From Dawn Henthorn,
Your Guide to Florida Travel.
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I wanna be a kid again... and you will too when you see this trend-setting new children's attraction!

Wannado City®, America's first indoor role-playing theme park for kids, is enjoying much success at Sawgrass Mills Mall in Fort Lauderdale. The realistically designed city, the size of three football fields, will transport kids and their imaginations into a world of their own where they can take on roles as a firefighter, archaeologist, actor, TV or news reporter, chef, judge, airplane pilot, doctor and a host of other professions.

Unlike any other metropolis in America, Wannado City® is a complete city created from the point of view of its kidizens™. It's an entertainment park with pint-sized fire and police stations, a hospital, bank, flight training center, circus, theater, television studio, radio station, fashion house, dance club and newspaper — all designed to inspire kids, ages 4 to 11, to play grown-up and live out their dreams.

Wannado City® even has its own monetary system. Each kidizen™ receives a check for Wongas™, the city's official currency. He or she will enjoy the option of setting up a bank account, spending his or her "cash" at the various city entertainment options or earning more at the numerous career options offered. Once a child runs out of Wongas™, he or she selects a new career to earn some more.

Kidizen™ television and newspaper reporters sure would have had an exciting job on opening weekend as Hurricane Charley roared through the state. Although Fort Lauderdale didn't score a direct hit, the area received plenty of rain to make this indoor attraction seem even more inviting.

Although the developers of Wannado City® designed it to not only showcase opportunities for the future to kids today but also to teach them real-life and fiscal responsibility and how to become strong decision-makers... let's just face it, Wannado City® is just plain fun! There's nothing wrong with that and if they happen to learn something in the process... well, that's all good too.

What's New?

Now kids no longer have to run away to join the circus. Open after a June 16, 2006 kickoff is the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College® @ Wannado City®. Wannado City® teamed with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® to create the program where kidizens™ will learn about the circus arts, physical fitness, performance skills and artistry and then test those skills before a live audience.

The new interactive program will help children learn important skills as coordination and balance, while gaining confidence in fun activities like Science of the Circus, Build Your Own Circus Spectacular, The Big Shoe Review and The Clown Skills Workshop.

Also part of the new program is CircusFit® @ Wannado City which is part of a national youth program created by Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey that encourages children to lead healthy and active lifestyles. Under the Wannado City Big Top, kidizens™ will be able to participate in a circus-inspired exercise program that includes warm ups and stretches, dance, hoola hoop, plate spinning and more.

Information and Directions

Wannado City is open various days depending on the season. Days and times are best assessed by visiting www.WannadoCity.com. General admission tickets are $29.95 for children 3-14 years old and $15.95 for ages 14 and over. Children under 3 are FREE. Admission is limited based on available capacity. Parking at Sawgrass Mills Mall is free.

Wannado City™ is located at Sawgrass Mills Mall in the City of Sunrise in Greater Fort Lauderdale.

Heading North or South on Florida's Turnpike or I-95
Merge onto 595 West. Exit on Flamingo Road and make a right, going north. At Sunrise Boulevard, make a left, going west. At Purple Parrot Way, make a right, and enter Sawgrass Mills Mall directly to Wannado City™.

Heading North or South on I-75
Merge onto 595 East. Exit on Flamingo Road and make a left, going north. At Sunrise Boulevard, make a left, going west. At Purple Parrot Way, make a right, and enter Sawgrass Mills Mall directly to Wannado City™.

Heading West or East on 595
Exit on Flamingo Road and go north. At Sunrise Boulevard, make a left, going west. At Purple Parrot Way, make a right, and enter Sawgrass Mills Mall directly to Wannado City™.