Gymboree Play & Music

My son attended the morning play & learn class when he was about a year and a half for a couple of months. It’s great socialization but he clearly was physically a bigger kid than the others in his age group. He’s pretty tall for a 2 year old and very strong. He carries the gallon bottle for me when putting away groceries. He enjoyed climbing and the bubbles, the huge parachute in the circle and just being able to play with different things. My only downside is that there is not enough space for jackets and shoes in those tiny boxes under the bench. PARKING IS FREE!

We love this Gymboree location. The instructor has the class organized from beginning to end. Our daughter really enjoys attending the play and learn class and loves socializing with the other children. Also, the teacher walks you thru how to teach your child how to crawl, walk, climb stairs, etc. This is very helpful as my husband and I are first time parents. We have had a membership for several months and will continue to have one. We have been to other Gymboree locations and the instructor didn’t do anything. This location is not like that. You will definitely get your money out of this class which is great.

I’m sitting here at my desk singing «there are bubbles in the air, in the air…» and thinking to myself, «When the heck did ‘If you’re happy and you know it’ get those odd lyrics?» Oh yeah, it happened when we went to Gymboree.
The staff are fantastic. It’s like they’re on some steriod-​kool aid-​caffiene mix that makes them all a cross between Barney and Mister Rogers. They’re just so… happy. And the play equipment is stellar– my 14 month old absolutely loves playing there. If it was just an open gym (at a more reasonable price) this place would be five stars, hands down.
BUT… you have to register and pay for a class to get access. And herein lies the problem.
We’re usually Wiggleworms people and we know the classics — you know, Itsy Bitsy and Twinkle Twinkle and Shortnin’ Bread and If You’re Happy and You Know It. At our first Gymboree class I couldn’t get myself to sing along– something seemed just not right. At the second class I realized it was because the songs were all those classics we loved, only they changed the lyrics AND added the word «Gymboree» to each. As in, make the kids sing the company’s name. Creeeeeepy. They even ruined the Mexican Hat Dance! By the third class I was singing to my son the real lyrics to these songs, class be damned. It just ain’t right to confuse him with odd lyrics, it’s less right to make him sing a corporate anthem. («Hooray! Hooray! It’s a Gymboree day!» GAG.)
[Simpsons fans: totally made me think of «I wanna go to Kamp Krusty. Take me take me take me take me now. Now now now now now now. Kamp Krusty take me there right now.”]
Add to that «Gymbo the Clown,» available in the gift shop (of course). At least McDonald’s had the creativity to call their creepy clown Ronald and not McD. Gymbo is so clearly a corporate shill, and seeing other kids scream «GYMBO!» when they took out one of the three versions of the clown (all available in the gift shop) that are part of the class made me cringe.
The class activities are pretty lame and really involve just playing on the equipment that you could play with on your own. It’s all very hokey. («Today we’re working on socialization. Now let’s do one of our socialization activities…»)
So, open gym and staff, 5 stars. Class, ugh, stay home. We’re going back to Wiggleworms, for sure.

I have only been there to try a class so I can’t speak much about their regular schedule.
We did however, have my daughters 3^rd birthday party there. The instructor was great, she was really enthusiastic and all of the kids had a great time. The staff was also very friendly and helpful. The facility is very much well kept and clean.
The great part about having a party there is that they do everything for you. They even give you a basic goody bag for each kid. They collect and package up all of your presents. But what was the best part is that when it came to the cake and food, they did everything. They served the pizza, drinks and cake. AND they even packed up your food to go in their own ziplocs. It made having a kid party low stress, no mess to clean up!
A little pricey, however, I do think they are having a special going on until I think September for $ 50 off a party. Might want to inquire about it if you’re interested.