The Toys "R" Us Adventure Chicago

The Toys R Us Adventure has rolled into Chicago 

& 

Macaroni Kid Chicago has 4 tickets to give to TWO lucky subscribers!

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If you have been anywhere near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Pearson recently, you likely noticed the large signs advertising the Toys "R" Us Adventure and wondering exactly what was behind those doors.  The advertisements all over social media give us a glimpse, but it is hard to appreciate it without seeing it first-hand, so last week Macaroni Kid Chicago gathered up some self-proclaimed "fun experts" and got a sneak peek!  

A little about the Toys "R" Us Adventure:

This is a ticketed event for kids of all ages (yes, even 40-something-year-olds like me!) and groups are sent through the adventure at their assigned time.  You will travel from room to room, and the entire experience should take about an hour.  There are guides who help you move through the experience and of course, Geoffrey was on hand to greet us! The first space, designed as a train station, is where we gathered to prepare for our journey to "Toy Land" on the "Toy Land Express" and where we realized just how whimsical this experience was about to be!

I don't want to ruin the surprise by describing each play area, but you will get to dive into a giant toy box with larger than life fun, zip into Adventure Bay to help save the day, go on safari to see tigers, giraffes, and zebras and brave the snow and come face to face with a Yeti (which is really no problem for a Chicagoan!). Our crew spent the least amount of time in a couple of the rooms, but we don't feel as if we missed out on those experiences - it just is truly an adventure that offers a little bit of everything for all interests!  The last themed room empties you out into a mini toy store (we all expected that, right?) and as we were leaving we learned that if we took the escalator up to the 2nd level we could experience a HUGE ball pit.  They weren't exaggerating - the ball pit encompasses nearly the entire floor!

Four things to consider:

• Adult tickets are $28 and I suggest you make the most of it!  The adventure really is designed for all ages to be able to engage in play.  As much as I wanted to capture great images to share with my subscribers, what I enjoyed the most were the moments when I put my phone away and got down to play.  My only regret is that I didn't try the zip line too!  Children under 3 are free and the Kid tickets are $20 and there is no doubt that my crew of "fun experts" had a BLAST!
• Tickets MUST be purchased in advance and no more than 12 tickets per group.
• The Toys "R" Us Adventure incorporates lighting schemes, music, and some areas have surprising loud noises and I don't recommend this for anyone who is sensory sensitive.  I will update though if I learn of dates that will be reserved for a more sensory-friendly experience.
• The ball pit is BIG and not very deep.  It was maybe 2 feet deep, but it appears deeper.  I know it is hard to resist the urge, but I don't recommend anyone trying to jump into the balls from the platforms. I suggest an adult go into the ball pit as well, ESPECIALLY if you are there with more than one kid and the area is busy.  We personally had an incident where one of our "fun experts" hurt themself and needed help getting out of the balls.  I was so thankful that I was nearby, heard the call for help and was able to help them get out of the balls.  Don't worry, there is a wall of lockers to keep your valuables safe.  Losing a wallet, phone or car keys in a ball pit this size would be stressful for sure!
• Parking is an adventure in itself in the city and there are several parking garages nearby.  It is also a short walk from the Chicago Red Line and several buses run by there as well. (#66 along Chicago and then the #3, #26, #147 and #151 run along Michigan)

The Basics: