Children's Fairyland — Attraction in Oakland

Discount Disneyland is a perfect reflection of Oakland.

Though this aging heart beats irregularly surrounded by the broken car glass of its parking lot, Children’s Fairyland is a testament to Oakland’s tenacity to exist despite all odds.

This is a place where all of the multi-cultural denizens of Oakland can exist in harmony while their children frolic in the ignorant bliss of children’s play. There is no other place where you will see so clearly the beauty of what unites all of the different people of Oakland, our children.

Located inside of this barbed wire compound is a deteriorating dream kept alive. Started in 1950 as a direct response to the success of Disneyland, this wonderland has never seen better days. While this might appear to be a dis at first glance, it is actually a testament to the staying power of this gem of Oakland. This park is better than it’s ever been, and the patina of age only adds to its charm.

As long as you don’t eat the food and the “Ferris wheel” doesn’t collapse, you and your children will most likely survive this adventure unharmed.

While the deteriorating creatures and cobwebbed rides caught my eye at first glance, I felt the love and beauty of the place by the time I left. What appeared to be a completely dilapidated relic has been partially restored by a skilled painter, adding a real flair to the scarcely veiled Disney knockoff vibe. To the park’s credit, Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio, Peter Pan and Aladdin no more belong to Disney than they do their original creators, so all’s fair in Love and the reappropriating of beloved Creative Commons IP. Despite the occasional Mickey Mouse hidden in the frescoes, a great amount of care has gone into being true to the original art of John Tenniel on all of the Alice themed sections and they even added an emerald city from Wizard of Oz to throw off the scent for any circling corporate lawyers. While the Tom Sawyer fence is a cheeky throwback, I might be the only adult in Oakland under 60 years old who got the joke. The new paintings are clearly created by an actual artist, down to the custom no smoking signs sprinkled around the park. Without this loving restoration I would struggle to give this place more than 2 stars, it’s only a shame the artist remains unknown, at least to me.

To say the park is tone deaf is irrelevant, the Children love it. The boys can be bandits as they hide in the old west town and pretend to hijack the barely operating train as it struggles along its dutiful double loop for each group of occupants. There is a real charm to the dark cracked cement tunnels that instilled a sense of wonder even in my cynical and rusty heart. This is because the park has the perfect amount of Mystery for a child. There is nothing straightforward about this Labyrinth stuck out of time. The brilliance of the place is that Imagination is the real fuel of Fairyland, and as long as the specter of Oakland is kept outside by the barb wire and the paint is refreshed every 20 years, that can never...

Haven't been back here in years but I'm definitely glad to have revisited. Bought our tickets online which was good because since covid they've modified some things which are clear on their site. Tickets are sold in 2 different time slots: 9a-12p or 1p-4p (they close 1 hour in between for deep cleaning and sanitization of the park). Some attractions are closed including the food court but they have a modified park map online that you can download. Prices were 13.99 for anyone 2 years old and over. CDC approved masks are required inside the park at all times (expect when eating/drinking).

My 8 year old niece LOVED it so much here. She darted through most of the attractions in the brief hour and a half we had to spend before they closed for the cleaning/sanitizing. When I asked her what was her favorite part she grinned and said everything! We brought my mom with us and even she loved it. Seeing the nursery rhymes and fairytales my mom read throughout her childhood in "real life" at fairyland was magical for her, definitely an endearing experience for them both despite their age difference! Although it was a bit crowded I've seen worse here and there wasn't so many kids that lines were super long or my niece felt discouraged by the wait times. The flora and fauna are breathtaking. The choice in flowers help bring that fairytale feeling even more. This was a great way to spend our...

I have been going to Fairyland since I was really young. Thankfully, it has maintained all of its charm & fun. This spot is excellent for birthday parties, field trips, etc. They sell plastic keys that unlock stories at each attraction, which are centered around various fairy tales. The statues of the characters have been there forever and are really fun & interesting to look at. There are other fun things to do throughout the park as well as a decent cafe. The company that runs the food service has locations in many different entities, such as the San Diego Children's Museum. The crowds are manageable, and it never feels like the park is so full that you can't move around. The only time there was a wait was for the small train which you can ride on. They have a carousel as well as a couple of other smaller rides. recommend Fairyland to anyone with kids. It can be fun for everybody, but it is definitely geared towards kids or sentimental people like me. You can get tickets online & outside of the park. The parking is easy & the surrounding neighborhood is really nice. Lake Merritt is next to the facility, so it is in a beautiful setting. I am beyond happy that Fairyland is still here for youngsters. If you are looking for larger rides, everything in digital or a large theme park experience, I would go to Marine World, Disneyland, or Great America/Six...