Kid Drop Zone

Anyone hear about the new place that just opened off of rt55 where you can drop your kids off for a few hours?

http://www.kiddropzone.com/

Looks really cool! It's set up like a house and you can jump on the beds and slide down the laundry chute and stuff like that.

My wife and I dropped our 3 kids off last night for $20 and went down the street for a great dinner at Giuseppe's (without any kids)! When we got back, those kids were so tired they fell right asleep when we got home.

I have heard there are serious safety and security issues, but I am happy to hear a good review. How old are your kids? I would love to use this place, as long as it is safe.

Definately safe. We have not used it yet but my neices and nephews go all the time. They loved it so much they purchased a month pass. I checked it out with them. My only problem is I did not think of the idea first! Especially in the winter when the kids can't play outside as long. They seemed to have quite a bit of staff when we went in.

My kids are 8, 6, 3.5. The 3.5 year-old never wants to leave!

Apparently, there were some initial issues with the zip line, but from everything I've seen, they seemed to have corrected any problems; the area is cushioned with a bunch of mattresses.

I think what keeps me going back is the amazing staff. They don't just watch the kids, but really play with them. My daughter's favorite game in the world is hide and seek and a few times I've gone to pick her up, the kids and staff were fully engaged in a game!

so much better than a babysitter.

My concern is with all the soft materials–bedding, clothing, and pillows–do they wash all of this stuff every single night? If not, then I have concerns about hygiene.
My 6 year old got hurt on the zip line before I even got in to the play area…I was filling out the paperwork. Then the 4 year old got hurt on the spiral staircase. And my 2 year old needed constant supervision so she wasn’t run over by the older kids (up to age 12) or didn’t try any of the things that were too dangerous for her age…slide, zip line, swing, stairs. That left only the king size mattress for her to jump on, and that got old pretty quick. Plus I’m a bit paranoid about head lice so I was trying to keep her from laying down on all the soft stuff. I would not recommend “dropping off” any child younger than age 4. I also saw a girl age about 10-11 get off the swing and run into the wall because she was dizzy, hitting her head pretty hard on the wall. A 1:10 adult to child ratio really isn’t that good…would you leave ten children with one babysitter?

I would NEVER leave a child anywhere that requires you to sign a RELEASE like the one this place requires you to sign. Any parent willing to release ALL LIABILITY an HOLD HARMLESS this facility needs their head examined! Do you realize what you are signing? You are telling a judge that you do not hold this facility or its management or owners responsible if your child is injured. Do you realize that this facility does not have to comply with any Commonwealth of Virginia Day Care regulations? The 10:1 ratio is totally inappropriate. Please think about what you're doing before you leave your children at this facility.

Interesting post.

I've been there a number of times and my kids LOVE it! My wife and I can finally go out to eat by ourselves and my wife can finally get errands done during the week. It's not like hiring a babysitter; These guys run our kids all over and totally exhaust them, so when we get them home, the go right to sleep! Plus you don't have to leave. I take my kids there and get a workout myself running around playing with them.

As for the ratios, VA Daycares require a 20:1 ratio for schoolage kids, 12:1 for 4yo, and 10:1 for ages 2-3. The 10:1 ratio is actually pretty good. When I've been there, the actual ratio has been closer to 4:1.

I have yet to visit a recreational facility that does not have a waiver very much like this one. Most places include a clause that reads, "in the event of negligence ..." which in all reality, if the facility is negligent, will not hold up in court. From what I understand, the insurance that these companies have to carry require such written waivers.

In fact, whenever I've even rented a moonbounce, I've had to sign something just like it.

I will say this for Kid Drop Zone: At least, unlike any other place around, they post their waiver online for all to read before they go. If you aren't comfortable with it, then don't go.

I suggest to anyone who is thinking about going, stay the first time. Either play with your kids or just watch. I would never have left my kids if I hadn't had the chance to see how the place operated first!

Been going since they opened. I love it, my kids love it. No issues at all. It's probably a lot safer than letting your kids go play at a friends house. I would not want the crazy guy who posted above there anyhow. He would be the wacko that would try to sue because his out of control kid got a scratch and shut the whole place down. If you do not like it, stay home or open your own.
Everyone is always very friendly there and mine and friends kids have never had an issue.

We went and stayed the first(and last)time. Would never go again. The place is not safe for younger kids than 10. Sure the kids have fun, sure the parents have fun when they can "drop" off their kids. But the rolling down to hit the wall, steep wooden staircase, life threatening zip line swing, rough hinges inside the cabinets, pillow fights, no security measures...
If that is what you like for your kids, please have some fun!

I'm not from Owings Mill, have no idea how that got posted, I'm from Haymarket. Well, I suppose I may have sounded like a crazy wacko but I'm not. We all know, or should know that a waiver would never protect them from negligence. Although I would not sue if my child got a scratch, I would be upset if he/she broke their arm (it has happened there, or was knocked unconscious (it has happened there). I hope that they let you know your child suffered a head injury so you can keep an eye on them.

I took my kids, ages 3 and 5, to the Drop Zone a couple of times and I am not going to take them there again - ever. The spiral stair case is unsafe, and with the kids only wearing their socks rather slippery. The zip line is dangerous for children younger than maybe 8 or 10. And rolling down that hill of matresses may seem fun, but arms and legs can get stuck inbetween the individual matresses, and I also question how often those sheets and pillows get washed. A Kid Drop Zone is certainly a great idea, but it needs to safe, with seperated age appropriate areas, and very well supervised. Hope this helps.

Type of Kid Drop off place I would like would have:

1) For the play areas, at least 2 different zones. One for younger kids and one for older kids
2) Play areas that focus heavily on safety
2) A movie/TV room if kids just want to chill out
3) A craft/reading room
4) Good checkin/checkout security

Not commenting specifically on the Kids Drop Zone, seems like some parents like it. But my understanding is that it doesn't really do any of the above or am I mistaken?

Gainesville Guy wrote:

Type of Kid Drop off place I would like would have:
1) For the play areas, at least 2 different zones. One for younger kids and one for older kids
2) Play areas that focus heavily on safety
2) A movie/TV room if kids just want to chill out
3) A craft/reading room
4) Good checkin/checkout security
Not commenting specifically on the Kids Drop Zone, seems like some parents like it. But my understanding is that it doesn't really do any of the above or am I mistaken?

Correct. They had a great idea, just not enough imagination to execute it right. Maybe they didn't have good examples to follow. Definitely feels like they wanted to organize child care for their own 4 kids and at the same time make some money.

The good: On the night I took my two boys and their friend, there were 4 staff members present while less than 10 kids were playing. I stayed with my group of 3 kids anyways, even though with the kid:staff ratio was very good.

The bad: The mattresses below the zipline. The neighborhood boy who came with me cut his knee after coming down the zipline. Turns out that I felt springs poking out the side of the mattresses. No permanent harm was done, but it was not the safest scenario. Also, I was concerned for the well-being of the very little kids (whose parents were away) while there were much bigger kids running around.

To their credit, after my neighbor cut his knee, the staff wouldn't allow the kids to use the zipline until the owners could address the problem. The kids had fun, but I don't know if I'll rush back there immediately. I definitely will not have my kiddos play there without having me or my hubby present.

I haven't been there yet and just found out about it via a birthday party invite for my child (age 4). At first, I was excited to check this place out being that you can drop your child off for 3 hrs (while I enjoy a nice dinner with my husband), but now with these posts, I'm even second-guessing about whether or not I even want my child there for this b-day party! Everyone brings up very valid points.

My wife and I have enjoyed many nights out thanks to this place!

However, like I suggest in an earlier post, stay-n-play first. That way, you get a chance to observe those who will be watching your kids while you're out instead of blindly dropping them off.

Going to the birthday party is even better because you don't have to pay.

On a recent trip to Kid Drop Zone, I discovered how unsafe and unsanitary this establishment really is. The five foot drop off the zip line mattresses makes for very dangerous scenarios. Also, the wooden/metal staircase and the sharp corners EVERYWHERE are not safe for little children, or anyone for that matter, to be around. The swing was not sturdy, swung too fast, and made children too dizzy. The children were walking on the counter tops with out being supervised, making that activity a huge hazard. The foam food fight that was initiated by the employees was dangerous, and hurt many little children. Along with the sheets and pillow cases that don’t seem to be washed very often, the bathroom pipes are exposed; which just calls for little children to play with the sink and the pipes. I asked one of the employees how often they wash the sheets, the dress-up clothes, and the pillow cases, and their response was "I think once every other week", making it twice a month. Also I asked what the disinfection process was, and the response was “we use Lysol on everything, every night”, however what happens if something doesn’t get sprayed? That’s dirty. Along with the problems in the facility, I found that the employees seemed like they didn’t care about the well-being of the children and were extremely rude to not only the parents, but the children as well. I will not be bringing my children back to Kid Drop Zone ever again, nor do I recommend taking your children to this filthy, dissatisfactory business.

I took my son there for a bday party and all the kids had a a good time. I stayed for the party and I did not see anyone get hurt.

I mean, c'mon some people sound like they don't have a single sharp corner in their house. Everything single thing is not sanitized in schools daily, yet the kids don't die of infectious disease right and left.

If your kid lives in a bubble then this place isn't for you. I am sure it much safer and clean than places we played as kids. Remember the ball pits at McDonald's and Chuck E. Cheese...??

I just returned from a child's birthday party and had to leave early due to the abuse the staff was inflicting on the kids. The party started out well. Then pizza came and the staff was zero help in gathering the kids to go sit and eat. For a group of 30 they had one assist while three sat around and did nothing. Not worth the money. After pizza they started a "dodgeball" game where they took foam fruit pieces and threw them at each other. It started out fine, but then the staff decided they were going to play too. The adults throw a lot harder than the nine year olds and they threw high towards the heads. My daughter had some pieces in a basket she was collecting so she could hunker down and throw them but a staff member wrestled her to the ground and ripped the basket from her hands. She told me this happened two other times that I didn't see. There is no way I'm going to let an adult who is being PAID to supervise the kids abuse them in such a manner. I left early and will never return to this place. Unless they change their staff do NOT leave your children there. I wish I could give this place negative stars.

I would not advise visiting this establishment. Very unprofessional, and unsafe for children. I took my two sons there about a month ago and saw how poorly run this business really is.