Reuben H. Fleet Space Theatre and Science Museum
1875 El Prado,San Diego,
California 92101
(619) 238-1233
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8 Reviewsfor Reuben H. Fleet Space Theatre and Science Museum
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1221 family found this helpful
"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!
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1 family found this helpful
"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.
1 family found this helpful
"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.
0 families found this helpful
"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.
0 families found this helpful
"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.
1 family found this helpful
"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.
0 families found this helpful
"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!
2 families found this helpful
"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.
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