I can't see how people were saying that this place is old and worn out. The buildings are very well kept, and their rides looked like they were in great shape. Everybody that we saw was having fun. We came without kids. My partner was here as a little girl, some 65 years ago, and on that day many years ago, it was time to go, and she didn't get a chance to see the reindeer one more time. We decided to come up to see the reindeer one more time. Everybody at the park was very friendly, and we are glad to say that the reindeer are being kept very well. They look extremely healthy, friendly, and you can even feed them. Even as "old people" both myself, and my partner really really enjoyed the place, and we could feel the magic of the place. Thank you for still being there. read more

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My son is obsessed with Santa, so when I found out this place existed, I bundled it into a trip so we could also see Lake Placid as she is a huge winter sports fan. Planned the trip a few months in advance. We're up here now, and we just realized they decided to not open for the season (until November) so they could do repairs. They posted on their Instagram 2 weeks ago, however must've just updated the website more recently. I'm sure the repairs are necessary and I'm from upstate so I know how this can go--regardless, I now get to explain to a 5 year old why he can't go visit Santa's house after all. I'm sure the place is great, however I'm not trying this again. Call before you try and go. read more

While it's a older park and mainly for younger kids, it is an amazing place. Over 75 years old with live reindeer and shows. The history is worth a visit alone. read more

Santa's Workshop - View of Santa's village area - Amusement Parks Near Me - Wilmington, New York

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Santa's Workshop is such a wonderful family theme park to visit. My family has come for generations and I hope it stays around for generations to come. Step back to a more simple time before mega amusement parks. Bring your children while they are young for the best possible experience if you love Santa and Christmas. Lean into to the Christmas spirit and you'll have an amazing time. Merry Christmas!!! read more

Santa's Workshop - Amusement Parks Near Me - Wilmington, New York

Hello, I went to Santa's workshop with my four year old and my family recently and we had the best time! My son is the third generation to go with his family to this place and it's just as it was when I was little. His face lit up with joy as we did the Christmas in July event. We got to have dinner with Santa and breakfast, as well as have a campfire and sing along with some or Santa's friends. The staff was incredibly accommodating and friendly. The shows that were put on were perfect for his age and he had a blast. It was truly a joy to see my son enjoy the magic of this place as I did and my mother did before me. read more

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I was so so so excited to bring my family here for a magical Christmas experience. My dad and aunt used to tell us of how amazing this place was when they were kids in the 50's. We drove 5 hours to get here. My first issue was the price of the ticket. I knew from the start that it was $39 per person. I did my research, I read the reviews and they were solid. I was fully expecting to have a magical experience that was worth the $200 we paid for a family of five to get in. Unfortunately the sticker price is way off for this place. I came with little kids who were excited about the rides. There were only three working. The train wasn't even working which was such a disappointment. If I was told that this was an old abandoned amusement park, I would have believed it. The paths weren't paved which made getting around without falling very difficult. We had a stroller that was tough to push around. There was a knocked over path lamp on the ground with broken glass. I mentioned it to a worker and the glass was still there an hour later when we went by it again. The rides themselves were cute and I totally get the nostalgic draw but they were in rough shape. The shops were cute but definitely not $40 ticket cute plus the ones that were selling stuff were practically empty of merchandise. The gift shop was bare bones. One of their reindeer was super stressed out and pacing in circles in its pen. It was sad to see. I was expecting magic. My kids had fun but they were over it after two hours. If this was $10/15 to get in, I'd be like "yes ! This is so cute/retro/ nostalgic" but for $40? Nope. So disappointed. read more

Santa's Workshop - Amusement Parks Near Me - Wilmington, New York

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very special time capsule of a place nostalgic imaginative + creative welcoming + friendly fun, #familyTrip I went here as a kid and am thankful to be able to bring my babygirl here as well to make memories. The ride operators are so sweet... before hopping on the train the conductor says each time "look to the left in the woods to see where the elves live in the trees" and then there they are ! Little doors on the trees. When we tried to tip him for the 3 times he took our gang on the loop he would not accept saying "you pay enough to come through the gate" (which at $30 dollars for adults and kids 2+ I thought was far beyond reasonable) we went on a chilly, Autumn day and were glad to have some warm split pea & ham soup to warm us up as we say inside the lunchroom chalet. We arrived around 230pm and realized they closed at 3pm. Instead of rushing us out, the gentleman that runs the kitchen sat down and had a chat with us, reassuring us there was no rush for us to leave. After living in Miami for the last 8 years and NYC for 10 years prior to that...it warmed my soul to have genuine and kind conversation. If you're visiting the #Adirondacks be sure to stop by! read more

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It was cute. The rides were nice for my 7 year old but as other reviews said younger is better. The ride operators were all very sweet to my daughter and that made our time here better. Definitely recommend seeing the magician as he was a highlight as well. The puppet show was awful and we will have nightmares about it. Bring cash because many of the shops were cash only. The price to get in is definitely too high for what the place is. We were bummed on opening day the lights weren't even lit up and a lot of it was broken down looking. It cost my family of three $130 to get in. We only saw one character in costume so the negatives almost out weighed the positives. Overall my family will never go back, but if you are bored and have done the other stuff in the area it is worth the visit. read more

Loved it! Pros rides are great for kids under 7 Cons price was high Puppet show was so bad Hills are dangerous not paved and no railings anywhere They need more shows at the park maybe have frosty sing and dance My son would have loved a Mickey and Minnie Mouse show Food at hotel was really good Hungry trout- I loved buffet dinner they had a magician both nights maybe one night do something different Overall I would love to go back and hopefully they have better entertainment next time read more

Go! Don't wait! Parks like this won't be around forever! This is the REAL DEAL. First, the post office with the date-stamp from the "North Pole" for your outgoing mail to your friends & family! I mean, how cool is THAT?!?!?! You get to meet Santa no matter what day of year! Then, the old timey rides!!! And real reindeer!!! And the cutest train that takes you around the park, with stunning views of the surrounding ADK peaks. The shops with their adorable trinkets, ornaments, and mementos; the crafts and shows for kids; the homemade candy!; the characters in costume; the frozen north POLE (huge block of ice that miraculously doesn't melt, no matter how hot the day!) With all of that, how can you resist??? And lastly, a tip: buy tickets online for savings. But don't just take it from me -- I thought the "Roadside America" app did a GREAT job describing this park and its history: America's oldest theme park isn't in Florida or California. It's a little place tucked into the north woods of New York State. The idea for Santa's Workshop came to Julian Reiss, a Lake Placid businessman in the 1940s, when his little daughter asked him to take her to Santa's summer home. Reiss, frustrated that he couldn't satisfy her wish, bought some hilly woodland along the highway that ran to the summit of Whiteface Mountain, a top tourist attraction at the time. There are kiddie rides, an arcade, musical shows, and a variety of gift shops, confectionaries and snack chalets. The U.S. Postal Service awarded Santa's Workshop its own zip code --12946. Summertime crowds of over 10,000 a day were common, which is astounding when you consider this attraction's remoteness and its small size. Its success spawned dozens of copycats -- the reason you still find Santa lands across the U.S.A. today. Planners from Disney, with their own theme park on the drawing boards in the early 1950s, came here to study the phenomenon. read more

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I read a few negative reviews about how old and worn out this place is, but as far as we were concerned, it was perfect for our 2 year old grandson..(and isn't what the kids like the reason to be here?)...Everything from breakfast with Santa to a magic show to a train ride put a smile on our little guys face as well as all the other kids.. read more

This is the only place during our vacation that wasn't dog friendly. Our pup was allowed in every single place we went to, except Santas Village. Even though we paid for all of our tickets walked through half of the park with our dog and interacted with much of the staff, one little mad elf with an attitude told us we had to leave our dog in our vehicle. So I sat in my truck while the rest of my family walked through the village. Here's a word of advice maybe they should put a sign on the front door saying pets are not allowed. The rest of the staff was very friendly with both my family and my dog and the review would've been much better regardless of being asked to leave if the angry elf's approach was much different. It only takes one bad apple. read more

Truly horrible. Dirty. Out of date. Broken down experience. Would actually make a much better Halloween experience with a Land of Broken Toys theme. Someone needs to help this place-it looks like it hasn't seen an upgrade or a broom since the 1970's. Definitely on Santa's naughty list. read more

Heard a lot of negative things (that it was being run down and all) but it was awesome! My 3 girls absolutely loved it and all the rides WORKED and were OPEN aNd the staff was friendly - bringing joy at a time when needed it the most. read more

I came here in the 80s and returned with my 5 yo daughter and a friend who brought her 5 yo son. Some of the feedback on here is quite negative and, in my opinion, inappropriate. Yes, the park is outdated. And, that happens to be what makes it interesting. If you're looking for Disney, go to Disney. As another reviewer wrote, the kids don't notice that the equipment isn't from 2018. What they care about is the experience - the rides, the reindeer and Santa. Our children LOVED it and are already begging to return next year. Yes, the price could be more accessible so people of varied finances could enjoy the park. But, I can imagine that the cost of running the park is high too. So, who am I to say? Yes, the costumes could be updated. But, who cares? We had a blast. Thanks to the owners and staff who made it an enjoyable experience for us - in the middle of a remote part of Upstate New York, where frankly we weren't looking for Disney. We were looking for precisely what you provided. read more

We loved this place when we were kids and we practically grew up in Lake Placid so when my sister and her one year old daughter came home from out of state and we planned to vacation in Lake Placid we knew Santa's Workshop/North Pole was the place to go. However... It was a little unfortunate. We arrived at the park with grandparents, mom, aunt and a one year old. We had literally been there for less than five minutes. We paid and came into the park. The baby got sick and we had to leave. That was it. We spoke with the same girl who had checked us in five minutes earlier to see if we could get a refund. She even said to her manager over the radio that we had just came in; but they refused to do so. They gave us a voucher that expired in a month. It was no good for us. So they got a $125 donation (yeah 25 dollars for a baby to enter). Needless to say, very disappointed at the lack of customer service. read more

This park opened in 1949 as a child I was taken by my grandparents in 1952 I believe, took my own children in 1972 and today just home for a trip to the North Pole with my grandchildren. It was a fun day and the children enjoyed every moment of it. The staff are wonderful, friendly and Santa took 15 minutes to speak to my 3 little ones. He listened to the 3 of them and interacted with them which was special...no rush to the next family...lots of photos and a fun time had by all. Granny had trouble navigating some hills and there are a few...because she is old! nothing negative about this special day full of memories. Thanks North Pole read more

Do not waste your money! If your child is 48 inches tall don't bother they cannot ride over half the 7 rides they have. They don't tell you that either until you get inside and try to go on the rides. Santa's Workshop, North Pole, NY it's located way over to the right when you go in to the left you cannot seen it at all. The employees do not mention it to you at all. And when your not from there you do not read every sign posted there's dozens of signs around. You would expect that an 8 year old child could ride your rides as it's for children and she's a child. We have been to the one in New Hampshire it's amazing! They actually let the children ride the rides and be kids. It is also maintained and beautiful. This park is run down, old, not maintained, overpriced and every house is just am for shopping purposes there really any much to do that doesn't cost extra after you enter the gate. We won't be back to this one that's for sure it's worth the drive to New Hampshire! Also when you make a suggestion for them to move the sign to a location where people would see it or to advise about the height rule the manager says no. She said it wasn't the employees job in the post office to do that. She said people we the sign and the height isn't ever an issue because all theme parks have have height rules. They pretended they didn't even know about it. Real bs read more

Waste of money. Turn around and go back home because you can have more fun in your back yard. Advertised as having spectacular lights but there was only a string of lights on each building. It was so dark at a few points we had to use flashlights. The walkways were slippery because the snow was not shoveled. After you paid to get inside you have to pay for everything inside as well. The reindeer were in tiny cages and looked unkempt, felt bad for them. The only good thing is that the staff was extremely friendly. read more

We went to this place in the dark hoping for some cool lights. First off the reindeer are in tiny cages and look depressed and sad. Second off the lights are not spectacular like we expected, it was very dark. Then the playing of the nativity scene began with this creepy voice from the 50s, which made us feel like we were in a scary movie and a cult. Not a place for adults to go and have fun. It is purely for children and just costs more money once you get inside. read more

I didn't want to do this, but we had to. We originally booked Yuletide weekends. I'm very glad that it was cancelled because I feel like this email would be even worse. We showed up this morning for breakfast. Our food was cold. Our waitress was incredible, but she can't be the only reason our breakfast was great and to be justified for the money we spent. Later that day I heard that the food was pushed out before people were seated. That's not acceptable. We spent a lot of money. Our food was way better in September when we came. We moved through the day with the understanding that we had big hopes that dinner was going to be the reason we stayed! Wrong! Absolutely wrong! We sat down. Our waitress tried hard (different one this time) you can tell she was overwhelmed. She forgot our salads. Instead of getting frustrated when she brought our dinner out and then asked if we wanted our salads. We just told her it's a little too late and realized that she must've been overwhelmed. We didn't want to make her night worse. The food was cold. It was inedible. The ham was dry and the food had absolutely no flavor. We noticed that Santa didn't even eat it. That's sad. That should be addressed... Immediately! The dessert (apple crumble) was sour. When I asked the waitress is that was normal she said, "no it shouldn't be sour" we pushed it away and told her that we were done. I had seen so many plates sent back with the waitress full of food. That should tell you something. Leaving dinner, we read on the map, "go to the bakery and grab marshmallows" we were like, "oh great! That sounds like a better end to our night!" Nope! They weren't included. They were $7. This was such a missed opportunity! You guys should've given your dinner participants S'more kits and sent them on their way into the "lights" for a fun night. I want this addressed. We spent $400 on two experiences that included our meals that were completely inedible. We didn't even stay for the lights. We left. We walked right now! I'm so disappointed. I truly wanted this to be magical! read more

I only gave one star because I couldn't give a thumbs down. Terrible atmosphere and not a hint of Christmas magic. Undertrained and rude staff. I was double billed and when I pointed it out, they said it was the machines fault even though they tried to get me to sign twice. Rude and definitely not worth the visit of the pricey admission. read more

This place is a hoot. A pricey hoot, but a hoot. I gave it a middling rating because although it's a decent enough place for young children, it is overpriced and pretty threadbare. Yes, the $20 admission isn't much, but the place is so worn down, I feel like it's a little high. There are plenty of activities and rides for small children, although those over 12 are going to have a hard time finding things to do. We particularly enjoyed the train ride though. They advertise a their post office at which you can drop off your holiday cards, and they'll be postmarked, "North Pole." Ours arrived marked "Plattsburgh." read more

This is a great park for the under 7 year olds. The shows are great - just the right time for my 3 year olds. The rides were fun and there were just enough. The animals my children loved especially the reindeer. The gifts were fairly priced. The staff was great. The children and I really enjoyed the shows. Santa was excellent. The place is 61 years old and it shows - but everything seems kept up and nothing took away from our good time. I heard from friends (but did not experience it) that the Breakfast read more

This place is way overpriced for the size and what they offer guests. It was $120.00 for myself, husband, 3 year old and 9 year old. The barely edible food, of course is additional money. The chocolate that we ate from the candy store was so bad that I actually spit it out, which is a first for me. The train was closed and there were little, flying bugs everywhere. The most disappointing thing was that my 9 year old was only permitted on two rides because of height restrictions she ended up in tears. This place is disappointing and a big waste of money; we felt like we were robbed. read more

For a 4 hour day to humor a 2, 4, 6 year olds, it's ok. It's shameful they can apply a coat of paint to the rides, or pick up sticks or rake the area to clean it up. The kids who work there do a good job and try hard. The shows are good for the kids as well. Didn't try the food. My wife was upset the Christmas ornament cost $18 but they need to make some money to pay the bills. Overall for $23 it's good for a half a day. Just wish it was kept up better. I was there 30 years ago and man things change! read more

Santa's Workshop - Amusement Parks Near Me - Wilmington, New York

This place was built in 1949 for a guys daughter who wanted to see Santa in the summertime. It has an old time feel like that. It's like stepping back in time and it's really neat. I only went for the Village of lights and wasn't there long but I saw the reindeer and Santa. The women who worked in the toy shop was great! Everyone else seemed like 'it's 7:45 the night before we are off for Christmas Eve and Christmas , we are tired' ( I get that though) but you people come for the spirit! I didn't check the bathrooms or eating anything but if you believe and love Christmas you have to go to the America's oldest theme park and first petting zoo! Thanks SWS read more

This is a cute park, the buildings and greenery are really beautiful. There are only a few rides and not all of them are operational. If the admission price (and price of everything inside the park) wasn't so high, I would have easily given it another star. But for $25 p/person (even a 2 year old) and less than an hour's worth of activity, it's just not worth the price. read more

This place is one of the memories I have of my early childhood. I have not been back in a long time. In fact I just thought about it as I was doing a review of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk Amusement Park. I had completely forgot about Santa's Workshop in North Pole, NY. It appears that it is still operating. You probably want to visit in the Summer hours since it is located in the middle of the Adirondack Mountains which can be awful cold in the late fall and winter. I gave Santa's Workshop 4 stars for the memories but I took one away because I have not been there for some time. Checkout the website to find more information. read more

I gotta start by saying that I am biased towards this place because my parents took me here when I was little and I have nothing but good memories. Having recently taken my my boys, ages 6,3, and 1 I still love it. Yeah it looks worn and it is dated but it's for the kids, and kids don't see that stuff. All my kids saw was Santa and an actual North Pole made of ice that doesn't melt in the summer. They got to pet and feed Santa's reindeer and ride some kiddie rides. The staff are mostly teenagers dressed as elves and everyone wishes you a merry Christmas. It did seem expensive for the 5 of us at a total of $86 but you are,allowed to get a stamp and return the next day free of charge . It's worth a trip if you have kids under 8. Older than that may be pushing it but it never hurts to believe in Santa . read more

I don't know how anyone kills this place. Our 3 1/2 year old was in heaven. Wide-eyed little kids seem to love it.

We visit Lake Placid regularly but are most often up here in winter when, ironically, this park is closed. On a visit in the early autumn before it closed for the season, we finally made the 20 minute trek to check it out. I was not psyched about the price when we walked up the ticket window -- $20 per person (adults and kids 2 & up) -- but there was no turning back at that point. The place looks and feels old (think 1960s) but it's clean, seems well-maintained, is shady (ideal on a too-sunny day) and the staff is pleasant and well-trained. If it were mobbed with people I'm sure I would've felt differently, but on a warm and relatively slow Sunday in October, it was actually a perfect place to take our 2 and 4 year old. The park seems carved out of a hillside resulting in lots of slopes and sort of an upper section & a lower section (both stairs and ramps connect them so feel free to bring a stroller in). When you walk in, you're in the "upper" section. There's a small amphitheater (they have little shows throughout the day - my kids didn't want to see any of them), a playground with a ball pit, and 6 or 7 amusement rides (including a long train ride through the woods and a surprisingly fast and thrilling little roller coaster). All rides are geared toward kids under 48" and less than 75 lbs. That said, parents can accompany them on many of the rides so bigger kids can ride most of them too. The lower section is more of a "village" with a reindeer shed (with one friendly but sort of sad looking reindeer), Santa's "farm" (closed on our visit so I'm not sure what it was), a blacksmith shed, a larger ampitheather, and a variety of shops (glassblowers, toy shop, museum w/ puppet theater, bake shop & more). The main attraction in the village is Santa's house where you can see his kitchen, his bedroom and, in his living room, the big man himself. Kids get to sit on his lap and get a photo taken (you can also take your own). As we were waiting (the only line we waited in all day by the way), my husband joked that he wouldn't blame the guy if he reeked of alcohol but the man playing Santa was great - kind, sweet, lovely and not the least bit reminiscent of that "Bad Santa" movie! You could tell they put a lot into training their staff. Every worker that we encountered was great - helpful, cheerful and wishing you a Merry Christmas at every turn. I could do without Christmas carols before Columbus Day but oh well. Christmas is alive and well at this family friendly spot! read more

Visited today with my family and another. I had been there about 8 years ago and was hoping it was better than the last visit but my brother in law had never visited and has small children. Unfortunately it was not better but actually worse. The concept is a wholesome one and my review is hard for me to write as I wanted the place to be better and a good experience. We arrived about an hour after opening. There were less than 20 cars in the lot which concerned me. We went to the gate with my six person family. Every person regardless of age was $25 for a whopping $150 admission bill. There are only about 8 amusements to ride there. One was shut down for repairs. Of the remaining rides only 3 allow anyone over 48 inches in height to ride leaving little for older or taller kids and adults to do. The shows are tired and haven't changed at all. The loudspeaker system is largely inoperable or scratchy and hard to hear. The worst part of the visit was the staff. With a few exceptions they were very unfriendly, curt and at times rude. Most appear to be less than 16 years old and most appear to be unhappy in their work. Every interaction requires them to say a less than heartfelt "Merry Christmas". The bright spot in the park is the Reindeer barn. There are 9 Reindeer in the barn with opportunity to pet and feed them all. The staff there was informed and pleasant and all of my group enjoyed that experience very much. Overall I can't see this park surviving much longer. It is in need of serious updating and it seems that they are raising prices to compensate for declining attendance and that formula doesn't work. As I said I love the concept but the steep price and lack of amusements made it a poor value in my mind and will keep me from returning. read more

Place is a total throwback to a much better time. All workers are super nice. My 4 year old daughter loved it so much. It is super dope and views are excellent. read more

We had a blast! We took our 5 yr. old here for her birthday and she loved it! We all rode the 1949 roller coaster. I couldn't help but smile, laugh, and scream at the same time. Alex one of the reindeer handlers allowed us to stay and watch them run the reindeer, awesome! This place is a throw back in time and to see the first theme park built was great. read more

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This place isn't worth visiting. Everything is so rundown and old. There are only a few rides that my kids were even interested in. The shows are cheesy. My kids were more interested in the playground (which is also old and rundown) than most other things. The coolest things to see are the reindeer and Santa. I have a 6 and 4 year old, not sure which age child would find the charm in this place. read more

We loved this place!!! We came from Florida to take our grandchildren. They are ages 8, 7, and 5. We did the option of having breakfast with Santa. He is so great!!! He walked in just over halfway through the time, well planned as not many kids were eating once Santa was in the room. He heads in saying hello to each child and eats his breakfast while they all whisper excitedly. Once he was finished eating he came and sat at each table and had conversations with the families. One of our grandkids asked if she was good, would he bring her presents... He told her he didn't believe in good and bad kids. He sent time talking to her about good choices and bad choices. Giving examples, asking her questions about which choices were what. My husband is a major amusement park fanatic. We both agree that this is not the right park for everyone. But we would seriously recommend this place to anyone and everyone that Still Believes!! read more

Please update bathrooms, a coat of paint, a few simple fixes and a thorough cleaning and I wouldn't feel so bad that it cost almost $100 for a family of 4. Like someone said, for kids 7 and under it is fun, I have great memories of here as a child about 35 years ago and my kids now have some good memories also. My kids were terrified of the bathroom and quite honestly due to the lack of cleanliness my husband and I were leery of attempting food from Mother Hubbards. read more

My family and I went to Santa's workshop last week and we had a wonderful time. I have five children ages 1, 3, 5, 8, and 9. The kids just adored all of the activities. They loved the Christmas theme, seeing Santa in July, seeing the living Nativity, getting to pet Rudolph, having a conversation with a talking Christmas tree, riding the rides, etc. The rides are older (original with the park?) and are for little people. My 9 year old could not do a few rides because she was too tall but this did not dampen her or out day. We still had a wonderful family day enjoying the Adirondacks together. It cost our family $130 to get into the park. The day before we played mini-golf and that cost us $51. The mini-golf lasted 1.5 hours, the park we were there for 6. The kids were exhausted at the end of the day and so very happy and loved for such a nice day of being together. The best thing was that the first day you pay for and the second you get in free! You take your receipt to the main desk before you leave and you get a stamp to come back tomorrow for free. $130 for 2 family days of fun an memories: Priceless. read more

I brought my kids there when they were small and just went with my grandchildren and daughter. The park is still cute and the growns were clean but the price is high for it's size and the main problem was the my 6 year old granddaughter we not allowed on most of the rides because she was too tall. How do you explain that to a 6 year old that wants to know why Santa won't let her ride his rides. They wouldn't even let her ride on a reindeer on the merry go round. One supervisor seemed to follow us around to be sure none of the young people operating the rides let her on. Even though we saw other children taller than her had ridden. The gave her some tokens for the arcade because she was crying so hard but when we got to the small arcade area 1 game was broken 3 she could use and of course she was TOO TALL AT 6 YEARS OLD for the other. read more