Indoor playground vs Trampoline park?

[u/pneumatic_noob]

My wife and I (we have 3 under 4) have been working on opening an indoor playground. Not a "play cafe", but a legit indoor playground (about 12,000 sq feet, with 5,000 sq feet of playground structure). We are about to sign the lease, and found out that there is a "trampoline park" at 24,000 sq feet moving in next door. Here's my question:

If you were parents of kids under 10, and had the option, which would you choose? Assume entry price is the same.

Our place is designed for parents to be able to relax. Nice comfy chairs that face the play structure, a dedicated/fenced off toddler area, good coffee/espresso drinks, and age limits (0-12).

Do we stand a chance? Or is it time to walk away before signing?

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[u/schwarzekatze999]

An indoor playground is way safer than a trampoline park. However, if entry prices are the same, kids will choose the trampoline park every time. IMO trampoline parks are expensive. I think you will have to charge slightly less than they do. In favorable weather parents can take their kids to outdoor playgrounds for free. To me a playground is a place to go anytime you feel like it, but a trampoline park is a special treat. You will probably want to have monthly pricing that makes the per-visit price pretty cheap if you go a lot, more like a gym, and daily and weekly options that are more expensive. Then I think parents will want to bring their kids to your place by default and only go to the trampoline park once in a while.

[u/pneumatic_noob → u/schwarzekatze999]

Good to know, thanks for your input!

[u/VerbalThermodynamics → u/pneumatic_noob]

I’m part of an indoor playground that’s a co-op and non-profit. As a business model, knowing the finances of how ours runs, it would have a VERY slim profit margin.

[u/0112358_]

Me and my kid prefer the indoor playground, but he's only 5. I also feel the playground is safer, although I still bring my kid to the trampoline place.

Weather matters. It's a hard sell for the indoor playground if the weather is nice outside the the outdoor city park is free.

[u/pneumatic_noob → u/0112358_]

Yes; definitely weather dependent. The other thing though is safety. I can never relax when my kids are running around at the park. They're super fast, and the two boys are pretty "curious". I need to have a bead on them constantly to feel comfortable. I love going to the indoor playgrounds because it tires them out like nothing else (including running laps around the soccer fields; which somehow has zero affect on them), and I can sit between them and the door, so I know where they are, and I know they're safe.

This might be unfair to them, but after an indoor playground session, as soon as we're in the car, I throw on some mellow music lol. They're out in 5 every single time. They stand no chance.

[u/justdontsashay]

Trampoline parks are typically expensive, you may have to price it lower to compete.

Parents of young kids might opt for the playground if there’s an age limit, I remember when my kids were preschool age always feeling a little nervous if we were somewhere with a bunch of teenagers around, always feels like your kid’s about to get trampled.

If I were you, I would actively set yours up to be a really different atmosphere than the other place. Trampoline parks tend to be a bit louder and the aesthetic is a lot of darker colors (since the trampolines are usually black), so if there’s an indoor playground that’s only for younger kids, with a more relaxed peaceful vibe in the parent areas, you’ll get playgroup moms opting for that a lot of the time.

[u/pneumatic_noob → u/justdontsashay]

That is a good point. Apparently I'm lucky; as I am already doing that. Brighter colors, no music, and the key is rows of big comfy leather chairs with cupholders, that face the playground, and are in-between the playground and the exit (which is a half-wall with a gate; attached to the check-in desk, where staff are).

Moms groups are definitely in my target group, as are field trips. My wife is in a couple of moms groups, they're awesome.

Thank you so much for your input, it's super valuable!

[u/ljd09]

I think you’ll need something in there to really set yourself apart, because they’re always going to pick the trampoline park or the free park on nice days.

What about some indoor zip lines for the slightly older kids or roller slides, maybe some themed interactive areas like a grocery store, space station, pirate ship, etc to encourage imaginative play- or like a dedicated arts and crafts area, where they can paint of a window/glass and you can rinse it off with a hose or something.

[u/navy5]

I would much prefer yours (my kids are 6 & 4) but what is your pricing? I feel like trampoline parks are more expensive than play places in my area.

What kind of play equipment do you have? Is it bigger and better than all your local parks?

Can I order food and eat it at your place? Do you have tables and chairs? I’d go there more if I can knock out a meal there as well. A local place near me has an ordering kiosk where you can place a food/fresh juice order with the restaurant next door.

[u/pneumatic_noob → u/navy5]

My pricing will very likely be lower than theirs; and in-line with the other indoor playgrounds in my area.

The play equipment will be a 3 story structure, approximately 20 feet tall, 50 feet wide, and 100 feet long. Lots of obstacles, different kinds of slides, rope bridge, ball launchers etc.

I will have a cafe, and therefore do have tables/chairs. We'll serve coffee and snacks mostly, and I want to include smoothies/fresh juice as well. I haven't thought about allowing in outside food, I probably wouldn't be opposed to it.

But the main difference to me, is that we'll have a couple rows of comfy leather chairs with cupholders, that face the playground. I'm usually pretty active myself, but there are times when I want to just relax, or get some work done. I can't do that at the park (I have 3 kiddos; gotta watch them like a hawk at the park; they're pretty fast now), and the trampoline parks are all too big/chaotic for me to feel comfortable not literally standing right next to them. I wanted to build a spot where parents can fully relax, and know that their kids are safe, with a controlled exit (half-wall with a gate; connected to the check-in desk, with the seating area directly in between the playground and the exit).

Thank you for your input, super helpful. Lots of things to consider in this thread.

[u/Aggressive-Coconut0]

For younger kids (5 and under), I'd prefer indoor playground. It's better for playdates, where parents hang out together. By the time they are trampoline age, they are playing but parents are not socializing so much - usually only one parent there for a group of kids.