Visiting as a group · Local
Visiting as a group near Midland
The local version of the question: how far, how long, and is it worth it.
Tell the centre the numbers in advance and the day runs better for everyone, staff included.
A Midland school holiday runs out of ideas by about day three. This is a day-three answer rather than a day-one one.
Getting there
Any adult who has taken six children anywhere knows the failure mode: five occupied, one bored, and the bored one setting the tone.
Photograph the machine as well as the child. In two years you will have forgotten what the room looked like.
What you will find
Split a group by what they want rather than by age. The child who wants to watch is having a good time too.
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.
How long to allow
Tell the centre the numbers in advance and the day runs better for everyone, staff included.
Two shorter visits teach a child more than one long one. The second time they already know what they want to try, and that is when the good part starts.
Worth the trip?
Any adult who has taken six children anywhere knows the failure mode: five occupied, one bored, and the bored one setting the tone.
Split a group by what they want rather than by age. The child who wants to watch is having a good time too.
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 Midland
Nothing about the visit assumes you know the area. The centre is inside Concord Mills, which is signposted from everywhere in Concord and impossible to miss once you are there.
A short visit that ends while they still want more beats a long one that ends in a meltdown, every time.
Let the child choose what to do first even when it is the thing you would have chosen last. The order matters less than the choosing.
Plenty of the families in the room on a weekday morning have come from somewhere like Midland. Nobody is local to a mall attraction; everybody has driven.
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
Anything time critical is worth a phone call first: hours are 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Saturday and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.