Last Monday I was given the opportunity to visit the Crayola Experience, along with some other Macaroni Kid Moms. We were provided tickets and tokens so we could fully experience what they had to offer, and let our readers know about it. I figure you all have some very specific questions in mind about this experience and I will really try to answer them. If you think of anything that I didn't cover though, feel free to message me and ask! I will try my best to have answers for you.
First of all, I love the bright yellow building. When I saw it from the parking lot, it screamed CRAYOLA, and created a feeling of nostalgia. That yellow was part of most kids' childhoods. You really can't miss the building but if you just need to know where to aim, head for the food court area. You enter through the inside of the mall. We were there at opening and there was a little line, but not bad. They did a quick bag check for anything dangerous and ushered us in. Usually you would purchase tickets at this point but since we had been given tickets we didn't go through that process. It looked like they had some self service kiosks though that you could use as well as the front desk.
When I got inside I quickly realized there was so much more to the Crayola Experience than I thought. Most attractions are included in the price of the ticket. There are a few extra experiences though that can be purchased.
First thing my kids did was just sit and color. We found some coloring pages and ton of crayons in what they call their "Colossal Caddy". We can color any day though so I was itching to move along and see what other awesome projects they had.
Next we moved along to the "Be a Star" station where we posed for pictures, picked backdrops, and made coloring pages starring... US! My kids thought this was really fun. We got a group shot as well as some individual ones. These can be colored there or taken home for coloring. We opted to to take ours home so we had more time to play.
Our next activity was Drip Art. There was a slight wait since other kids were already making their drip art and there are a limited number of machines, but really our wait wasn't more than a minute or two. The kids each picked 3 colors and one at a time, they put them in the machine then pulled a lever to speed up or slow down the spinning. There were handy screens next to the machines with step by step instructions for the kids, but if your son or daughter isn't reading well yet you will likely need to help them a little. When the last crayon finished dripping onto the spinning paper, we took out the finished product. It looked a lot like spin art, if you've ever done that with paint, but was 3-D because the wax layers piled on top of each other. All in all, the kids liked this activity.
After Drip Art, we headed to Melt and Mold where once again kids got to pick a crayon color (from those they had), and put it in a machine. This time the melting machine dripped wax into a mold. When we went they could choose from a ring or a car. All of my kids chose to get a ring. Besides being stylish jewelry, they could color with them! Double the fun.
From here, my kids started to split up. My oldest went to the Color Magic station where he colored pictures, scanned them onto the computer and brought them to life. All 3 eventually tried it and had a lot of fun showing their own creations on the computer. My younger 2 played on the Stomp and Play area for quite a while. This is basically a big interactive projection on the ground. There are different pictures and when you step on them they change and do various things. It was a great way for kids who need to be moving around to get some extra energy out.
We all eventually made it to (my favorite), the Wrap it Up station. When we first arrived they gave us a couple tokens each. This is a token activity. You pick a crayon color then you actually get to name it! Yes, you get to make up whatever name you want and put it on a crayon wrapper. I thought this was the coolest idea ever. Each of my kids named theirs then took them to the wrapping station where it had specific instructions on how to attach the wrapper to your crayon. We did it with no mishaps! It was actually really easy. Here's a picture of my crayon.
The rest of the time we spent just going back and forth. We spent some time at "Silly Selfies", but the projections weren't working. We were still able to email a copy of the pictures to ourselves though which was a nice option. We stopped by "Modeling Madness" just long enough to grab some clay from their vending machine with our second tokens. My kids didn't want to stop to make something at the time but there were tables with sculpting tools for kids to use, and the clay came in a good variety of colors. The kids also enjoyed playing with a huge light bright board and "Scribble Square" where they could draw all over the walls (with no consequences). They spent some time playing with the Rainbow Rain screen which made it look like they were standing in a downpour of colorful melted wax. We stopped at "Meltdown" which was like a hot glue gun in that there was a crayon melting inside and we used the "pens" to squeeze out the melted wax and write or draw. This is probably better for older kids, or make sure the younger ones have some help as the wax can be a little warm and will need to dry. Luckily it hardens quickly.
The last place we spent a good chunk of time at, was the "You Design" area. Here they had templates for trucks and clothing that we got to design. We sat and colored the clothes and designed the paint job on the truck then placed them under a screen. It scanned in the picture and showed our creations on the screen. It also projected our creations onto the wall as animations. My kids thought it was the best thing ever to see their truck driving around or a model wearing the outfit they designed. I can see how this station could be addicting for the future designer. I really enjoyed it, along with my kids.
Outfit designed by a 6 year old:
We had time restraints so we were only able to spend a couple hours there but given more time we would have stayed longer I'm sure. My kids were really enjoying everything they had to offer. Just to mention, they also had a random panning for gold area by the exit. It didn't seem to connect too much with everything else but my kids were interested in it. You can buy a bag of dirt for your pan at the nearby desk, as it is not included in the ticket price. Also they have the option to make wax hands but that is not included with the ticket price either. With all the other stations though, those are not really necessary and can be "once in a while" add ons.
Okay so here's where I try to anticipate some of your questions that I may or may not have already answered. Let me know if you think of something else! Don't forget that these are my opinions and what information I have researched. If you want more accurate information don't be afraid to contact Crayola Experience.
Q. What age is Crayola Experience good for?
A. In my opinion, there is a wide range. My kids who can read are definitely more suited to doing things on their own. Younger kids will need help. I saw kids as young as 2 there but the parent honestly had to do a lot for them. That doesn't mean they didn't have fun though. Just be prepared if you bring young non-readers to be there by their side. There are employees positioned everywhere and they are very willing to help but there also might be several people who need help which leads to wait times and we all know how patient kids are when they're excited about something.
Q. Is everything included in the ticket price?
A. Almost everything is included. You pay extra if you want to make a wax mold, buy snacks, or pan for gold. You can also purchase more tokens for more chances to name crayons and get modeling clay.
Q. Do they have bathroom and nursing facilities?
A. Yes. There is a bathroom right in the building so you don't have to leave and use the mall bathrooms. There was a dedicated nursing room as well.
Q. How much does it cost to get in?
A. Regular Price is $14.99, but you can get $1 off if you buy ahead of time online. You can also skip lines.
Q. Is my baby free?
A. Children age 2 and under are free.
Q. Can I just sit and watch while my kids play?
A. You technically could but honestly it's pretty fun to do some of the activities with them. It also really depends on your kids ages and if they will need help with the activities.
Q. Can my child with special needs participate?
A. All attractions are ADA compliant (as per their website)
Overall impressions:
We really enjoyed the Crayola Experience. We would definitely consider coming back. After doing many of the activities once my kids were catching on and seemed more comfortable with what to do. The staff were all friendly and helpful as you would expect for an attraction aimed at kids. I liked the variety of activities. I felt like the kids each found something they really enjoyed. Best of all, they could do everything at their own pace. One important note to keep in mind is that the main medium of the art is wax. We live in Phoenix where it is hot so you probably want to make sure you don't leave anything in the car. Also, the drip art is very fragile and will start to peel off the paper if you aren't careful. You just have to be aware and prevent any possible meltdowns. We would recommend visiting Crayola Experience as a family as it is an opportunity to hang out and be creative with those you love.
Location:
Chandler Fashion Center
3111 W. Chandler Blvd. Ste. 2154
Chandler, AZ 85226
Visit the Crayola Experience Website
