Kids Empire Tampa Citrus Park — Attraction in Citrus Park

New Indoor Play Area at Citrus Park Mall . First off, thank you to the birthday host for including the exact location in the invite, right near JCPenney. If not for that, I definitely would've wandered the whole mall looking for it.

Whew ! Let's start with the good: The place is very clean a big plus. You're required to remove your shoes before entering the play area (baskets are provided), and socks are mandatory (grip or no grip, doesn't matter). A waiver must be signed before entry. It's $20 per child, which includes admission for two adults. There's a cute little area for babies and toddlers, complete with a huge ball pit that's nicely separated from the big kid zone.

Now for the not-so-great:

Having a teenager , I've been to almost every play place in the Tampa Bay Area , and I've never felt this overwhelmed. The number of kids and adults crammed into one space was intense , we're talking about maybe a foot of walking space throughout the entire area.

We came on a Sunday afternoon for a party, and the party tables were all in one shared space, side by side, with no private rooms or separation. It was so loud I couldn't hear myself think, let alone have a conversation with other parents.

The play structure itself is like a giant jungle gym with three different slides and even a hidden car play area (costs extra) but it is not safe for toddlers to go in alone. It's understaffed, with no staff supervising the play areas, which is a big red flag.

And that big pink slide other reviewers have mentioned? I believe every word. Watching kids go down it gave me anxiety . it's way too steep, and I saw several kids flip or tumble off the end. Kids pushing other kids off the slide . Def need parent supervision or a staff to supervise that area . I also witnessed multiple kids fall straight through the round webbed climbing area, dropping 3-4 levels. No staff, no one helping just chaos.

If you're not flexible, or if you're claustrophobic, you're going to struggle navigating the jungle gym to keep track of your child.

Honestly, I think I'll stick to good old outdoor playgrounds and walks with my little one. This place might be fun for some, but it's not for the...

My family decided to come here for the first time on a busy Sunday (Father's day). I brought four children, ranging in ages from 3 to 7. The moment they all dispersed into the play area, I felt a sense of panic. You cannot see the entire play area from the tables, So I could not locate my children easily. Once I realized that many adults were also inside the play structure I decided to go in to be able to keep track of my 3-year-old. I finally found her as I traversed the maze, but eventually she ran off again. I was never able to see more than one of my children at the same time. After about an hour and a half of play, I realized that I had not seen my 3-year-old in quite some time, possibly 10 minutes. I asked my other three children if they had seen her, but they had not. I went back through the play structure and also could not find her. Out of nowhere she came running up to me with an employee in tow. The employee explained to me that she had gone out the front door and was found in the mall. As I inquired how she got passed the locked door (I'm assuming an employee opened it for a guest, and my child slipped out unbeknownst to me). The employee sort of shrugged and continued to apologize. At this point, feeling extremely vulnerable, highly overstimulated, and downright pissed off, we left! This was, again, a very busy weekend day, but it seemed like they had a lack of staff, and a bad system for keeping children safe. I was very uncomfortable with adults being in the play area, where parents could not oversee their children easily. There were very dark areas underneath the play structure that seemed like a blind spot. Overall I felt like my kids were not safe and there were not enough employees inside the structure helping to supervise in low...

As a parent always searching for safe, engaging indoor play spaces, our recent visit to Kids Empire Tampa – Citrus Park was a great experience for our young family. If you have children under 10 years old, this is a fun and affordable destination that offers hours of active entertainment.

The facility is thoughtfully designed with a separate area for toddlers (2 and under), and a much larger, multi-level play zone for older kids. The layout promotes both physical activity and creative play, and the overall environment felt clean and well-maintained.

A Few Helpful Tips for Fellow Parents:

Socks are required for both kids and adults. They do sell socks at the front desk for $3, but the quality is not the best — so we recommend bringing your own to save money and ensure comfort.

Waivers can be completed on-site, but I highly recommend filling them out online in advance. The in-facility systems tend to run slowly, and completing the waiver ahead of time will save you time during check-in.

The seating area for parents is compact, and tables are fairly close together. If you’re planning to relax while the kids play, consider visiting during off-peak hours when the space is less crowded.

We visited with three children — ages 6, 2, and 10 months — and the total admission was only $20, which is an excellent value for the amount of time and energy they spent playing.

Overall, Kids Empire Tampa is a fantastic option for families with young children looking to beat the heat or escape the rain. With just a little preparation (bring socks and fill out that waiver online), it’s a smooth and worthwhile outing for the...