Peppa Pig World of Play Review: Is It Autism Friendly?

If you’re searching through Peppa Pig World of Play reviews to see if it’s a good fit for your autistic child, this post is for you. As a mom of an autistic child and an Early Childhood Educator, I’m always on the lookout for places that actually “get” our kids. So, of course, I was excited when we got the opportunity to tour an attraction focused entirely on Peppa Pig.

We visited Peppa Pig World of Play Michigan back in March 2020, as part of an overnight trip to Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills. It was one of a few Great Lakes Crossing’s attractions we checked out on that trip, along with LEGOLAND Discovery Center and the SEA LIFE Aquarium.

Brie is a huge Peppa Pig fan. But at the time of our visit, she was 12, which meant she was too old for it. They have a policy of not allowing anyone to enter without someone aged eight or under. But I was able to arrange a special guided tour for us so we could still check it out, and Brie could see the world of Peppa Pig.

While she couldn’t play, she still got to experience being immersed in her favorite show, and she loved it. Plus, it gave me a chance to look at what the Peppa Pig World of Play Auburn Hills location is like for families with autistic children who are planning a visit.

Before getting into our experience, let’s break down what Peppa Pig World of Play is, where it’s located, and what families can expect when visiting Peppa Pig in Great Lakes Crossing. Then, I’ll share our thoughts on how autism friendly it is, with ratings on the safety and supervision needs, sensory activities, break areas, and more.

What Is Peppa Pig World of Play?

Peppa Pig World of Play is an indoor, hands-on attraction geared to preschool-aged kids. It’s built around the world of Peppa Pig, with themed play spaces that let children explore and play in familiar spots from the show.  The focus is on imaginative play, some physical activity, and open-ended exploration rather than rides or screens.

Peppa Pig World of Play Locations

There are a few Peppa Pig World of Play locations worldwide. In the U.S.A., there are three: one in Michigan, one in Dallas/Fort Worth, and one in Chicago. This post focuses on Peppa Pig World of PlayMichigan.

Where is Peppa Pig World of Play Michigan?

Peppa Pig World of Play Michigan is located inside Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills. To see what else there is for kids in the mall, check out this post.

Address:
4362 Baldwin Rd
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
United States

How much does it cost to get into Peppa Pig World of Play?

Peppa Pig World of Play ticket prices change based on the day, with off-season weekday prices being lower.

Currently, the prices are:

• Ages 1–8: $17.99–$24.99
• Ages 9+: $11.99–$16.99
• Under 1: Free

Annual passes are also available for $64.99 if you live close by and plan to visit regularly.

Important Rule: This Peppa Pig play place is for children ages 2 to 8. No one is allowed entry without a child 8 or under.  Kids older than 8 aren’t allowed to play in the activity areas, but older siblings and adults can still come inside to supervise younger children.

Peppa Pig World of Play Hours

Peppa Pig World of Play at Great Lakes Crossing typically follows this schedule:

• Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Planning Your Visit

Here is what you need to know before you go:

• Best Time to Visit: Weekday afternoons and evenings are usually the quietest. Mornings, weekends, and holidays are busier.
• Food: Outside food isn’t allowed. However, you can grab snacks and drinks at the Campervan Café. You can check out the menu here before you go.
• Socks: You must wear shoes and socks. In some areas, you’ll need to take your shoes off to play.
• Re-entry: They do not allow you to leave and come back. Make sure to visit between meal times so the kids don’t get “hangry.”
• Accessibility: They offer a full accessibility guide online so you can see exactly what to expect in each play area if you’re visiting with a child who is in a wheelchair. You are also able to take a quick tour of the facility to see if it will be suitable before purchasing tickets.

Peppa Pig World Birthday Parties

If you want to host a party at Peppa Pig World of Play Great Lakes Crossing location, packages start at $24.99 per child. This includes 60 minutes in a private room, a host, and a snack and juice box. If you upgrade to the ultimate party ($33.99 per child), you even get a personal meet and greet with Peppa!

Exploring the Peppa Pig World of Play

From the outside, Peppa Pig World of Play doesn’t look like an attraction. Aside from the large red Peppa-style bus you can see through the right-side windows, from the outside, it just looks like a standard Peppa Pig store.

Peppa Pig World of Play Gift Shop and Entrance

Inside the store, the front area is split into two sections. Ticket sales are on the right, and the gift shop is on the left.

The entire space is decorated Peppa Pig style, with green grass, blue skies, and Peppa characters throughout.  The shop itself isn’t huge, but there’s a good selection of merchandise. Along with toys, you’ll find books, some clothing, bubble bath, and even Peppa Pig-themed snacks.

The life-sized Peppa Pig bus inside the gift shop is the entrance to the play area. Stroller parking is located directly in front of it and continues around the side.

At the front of the bus sits a large 3D Miss Rabbit in the driver’s seat. Inside, there is a bench seat along both walls, with 2D Peppa Pig characters painted on seats above. Wooden handles hang from the ceiling, adding to the bus theme.

After walking through the bus, you go into a small room where you can get a picture taken with Peppa when she’s there. The floor is covered in green “grass,” and the walls are painted in Peppa Pig animation style, with rolling hills, trees, and blue skies. A green screen wall sits across from the camera, likely used to add digital backgrounds. Peppa wasn’t there during our visit, so we didn’t get to see the finished photo.

From there, you enter the main Peppa Pig World of Play space.

Peppa Pig Play Place Layout

Peppa Pig World of Play is set up much like many children’s museums. The large open room follows a circular layout, with 13 distinct play areas spread throughout. You can check out the Peppa Pig World of Play map here. The play areas offer a good mix of pretend play and gross motor activities.

The environment is very immersive, with Peppa Pig-style animation throughout. The entire room includes 3D objects pulled straight from the show, floors in two shades of green to mimic grass, and fully painted walls with rolling grassy hills, trees, background buildings, and blue skies dotted with clouds. Throughout the space, there are plenty of “wood” benches where parents can sit and watch. It genuinely feels like you’ve stepped onto the set of Peppa Pig.

Sensory Garden and Grandpa Pig’s Train

The first area on the left is the sensory garden, watched over by a life-sized Grandpa Pig. The 3D grassy garden is tall enough for kids to crawl through, with tunnels and interactive activity panels built into the walls.

Next to the garden is Gertrude, a small stationary train with three cars. Kids can stand in the back cars or the engine to play with the levers. This area also includes a chicken coop to peek into and large 3D flowers behind a fence that kids can pretend to water with watering cans.

Grandad Dog’s Garage and Mr. Zebra’s Post Van

On the right is the tricycle play area. Kids can ride around a yellow road marked with arrows and park the trikes in designated spots when they’re finished.

There is a gas station for “fill-ups” and a small office with a pretend computer. Kids can even ride their trikes through a car wash with spinning brushes. Nearby, they can pretend to drive a tow truck or a post office van. Around back, inside the van, there are slots where they can sort mail and packages.

Peppa Pig’s House and Family Car

Next is a Peppa Pig playhouse, a pretend play space with a four-seat stationary red car parked outside.   The car is easy to spot, but the house blends into the background, making it easy to miss that you can actually go inside.

Inside, you’ll find a mix of 2D and 3D furniture and decor. In the kitchen, kids can make sandwiches using stacking pieces or sort recycling. In the living room, there is a small purple armchair, a couch, animated pictures on the wall, and a box-style TV playing an animation. On top of the TV sits a fishbowl with a moving fish.

Muddy Puddles

Across from the house is the Muddy Puddles area. Kids remove their shoes and walk through the “mud” spots, listening for the squish sounds beneath their feet.  In front of the puddles is a large screen showing Peppa and her family, who get splashed with mud as you jump.

On the opposite side is a soft foam play area with a duck pond, overseen by a life-sized Daddy Pig. The pond is actually a large puzzle with different-shaped pieces.

Peppa’s Treehouse and Georges Fort

These two areas, attached by a bridge, are the main Peppa Pig playground. It’s a two-level structure, a yellow treehouse and a blue castle, with a toddler slide, two larger slides, a netted saucer swing, and plenty of spots to climb.  While we weren’t able to go inside, it was clear from the outside that this large playground would keep kids busy for a while.

George’s Dinosaur Discovery

Across from the playground is a foam play area fenced in with a green bush for the youngest Peppa fans. This space includes soft dinosaur puzzles, large “rocks,” a giant egg, a small bridge, and a tunnel. It’s perfect for kids who are still crawling or just starting to explore.

Theatre

The theatre is a small, dimly lit room where Peppa Pig episodes play on a screen behind the stage. Oversized bean bags are spread across the floor for kids, with block-style seating available for adults.

Rebecca Rabbits Underground Adventure

This grassy hill structure includes two play areas. Through the “tunnel” in the middle is Rebecca Rabbit’s house, with a 2D bunk bed on the wall. This space holds large letter and number blocks that kids can carry outside to stack or build with.

A tunnel inside leads to a small foam area with hanging carrots, where kids can climb and slide back down. From the outside of the hill, on the left, children can enter a taller soft climber, crawling under carrots and up the “dirt”, leading to a slide on the right.

Camper Van Café and Picnic Area

In the center of the room is the yellow camper van café, designed in a flat 2D style against the wall. In front of it are several picnic-style tables with benches. Highchairs are stacked nearby and easy to grab.

Most of the menu consists of snacks, including crackers, fruit snacks, applesauce, chips, cookies, and ice cream cups. Meal options are limited and include cheese pizza, dinosaur nuggets, pretzel bites, and tortilla chips with nacho cheese. Drinks include soft drinks, apple juice, milk, and coffee.

Mrs. Rabbit’s Taxi

As you walk down a “side street,” you’ll see this black taxi. Kids can pretend to drive using a GPS map and buttons. The best part? This area is entirely wheelchair accessible with a wide ramp leading right to the steering wheel.

School Bus Trip

Further down the street is the blue school bus, driven by a life-sized Madame Gazelle. Kids can enter through a small front opening or a full-sized door at the back.

Inside, there are several seats, including the driver’s seat with a steering wheel. “The Wheels on the Bus” plays inside, with a screen displaying the lyrics. Musical instruments are also available so kids can play along.

Supermarket

Across from the bus is the final play area: the supermarket. From the outside, you’ll see 2D produce baskets displayed in the windows.

Inside, the back wall features shelves with sliding bottles and jars. A flower stand with 3D flowers sits across from them. On the right side is the checkout counter, complete with a moving conveyor belt that has 2D food items painted onto it, and a cash register with buttons kids can press to see prices.

Party Rooms

Peppa Pig World of Play also has two party rooms. These can be separated for smaller groups or opened into one large room.

The walls are painted with Peppa Pig characters playing with balloons in front of a forest backdrop. Each room includes curved tables that can be arranged into one long table, stools for kids, and bench seating along the walls for adults.

My Peppa Pig World of Play Autism-Friendly Rating

Overall rating: 8/10

I’m not sure why Peppa Pig is so appealing to children on the spectrum, but even at 18 years old, Brie loves it. In my career as an Early Childhood Educator, I’ve met many other autistic children who feel the same. For them, playing here is a dream come true.

What I love most about this Peppa Pig play place is the balance of activities. There’s a strong mix of gross motor play and pretend play, along with a theatre area where kids can sit, watch TV, and take a break when they need to regulate.  Plus, they get a bonus point from me for allowing my older autistic child to have a free guided tour so she could still experience the space.

The biggest downside is the layout. Everything is in one large open room. Even though the play areas are defined, that kind of environment can feel overwhelming. There are also currently no specific accommodations like a quiet room or sensory-friendly sessions, which would make visits easier for many autistic children.

Peppa Pig World of Play Tickets

Rating: 6/10

Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. They also offer combo tickets if you plan to visit LEGOLAND Discovery Center or the SEA LIFE Aquarium.

Compared to other similar attractions, the price feels high at $18–$25 per child. For comparison, the London Children’s Museum (read our review here) charges $15 CAD per person and is slightly larger. Pricing here is more in line with much bigger, multi-level children’s museums, like the huge two-floor Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia.

Another downside is that adults and siblings over age eight still need a ticket, even though they aren’t allowed to play. Those tickets run about $12 to $17 per person, which is expensive just to watch your child play.

Safety For Children with Autism

Rating: 6/10

While the Peppa Pig play place layout is open, each play area is clearly defined. Most sections are separated by short white fences or other barriers, though many areas have more than one exit.  If it isn’t too busy, it would be possible to supervise your child without fully shadowing them. But on busier days, you’ll need to stay close.

I did like that the fort and treehouse playground are set against a wall. While the only barrier around this area when we visited was bushes that left several gaps, it has since been upgraded to have the white fencing around it, making it much safer. There are small windows in the castle fort and a large window in the treehouse, which could help you track your child from outside when crowds are low.

That said, this is not a place I would have felt comfortable managing alone with two young kids if one were a flight risk. With the open layout, I wouldn’t have attempted this solo until Zen was around six and able to check in regularly and stay nearby.

One benefit of the open concept is that the space isn’t overly large. If your child does wander, it likely wouldn’t take long to locate them.

The biggest safety plus for parents of runners is the exit system. To leave the attraction, a button that’s out of reach for younger children must be pressed to open the doors. As a mom of a child who is a flight risk, I love this feature.

Noise Level

7/10

We visited right at opening, before crowds built up. Since we were only there for a short, guided tour, we didn’t experience peak noise levels. While I can’t say how loud it gets when full, the noise level was fairly low during our tour.

That said, as with any indoor play space, noise from other children can become overwhelming. There are also sound effects and music in some areas. Brie didn’t need her noise-canceling headphones during our visit, but I still recommend bringing a pair just in case.

Sensory Friendly Times

Rating: 0/10

There are currently no scheduled sensory-friendly times at Peppa Pig World of Play Auburn Hills, but they have offered them in the past.

Previously, these events took place at 9:00 a.m., allowing guests with sensory needs to enter an hour before opening. During that time, lighting was dimmed, music was turned off, and other stimulating effects were reduced. Guests could stay once the attraction opened to the general public, though everything returned to normal at that point.

If you’re planning a visit, it may be worth emailing to ask whether sensory-friendly sessions could return if there’s enough interest.

Sensory Friendly Activities

Rating: 8/10

There aren’t many tactile sensory activities, but Peppa Pig World offers a lot for kids with vestibular and proprioceptive sensory needs.  There are places to climb, slides, a swing, trikes to ride, and the Muddy Puddles area, which is great for kids who love to jump and bounce.

Visually, the vibrant “Peppa style” is very satisfying for fans. There are also some options for auditory seekers, including musical instruments and songs on the school bus, along with sound effects in the Muddy Puddles area.

Break Areas

Rating: 4/10

Sadly, there are no official quiet rooms at the Peppa Pig World of Play Michigan.

While more attractions are starting to offer this accommodation, they’re still far from standard. Hopefully, places geared toward children will continue moving in that direction. Even allowing unused party rooms to double as quiet spaces would be helpful.

That said, parents of autistic children know we often have to get creative. In this Peppa Pig play place, the best option for a break is the theatre. There’s no guarantee it will be empty, but the Peppa Pig episodes can give kids something to focus on while they decompress.

Eating Area

Rating: 2/10

The Campervan Café has some “safe” foods like nuggets and pizza. While some snacks are allergy-friendly, the meal options appear to contain gluten and/or dairy. There’s no clear information online or on the menu about gluten-free or allergy-friendly alternatives.

They don’t allow outside food, which is a huge hurdle for families dealing with strict diets or allergies. You can check the menu online here to plan ahead. Also, the eating area is right in the middle of the play zones, which can be too chaotic for some kids during a snack break.

Our Peppa Pig World of Play Review

We arrived at the mall before any stores had even opened. To pass the time, the kids played at the food court playground while we waited. Once it was close to opening, we headed straight to Peppa Pig World of Play Michigan and found a few families with preschoolers already in line.

When the doors opened, we checked out the gift shop first. We purposefully waited for the other families to check in so we could have a quieter entrance into the Peppa Pig play place. After I found a souvenir magnet for my collection, we headed to the ticket counter to start our tour.

The play area wasn’t busy at all during our visit.  

Since we only did a tour and didn’t stay to play, it’s hard to say exactly how long most families would need here. Based on visits to similarly sized children’s museums, I’d estimate that about two to three hours is plenty. There’s a good range of activities, but the space isn’t huge. Staying much longer than that could start to feel overwhelming, especially for an autistic child.

Even though my kids weren’t able to play inside the Peppa Pig play area, Brie really enjoyed the experience. Stepping into an immersive world based on one of her favorite shows was incredible for her.  Her favorite area was definitely the “Muddy Puddles.” Even this week, while looking through pictures with me, she got a bit hyper-focused on it. She still remembers those squishy sound effects!

Final Thoughts on Peppa Pig World of Play, Auburn Hills

While I wish they offered special events that would allow older Peppa Pig fans, like Brie, to participate in some play (the only things she would have been too big for at 12 are the trikes), I am grateful they allowed us to do a guided tour. Brie got to step into the “set” of a favorite show, while I got to assess how autism-friendly Peppa Pig World of Play is.

Overall, I think autistic children who love the show will find this experience exciting. The variety of activities is impressive, and a lot of thought has clearly gone into the details of each play area. For some children, it may be just as magical as a trip to Disney World.

But, there’s still room for improvement to make it more autism friendly. Adding a quiet room, bringing back sensory-friendly events, or offering sensory kits to borrow (like most of the museums we visited in Ottawa do) would go a long way toward making the space more accessible. But if you visit during a quieter time and bring your own sensory kit, a visit will be manageable for most autism families.

If you’re looking for other attractions for your trip, check out my post on how to spend a weekend at Great Lakes Crossing with kids. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and TikTok to see other attractions, hotels, and destinations we assess for autism friendliness.

Have you visited this location recently? We would love to hear your own Peppa Pig World of Play Review! Head over to the Autism on Vacation Facebook group to share your experience and tips with our new community for parents of autistic children planning travel.

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