COVID vaccines are steadily rolling out and families like ours are definitely looking to get out of the house and back into some normal, fun, family activities! On a visit to Texas we found the exact thing we wanted in Plano at the Crayola Experience in The Shops at Willow Bend mall. Larger than a football field, full of fun stations for kids and adults to explore all sides of their own creativity! Like to draw? To color? To work with clay? You can even design colorful cars and clothes and see them projected onto huge wall screens. And it's all COVID safe!
10 Tips for Your Trip
1. All bags, including purses, diaper bags, and backpacks are NOT permitted inside. They provide everyone who needs a bag a clear plastic bag to carry whatever is needed.
2. A timed entry is required in order to manage capacity and maintain adequate social distancing while inside.
3. Everyone is screened with a touchless temperature check before entry.
4. Stations are cleaned periodically in-between guest uses.
5. Signage is clearly marked to help enforce social distancing guidelines.
6. Everyone over the age of 3 must wear an approved face mask except when eating or drinking.
7. Cashless transactions are available, either by credit card, app, or debit card.
8. Annual passes and tickets with earlier expiration dates have been extended to allow everyone to enjoy the experience.
9. Remember, COVID is a risk in any public setting.
10. Using the CDC as a guidepost, these rules and guidelines are updated periodically so be sure to check their website for the latest info to plan you trip!
Activities!
The Crayola Experience hosts over 20 different play areas to ensure something for every kid to have fun with is inside. We tried them all (some multiple times!) and these were our favorites:
We walked out with four of these prints, our kids loved them so much. The camera snaps a photo and transposes your outline onto a background of your choice, just a like a coloring book!
Do you want a funny video of kaleidoscope images doing funky dance moves? Ridiculous question. Of course you do!
Spiral drip art with a science twist! Put crayons in the machine to melt, then use a lever to speed up and slow down the spinning disc to create a unique geometric design.
Be sure to check out the Melt & Mold, Toddler Town, Texture CRAYze, and Stomp & Play exhibits as well all the other fabulous experiences offered!
Planning the Day
The Crayola Experience is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM and you can fairly easily spend all day here, depending on how artsy craftsy the family wants to be. We comfortably spent 3 hours, hitting a number of sites a few times just to make sure everyone had their fill.
For each entrance ticket you receive a large guest bag with 2 tokens and a voucher for a Scribble Scrubbie. The bag is perfect for collecting all the artwork generated and makes it easy for kids to find anything they need since it's transparent. The tokens are used for various activities and if you run out more can be purchased. We additionally bought some bags of mineral rocks (ahem, "gems") so the kids could use the water stream to "mine" for them (they LOVED it).
We finished the visit in the gift shop where our kids assembled their very own box of 32 crayons from a variety of crayon choices as long as the wall. They were happy and entertained for the rest of the evening when we returned home.
Note a few items have been changed while everyone protects against COVID:
- The Color Playground and Toddler Town climber are closed until further notice.
- Crayons have been removed from tables and the Colossal Caddy, chalk from Scribble Square area, and Model Magic tools from tables; instead supplies will be included in each guest bag you receive at admissions.
- The Crayola Factory theater show has limited seating capacity for your safety.
- The number of available stations on some attractions has been reduced.
- Character appearances are suspended until further notice.
Where to Buy Tickets
Tickets are available through their website, which also has a ton of additional content to help you decide on which activities to do, as well as free home activities ideas and templates.
Win It!
Our friends at Crayola Experience have generously offered to giveaway two tickets to the Plano Crayola Experience for a lucky Across the Avenue winner! Enter the rafflecopter below for your chance to win and check out the excitement for yourself. P.O. Boxes are not eligible for prize fulfillment. Entrants must live in the continental U.S.
Other Locations
Crayola Experiences certainly isn't limited to Texas! There are several other locations, including Easton, PA, Orlando, FL, inside the Mall of America, and in Chandler, AZ. Furthermore, if you don't live by any of the five physical attractions, you can now purchase a Crayola Experience at Home kit for hours of creative fun shipped right to your door! For more information or to purchase a kit, check out details here.Connect with the Crayola Experience
Disclaimer: The experiences in this post were provided by The Crayola Experience. As always, our posts are our own, honest opinions.