Daisy-J&D
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2004
- Messages
- 552
Hi,
I just wanted to post this for anyone close to Rochester (it's about 2 hours from Toronto). I had read a blurb about the National Museum of Play in the Toronto Star about a year ago. The place sounded neat so I made a note to visit it when we got a chance.
Well, we just got back from vacation with friends and we stopped here on our way home. This place is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. It blew away our expectations and really is worth the road trip (even for just a day). The website has virtual tours under the exhibit areas to give you an idea...
DD2.5 went nuts. When we entered the first hall there was a Sesame Street/Elmo's world exhibit that included the 123 steps from the show. It was pretty simple but she loved it! There was a neat spot where you were filmed and it looked like you were on Sesame Street talking to Elmo! Awesome.
There was a full sized carnival style train ride alongside a huge train table, a kids sized (large) grocery store, a plane display, boat display, trucks, an antique room with a little victorian (?) kitchen, dollhouse, train.
There was a hall was dedicated to Superheros. Lots of neat little games. DD had a blast playing at another table that was set-up with Plan Toys roads/cars/airplanes and superhero toys. There were virtual games, etc.
DD's favourite was the next hall, Bernstain Bears. She had to be dragged out kicking and screaming because at this point she was tired and falling over. The Berstain Bears section was really neat. It had different activity centres like a woodshop, Kitchen/restaurant, a farm (where you could sort eggs, send food up into the mill), a small play structure with a slide and others.
The next hall was a blur because we tried to rush through it with DD who was, as mentioned, falling over. There was wizards and dragons, we made magic wands and crowns. There was a playstructure (we avoided). Great over the top theming. We also skipped the curret travelling exhibit which runs through September. It was something that reminded me of EPCOT with build your own rollercoaster type activities.
FINALLY there was a toy museum that reminded me of POP Century except full out museum not just little shadow boxes. Up in the museum area there were also toys and activities so DD was still happy. She loved playing with Slinky and Barbies dream house. She made little wooden cars and then sent them down a conveyor belt. We past by what looked like an arcade with a bunch of old school games like pacman! I was spinning by this point and all I thought was WE'RE GOING BACK! THIS IS AWESOME!
And yes, we're going back. On September 22nd a Dora and Diego exhibit is arriving and DD is a big fan of Diego.
Hope I sold someone on this place or if you have been, I hope you agree. I feel like we've stumbled on a keeper!! It's exciting to have something like this so close to home (and there is also GREAT shopping out that way at Waterloo outlet and Eastview Mall).
ETA - DD at 2.5 was a good starter age. the place is overwhelming.... I think (with the current design exhibit this summer) the place is good up to 12. Once Dora and Diego arrive, I'd think it would still be fun up to 10. I saw some older kids that looked thrilled to bits.
I just wanted to post this for anyone close to Rochester (it's about 2 hours from Toronto). I had read a blurb about the National Museum of Play in the Toronto Star about a year ago. The place sounded neat so I made a note to visit it when we got a chance.
Well, we just got back from vacation with friends and we stopped here on our way home. This place is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. It blew away our expectations and really is worth the road trip (even for just a day). The website has virtual tours under the exhibit areas to give you an idea...
DD2.5 went nuts. When we entered the first hall there was a Sesame Street/Elmo's world exhibit that included the 123 steps from the show. It was pretty simple but she loved it! There was a neat spot where you were filmed and it looked like you were on Sesame Street talking to Elmo! Awesome.
There was a full sized carnival style train ride alongside a huge train table, a kids sized (large) grocery store, a plane display, boat display, trucks, an antique room with a little victorian (?) kitchen, dollhouse, train.
There was a hall was dedicated to Superheros. Lots of neat little games. DD had a blast playing at another table that was set-up with Plan Toys roads/cars/airplanes and superhero toys. There were virtual games, etc.
DD's favourite was the next hall, Bernstain Bears. She had to be dragged out kicking and screaming because at this point she was tired and falling over. The Berstain Bears section was really neat. It had different activity centres like a woodshop, Kitchen/restaurant, a farm (where you could sort eggs, send food up into the mill), a small play structure with a slide and others.
The next hall was a blur because we tried to rush through it with DD who was, as mentioned, falling over. There was wizards and dragons, we made magic wands and crowns. There was a playstructure (we avoided). Great over the top theming. We also skipped the curret travelling exhibit which runs through September. It was something that reminded me of EPCOT with build your own rollercoaster type activities.
FINALLY there was a toy museum that reminded me of POP Century except full out museum not just little shadow boxes. Up in the museum area there were also toys and activities so DD was still happy. She loved playing with Slinky and Barbies dream house. She made little wooden cars and then sent them down a conveyor belt. We past by what looked like an arcade with a bunch of old school games like pacman! I was spinning by this point and all I thought was WE'RE GOING BACK! THIS IS AWESOME!
And yes, we're going back. On September 22nd a Dora and Diego exhibit is arriving and DD is a big fan of Diego.
Hope I sold someone on this place or if you have been, I hope you agree. I feel like we've stumbled on a keeper!! It's exciting to have something like this so close to home (and there is also GREAT shopping out that way at Waterloo outlet and Eastview Mall).
ETA - DD at 2.5 was a good starter age. the place is overwhelming.... I think (with the current design exhibit this summer) the place is good up to 12. Once Dora and Diego arrive, I'd think it would still be fun up to 10. I saw some older kids that looked thrilled to bits.
