Dream to Reality: The Story Behind Amazing Fun Park – A Family Adventure Like No Other!

Hello Dream! Nice to finally meet you.

 

Amazing Fun Park was born out of a dream. I may even claim it was my salvation. In 2019, my world shifted when my dad passed away. I was deep in grief, trying to navigate the loss and my sister was right there with me, also struggling. We both realized that we needed something to help keep our minds busy, something to focus on that would pull us out of our sorrow.

 

One evening, we found ourselves playing a game of mahjong with my husband and her husband. Unbeknownst to us, the course of our lives changed in a completely new direction. What began as a casual game turned into a life-altering discussion that would set us on an entirely different path. It was my sister who had the brilliant idea.

 

Fifteen years ago, while traveling in Asia, she had seen kids enjoying indoor playgrounds and riding around malls on plush animal rides. The idea had stuck with her all those years, but she hadn’t known how or where to begin. As soon as she mentioned it, my entrepreneurial husband jumped on the idea. Within two days, he had mapped out a plan. He found suppliers, figured out logistics, and knew exactly how we could get started.

 

Taking the Leap

 

We took a leap of faith and opened our first store in Surrey, British Columbia, at a mall that held sentimental value—it was our dad’s favourite. That was where he spent most of his days. And as if he was watching over us, that store became an instant success. Just three months later, we opened a second store in West Vancouver, and it was even more popular than the first! What began as a way to navigate our grief became a flourishing venture, and we haven’t looked back since.

 

As a team, the four of us poured our energy into our new business, all while balancing demanding full-time jobs, as well as attending to the needs of our kids. I was a corporate executive, my husband worked in finance and ran his own businesses, my sister had a thriving career in a crown corporation, and her husband managed his own company providing services as a specialized nurse. We were an unusual group to start a business, but somehow, our skills complemented each other seamlessly forming a powerful partnership.

 

The Next Big Idea

 

Then came the next big idea: an indoor fun park. My husband, always thinking bigger, envisioned an extraordinary indoor playground. After some discussion and research, we decided to build this dream in the Greater Toronto Area. It was a bold move, and we packed up our lives and moved to this new city, excited for the next chapter. We took the leap, risking everything – quitting our jobs, selling our homes, and putting it all on the line for nothing but a dream. But like all great adventures, not everything went according to plan.

 

Our first attempt to open the indoor family amusement park failed (a story for another time). We were heartbroken—briefly. But the four of us don’t give up easily. There was no Plan B, so we pivoted and kept pushing forward until we found the right path.

 

I firmly believe that every hurdle, struggle, mistake, and closed door was part of a divine redirection leading us to reshape and expand our dream into something even greater.

 

Creating an Enchanted Experience

 

Ultimately, we wanted to create a fun experience for everyone in the community. An enchanting place that is the perfect escape and will have you instantly engulfed in happiness. A place immersed in upbeat music and laughter, featuring an engaging soft play zone designed for our littlest adventurers, alongside cutting-edge arcade games and virtual reality (VR) experiences that both kids and adults would relish, complemented by a variety of interactive adventures that will bring your whole family together. But we didn’t want to stop there; we wanted a section for kids’ apparel and whimsical toys and accessories, ensuring every family member leaves with a memento of their delightful journey.

 

The perfect opportunity presented itself and I’m thrilled and incredibly proud to introduce our family business, Amazing Fun Park, to Mississauga, Ontario and the Greater Toronto region.

 

Amazing Fun Park, or AFP for short, is so deeply personal to me, inspired by cherished memories of visiting a local fun park in the Philippines with my dad. Those memories fuel my desire to recreate that sense of wonder and magic for other families, offering a space where kids and parents can escape the everyday grind and just have fun together.

 

Inspiring Our Community Together

 

As immigrants who have been fortunate to benefit from Canada’s generosity, our strong belief in giving back drives us to be actively involved in our communities. That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with local schools and academies to showcase engaging educational games and host lively dance parties and performances on our AFP stage —a highlight at AFP. It’s all about creating fun experiences and strengthening our community connections. 

 

This collaboration will not only enhance the entertainment experience for our guests but also offer young budding performers a lively platform to showcase their talents in a fun, vibrant and exciting setting on the AFP Stage.

 

An Enchanted Experience

 

Now, AFP is a one-of-a-kind destination. A family fun park like no other, where our enchanted forest theme transports guests into a realm of wonder, filled with interactive attractions, thrilling immersive digital games and exciting rides. Not only is it a state of the art indoor amusement park but, we have seating areas on grass turf under glowing trees that come to life for the ultimate birthday party celebration, team event or just to take it all in.

 

I don’t want to give everything away just yet, but at the heart of this enchanted forest lives our beloved mascot, Chi. A playful earth creature born from the magical trees found within AFP that your children will fall in love with. Chi leads the way in our daily dance parties, where families can groove to our catchy, upbeat original AFP jingle — composed by my talented son of course, to uplift and celebrate kids and parents alike and inspire them to move and sing along unapologetically.

 

Simplifying Family Fun

 

As a mom of three, I understand how much families value the convenience of an enjoyable outing. That’s why we wanted to keep things simple and stress free, most of all for hard working parents like ourselves. With our all-inclusive access to every attraction for a single entrance fee, you won’t have to worry about extra costs or complicated add-ons. As for our staff (we call them Fun Buddies), AFP fosters our core value of “dedicate and celebrate” approach. They will not only care for our customers but also play with them, creating an inclusive and safe environment.

 

Our goal is simple: to spread happiness and smiles and provide people a fun and safe place where they can create memories that will last a lifetime.

 

The Exciting Journey Ahead

 

As we stand on the brink of this exciting new chapter, I can’t help but reflect on how far we’ve come. Amazing Fun Park is more than just a business to us; it’s a tribute to our dad’s legacy and a manifestation of love, resilience, and the power of family and friends who are like family. Each smile we see, every laugh that echoes through our park, reminds us of why we started this journey in the first place.

 

We envision AFP as a haven where families can come together to share joy and create lasting memories. Whether it’s a child’s birthday celebration, a family outing, or simply a spontaneous trip to escape the daily grind, we want everyone to feel welcome and cherished in our space.

 

As we look to the future, we are committed to fostering an environment that nurtures creativity, connection, and community. Our partnerships with community organizations and schools highlight our dedication to giving back and uplifting those around us. We believe that every child deserves a place to play, dream, and discover, and that every family deserves moments of joy and togetherness.

 

Join Us on This Adventure!

 

As we open our doors in Mississauga, we invite you to join us in this adventure. Bring your family, friends, and loved ones to experience the magic of Amazing Fun Park. Together, let’s create a vibrant community filled with laughter, excitement, and unforgettable memories—because at AFP, every day is an opportunity to celebrate life’s simple joys.

 

Thank you for reading our story and being part of the AFP journey. We can’t wait to welcome you into our world of fun and wonder. Here’s to dreaming and the countless smiles yet to come!

The ultimate joy-maker and the soul of Amazing Fun Park, Karen has a passion for making kids smile, and is always the first to dance, sing, and dive into the fun. She loves seeing families create unforgettable memories together and is on a mission to build a place where everyone can escape into a world of laughter, imagination, and joy.

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