Flying Squirrel Lutz vs. Kids Empire Citrus Park: Which indoor park is better for your family?

If you’ve got kids anywhere near Tampa, chances are you’ve heard of both Flying Squirrel Lutz and Kids Empire Tampa – Citrus Park. They’re two of the main “save our furniture and our sanity” options when it’s too hot, too stormy, or everyone is climbing the walls.

Both are fun. Both will wear kids out. But they’re not the same experience.

Here’s a side-by-side look at attractions, pricing, parties, and safety—so you can pick the one that fits your family best.

Attractions: trampoline arena vs soft-play kingdom

Kids Empire Tampa – Citrus Park is a classic indoor playground with a modern polish:

• Large multi-level play structure
• Slides, climbing elements, tunnels, and obstacles
• Toddler area for the littlest kids
• Open play zones where parents can join in the fun

It’s a great “run, climb, slide, repeat” environment, especially for younger kids who like soft play more than big air.

Flying Squirrel Lutz is built as a full-scale trampoline and adventure park. From the Lutz page and U.S. safety/attraction info, you’re looking at:

• Wall-to-wall trampoline courts
• Dodgeball courts and slam-dunk basketball hoops
• Foam pits and airbag jump lanes
• Climbing walls and a zipline
• Toddler-friendly areas and a café
• An arcade and options for group events and buyouts

If your kids want serious bounce, stunt-style jumps, or “race you across the dodgeball court,” Flying Squirrel has more variety—especially once you get into grade-school and tween ages.

Pricing: all-day pass vs pay-for-play time

The two parks use totally different pricing models, which might be the biggest deciding factor for you.

At Kids Empire Citrus Park, it’s very simple:

• Kids 1–17: $19.90 for all-day access with re-entry
• Infants 0–11 months: free (with a paying sibling)
• Adults: first 2 adults per child are free; extra adults are $5 each
• 10-visit punch card: $159 (no expiration date, non-nominative)

You can stay as long as you like, leave, grab lunch, and come back later the same day with no extra fee. For families who like to camp out for hours, that’s a big win.

At Flying Squirrel Lutz, you pay for defined jump sessions and have the option to save with passes:

• General admission:
  • 1 hour: $19 per person ($14 for toddlers)
  • 1.5 hours: about $24 ($19 for toddlers)
  • 2 hours: about $29 ($25 for toddlers)
• Multi-use passes:
  • Toddler Pass: $98 for 10 hours
  • Family Pass: $150 for 10 hours

If you want to let younger kids roam all day, Kids Empire is cost-effective. If your goal is “burn maximum energy in 60–120 minutes and go home,” Flying Squirrel delivers a ton of action per dollar—especially if you use the toddler or family pass over multiple visits.

Safety: advanced trampoline systems vs standard playground rules

Both venues care about safety, but Flying Squirrel gets very specific and technical about how they do it.

Kids Empire has clear rules: everyone wears non-grip socks, no shoes on the play floor, waivers are mandatory, there’s a toddler-only area, and adults must supervise children at all times. They emphasize cleanliness (kids crawl on the floor, so they keep it clean) and allow parents into the structure to play alongside their kids.

Flying Squirrel, across all its U.S. parks (including Lutz), goes further with engineered safety features and layers of supervision:

• Safety signage posted throughout the entire park, with staff reinforcing rules while you jump
• Flight Crew stationed in each area to monitor jumpers, enforce rules, and respond if someone gets hurt
• Routine inspections: daily, weekly, monthly, and bi-annual checks on equipment
• Padding and spring skirts covering all springs and frames so nobody lands on exposed metal
• Shock-absorbing suspension mounts and gas-shock systems built into the trampoline framework and foam/airbag launch lanes to soften impact on pads
• Padded posts and no-climb netting separating attractions
• Daily cleaning and disinfection of mats, pads, and platform surfaces

For parents, that means the big-air, high-energy fun is backed up by serious behind-the-scenes safety design and constant staff presence. Kids Empire is safe and supervised, but Flying Squirrel lays out much more detail about how they’re keeping jumpers protected.

Birthday parties: themed parades vs. trampoline blowouts

Both parks go all-in on birthday parties—but they feel different.

Kids Empire Citrus Park parties start at $299 and include:

• 2.5 hours of reserved seating
• A dedicated party host
• A birthday parade with Huggy the dragon
• Drinks and goodies
• Online and printable invitations

Flying Squirrel Lutz’s tiered party packages:

• Bounce Party – from $300 (Mon–Thu) / $350 (Fri–Sun) for up to 10 jumpers
• Super Fly Party – from $440 / $640 for up to 20 jumpers
• Super Fly VIP Party – from $1000 / $1100 for 20 jumpers + 4 parents and VIP perks

Every package includes:

• 2.5 hours of party time (with 2 full hours of jump time)
• Pizza and bottled water (more food in the bigger packages)
• Reserved party tables or VIP section
• Custom birthday sign and a gold mini-crown
• A dedicated host who handles check-in, timing, food, and clean-up
• A free one-hour jump pass for the birthday kid to use next time
• A shout-out over the facility PA system

You can also schedule your party during Neon Lights at no extra charge for that glow-party effect.

Kids Empire gives you a cute, character-driven playground party. Flying Squirrel gives you a “big event” trampoline party that tends to wow older kids, tweens, and teens (and lets parents sit back while the host runs the show).

So… which one should you pick?

Choose Kids Empire Citrus Park if:

• Your kids are mostly in the 1–7 age range
• You want a big, soft-play structure and all-day admission with in-and-out privileges
• You like the idea of joining them in the structure and keeping the day pretty low-key

Choose Flying Squirrel Lutz if:

• You’ve got a mix of ages—little kids, big kids, and maybe some competitive adults
• Your kids love trampolines, dodgeball, climbing walls, and more intense physical play
• You care a lot about visible safety systems and clear rules backed by trained staff
• You want time-based pricing and punch passes that make repeat visits easier to budget
• You’re planning a party and want a high-energy, “that was awesome” trampoline celebration

In the Tampa area, you really can’t go wrong with either if your goal is happy, tired kids. But if you’re aiming for maximum movement, advanced safety, and parties that feel like a full experience—not just an afternoon at the playground—Flying Squirrel Lutz usually comes out ahead.