Kids Empire Watchung NJ

I wish google had the option for negative stars...Today was my second time at Kid Empire. The first time was great, we went early before it got too crazy, the kids had an awesome time. We waited this morning for 30 minutes for this place to open along with a number of other moms. It never opened. One mom even called to ask if they were opening, and she got hung up on. Because of this, we will never go back. This is totally unprofessional and unreliable. They state they are open 365 days a year, but clearly that is not true. Save your time and your kids' excitement and go somewhere else. Leaving families with their kids to stand outside is so incredibly unacceptable.

Horrible Staff Experience, I went to Kids Empire Watchung Location and I could not believe at the horrible service I received from a so called “supervisor” named Torrence. There was a line when we walked in with a minimum of 6 people waiting and 1 cashier when you could clearly see 5 workers all walking around the front counter. No one came to help check out people quicker and it wasn’t until my kid tried to run into the play area that the male “supervisor” name Torrence finally made his way to the front to help. He looked extremely bothered that he had to do a job and help check people out at the register. Many people could see his lack of care, it wasn’t until it was my turn to pay that I experienced the worst customer service I ever received in my life at a kids entertainment place. I told him how many kids I was with and how many adults and he yelled that all of us adults needed a waiver, we came to this location before and it was never an issue so we just asked why we needed one today if it was never asked of us before and he then got louder and yelled “YOU NEED A WAIVER FILL IT HERE OR ON YOUR PHONE”. My father then told him why he was being so rude and why he needed to yell at me and he snapped at him saying “IM THE SUPERVISOR YOU WANNA COMPLAIN IM THE SUPERVISOR”. He then gave us all nasty disgusted looks and continued to state he had authority in this location and when we asked for a manager he said he can’t give us a name and if we want to complain that we can complain to him since he’s the head supervisor. Needless to say we left because this was a horrendous experience and I will not be coming back. Change your supervisor because a worker for kids empire should like working with kids not look completely disgusted or bothered when people ask him to do his job. Do better.

The place itself is super cool. But a few things:

1. The toddler/baby area isn’t actually monitored. We took our 1 year old out because kids easily 7/8 years old we’re running around in there.
2. The front desk literally couldn’t care less lol. I said hello and he told me to hold on as he finished his text.
3. We had to wait for the front desk person to return after we paid to let us in, kind you we were the only people waiting, and there were 2 families in the entire establishment.

Being that we came on a weekday for our kids first birthday (not a party, just us and him) it was dead and we could let him roam without needing to be in the infant area. But if it was the weekend I’m sure we would’ve been frustrated.

Also it’s cash only? Or at least they told us it was? Even thought there’s credit card machines.

Idk, the people are meh but it’s a nice place overall.

Went yesterday with my 3 year old. The front desk person was working as if he was forced to do the job. He asked me to complete registration after which he said these exact words: " I am telling this to everyone one who walks in that the AC is not working and it's Cash Only"
This is after he waited to talked to me when I entered eventough no one else was there and asked me to fill the registration. You cannot make all this up.

Definitely overpriced for what you get. The lady at the front was clearly overwhelmed and the men's bathroom was closed for an hour then they closed the woman's room. For being closed for so long the rest rooms weren't even that clean. Kids had fun but definitely wouldn't bother going more than once.

It was my first time visiting this place ever last week. I got there around 4:00 pm with my son and our friends two kids. The atmosphere is awesome. A lot of seating area to sit. The play place is nice. If you are taller than 4’11” just watch your head on the bars that lay low. Watch your step as there are multiple open holes. None of which show any indication to “watch your step” or “watch your head” or “be careful.” Sure it’s geared towards the you going but there were some big kids in there and as a precaution I followed me three year. I wouldn’t feel comfortable not leaving his side as there were ruthless bigger kids. Will I go back? Yes, but most definitely not this location.

Although, I didn’t have to use the infant/toddler side of the section (as they call it you can only be there if you wear diapers) there were kids there ages 10+ in there playing around. A few times I had seen a girl come over and kick them out. But was unsuccessful so she told some other person who also was unsuccessful. They should definitely enforce that a little more.

The person that checked me in was fast and friendly! During my stay there was a girl that looked like she wasn’t happy to be working there. Though being in area where you work with kids. She just didn’t look happy. She had a stank face. She seemed like the type of person that if you ask her for any help she’d roll her eyes and won’t help you. I am going to assume that the owner was there as I remember hearing an interaction between him and a customer and he protects his employees which is awesome. However, to get loud in a play area with kids in uncalled for and unprofessional. Just know that you come crazy at them they’ll automatically threaten you and call “Watchung” 🙄 “PD”.

Very dirty, useless establishment. They don’t clean the bathrooms well at all. No toilet paper, and clogged toilets. The food tastes horrible. The staff up front are classless rude and don’t have good customer service skills. I saw the African American woman who wears a black shirt behind the counter YELLING at kids multiple times. Literally running over to them and YELLING. Myself and other mothers looked on in horror. Save your money and time and go to a better place with better well spoken staff who don’t roll their eyes at you, and huff and puff. If they don’t want to work without attitude, they should go to a job that does not require interaction with the public or children. Biggest waste of my money. They make you pay for kids that are not even playing. My 2 year old son slept in my arms the whole time, and I STILL had to pay. Didn’t give me the option that if he wakes up, I can then pay. Other business give you the option. Money hungry, terrible place. I will never recommend anyone to come here and I will make sure I tell everyone I know to STAY AWAY. Terrible policies and horribly rude staff. Do better. Zero stars if I could. Just appalling.

Great place, but it's crazy on the weekends. So many people, so many parties. Well overall great place.
Cost: USD 20 per child and 2 adults. Necessary socks.