Florida Children's Museum — Attraction in Lakeland

We had the opportunity to attend a birthday celebration at the new Children’s museums in Lakeland. A spacious location with a very clean facility. Having the option to enjoy the museum and the park before/after the celebration was supposed wonderful option/bonus. The rented room comes with tables, chairs, and tablecloths conveniently located on the first floor of the museum. Even though I found the room in fairly good conditions, it is extremely dark and almost claustrophobic. The rules for set up are quite strict and it is a pricey option however, you agree to them when you decide to celebrate your special occasion at this location. Having said that, as a professional with 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry, the lack of service, compassion, conflict resolution and basic Customer service was beyond disappointing. As a new facility, it seems the food and beverages ratios are not quite mastered to say the least. With strict “no outside food” policies, comes the understanding that for the amount of money paid, the facility would not leave your guests without any food. I personally witness the children eating ONE slice of pizza and two or three nuggets. Adults were being fairly reasonable with their food servings as well. Not even 30 minutes into the party the food was gone and several people did not get a chance to eat. Miscalculations happen, mistakes are made and this was obviously the case. What was beyond my understanding was the lack of care or flexibility to resolve the situation. The client was offering to pay for additional food, or even an exception to bring food from across the hall to feed the guess. It was all denied. I could not believe that an institution would allow this to happen without actively finding a resolution for the client. The entire party felt pushed out of the location an hour after the birthday started. It was tense enough that several members of the party felt the need to interject and try to find a resolution that would be suitable for everyone. The staff lacks any type of conflict resolution training , compassion or even basic service delivery standards. There was no offering to assist at the time of the birthday cake in effort to accelerate the process, even when they delayed the process themselves, by not delivering utensils on a timely manner. It was 30 minutes before the party was over and the staff was kicking everyone out. Guests witnessed team members talking back, lashing out and walking away making a scene due to them claiming it was “not their job to deal with this”. I was in disbelief. How can a member of the service industry at this level would behave that way. You would expect this from a low fast food restaurant not an institution who charges hundreds and hundreds of dollars for what ended up being a subpar service experience. A family celebration was ruined by these staff members. There is no doubt that every single member of the party will be sharing this terrible experience for months to come, if not years. This was my experience and from what I hear, there were many more situations were service fell beyond short. I was personally looking into possibly hosting a birthday party at this location. Needless to say, this will never happen. It is a shame as the children were having a blast as they’re blind to what the parents had to endure during what I could only refer to as a horrible birthday service experience. I only hope the senior leadership steps in and not only act on immediate service recovery for this family, but starts a thorough service analysis and training on how to actively deliver a...

So I held off on reviewing Florida children’s museum for a while, because it was so new, and I wanted to see what shifts and changes they made at the start. I have both positives and negatives about this place, but overall we have enjoyed it very much.

We have visited the museum at least 6-7 times and are currently museum members. So you can say we have a bit of a vested interest as well as high hopes for the success of our beloved children’s museum. This has been a great place for my daughter with Down Syndrome to explore and play. I find that the attractions in the museum collectively will keep her attention for an hour to an hour and a half before I can tell it’s time for us to go.

Positives-

1. Museum pricing is set up to accommodate low income as well as standard fare. Reciprocal memberships only give you half off at other museums. if you are a typical family and plan to visit more than once, a membership package might be in your best interest.
2. There are different things for multiple age levels, but I would certainly cap age interest at about 11.
3. This is a play-based children’s museum. There will be direct educational crossover, but the primary route is exploration through imaginative play. This is both positive and negative depending on what your families hopes are for your experience. I love that for the best experience, parental interaction is recommended!
4. Mood/theme/styling- on this front it gets an A+ for styling and accessibility. Displays are wide open, allowing for both strollers, wheelchairs, walkers etc, but watch out for your kids that typically elope, as there are lots of places to run away. Everything is trendy, thematic, and beautiful to the eye. Great use of palette, theme and decor.

Negatives-

1. The City- it’s almost too wide open – I would expect crossover play to happen as this is a play based museum, but there are certain displays that could be completely wiped out and shifted over multiple times during the course of play, especially on busy days. I can only imagine the museum workers, and how many times they have to clear out the house and return it to Publix and clear out Publix and return it to the farmers stand and the farm. The city could use a little bit more definition of space. That’s where the Glazer museum has it down.
2. Some of the city exhibits could use a little bit more flushing out – for instance J Burns pizza food truck – would love to see better organizational system for pizza toppings. Labeled places for all of the things to go set up like a kitchen would look with bins in the counter and workstations. Maybe even a few pizza making signs. Melissa and Doug was a good start… But not sustainable. Also I would love to see the farmstand more flushed out. It’s such a big open space but no definitive way to use it. Plus all the vegetables go straight back to Publix. The doctors office could use the same TLC that the veterinary clinic received – that was definitely a good upgrade.
3. Many exhibits are already worn or broken and the museum hasn’t been open very long. The oranges exhibit has never worked properly as the angles are off, the percussion room used to be overstocked, and now it’s down to the bare minimum, on three of our visits, the green screen video monitor and camera were not working together properly. Also the fabulous cork turning music box, which I love, is full of broken corks.

Overall, we’ve had a very positive experience and have appreciated how the museum continues to bring in new community events, activities, and educational connections to encourage your...

Rating: ★★★★★

Bonnet Springs has truly outdone itself with its captivating and educational Children's Museum, designed to inspire and ignite the imaginations of young explorers. As a parent, I was thrilled to take my children on this adventure, and I can confidently say that it exceeded all expectations.

Upon entering the museum, we were greeted by a whimsical facade that instantly transported us into a world of wonder. The attention to detail in the museum's design is commendable, with vibrant colors, interactive displays, and engaging exhibits that are perfectly tailored to capture the curiosity of children of all ages.

The museum's layout is intuitive, allowing kids to explore at their own pace. Each exhibit is thoughtfully crafted, blending education with entertainment seamlessly. From the interactive science displays to the hands-on art activities, there was something to captivate every child's interests. I was particularly impressed by the variety of exhibits, catering to diverse fields such as history, technology, nature, and more.

The staff at the Children's Museum are enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about their work. They effortlessly guided us through the different exhibits, sharing fascinating insights and encouraging our children to ask questions and delve deeper into their curiosities. It was evident that their goal was not just to entertain but also to educate and foster a love for learning.

One standout feature of the Children's Museum is the emphasis on sensory experiences. Kids can engage their senses in a range of interactive displays, stimulating their minds and encouraging hands-on exploration. Whether it's the touch-and-feel exhibits, the captivating soundscape in the music area, or the immersive visual displays, every corner of the museum sparks joy and curiosity.

Another aspect that deserves praise is the museum's commitment to inclusivity. The exhibits are designed to accommodate children with various physical abilities, ensuring that everyone can participate and enjoy the experience. It's heartwarming to see such dedication to inclusivity in a space that fosters creativity and learning.

Bonnet Springs has also done an excellent job of providing a safe and clean environment for families. The museum's hygiene practices were visibly apparent, and the staff was vigilant in ensuring that visitors adhered to the safety guidelines. This allowed us to focus on the exhibits and enjoy our time without any concerns.

In conclusion, the Children's Museum at Bonnet Springs is a true gem in the realm of children's educational experiences. It combines entertainment, education, and enchantment to create an unforgettable adventure for young explorers. If you're looking for a place where your child can learn, grow, and have an absolute blast, this museum is an absolute must-visit. Prepare to be amazed as your little ones embark on an immersive journey of discovery...