SKY ZONE TRAMPOLINE PARK

PLYMOUTH & OAKDALE, MN
VISIT WEBSITE

Awhile back, a kind and generous contact at Sky Zone Trampoline Park offered me a full birthday party experience for one of my kids in exchange for a blog post. Being that we have summer birthdays, I suggested a class party instead. Sure enough, they welcomed 25 kindergarteners to their Minneapolis trampoline park with open arms and grateful parents. Watching these kids bounce around with their school friends in the heart of their element is something I don’t get to see much – and there’s definitely something to be said for being able to actually sit back, relax and truly enjoy that experience. Sky Zone allowed me to do just that. In fact, I think the only finger I lifted all night was to toss my cake plate in the garbage can. They took care of everything – from lemonade pouring to pizza serving, from set-up to clean-up. Watching the faces of these 25 kids bouncing and laughing until one of them (literally) threw up was priceless and I’m so thankful I got to give those two hours my fullest attention. Sky Zone is on the top of my list for indoor energy-burnin’ fun in the Twin Cities (and definitely for birthday parties) – not just because it’s clean and crazy addictive – but because their staff cares enough to give parents the gift of those moments, keeping an eye on the safety of our children while tightly holding the reigns to all the craziness. Do you want your kid to sport a day-long perma-grin and get a good night’s sleep? Take them to one of Sky Zones’ two Twin Cities locations.

What is it?

Sky Zone is an indoor trampoline park franchise located in both Oakdale and Plymouth. Inside you see wall-to-wall trampoline “courts” separated into individual squares for safer jumping. Workers, outfitted with orange t-shirts and whistles, line the courts making sure there’s no rough housing or rule-breaking. Yes, there are rules, but I for one am thankful for them so my kids don’t get run into, flipped over, tackled, or pelted in the head with a ball. Each venue also has a giant foam pit which allows one kid per lane to jump as high and fast as they’d like and land in a sea of squishy blocks. It is amazing (and safe, which makes it all the cooler!). With the foam pit, electronic waiver-signing, concessions, toddler time, fitness classes, and ultimate dodge ball, Sky Zone has something for everyone. Even I, who fears the feeling of weightlessness, can really get into the groove after a few minutes, surprising myself by how high I can actually fly before my mind-panic kicks in. Mind-panic. It’s a thing.

Fit for what ages?

If they can walk, they can bounce! The trampolines are padded and the rules state that there cannot be more than one jumper per trampoline square (hard to enforce, but they try really hard), so you need not worry too much about littler ones. I jump with my kids during Toddler Time and we all come home famished and exhausted. Babies cannot be held by a jumper, so if you’re bringing a non-walker, make sure your other kids can handle themselves comfortably on the trampolines. Toddler Time is on Tuesday and Friday mornings and is only for kids five and under. Nice, right? Teens can enjoy Friday night Jumpapalooza or Saturday night Mega Jump. All ages can enjoy their regular jumping hours, but everyone under the age of 18 must have a waiver signed by a guardian before jumping. Check out their online calendars for a full list of activities (Minneapolis | St. Paul).

How much are we talkin?

This one is the kicker. Rates aren’t necessarily cheap for open jump time.  You can pay in 30 minute increments, and the longer you stay, the better the value. Oh, and you have to have “Sky Socks” to jump, which cost $2, but you keep them and can bring them back every time you jump. Rates for regular open jump are:

• $8 for 30 minutes (not long enough, in my opinion)
• $12 for 60 minutes
• $16 for 90 minutes
• $20 for 120 minutes (if you can jump for 120 minutes, you’re my new hero)

Groupon and Sky Zone are buddies, so be sure to check their site for potential jump deals.

Little steep? Yeah, I agree. Save money by making a play date for a Tuesday or Friday morning from 9:30-11:00am and get in at the (MUCH) cheaper rate of $4 per jumper. You can also save at the Minneapolis location during Hoppy Hour which is every Thursday from 3:00-5:00pm where jump rates are cut in half. A family jump pass is also available online for $99, which gets you 10 one-hour jump passes (for up to four people per visit). Hard-core jumpers can purchase a Frequent Flyer pass for $29 which gets you one hour of jump time per day for 30 days. Fitness classes are also offered for $80/10 classes or $60/month.

Where this place sold me a million times over was on their birthday parties. Party packages range from $199 to $449 and they accommodate between 10 and 25 jumpers and come with pizza, drinks, a customized cake, decorations, sky socks, a private jumping court and the ability to enjoy a party as a host without the hassle. They do it all, and as a parent, there’s nothing better than that!

Want some tips?

Sky Zone requires a waiver be filled out for every jumper at each franchise you visit. Waivers are offered on-site or online and are valid for 365 days. No waiver, no jumping. Simple as that. You might also want to consider making an online reservation to get the jump time you’d like, especially with a larger group (not necessary during Toddler Time).

Outside food and drink are not allowed in the trampoline park. They offer some snacks and drinks, mostly unhealthy slushies and candy, but we usually just munch on some packed snacks in the car on the drive home. Each jumper must wear a pair of Sky Socks, which cost $2 and can be reused at each visit. You can also just wear them out for coffee with friends when it’s laundry day and you’re fresh out of clean, non-neon-orange, normal ol’ socks. Yes, I’m speaking from experience.

Dress your kid in short sleeves. They’re sweaty little monsters by the end of their jump time so save them the whining and minimize their clothing from the get-go. There are cubbies for personal items, but I usually just set my purse on the edge of the trampoline court. May as well leave your phone in your purse too since you’ll never get a non-blurry photo here unless your kids can freeze mid-air. So. Much. Movement.

Save money and hit up Toddler Time for $4 or Hoppy Hour for half-price discounts. These are the best bangs for your buck and – bonus – you’ll most likely get a sound napper out of the deal. Jumpapalooza and Mega Jump can be fun for older kids, while I highly recommend the fitness classes for adults. If you’re not the yoga type, this is a great option for some fun and ferocious cardio activity. Bring a friend. It’s easier to look silly on a trampoline as a grown adult with a friend who looks just as silly, right?

Should you decide to host a birthday party here, they handle the process seamlessly, taking your custom cake order, selecting themed decorations and colors, creating guest gift bags, and providing an entertaining host. Our host was Austin and I want to take this one sentence to tell anyone from Sky Zone who reads this how incredibly mature, professional, fun and respectful this 20-year old was to our entire party of kids (and adults). It did not go unnoticed and he deserves to be recognized for that.

Hours and Location

13310 Industrial Park Blvd  |  Plymouth, MN 55441
595 Hale Ave North  |  Oakdale, MN 55128

Hours vary greatly by day and park location, but here are the links to the updated calendars so you can see what’s going on when:

• MINNEAPOLIS CALENDAR
• ST. PAUL CALENDAR

Sky Zones are located in industrial park areas allowing them the space to provide tons of room to jump, eat and play with lots of free parking as well.

Follow the Twin Cities Sky Zone locations (Minneapolis or St. Paul) on Facebook for updated events, jump times, deals, and hours.

Thank you to Minneapolis Sky Zone for our fun class outing. These kindergarteners have never been so exhausted and it’s been talked about every day since. You created a lot of smiles (and memories) that day.

Disclaimer: I received a Supreme Birthday Party Package at Sky Zone Minneapolis in exchange for my time sharing this post. All thoughts are my own.