Flying Squirrel vs. Funhaven Ottawa: Parents’ Guide

If you’ve got kids in Ottawa, you’ve probably heard both names. Flying Squirrel Ottawa and Funhaven are two of the biggest options in town for high-energy indoor fun.

They both offer lots of ways to play, but they’re built a bit differently, and that matters when you’re comparing value, safety, and how far your dollars (and kids’ energy) will go.

Here’s a parent-friendly breakdown to help you decide.

Attractions: trampolines and ropes vs rides and arcade

Funhaven is a full indoor amusement centre. You’ll find:

• Roller coaster and bumper cars
• Laser tag arena
• Escape rooms
• Jungle gym with ball cannons
• Mini bowling, arcade, and VR-style games

There’s a lot to choose from, especially for kids who love screens, flashing lights, and game cards.

Flying Squirrel Ottawa is a wall-to-wall trampoline and adventure park. Expect:

• Huge freestyle trampoline courts, dodgeball, dunk hoops, airbag jumps
• Slackline, battle beam, and other balance challenges
• Adventure Playground with multi-level soft play, ropes course, and climbing walls for kids 12 and under, plus a dedicated toddler zone
• Onsite arcade and the Drey Café for snacks and pizza

Which to choose?

Honestly, you can’t go wrong. Both are incredibly fun.

• If your kids want rides, laser tag, and arcade-heavy play, Funhaven delivers.
• If your kids have endless energy and love to climb, jump, and move non-stop, Flying Squirrel is built exactly for that.

Pricing and how far your money goes

Funhaven uses a credit-based system. There’s no entry fee—you load a card and use credits on attractions and games. Packages range from $15 for 40 credits up to $300 for 1,670 credits. Big-ticket attractions like laser tag, bumper cars, jungle gym and the coaster are typically 35 credits each, escape rooms run about $30 per person, and arcade games vary from 4–35 credits.

This can be flexible but also unpredictable: it’s easy to burn through credits quickly, especially with more than one child.

Flying Squirrel uses time-based admission, which is much easier to plan around:

• General admission: $23 for 1 hour, $30 for 1.5 hours, $40 for 2 hours with toddler rates from $20 for littles 1–3 (includes one parent). Add $5 for access to the climbing wall.

You know exactly how long you’ll be there and what you’ll spend, and kids can go as hard as they want without rationing credits or asking for “just a few more” swipes.

If you want clear, predictable costs and lots of physical play for the price, Flying Squirrel has the edge.

Safety: engineered structure vs general amusement safety

Both locations care about safety—but Flying Squirrel puts it front and centre and backs it with very specific tech.

Flying Squirrel Ottawa uses the Shock Trampoline Park System across its trampoline areas, with custom German gas shock absorbers built into the frame to soften landings on the pads and reduce impact.

Safety padding and spring skirts cover all metal and springs, interior columns are padded, and no-climb netting separates attractions. Foam pits and airbags also use shock-absorbing mounts under the pad zones.

Layered on top of that, there are:

• Clear safety signage throughout the park
• Trained Flight Crew staff stationed on the floor to enforce rules and help with injuries or questions
• Daily, weekly, monthly and bi-annual inspections of equipment, plus regular cleaning and disinfection of mats, pads, and foam/airbag areas

Funhaven lists a safety and security page and runs a supervised facility, but the details they highlight focus more on general guest rules, food policies, and on-site staff support rather than engineered ride design in the same depth.

If safety engineering and visible, on-floor supervision are high on your list—especially when kids are sprinting between trampolines, climbing walls, and ropes—Flying Squirrel clearly stands out.

Birthday parties: credits vs “everything’s included”

Funhaven runs birthday events built around their credits system. You reserve space and get party-only credit pricing between $0.19–$0.13 per credit (cheaper than the standard $0.38), then kids use those credits on attractions and games. Food (pizza, snacks, cake, drinks) and party room/table can be added as packages.

It’s flexible, but the final cost depends heavily on how many credits you buy and how quickly kids burn through them

Flying Squirrel Ottawa offers structured party packages with a set price:

• Weekday and weekend birthday packages starting around $300–$400 for 10 guests, including 2 hours of jump time, pizzas, bottled water, a private party room, and the option to add more kids for a per-child fee.
• Adventure Park-only parties or Adventure Park + Trampoline combo options, so you can match the party to your kids’ ages and comfort levels.
• Neon Nights parties on Friday and Saturday evenings at no extra charge for that time slot for a glow-in-the-dark effect.

You know the total cost up front (and the prices are generally much lower than Funhaven). Flying Squirrel also handles the hosting, set-up, and clean-up—so you can actually enjoy the party instead of managing logistics.

If you like flexibility and building your own experience and paying freely to let kids play, Funhaven works. For most parents, though, Flying Squirrel’s simple “this is what you get, this is what it costs” approach feels easier and often better value.

Which one should you choose?

Here’s the quick recap:

Choose Funhaven if:

• Your kids love laser tag, escape rooms, and arcade-style gameplay.
• You’re okay managing credits and building your visit around specific attractions.

Choose Flying Squirrel Ottawa if:

• You want kids moving non-stop on trampolines, ropes, and climbing walls.
• Safety engineering and visible supervision matter to you.
• You prefer simple, time-based pricing, more affordable pricing, and clear birthday party packages.

Both can deliver a fun day out—but Flying Squirrel Ottawa is the better overall pick for families who want maximum movement, strong safety features, and straightforward value.