Visiting as a group · Tips
Visiting as a group in Madison: practical tips
The things nobody tells you until you have done it twice.
Four machines and one big crate spread a group out. So does a rink - there is no single queue for the whole party to stand in.
Weekends bring more of Madison out at once. If the schedule allows a weekday, take it; the same visit is quieter and the machines wait for nobody in particular.
Before you leave the house
Split a group by what they want rather than by age. The child who wants to watch is having a good time too.
Tell the centre the numbers in advance and the day runs better for everyone, staff included.
When you arrive
Any adult who has taken six children anywhere knows the failure mode: five occupied, one bored, and the bored one setting the tone.
Bring a snack for afterwards rather than during. Hungry children leave early and full children want to stay.
While you are there
Four machines and one big crate spread a group out. So does a rink - there is no single queue for the whole party to stand in.
Split a group by what they want rather than by age. The child who wants to watch is having a good time too.
On the way home
Tell the centre the numbers in advance and the day runs better for everyone, staff included.
Bring less than you think. Coats and bags are the part of the visit nobody enjoys managing.
Questions parents ask
How many children can come at once?
Call ahead with your numbers and arrange it: +1 (615) 968-4925.
What are the opening hours?
10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.
Where is New Life Entertainment?
Two centres: 433 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville TN 37214, and 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord NC 28027.
Planning your visit in Madison
Coming in from Madison with more than one child, the useful thing to know is that the room does not need to be rationed - there is more than one thing to do at the same time.
Take the photographs early. The best ones happen in the first fifteen minutes, before anybody is tired.
Photograph the machine as well as the child. In two years you will have forgotten what the room looked like.
A Madison school holiday runs out of ideas by about day three. This is a day-three answer rather than a day-one one.
The practical details
- XCAV ZONE — 433 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville TN 37214: four child-operated machines over a ball pit.
- ICE PARK — 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord NC 28027: a real rink with bumper cars on the ice.
- Opening hours — 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Saturday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.
- Phone — +1 (424) 387-6232 · +1 (615) 968-4925
- E-mail — info@newlife-entertainment.com
The two centres are at 433 Opry Mills Drive in Nashville and 8111 Concord Mills Blvd in Concord, open 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM most days and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.