Raindrops Playhouse — Local services in Milwaukie

Updated Review 04/16/2023 : My oldest daughter wanted to go to Raindrops today and I agreed for us to give this place a second chance. I am updating the review I left that was 3 stars to 4 stars due to the improvements I saw. There was a place for belongings to be stored and there were gates up at the entrance which made me feel more at ease with my daughter playing.

Still was a bit crowded but it was easier to find a seat to sit down this time around.

Old Review : Took my daughters here to play today because of all the great things I have heard.

Immediately as my husband and I walked in we were not impressed. Usually places we have gone to have a gate that separates the checkin / entrance space to the play area as a safety for the kids. Well there was not such a setup here. We also immediately noticed there was no area to store shoes and belongings like some places. It would be nice to see an area that had cubbies or lockers for parents to be able to put shoes, jackets and such in.

As we checkin we went to find an area to unload and get our girls ready to play and to our surprise there was not a space for us to do so. But we managed to find an area to get settled in.

My 4 year old went to explore the areas meant for the big kids like her while my husband followed along to take some photos and I went with our 10 month old to explore the 3 and under space. I was very un happy to see kids that were well over 3 in the 3 and under space playing. These kids also read the sign aloud and new the space was for 3 and under and still went in. I immediately left the play area as one of those children was throwing some ball around and it not only hit my 10 month old in the face but another younger child too.

My 4 year old as she was exploring the larger space enjoyed it but it was very hard for my husband or myself to keep and eye on her as you could only really walk around 3 sides of the larger space. It would be nice if there were cameras setup with tvs around the space so parents could glance at the tv to see where their kiddos are.

The rope area they had is really cool and my 4 year old loved that area.

Over all experience for our family was 3 out of 5 stars. Somethings I recommend to the owners & management of the space is to invest in cubbies or lockers for belongings, Gate for the entrance area and adding cameras to the play areas and having monitors setup around the space for parents to be able to see where their kids are if sitting in a space that is far from where the kids are playing...

First of all why dont they have a sign for their business? Makes its so hard to find when all you see is a nameless building with black tinted windows. Its like they want you to miss it! FYI they're in the same parking lot as Geico and Bedsmart and they have plenty of parking available and you can see he building from the street. After we called them up and I finally found the place we signed a waiver which had to be done online via your phone so best to just do it beforehand if you have antsy toddlers. The cost was $14 for just my toddler. It was nice that you dont have to pay for adults as well because some places do charge. They also make you buy grippie socks if you dont already have some, so plan ahead and just get some from Amazon or Old Navy. It was however, a madhouse in here on a Saturday since its unlimited playtime and the olders kids were definately taking advantage of this time. Might be better to have a 2 hour alloted time so it doesnt get as crowded.

Overall, the place had a variety of play areas for kids with a small area for kids under 3 as well which was perfect for my 16 month old since there were a lot of older kids running around. The ball pit in this area didnt look to clean as it had some stuff stuck to the balls so not sure how frequently they're cleaning these areas but definately makes me worried. The macrame area was also pretty cool and my toddler had fun hanging on the balls and swinging but I was surprised to see the two poles didnt have any padding and kids could easily get hurt when swinging if they're not careful.The slide area is also fun and I was able to go up and help my toddler since the area is wide enough.

They also have plenty of snacks like cheese, milk, crackers, juice boxes, squeezeables, etc.. if you forgot anything at home. The staff was also friendly and helpful and it was nice that they had cubbies to store your shoes and stuff.

Plus point! They're right across from a drive thru coffee spot called Black Bottle which will help keep parents caffeinated to get through play time but FYI they dont allow outside...

Where do I even begin? This place could be amazing, but it needs some work to get there.

Cons: Poorly laid-out/very bad design. Too crowded to actually enjoy. Nowhere near enough seating (or standing room, for that matter!). No place for personal items (shoes, coat, diaper bag etc.. Ball pit area is a joke… it only leads to ‘older’ kids fast-pitching balls and hitting others (kids and adults) w/the balls… and/or tripping over them as you walk. Also; germs! You know they aren’t cleaning those balls! Larger surfaces?.. Maybe. Dozens/hundreds of individual smaller items (balls)?.. Don’t think so. Woven structure: the ball ‘swings’ are TOO CLOSE to the chairs/tables… Kids are (unintentionally) banging into the people seated at those tables. Exposed metal posts/beams at woven structure NEED to be wrapped (like all other posts are). Kids (mine included) are hurting themselves as they (unintentionally) bang into them while swinging. Line of sight is TERRIBLE. No re-entry and no outside food; (yet, food offerings are limited… and pricey). Capacity… is there a max? I question if (and how) anyone is keeping track. Timed entry (like others offer) would be ideal (imo). Pretty small space for the amount of stuff they’ve got going on. Is there anyone actually in charge to ensure proper/safe play, enforce rules? I’d say this space is suitable for kids up to ages 7-8ish.. not 12yo’s (as stated on their website).

It feels very ‘unfinished’, like they were just eager to get their doors open. Don’t get me wrong, your kid(s) will have fun and we do need more spaces like this in the area, but this place needs a lot of work.. it’s pure chaos.

Missed opportunity. So much potential.

*Keep your earplugs nearby! oh, and bring grippy socks (or you’ll have to buy some there).

Pros: The woven structure itself is pretty cool.. that was our favorite part :) Employees were...