Hello everyone!
My daughter's growing up, and we're still exploring playgrounds.
I already shared my thoughts on Khloptop Amusement Park.
In this review, I want to tell you about a place called Madagascar Land.
It's located in the Continental Mall, near the Zvezdnaya Metro Station.
The play area is situated on the 4th floor in the Food Court zone. That's both a plus and a minus.
The minus is that you're on full display to everyone sitting at the tables.
The plus is that you can see all the rides before paying and check the area's crowd level.
For parents of older kids, it's convenient to observe your child without entering the play area, while you sit and do your own thing – many people do that.
We're still in the younger category, so we explore everything together with our kid.
When you enter, they ask for your child's name, birthday, and one parent's phone number.
They give you a wristband and a plastic card. Then, you take off your shoes and step into a world of childhood.
The play area is relatively small compared to Khloptop.
However, the rides are the same – just more compactly arranged.
On weekends, when there are many visitors, it can get very crowded.
They have a trampoline area available.
Water trampoline with changing lighting
various slides and swings, balls
volcano, inflatable octopus, soft carousels
I was surprised by how well the hills for bigger and smaller kids worked out. My little ones loved the gentle slopes, and the bigger kids enjoyed the more challenging terrain. The hills are well-designed and provide a great way to get some exercise while having fun in the backyard.
My little one loves the play area with all the balls and different ladders.
Our little one actually preferred the open area, but for some reason, she didn't quite enjoy it herexa0
Drawbacks of the play area inside
- as I mentioned earlier, there's not enough space, and when there are multiple kids, you need to keep a close eye on them to prevent collisions, since they move around in a chaotic manner, and most of the free space is taken up by the attractions.
- There are plenty of soft blocks that are hidden in the space under the slope, which is a bit of a squeeze to get to and not the most comfortable or well-lit spot.
Cons of the outdoor area
- There's no designated spot to leave your stroller. The shoe racks by the entrance are often used for strollers too, but with the limited space, it can get pretty crowded and difficult to get in and out of your shoes, let alone your stroller. And, as I mentioned earlier, the entrance is narrow and no one from the staff seems to be keeping an eye on the strollers.
Cons of the staff and service
- When we visited, we were given a plastic card that looked like a bank card. The electronic turnstile at the entrance had me thinking it was for entry and exit purposes, but when I asked the staff, they said it was just for us to show if we were asked. We ended up throwing it away after our visit, and when we returned, no one mentioned the card to us.
It wasn't until our third visit, when I was asked if I had a club card and I asked how to get one, that we realized the plastic card was actually the club card, which gives you a 30-ruble discount on your next visit.
I have to say, it's a small thing, but it's annoying - why can't they just tell you upfront?
- I only saw staff members observing from the trampoline area and the stage, but there was no one in the other zones. Maybe they're watching from a distance, I don't know.
- There are various swings and push-pads set up near the stage for little kids, and they're always arranged in a neat row. As soon as any kid manages to wriggle one out of the tight lineup and starts playing with it, a staff member comes over and puts it back in its original spot.
Then the kid comes back and pulls out another toy, and the staff member does the same thing. Sometimes, the staff member looks like she's getting frustrated, which is uncomfortable to watch.
Look, if you're going to set up toys, just let the kids use them. For little ones, sometimes just moving a thing from one spot to another is already a game.
- The photographers aren't great at interacting with the kids. All the photos look the same, and the cost of the magnet is 350 rubles.
Despite the drawbacks I mentioned, we really like this play area, and I'd recommend checking it out.
UPDATE 30.01.20
I've encountered a lackadaisical attitude towards work, and since it happened with multiple staff members, I'm assuming it's a systemic issue rather than a one-off mistake. That's why I'm taking away a star.
We visited this center again in mid-December.
As we were leaving, they offered us magnets with our photos on them, but they're really expensive, and we already have some at home. I asked if we could get the photos by email instead, and they said it was possible for 100 rubles. I chose the photos, sent in my email address, and paid.
I was told to wait for the photos, but it seemed like a slow day.
We ended up heading to the food court to grab a bite to eat and feed the kid. We were there for about an hour, and I checked my email to see if the photos were sent. It's not like it takes a lot of time to send a few photos via email, right?
Since the food court area has a clear view of the photo studio, I was able to keep an eye on the photographer while we were eating. She was just sitting there, doing whatever it was she was doing.
I waited for another 10 minutes, but still no photos. So, I walked over to her and asked if everything was okay.
She told me she'd send them in just a minute, but 10 minutes turned into 15, and I still hadn't received anything. I went back to our table, and 15 minutes turned into 30, but still no photos.
The whole time, she was just sitting there, staring at her monitor. I went back over to her and asked again, and she told me it would just be a few more minutes. I was getting a bit frustrated at this point, having waited over an hour and a half.
Finally, after all that, she sent me the photos. It was pretty annoying to have to ask for something I'd already paid for, but I'm not one to hold grudges, so I just let it go.
The next time we went, it was in mid-January. There was hardly anyone there, which was a bit weird.
The new photographer was really nice and friendly, and she took a ton of photos. I chose three and asked her to send them to me via email. She was really sweet about it, and I thought for sure she'd get it done right.
We left the studio around 6 pm, but the photos weren't sent until much later. I remembered to check my email around 9:30 pm, but of course, there were no photos.
I called the studio to ask about it, still thinking maybe the email hadn't gone through or something. But no, they told me the photographer had already left for the day.
I handed over my money, but the work wasn't even done, and I got to go home early. The administrator told me that she'd pass everything over to me the next day and I'd get a call back.
When I asked for clarification on whether I should wait for the call or call them back myself, I was told that they'd be the ones to call, specifically the photographer.
They start work at 10:00...
But by 12:00, I'd had enough of waiting and decided to call myself.
They told me that the previous photographer wasn't working, but they connected me with the one for the day. She listened to me and promised to sort everything out. She gave me her number, and I sent her my email address and the photos of my daughter, so it'd be easier for her to find them – I'd taken them myself, after all.
I was waiting for over two hours, even sending a few follow-up messages to check on the timeline, but eventually, I got my photos.
One of them wasn't the one I'd chosen the day before from the many they'd taken, but to be honest, I didn't feel like dealing with it.
I have to say that no one even apologized to me – neither the administrator nor the photographer – for how sloppily they'd handled the job from the start, nor for not calling me back as promised.
No one.
Now I'm convinced that if I hadn't been so nervous the first time, I'd probably have been searching for my photos the next day too.
I'm really disappointed by their attitude. So, if you're like me and want to get photos via email, be prepared to be patient.
Thanks for reading!
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