Retain your customers and get repeat bookings by creating a Disney-level experience at your indoor playground business or play cafe business!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/S5mc-itOHuk

What if the reason families don’t rebook birthday parties, memberships, or repeat visits isn’t your pricing, marketing, or competition—but your customer experience systems?

In this episode, I’m joined by Vance Morris, a former Disney leader who spent over a decade designing and operating guest experiences at Disney—and now helps brick-and-mortar businesses create raving fans for life without overspending or burning out.

This conversation is especially relevant for indoor playground and play café owners who are:

...Facing increased local competition

...Frustrated with always chasing new leads

...Tired of the social media hamster-wheel and getting new customers in the door each day

...Competing against chains or copycat concepts

...Relying heavily on birthday parties for revenue

...Trying to stand out without discounts or constant promotions

In this interview, we cover:

...Why customer retention beats customer acquisition for play businesses

...How Disney delivers consistent, magical experiences using systems—not perfect staff

...The biggest mistake small businesses make when training employees

...How scripts, SOPs, and onboarding create freedom instead of rigidity

...Low-cost ways to create tellable moments that drive referrals

...How experience impacts party rebookings and guest-to-customer conversion

...What indoor playground owners should focus on after the party ends

Vance also shares real examples of how small changes—many costing little to nothing—can dramatically increase repeat business and lifetime customer value.

If you want families talking about your business, choosing you over competitors, and coming back year after year, this episode will completely shift how you think about experience.

Resources & Links:

Download: 52 Ways to Wow Your Customer Without Breaking the Bank

Learn more about Vance: vancemorris.com

More ways to implement Disney magic at your play cafe: https://bit.ly/3M7MVFU

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]

What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide

Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]

Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist

Michele’s Instagram

Michele’s Website

Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel

ETSY Template Shop

Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Questions and Support: [email protected]

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

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What does it actually take to run a successful play café once you’re past the opening phase—especially when your space is larger than most independent, non-franchise-chain locations?

In this episode of the Profitable Play Podcast, I sit down with Kristina Lai, owner of Busy Bee Play Cafe in Indianapolis, Indiana. Their 8,500+ sq ft facility is on the larger side for a non-chain indoor playground business, which brings its own unique challenges and advantages.

On the challenge side, a larger space means a bigger team (often with a high number of teenage staff), higher capacity to manage, more moving parts operationally, and the ability—and pressure—to run a high volume of birthday parties every single week.

On the flip side, that size also creates real opportunities: multiple parties running at once, diversified revenue streams beyond open play, a full balloon bar, stronger café potential, and more flexibility in how the business actually makes money.

In this conversation, Kristina shares a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how she navigates both sides of that equation.

We cover:

...Operating a larger independent play café without franchise systems

...Managing a large, mostly teenage team in peak seasons

...Running a high volume of birthday parties each week—and why systems matter

...Hosting multiple parties at the same time without overwhelming staff or guests

...Real revenue breakdowns: open play, parties, memberships, café sales, retail, and balloons

...Building a profitable balloon business after Party City closures

...Using reservations and memberships to control capacity in a high-traffic space

...When memberships attract the wrong families—and how to handle it

...Letting go of problem members and employees (and why some money isn’t worth it)

...Launching hot food in a play café without turning it into a full restaurant

...The emotional toll of running a large play business and being “always on call”

...How ownership impacts family life when your kids grow up alongside the business

This episode is especially helpful if you:

...Own or are planning on opening a play café or indoor playground

...Are considering (or already running) a larger-than-average independent space

...Run frequent birthday parties and want better systems

...Want multiple revenue streams without burning out

...Are managing staffing, capacity, or boundaries

👉 Busy Bee Play Cafe

Website: https://www.thebusybeeplaycafe.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusybeeplaycafe/

🎧 Prefer video? Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/xIss67qwn3I

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]

What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide

Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]

Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist

Michele’s Instagram

Michele’s Website

Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel

ETSY Template Shop

Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

In this episode, I’m joined by Charlesee and Max Woosley, the husband-and-wife owners of Little Dreams Play Studio in Dayton, Ohio.

They opened in March, expanded quickly, added a café, and almost immediately faced new competition.

We talk about what that actually looked like behind the scenes—and how they’ve navigated growth, staffing, pricing, and marketing without losing focus or burning out.

In this episode, we cover...

• Opening as the only play space—and handling nearby competition
• Expanding their space and adding a café
• Hiring lessons and early staffing mistakes
• Why birthday parties grew faster than expected
• Booking parties from Google and social media without prior visits
• A local TikTok that drove real foot traffic
• Adjusting hours based on data, not guesswork
• Using simple systems to run the business day-to-day
• Running a play business as a married couple
• Staying anchored to purpose during stressful seasons

Connect with & follow Little Dreams Play Studio:

• Website
• Instagram
• Tik Tok

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]

What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide

Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]

Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist

Michele’s Instagram

Michele’s Website

Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel

ETSY Template Shop

Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

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This is Part 2 of my annual indoor playground and play café industry trends episode — a series I’ve released every single year since 2019.

Part 1 focused on business design and planning.

Part 2 is about operations, systems, and the decisions owners are making behind the scenes that will quietly determine who is still standing in 3–5 years.

These aren’t “ideas to try.” These are structural shifts happening right now inside profitable, sustainable play businesses. And if you miss them They’re expensive to fix later.

In this episode, I break down the operational and ownership trends shaping 2026, including:

• Why owners are stepping back earlier — and how systems (not hustle) are making it possible
• The rise of businesses designed to function without the owner present
• Why you cannot out-market a broken layout, bad flow, or poorly designed space
• How intentional design decisions reduce staffing costs, customer friction, and burnout
• Why some owners are quietly cutting hours — and increasing profit
• The shift toward making money during downtime, not just peak hours
• How smarter owners are evaluating revenue streams based on profitability and energy, not ego
• Why “just add more offerings” is becoming a dangerous strategy
• The growing gap between owners who track numbers weekly and those who “feel busy”
• How over-reliance on AI without real-world context is already costing new owners time and money

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

BLOG For This Episode

Little Play Avenue

Episode 105: Call Forwarding Systems To Better Customer Service

Episode 84: Making Money As A UGC Creator

Episode 349: Business Sponsorships with Jayci from Tiny Play

Episode 341: Lead Your Team Better in 2026

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]

What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide

Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]

Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist

Michele’s Instagram

Michele’s Website

Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel

ETSY Template Shop

Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

Every year (since 2019!), I release a trends episode for the indoor playground and play café industry — and this year, there was simply too much to cover responsibly in a single episode.

BLOG For this episode: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/2026-play-cafe-trends

As I reviewed what I shared in my 2025 trends video (linked below) alongside what I’ve been seeing all year in Play Maker Society, my live events, and 1:1 coaching, the trends naturally fell into two buckets:

1) planning and design decisions that are expensive to undo

2) operational choices that determine whether a business actually runs sustainably

That’s why the 2026 trends are split into two parts.

Part 1 focuses on planning: space design, revenue structure, and early decisions that quietly lock owners into years of unnecessary stress if they get them wrong.

Many of the 2025 trends from last year's episode are still very relevant — including indoor/outdoor spaces, experience-led design, and bold, playful use of color — but the cost of missing these shifts is higher than ever.

This year's list is less about what's "new" and more about what's becoming non-negotiable to have a competition and receccsion-proofed business (that YES: actually pays you).

• Treating cafés as a core profit driver, not a side feature
• Designing spaces that increase length of stay and per-visit spend
• Inclusion and universal design as the standard, not a bonus
• Intentional layouts that reduce friction for families and staff
• Revenue models that prioritize retained profit, not just top-line sales
• Designing businesses that work with family behavior, not against it

• Over-relying on AI to plan your business without real-world validation
• Relying on hustle to fix structural problems
• Depending heavily on third-party vendors for food and party add-ons
• Skipping cafés without a clear replacement revenue strategy
• Treating inclusion as a marketing angle instead of a design foundation
• Assuming volume will make up for thin margins
• Building spaces that look good online but don’t function well in real life

This episode sets the foundation for Part 2, where we’ll shift from planning to execution — covering operational trends, optimization, and how owners are building businesses that run without burning them out.

RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]

What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide

Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]

Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist

Michele’s Instagram

Michele’s Website

Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel

ETSY Template Shop

Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

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As I wrap up 2025, I wanted to record an episode that goes deeper than trends (but YES, my annual trends prediction is coming up next!)— because what I’m seeing across the industry right now isn’t necessarily a lack of ideas.

It’s a lack of foundations.

BLOG for this episode

After a full year of interviewing indoor playground and play café owners, working through countless 1:1 sessions, and supporting owners inside Play Maker Society, the same patterns keep showing up — regardless of location, size, or years in business.

Owners are busy, but still stressed.

They’re marketing constantly, but not converting.

They’re deeply involved, but exhausted.

This episode brings together the seven pieces of advice I’m giving to (and getting from!) current owners right now — not based on theory or predictions, but on what I’m actively seeing work (and not work) in real businesses.

These are the areas where small leaks are creating big problems — and where tightening the fundamentals can immediately change how a business feels to run in terms of quality of life for YOU, the owner.

In this episode, I break down:

• Why what you post matters more than how often you post
• How most websites and patched-together booking systems quietly lose you money
• Why open play can’t be the thing holding your business up
• How recurring and high-ticket revenue change how the business feels to run
• Why email is still one of the most effective tools owners aren’t fully using
• How cafés, retail, and small add-ons raise spend per visit without more traffic
• What actually has to be in place for you to step out without everything breaking

I also share real examples from owners I’ve interviewed, coached, and worked alongside — including how some have intentionally reduced owner dependency, diversified revenue, and designed businesses that work even when they’re not physically present.

This episode isn’t about adding more to your plate. It’s about tightening what’s already there and focusing on the few things that actually make a difference right now.

If you’re heading into 2026 feeling busy but still stretched thin, this will help you get clear on where your attention really needs to go next.

RESOURCES/ BUSINESSES MENTIONED:

BLOG for this episode

Little Leaf Play IG

Little Play Avenue IG

(BLOG) Maximizing Cafe Profits (And Why You NEED A Cafe)

Evergeen Facebook + IG Ad Basics

Google Ad Basics

Interview with Jayci From Tiny Play

Interview with Justine from Liv and Mimis

Interview with Jessalyn from The Playroom WV

The Art Factory and Party Place

Grandma's Playroom

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]

What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide

Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]

Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist

Michele’s Instagram

Michele’s Website

Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel

ETSY Template Shop

Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

In this episode, I sit down with Jayci, owner of Tiny Play Café, for a thoughtful, experience-based conversation about what it looks like to operate a play café several years into the business.

Jayci shares how her café fits into the overall revenue picture, including how the café itself contributes to monthly sales and why local B2B sponsorships have become a meaningful and reliable part of her business model.

We dive into how she uses summer camps strategically to help offset slower seasons, what finally made camps work for her, and how timing, structure, and staffing played a role in their success.

We also discuss staffing realities, running a business from nearly an hour away, lessons learned during the build-out process, and how Jayci is thinking intentionally about the next phase of the business as her season of life evolves.

If you’re looking for practical insight, real examples, and perspective from an owner who has successfully navigated multiple seasons of this business, this episode offers a lot to learn from.

Tiny Play Cafe Website

Tiny Play Cafe Tik Tok

Tiny Play Cafe Instagram

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]

What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide

Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]

Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist

Michele’s Instagram

Michele’s Website

Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel

ETSY Template Shop

Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

Most indoor playground and play café owners don’t need more ideas going into a new year — they need better execution on the ones they already have.

In this episode, I break down exactly how I’m using AI right now to help my indoor playground business owner clients review numbers, tighten systems, and remove the operational friction that quietly drains time and profit.

This isn’t about trends or tech overwhelm. It’s a step-by-step, practical walkthrough of how I recommend using AI as an analyst, operations assistant, and planning tool so you can head into 2026 with clearer priorities, stronger systems, and far less on your plate.

BLOG for this episode

05:00–11:00 Strategy 1: Revenue analysis to find 2026 opportunities

11:00–15:10 Strategy 2: Fix party systems before busy season

15:10–17:10 Strategy 3: SOPs that don’t depend on the owner

17:10–19:00 Strategy 4: Floor-plan-based cleaning and safety

19:00–23:10 Strategy 5: Prevent membership churn with AI

23:10–25:35 Strategy 6: Pricing and add-on cleanup

25:35–27:55 Strategy 7: Customer message scripts and decision trees

27:55–29:50 Strategy 8: Policies and incident reporting systems

29:50–31:40 Strategy 9: Repurpose marketing content fast

31:40–34:15 Strategy 10: Website clarity, conversion, and SEO

34:15–38:35 Strategy 11: Partner and sponsor generation for 2026

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]

What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide

Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]

Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist

Michele’s Instagram

Michele’s Website

Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel

ETSY Template Shop

Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

If your Black Friday weekend fell flat or December sales feel slower than expected, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I share proven, mid-December strategies that boost revenue quickly and with minimal stress. From annual membership offers to 2025 party pricing, holiday break camps, summer camp gift cards, retail live sales, low-lift holiday events, and more — you’ll learn exactly what works now, why it works, and how to implement it at your indoor playground or play café business.

BLOG for this episode

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why December often feels busy but not profitable
• How annual membership sales generate thousands in a week
• What email sequence converts existing monthly members
• How to sell 2026 parties right now — even if parents don’t have a date yet
• Why holiday break camps are a revenue lifesaver
• How to sell summer camp gift cards even before your program is finalized
• A unique and fun way to clear out retail inventory using live video
• Low-lift event ideas that sell out, especially for baby families
• How to pick ONE initiative at a time to avoid overwhelm
• The mindset shift that makes all these strategies work: ease > price

Links:

• Learn more or join Play Cafe Academy and Play Maker Society
• Live Event Waitlist
• Episode referenced: Low-Lift Holiday Events That Actually Sell Out
• Episode referenced: Customer Avatars 101
• Aluvii Demo With PCA Discount!

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]

What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide

Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]

Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist

Michele’s Instagram

Michele’s Website

Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel

ETSY Template Shop

Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

In today’s episode of The Profitable Play Podcast, I’m joined by Justine, the owner of Liv and Mimi’s Play Café, who is now two years into her business journey.

WATCH on YouTube (plus get a tour of Justine's retail section: https://youtu.be/BpxtDLo8SNIz)

If you’re inside Play Maker Society, you already know how thoughtful and generous she is with her real-world experience—and today she’s sharing it all.

We focus heavily on retail, because Justine brings a strong background in merchandising and has used that expertise to turn her retail section into a powerful, profitable part of her business.

She walks us through how she chooses products, how she thinks about display and flow, what sells best for her audience, and the small changes that have had the biggest impact on her sales.

Beyond retail, we dig into the lessons she’s learned in her first two years of ownership—what she expected versus what surprised her, what she changed after year one, and how she continues to refine her operations, staffing, birthday parties, and membership strategy based on customer behavior.

If you’ve been wanting to grow your retail revenue—or you’ve felt stuck trying to choose the right products or manage inventory—this conversation will give you tons of practical insight and real examples you can apply right away.

Tune in to hear how Justine approaches retail with intention and how those strategies have contributed to both her revenue and her customer experience at Liv and Mimi’s Play Café.

Justine's Website

Justine's IG

Justine's Tik Tok

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]

What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide

Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]

Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist

Michele’s Instagram

Michele’s Website

Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel

ETSY Template Shop

Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS