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Reuben H. Fleet Space Theatre and Science Museum

1875 El Prado, San Diego, California 92101 | (619) 238-1233
11 Reviews
Type: Museums & Monuments
Ages: Ages 1 — adult
Cost: $$
Hours of operation: Opens daily at 9:30am; Close varies
Website: www.rhfleet.org

Check out KidCity, an exhibition just for kids up to age 6.


11 Reviews for Reuben H. Fleet Space Theatre and Science Museum

xkristax
xkristax
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January 17 2011
0 families found this helpful
Violetwhite_word
"recommend it!"

I really enjoyed this place, as did the kids. There was a lot of things to see and do, as well as the big IMAX theater where we got to watch a really neat movie. This is a great place for people of all ages. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

March 28 2011
0 families found this helpful
Violetwhite_word
"so cool!"

Got a year pass to take my kids and they love it. They love all the hands on things to play with and the kids area, the kids area is where we played for about 3 hours. They have a little pretend shopping area, blocks, play on toys and more.They limit the size to the kids that can be in there. We love watching the shows in the theatre. If you check out the gift shop you have to buy some space ice cream. I loved it as a kid and now my kids love it. so amazing

January 10 2011
0 families found this helpful
Violetwhite_word
"Fun Learning"

I take my kids here every year!  My kids love this place (ages 11 and 16!!!)  Almost all of the displays are totally interactive and hands on.  So, they get to play while learning!!  They also have an IMAX screen.  They change the movies every so often.  We saw the Mars expedition and the Ocean and Sea life one.  Amazing!  The IMAX tickets are separate from the museum tickets, but it is money well spent.  Take your kids and have fun learning!!

ebickford
ebickford
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December 23 2010
1 family found this helpful
Violetwhite_word
"Can't Go Wrong Here!"

This is the best museum to take your kids to in san diego, this museum has so many interactive displays and is so kid friendly! I think from age 18 months and over this is plenty for your youngster to see and do.

On top of all the amazing exhibits they have an IMAX theatre. This is one of the best IMAX theatre in San Diego and if you want the true experience I recommend seeing your fil here. They carry all the commerical movies but they also have some wonderful documentaries which is what I have seen here. They had a great movie on the stars, and I hear they have an amazing movie on sharks. I can only image what that would look like in IMAX!

December 23 2010
1 family found this helpful
Violetwhite_word
"Reuben H. Fleet Science Center"

Home to the giant IMAX dome screen, you'll really feel as if you are in the movie!  My daughters love the "Space Tunnel" at the beginning of each film - it transports you from the stars to a new environment, and it feels as though you are really moving!  
Dozens of hands on activities await inside the museum.  Families can learn about physics, kinetics, energy and more through fun experiments.  

December 23 2010
1 family found this helpful
Violetwhite_word
"Thought My Preschooler Was Too Young To Enjoy The Fleet - Wrong!"

I was contacted by The Fleet because of my website.  They opened a new Kid City and thought my daughter might enjoy it.  She was a few months over 2 yrs old at the time.  I thought "ok we'll check it out" with mediocre enthusiasm.  

What totally caught me off guard is that she was WAY more interested in the actual science exhibits than Kid City (which is very nice).  The bottom floor has all the science exhibits whereas Kid City is upstairs.  We stayed on the bottom floor for most of our visit.  The exhibits downstairs are interactive where kids can play and learn at the same time, but I think might be geard toward school age kids through adults.  The toys at Kid City are for learning too, it's just that they are geared toward a younger audience.  Like I said, my daughter enjoyed both.

We then saw the "Under The Sea" IMAX movie which was about 45 minutes long, I believe.  She'd never been to a movie and I was convinced she'd get fidgety and we'd have to leave early.  She LOVED it.  That was a perfect IMAX for a kid her age with tons of fish to look at.  That being said, on another visit we tried the "Amazon" movie which was a little bit more like a National Geographic documentary.  That didn't hold her attention.  If you haven't been to an IMAX, they are really cool.

The Fleet is small so great for a morning visit when it's not crowded.  If you have a stroller, you probably don't need it unless you need something to hold your bags or your child doesn't walk very well yet.  They have stroller parking on the inside of The Fleet if you decide you don't need it, though it's not supervised.  I've left my stroller there with no problems.

December 23 2010
0 families found this helpful
Violetwhite_word
"Play, Discover, Learn"

My two year old and I went to the museum with the intention of cooling off from the heat and settling down for more of an indoor activity by watching an IMAX movie.  What we found on the second floor was an entire area dedicated to tots like my son.  He loved running and playing and "grocery shopping."  The area even has computers although my son wasn't particularly interested in sitting down at that point.  My son was particularly interested in the distorted mirrors and fruits/veggies.  While I think the IMAX movie theater is an incredible educational experience for children, toddlers may not be able to sit still the entire length of the movie.  My son was also a bit fearful of the sharks during the Under the Sea movie.  

December 23 2010
1 family found this helpful
Violetwhite_word
"Perfect museum for kids of all ages"

With the name like Science Museum, parents of young kids might not think it will be a great stop for them. But don't let the smarty name fool you. This museum is a great hand-on, interactive museum that even toddler can enjoy.

For toddlers, head upstairs to the Kids' City for a room full of child-size toy like telephone booth, groceries store or big lego for them to build. My son who is 5 still enjoyed playing and spent almost an hour there.

For school-ages kids, the downstairs will provide interactive fun to learn about science. Upstairs will be a favorite for the whole family in the Blockbuster room. You can build anything from those blocks.

IMAX movies were very enjoyable! It's a perfect museum in Balboa Park to visit with the whole family.

December 23 2010
1 family found this helpful
Violetwhite_word
"Good pick at Balboa Park"

This science center had a nice layout, great hands-on exhibits, and wasn't crowded the day we went. My son was 7 when we went, and got a lot out of the exhibits on the first floor-lots to do and touch. The computer and space exhibits were fun but not as age-appropriate for him. It's reasonably priced and even more so if you have the Balboa Passport that gives you access to all the museums in the park.
We didn't get to see the IMAX or planetarium.

December 23 2010
0 families found this helpful
Violetwhite_word
"Fun with the Family"

This awe-inspiring facility features a planetarium, hands-on exhibits, and the incredible OMNIMAX, which features new IMAX films. From birds to the Wright brothers to jets, you and the kids will thrill to the history and magical science of flight. Don’t miss this!

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GnuMom
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December 23 2010
2 families found this helpful
Violetwhite_word
"Learn and play"

They have a really nice kids' area on the second floor and nearby bathrooms with changing areas.  They have some computers for the kids to play games on, too.  My toddler also liked the other activities to explore on the first floor, which are great for older kids to play and learn about science at the same time.  Since it's in Balboa Park, there's lots to do all around the center, too, as well as some places to eat.