your little one burn off some energy. 

Don't forget to check out the little free library out front - adorable touch for a child-friendly business. I'll be sure to bring some books for our next visit.

Highlights

• Caters to the 6 and under crowd
• Clean facility with cushy padded flooring
• Lots of different activities despite the small footprint
• On the pricier side with the per hour model, but convenient location and lots of special events

Final Verdict

We will absolutely add this to the rotation of indoor playgrounds we visit, and will look into their rental offerings once we start having bigger birthday parties. 

Giggles in Glendale

We went to Giggles in Glendale to try out another indoor playground in the area. It was a surprisingly large facility with a large variety of equipment, including an American Gladiators style obstacle course and a giant trampoline structure. So far this is easily the best value I have found for an indoor playground facility, and we will be VERY LIKELY to return. 

Giggles has locations in both Glendale and Chandler.

 Initial reaction - the surrounding neighborhood is rough, but if you've been paying attention in the Phoenix area for the last year or two, its to be expected. Lots of homeless folks are loitering in the plaza and the surrounding parks, so be sure to lock your doors and say a firm, but polite "No" to any panhandlers. Once inside the facility, it is safe and bright and very comfortable. 

 You are greeted at the front desk by a helpful staff member, where you are able to sign in and pay the EXTREMELY reasonable $11.97 for all day play. Not per hour, but for however long you'd like to stay that day. They have cubbies for you to place your belongings, and food and beverages are only allowed in the specified area just behind the front desk. I appreciate their attempts to keep the play place nice and clean for everyone. 

 Socks are required for both adults and children, with grippy socks required for little ones, and adults are able to wear grippy or regular socks. As of September 2022, their pricing is as follows:

• $11 per child, $9 for each additional sibling
• Playcards available for reduced rates (never expire)
• 6 days for $46
• 12 days for $86

They are open from 9am to 6pm Sunday through Thursday, and 9am to 8pm Friday and Saturday.

To say that I was impressed with this place would be an understatement. They had such a large variety of activities for the kids, and it was at such a reasonable price. Various activities included (but were not limited to):

• Music section on a mini stage with pianos and drums
• Dual racing cars
• gigantic wooden structure with ramps, ropes, tire swings, slides, climbing walls and hideouts
• Reading tree house with hammocks
• Play house with a kitchen
• Play garden area with carrots are other items to "dig up"
• Dress up section with a large number of costumes
• "Workout" area resembling gym equipment in adorable miniature
• Tons of different cars, motorcycles, ice cream trucks and other rideable items
• Camping / Picnic area
• Mini grocery store and bakery
• Trampoline structure with 3 huge trampoline runs
• Gladiator style obstacle course

Not only was the facility clean, but the staff periodically went around to straighten up and sanitize toys, ensuring a safe experience for everyone. It had excellent line of sight from one end of the facility to the other, meaning you can easily take a seat on a bench or the very cushy carpeting, and see your child no matter where they are in the facility. My absolute favorite aspect of this indoor playground is that it is restricted to children 6 and under, which mean no bigger kids were in "the baby area" putting my son at risk.

Highlights

• Clean facility
• Very affordable to play all day, and play packages are very reasonable
• Concentrates on the 6 and under crowd to ensure the little ones don't get hurt

Final Verdict

I will absolutely be back with my son, and will likely purchase one of the play cards to save even more on their already reasonable rates. I will likely check out the Chandler location (the playcard is valid at both locations!) to see if they have different toys, but have no issue going back to the Glendale location for future visits.