Activate: The One Family Activity My Kids Actually Agreed On
Many challenges come with parenting, and one of them is finding a family outing that everyone can agree on, especially when working with a wide range of ages. Recently, I offered my kids, ages 8-17, the opportunity to visit Activate at American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and before they could shoot my idea down without even knowing what it was, I blurted out, “Lasers and games!” Sold!
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But Activate is so much more than those two words—it is the world’s first active-gaming experience where players in groups of two to five have 45 minutes to move from room to room, competing in different exciting and fast-paced challenges that last between one and three minutes. Each unique room allows players to choose difficulty levels, making the games truly customizable and no two experiences alike.
When we first arrived for our reservation, we were greeted by the friendly staff who assigned us a locker for our belongings, and explained check-in and how the game works. We were given electronic wristbands to sign in with, which stored our information. This allowed us to sign in to the rooms and track our progress and points. The points system allows players to earn “coins” that can be used towards prizes ranging from key chains to drones. If you don’t earn enough during your visit, you can continue earning “coins” the next time since your progress is saved, allowing you to hold on to your “coins” until you’re ready to cash them in. The electronic bracelets also track your player ranking, so you can see how you stack up against your fellow team members and everyone else playing. Rank high enough and you might just see your name up in lights on the Activate scoreboard.
Once we were set up, we checked into the “Hoops” room via a screen next to the door and waited for our signal to go in. Once we got the go-ahead, we rushed into a dark room quickly lit up with bright neon lights and a voice giving us instructions on what to do. We quickly grabbed basketballs and started frantically shooting them into baskets to score as many points as possible. When time was up, we rushed out to get to the next room.
Our favorite room was the “Mega Grid,” which had us leaping across a floor filled with multicolor LED tiles with the goal of getting across without stepping on the wrong color. If we managed to do that, we hit the button on the wall to score points. We did this room multiple times, and got better with each try. We were free to use our time slot however we wanted, so we had the option to play the same room repeatedly (unless another group was waiting to go in). You’ll know if you are allowed to stay in and if you get instructions to leave or start the game again.
The room we were most excited to try was “Mega Laser” because it looked like something straight out of a spy movie. When the game started, the room lit up with laser beams, with the goal of not tripping over any. It turns out that we would make terrible spies because we lost that game immediately, but we had the best time doing it. We couldn’t stop laughing as we continued to mess up over and over again.
Our allotted 45 minutes flew by, and we all agreed this was an excellent family activity. Whether we beat the challenge or lost miserably, everyone enjoyed themselves. As a parent, I was thrilled to find something that got the kids off the screens, had them moving around, and working together as a team. We definitely plan to make another trip to Activate, but this time we won’t have to cross the state line since Activate is opening a new location at Roosevelt Field on Long Island. Stop by during their grand opening weekend, June 6-8, for free gameplay and experience the fun for yourself!
Tips for Your Visit:
- Wear comfortable clothes that you can move in. You will be running, jumping, and climbing, so leave the Crocs at home.
- Look at the website and familiarize yourself with the games so that you’ll know what to expect when you enter each room.
- Book your visit in advance to ensure that you secure a slot.
- Arrive 10-15 minutes before your appointment to ensure you have enough time to check in before your game starts.
- Feel like 45 minutes isn’t enough time? Check in with the front desk to see if you can extend your time for an additional fee. Depending on how busy it is, you might be able to.
To find out more about Activate and the American Dream and Roosevelt Field locations, visit their website at playactivate.com
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