Kaleideum — Attraction in Winston-Salem

I’ve been multiple times now, but it’s only because I’m trying to visit enough times with my membership before it expires so I doesn’t feel like a compete waste of money. I made the mistake of asking for a membership as a gift before they opened because I was so impressed with the previous facilities, both downtown and the old sciworks location. I was sure the new kaleideum would be even better! I was wrong. There are several things that presents itself as inconveniences for families and makes me dread even coming but I do it anyways. Like I said, just trying to get my moneys worth. Thankfully my membership expires this spring. We will NOT be renewing. First no parking lot of their own. You have to park in the parking deck next to the kaleideum and pay for parking each time. The walk isn’t so much of issue, most days, but if it’s cold, extremely hot, pouring down rain or you have several children, this is enough of a reason to just skip the visit all together. Let alone you have to pay?? I have a membership, I think even the basic package should include validated parking!! Or maybe just paying guest in general should get validated parking like what’s offered with all the other decent merchants downtown. C’mon! And the whole reason we typically want to visit a children’s museum in the first place is because we want to escape the cold, heat or rain. There’s no escaping it when you have to park downtown and haul all your children alongside the busy street. That brings me to my second point. They could have utilized their space much more efficiently, like at the old location, as far as climbing and jungle gym structures. Other than the outdoor structure on the roof top there is nothing for a child to climb and explore indoors. NOTHING! Children need to move their bodies and be physical not be bombarded with a bunch of screens and stationary exhibits with facts and history at every corner. Even the baby room has a TV that is pointless. It’s just a continual loop of parents and their children and a friendly reminder to wash your hands. Take the TV out of that room! There is a HUGE space on the rooftop that is covered which has a handful of rope “swings” that don’t even swing. They just spin. It’s such a disappointment. That space could have easily had a jungle gym, monkey bars, or an actual assortment of swings that swing, so children have a place to play in fresh air shaded from the heat and rain. The main attraction outdoors which is pretty nice but geared towards older kids is on the roof. ON THE ROOF with NO SHADE, NO COVERING. So when it’s raining or in the 90’s on a summer day it’s meaningless and a hazard. All the money they’ve invested in this place and they couldn’t include a basic shade covering?????? Who wants to go down a slide when it’s blazing hot out?? Anyways, the size of the building is misleading. Lots of big empty space and hallways, you’re children can easily walk out the rooms and down a flight of stairs, the water room smells like chlorine and chemicals so we don’t even go there, the room on the first floor where you can build with life size blocks has horrible colored florescent lighting that shines right in your eyes and no where to sit and observe, staff at the front desk are rude and treats you like an inconvenience if they even acknowledge you, and on and on. The old location had a jungle gym indoors like you would find at Chick-fil-A. And I don’t remember one screen in that entire place. If you’re children are overstimulated by sight, sounds and smells this is not the place to bring them. Also the light/laser shows they offer….surprise! you have to pay for as well, even as a member. We haven’t even bothered attending. They also charge the parents who are just there as bystanders to accompany the children. The pricing is ridiculous. If I could describe this place in short…disappointing, poorly designed, and a big money pit. They offer a lot adult gatherings when the place is closed which feel so odd. An overpriced experience for adults to relive the childhood and get drunk....

As others have mentioned the museum is very underwhelming. We had memberships with the prior children’s museums and Sciworks and for over 17 years and were very pleased. The family membership at the previously museum included the family members in the home. We were hassled at the front desk about membership specifications while our children stood there waiting. My children and husband were turned away today because we have the quadruple membership and it included four people. Although he only had three of our children with him he was turned away because the names of our family members did not match who was on the card. We have been going since the day that they opened and today was the day we were turned away. Instead of rectifying this information they literally turned my children away unless one person paid. It was their fault about the names and they made no apologies about their error.

The museum feels small. Everything feels crowded and chaotic even when it’s not really crowded; due to the set up each area. There are too many screens and not enough open space and materials for imaginative play. We could use our membership for two locations previously and could explore the science museum and the children’s museum. Both of the prior locations were better suited for a wide range of ages. We will not be renewing our membership if things don’t change. The membership does not include the planetarium and it is not as well equipped as the planetarium in the old Sciworks location. It just seems like the implementation and design was rushed. They should have asked parents and teachers for more feedback because anyone could have easily helped them make better choices. The water works area is an accident waiting to happen. It’s not spread out enough and they are now just putting in drains which should have happened before opening. The floor was so slick my children took the sweepers and attempted to move the water out of the way on numerous occasions. They said they didn’t want their sister to fall on the slick floor.

A few positive places that my children enjoy are the outside kaleidoscope from the prior location and the stage on the inside.

The people in the art area are rude and never want to help with bringing out supplies. They literally look at you like you’re annoying them and then get on their cell phones. We went and they had an hour before the sign stated that they would be closing and when asked by my child if they could bring out markers and paper they said they didn’t have any. Then I went and asked and they found some, but were clearly annoyed that they had to do some work. I could say more but, you get the point. They could have looked at the designs of High Point, our old children’s museum in Winston and Sciworks for some inspiration to better designs. If you have multiple children the outdoor space is a nightmare. The way it’s split up it makes it much more difficult to keep track of everyone. I wanted to support them and renewed our membership before seeing it, but the drive and price point of other local museums will likely get our money. Those museums keep our children’s interest more and are worth the drive. You have to pay to park also in a parking garage that isn’t secured. We all work hard for our money and I want to use it at a place that appreciates it and has caring people that work for them. I’m still upset that someone working at a children’s museum would turn away a family because the children’s name were incorrect. I am back with my children now because I felt bad that they could not play earlier, but after this year we won’t be renewing. One of my daughters said she didn’t want to come because the lady was mean and said she...

1 star only because no stars was not an option! We went with our 3rd grader on a field trip here yesterday. This was our 1st and last trip to this place. We are not locals and had a bit of a drive to get here. Upon arriving my 4 year old son and I had to go to the restroom. I sent my oldest daughter in with our son and another parent to use the restroom before entering myself. Then I entered with ever intention of going to the bathroom because i was floating at this point. The woman at the reception desk was extremely rude when i asked for the bathroom. She told me to many people where coming in for the bathroom with out checking in 1st. So I went to check in 1st. The women rang me up (but never asked me how many i had to pay for or anything) and then I advised her i had 2 children. She then cut me off and had an attitude and said " See this is why people should come and check in first." I replied to her "It's a long ride from wilkesboro, and my 4 year old had to poop. I'm sorry." Then gave her the ages of my 2 children. She continued with an attitude and told me i better bring my kids back up to the desk so she could stamp their hand. I was completely baffled at the blatant disrespect from the check in. I went to the restroom and returned with my children to the front desk. With all of the disrespect I recieved from the front desk i had forgotten to ask about my discount, so I asked her then if she could refund my purchase and apply my discount. Her response was "No, after you walk away from the desk there is nothing i can do." I was like wow, ok then. I had never been to this place before an with such a warm welcome from the "welcome desk" i will not be back even if the school does do this field trip again. On the way home I asked my daughter who's field trip it was what she learned from there. The answer was nothing. There was no guidance or direction from the staff to really educate the children in any way. This place is just an over priced play ground. I could have saved my $70( cost of field trip, parking and the admission of me and my other 2 children) plus my gas and taken my kids elsewhere and would not have spend nearly as much nor had to deal with the disrespect. Extremely disappointed all the way round...