What's the best way to buy tickets for Dream Island?

We highly recommend buying tickets online in advance to save money and avoid the ticket booths. You can purchase tickets on the park's official website or through their mobile app.

What's the park's policy on returning tickets?

According to the park's website, tickets are non-refundable, but you can exchange them for a different date or time if you need to.

Can I bring my own food and drinks to the park?

Yes, you're allowed to bring your own food and drinks into the park, but there are also plenty of restaurants and snack stands available for purchase.

Are there any height or age restrictions for the attractions?

Yes, some of the attractions have height or age restrictions, so be sure to check the park's website or ask a staff member for more information.

Can I rent a stroller or wheelchair at the park?

Yes, the park offers stroller and wheelchair rentals for guests with mobility issues.

Are there any special events or festivals at the park?

Yes, the park hosts various special events and festivals throughout the year, including concerts, fireworks displays, and character meet-and-greets. Be sure to check their website for upcoming events.

Can I take photos or videos at the park?

Yes, you're welcome to take photos and videos at the park, but be respectful of other guests and the park's property.

Dream Island Review: A Family's Thrilling Adventure

Hello everyone.

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We recently visited Dream Island with our kids, and I'm excited to share our experience with you. I was a bit hesitant at first, given the mixed reviews from other parents, but I'm glad we decided to give it a try.

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After checking the website, I was impressed by the variety of kid-friendly rides and activities, so we decided to buy tickets online in advance. I highly recommend doing this, as it's cheaper than buying them at the ticket booths.

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The park is located at Prospect Andropova, D1, and is easily accessible by metro from the Techpark station. From there, it's just a short walk to the park.

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When we arrived, we were struck by the park's amazing design and decorations. It's like a mini-Disneyland, with tons of ornaments, lights, and giant statues. We took plenty of photos, and the kids were thrilled by the sights and sounds.

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First, we walked through the alley with fountains and entered the shopping center (City Promenade). We browsed the shops and found the ticket booths for the park. We visited on a Wednesday, and the lines were pretty short, probably because we arrived at 2 PM, a few hours after opening time.

The park opens at 12 PM.

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Prices.

I was expecting the prices to be steep, but it wasn't until I visited the park that I realized just how high they were. At first, it seemed like a big park with plenty of attractions, so the cost would be accordingly high. I highly recommend buying your tickets online in advance from the park's website - it's cheaper than buying them at the ticket booths.

I didn't know that the prices on the website and at the ticket booths were different until I got to the booths. After comparing prices, we decided to order our tickets online.

We grabbed a spot on a bench and quickly bought our tickets online. The online checkout process was super fast, taking just a minute. And within another minute, our tickets arrived in my email inbox.

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You can buy tickets online on the park's website for these prices:

Ticket for 1 person - 2900 rubles.

Ticket for a family of 3 people - 7,800 rubles

Ticket for a family of 4 people - 9,900 rubles.

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There's also a separate ticket for express access to some of the attractions. The cost of this ticket is 9,000 rubles per person. The prices are pretty steep.

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The price of a ticket for 4 people at the ticket booth is 10,200 rubles. Buying tickets online is slightly cheaper.

Next, we went through the turnstiles to get in. You're not allowed to bring food and drinks with you. Although there are a lot of people, they don't check bags. They just ask you to throw away anything you're holding.

The line at the turnstile wasn't too long - it took us just 2 minutes to get through.

This might be because we arrived a bit before opening time and not on a weekend. But there were still a lot of people.

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My impressions.

I have two kids who are 115 and 100 cm tall. Before our visit, I checked which attractions are suitable for small children. I even printed out a map and marked the attractions and play areas for kids under 90 cm.

Let's be real, we hit a lot of rides, but not all of them. Some had crazy long queues, and waiting with a three-year-old for an hour? No way, they wouldn't last that long.

We ended up sticking to the rides in the Fairy Tale Village and near the Smurfs. Those had almost no queues, and we'd wait maybe 5-7 minutes max.

Of course, the older kids – even those a bit younger – wanted to join in, but they'd get measured and turned away.

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The park itself is amazing! It's huge, with tons of rides for both kids and adults. And the best part? It's all under a massive indoor pavilion! Rain, shine, or snow, you can come and play.

I love that there's such a variety of activities in one place: rides, a few theaters, a play area, 'scary rooms,' and a mirror maze. Everyone will find something they love. Still, it's impossible to do it all in one day – there's just too much, and the queues.

The park is beautifully decorated, with tons of ornaments, lights, and giant statues. You'll get some amazing photos. Plus, since it's divided into different themed zones, each photo shoot feels unique.

Now, I have to admit, there were some downsides.

One thing that really bugged me was the misleading names for some of the rooms. They'd promise something big and exciting, but it'd be tiny and underwhelming.

Take the Throne Room of the Snow Queen, for example. I thought it'd be a grand, epic space, but it's just a small room with a giant throne and two bear statues. That was a letdown.

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The real letdown was the queue for the abandoned house. It's a room of horrors. The wait time here is always huge, even right before closing! During the day, it's around 2 hours, in the evening, it's about an hour, but it's right before closing and it's unclear if they'll let you in or not, since the number of people is limited.

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We were also completely unclear if they'd let us in with our little kids. On the website, there's a filter for selecting attractions based on height. I chose 90 cm and the filter shows that the abandoned house is suitable for kids from 90 cm... But at the entrance to the abandoned house (more like on one of the columns near the entrance to the queue) there's a sign that says they only let in kids from 7 years old.

What's the deal? Where's the truth? To stand in line for 2 hours and not get in... And you can't even ask anyone because you can't get to the entrance through the queue.

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We were at the park for almost the whole day, from 2 pm until closing time - 10 pm. And we didn't even get to ride all the attractions, we didn't get to go into all the rooms, and we didn't get to see all the shows. The kids were exhausted, but they didn't want to leave at all. I didn't even expect us to be here until closing time, the time flew by quickly.

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We went during the peak season (July). Even though it was a weekday, there were still tons of people! There were lines for the kid-friendly attractions (although they were relatively small). And for the other attractions (for older kids and adults) the lines were insane! To ride the scary attractions, you have to stand in line for 1-2 hours! And you pay 2500-2900 rubles per person just to stand in line, and the ride itself is only 2 minutes long.

My friend also came with us, and she managed to ride 3 adult attractions. Plus, she had time to spare for the other 2 right before the park closed.

She shared her experience with the queues.

The most popular attractions had queues that barely moved. There were kids just standing at the front of the line, and no one was checking if they were supposed to be there. Meanwhile, VIP pass holders were constantly being let in, while the rest of us were stuck waiting. It seemed like the same people with VIP passes were just going around in circles, riding the same attractions over and over. But in the evening, the queues were shorter and moved a bit faster.

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Attractions.

The park is divided into several themed areas.

As you enter, you'll find yourself in the Under the Dome area.

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It's beautifully designed, but be aware that not all attractions here are free. We skipped this area because all the rides were geared towards kids over 120 or 130 cm. There is a play area for younger kids, but we didn't go in because you might end up getting stuck there for a while and missing out on the main attractions.

Next up is the Enchanted Village area.

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Enchanted Village.

The Enchanted Village has 2 rides and a theater, all designed for little kids.

We rode both of them, and the kids absolutely loved it.

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Swing Ride

This is a fun little lift that goes up and down a few times.

My daughter's a total wild child and screamed her head off on this ride. She loved it so much that she rode it twice.

The line wasn't too bad, even during the day - about 5-7 minutes.

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Horse Carousel

At first glance, this ride looks pretty basic and uninteresting. But trust me, it's actually really cool! Even I got a kick out of it after my daughter's initial freakout.

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The fun part about this carousel is that the horses don't just go around in a circle - they also lift up and down. And in one spot, they really take off and drop down, which sends the kids into a frenzy!

Tip: sit on the red horse - it's got a bigger drop and it's way more fun and intense.

We rode it three times, but the kids wanted to go again. I had to drag them away to see what else was around.

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We also caught a show at the Puppet Theatre Golden Key.

Shows are short and kid-friendly. They stick to the schedule. You can check the schedule on the park's website, or on the stand right in front of the theater entrance.

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Five minutes before the show starts, they announce the beginning over the loudspeaker.

The 20-minute show flew by in no time. I didn't expect the kids to sit still, but by the end, they were surprised it was over. And they would've happily stayed for more.

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The kids were engaged, but for the parents, it was a bit of a snooze-fest. And the sound quality was subpar – I had trouble making out half the words.

In general, I'd say it's suitable for kids aged 4 and up.

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There are also plenty of paid prize games, a candy and snack stand, and a popcorn stand in the Enchanted Village.

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In the center, there's atrain that's also paid. It takes you on a ride around the park, and the kids love it. The cost is 300 rubles per person, regardless of age.

I thought the ride was supposed to last 10 minutes, but we only went for about 5.

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Mowgli in Dinosaur Land.

Right next to the village is a dinosaur zone called Mowgli in Dinosaur Land.

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Unfortunately, the main attractions here are geared towards bigger kids, and the lines are ridiculously long.

There are only two attractions here that are suitable for little ones.

We were really looking forward to the Dino Safari, but it was a total letdown. The wait was a waste of time, and the ride itself was boring even for kids.

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Dino Safari.

We waited in line for ages for this ride and were thoroughly disappointed.

We were expecting a more realistic experience with multiple dinosaurs and a cave...

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In reality, the track is super short and feels more like a kiddie train ride. You can see almost the entire track on the photo.

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There aren't many dinosaurs here. Just a few small ones that are hard to spot.

On the other hand, there are a few dogs and a Maugli and monkey on the top of the hill. But when you're on the ride, you're looking at the sides, not up, so I had to point out where to look for my kids. Otherwise, they would have missed them entirely.

It's just really boring and lacks the dinosaurs.

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Swing of the Fire Cradle.

This is hands-down the coolest kids' ride.

We also waited in line and rode the massive swings. The queue wasn't too bad during the day, just 10 minutes max. By 6 PM, the queue was almost non-existent, and we got to ride again.

The swings mainly have kid-sized seats, with only four spots for adults at the edges. Families with little kids come in droves, so sometimes they'll call out kids who can ride without parents from the front of the line. If you've got older kids, you can skip the line and let them ride quickly without you.

The ride is super intense – I got a rush just watching! But it's designed for kids over 90 cm... how's that not scary for tiny tots? It's terrifying!

To make it less scary, just look up at the rock face.

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Pterodactyl Carousel.

The queue is absolutely massive. This ride's not for little kids – my friend was the only one brave enough to try it. We waited around 40 minutes, and she said it was a total waste of time, just spinning around in circles. Even she found it more exciting than the kids' carousel with the horses!

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There's also the Laguna water ride. The queue is enormous and barely moves – be prepared to stand for two hours.

Not suitable for little kids.

We skipped all the other rides for older kids since the queues were over an hour long, at least. And, of course, there are prize-winning paid games.

There's also a Maugli theater in the land of dinosaurs, but it's located on Smurf territory, not dinosaur territory.

Some other attractions in the Maugli zone in the land of dinosaurs include:

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Other attractions like Wind Wings (from 120 cm), Flight School (from 130 cm), Vines (from 105 cm), Monkey Town (from 105 cm), Cobra (from 130 cm), Temple of Fire (from 140 cm), Lava (from 120 cm), Whirlwind in the Jungle (from 105 cm), which were all suitable for our heights.

For the most part, this area is geared towards older kids. The lines for the attractions here are massive! While we were in Fantasy Village, we rode a few small carousels and watched a show in the theater, and even took a ride on the train... my friend only managed to ride one of the attractions during that time.

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Next up is the Hello Kitty zone.

From the outside, it looks really nice and kid-friendly... Kids are drawn to it, but there's nothing inside! Nothing at all! It's all pay-to-play: there's a restaurant, a cafe, a souvenir shop, and a beauty salon.

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There's only one attraction, a pretty interesting merry-go-round with movable cabins. There's a line, maybe not for 1.5 hours, but it's there. We decided not to wait.

There's also a theater, but we didn't have time for it. Like all the theaters on the premises, the shows run on a schedule.

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The Snow Queen's Castle zone.

This area didn't impress us either, there's not much for little kids to do here. It's pretty, sure, and you can get a few great photos, but there aren't many attractions for them.

My little ones loved the attractions designed for kids over 90 cm tall - the Throne Room, the Royal Chest, and the Snowy Stained Glass. We skipped the line for the stained glass and headed straight in.

The Royal Chest is a mirrored maze. We wandered around a bit at first, but once we found the exit, we quickly made our way out and spent about three minutes exploring inside.

Coming out of the mirrored maze, we entered the Throne Room, which was a letdown. There was just the throne and two large bear statues - nothing else. I was expecting more figurines and objects in this room.

For kids over 105 cm and 110 cm tall, there are some really cool rides in this area:

* The Ice Carousel - a big merry-go-round on chains. It spins fast, and the kids come out happy.

* The Immersive Flight Experience. It looks super scary, and the minimum height requirement is 110 cm. I think this one is too intense - I wouldn't let my daughter ride it.

* The Polar Compass.

We skipped the lines, but not because we were in a rush - we just wanted to make sure both kids could ride together without wasting time.

So, we headed to the Smurf Village.

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Smurf Village.

This place is a paradise for little ones! The kids loved playing here, and it's definitely the most interesting area.

For the smallest kids, there are these awesome attractions:

* The Singing Carousel. It's a small merry-go-round on a chain. It spins slowly, but the kids love it. They let kids in from 90 cm to 130 cm tall. My kids didn't want to leave this carousel - they rode it three times.

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* The Windmill. It's a tiny Ferris wheel. It spins really slowly, and the kids get bored easily. They let kids on by stopping the carousel, letting people out of the cab, then letting new kids in, starting the carousel again, stopping it, and letting people out of the next cab. It's a real slow ride - they only rode it once.

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* The Flight with Storks. It looks like a really cool spinning teacup ride. It's designed for kids from 90 cm tall. We didn't ride it.

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One of the downsides was the two tiny houses - the Master House and the Smurfs House. They're super small, with a door for entry, but it was locked and the staff nearby wasn't interested in opening it. Bummer. We just peeked inside through a window.

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The Smurfs Adventure Playground is a real hit with the kids. It's fenced off, and staff checks the height of the kids before letting them in. There are benches for parents to chill on while the little ones play.

The kids love running around and playing tag here.

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There are only three play structures in total, and they're all wooden. For the tiny tots, there's a mini climbing frame with a slide and a gentle slope. My son was a bit hesitant to try the bigger climbing frame, which has ropes and more challenging obstacles. But my daughter was all over it, climbing and exploring every nook and cranny.

One of the big draws for my little one was the giant, human-sized obstacle course. It's huge and tall, and you can climb up and down the two big slides inside the person.

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For older kids in the Smurfs Forest:

* Master's Crazy Invention - for kids over 105 cm.

* Gargamel's Castle - for kids over 120 cm. We haven't reached that height yet, but it looks super fun!

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Zone of Dream Rides

For kids around 90 cm, there's only one small track.

Mini-Ride

The track is a small, half-circle with several little cars that zip around. At first, I wasn't impressed by the cars, but they're actually pretty cool. The best part is when they turn a corner - it's a bit jerky, and the kids love it. It's a great ride, even if the track is small. We rode it twice.

The other tracks are for older kids, starting at 105 cm, 110 cm, and up. There are five tracks in total.

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Turtle Power

We didn't even get to this zone in time. According to online reviews, there aren't any rides for kids under 90 cm in this area - everything is for bigger kids. We did grab a bite to eat here, though. We initially wanted to sit down in the restaurant and relax, but after 10 minutes, not a single server came over to take our order, despite me waving them down. So, we ended up heading down to the café instead and grabbing something to eat on the go.

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The bottom line is - this is a super fun park for kids with tons of cool attractions. We couldn't possibly hit everything in one day, and I'd love to come back, but not during the summer. Summer is peak season, and it's absolutely packed. I'd much rather come back in the fall or spring and see what we missed.

The kids absolutely loved the rides, which we don't have at our own park. Our park has some rides, but they're pretty basic - just merry-go-rounds and carousels that just go in circles. The rides at Island of Dreams are unique and really fun. Even the simple ones, like the merry-go-round with a boost, or the little track for toy cars with a speed boost, make them stand out and get the kids super excited.

Of course, there are some downsides to the park: long lines, some of the playhouses were closed, and some of the new attractions were underwhelming. We even had to search for the entrance to a few of the exhibits. And some of the rides are pay-per-play. But the kids still had a blast.

Over the course of the day, we rode 9 rides suitable for kids under 90 cm (a simple throne room, a mirror maze), watched one show, visited the Smurf village playground, and even took a paid train ride. And we didn't just ride each attraction once - we went back for multiple rounds. It didn't feel like we hit a ton of rides, but time flew by because we were taking photos, snacking on popcorn, and stopping to grab a bite to eat.

We didn't even get a chance to ride a few more attractions (also for kids over 90 cm):

The Snowy Sleigh Ride.

We skipped the bird show.

And didn't catch any of the theater performances:

Mowgli in the land of the dinosaurs.

Hello Kitty show.

We also skipped the indoor play area under the dome.

Kids grow up fast, so maybe next time we'll be able to ride the kiddie rides that have a height requirement of 105 cm and there'll be more attractions to choose from.

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As for the price - it's pricey if you go during the summer, because you don't want to pay for waiting in line, you want to ride the attractions. When you buy a ticket, you're expecting to ride all the attractions multiple times, but in reality, you end up spending a lot of time waiting in line (mostly for the rides that have a height requirement of 120-130 cm). It's worth visiting during the fall when the lines are shorter.

So, we're looking forward to visiting again in the fall.