Bounce through the new Bubble Planet experience in Tempe

Located across from the neon red Foot Locker sign inside Arizona Mills mall in Tempe, the bubblegum-pink sign announces you've arrived at Bubble Planet Phoenix: An Immersive Experience, a new attraction that opened Feb. 21.

Though definitely child-friendly, Bubble Planet is something rare: an attraction that's both worth the money and fun for adults on their own.

“I have been creating immersive experiences for over 25 years, back when they were called Blockbuster Exhibits, but the intention was always to take guests out of every day into a new environment where they can learn and experience a multitude of things,” says John Zaller, executive producer of Bubble Planet Experience. “We came up with Bubbles during the pandemic ... we wanted to do something that was more fun, sort of based on inspiration and creativity, taking people our of their everyday life and based on play and joy. What’s the most fun thing we can think of? It was the act of making bubbles when you were a kid — that’s the inspiration behind it. There are educational elements, but you can’t help but have fun when you’re in there.”

Presented by Exhibition Hub, Merlin Entertainments and Fever, the 10-room experience begins with an under-sea LED room with fishy illusions displayed on the walls and at your feet.

The next spot is the Bubble Ocean, a midsized room filled with large pink balloons to bat around and wade through. Then comes a highlight of Bubble Planet: the Giant Bubble dome, a eye-popping space that blends hypnotizing LED graphics with unique acoustics to create a mind-altering experience. Lay down on the giant cushions and let the trippy visual mesmerize you.

“The reflective sound dome is a great place to decompress. When you look at the reflection on the floor, it creates a perfect sphere,” Zaller says.

From the dome, follow red lights into a hallway leading to the Bubble Bath Pit. Crafted to look like a man sitting in a giant bathtub, the space is filled with translucent ball pit balls. (Note: Bring or wear socks, as they're required to get in the bubble bath and Bubble Planet charges $6 for a pair.)

Once you've splashed around in the Bubble Bath Pit, the Infinity Room is next. Similar to "Ocean of Light: Submergence – A Squidsoup Project," an interactive installation that visited Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art in 2017, the Infinity Room is a mirrored space filled with strings of bubble lights that blink and glow with varying colors. It's another highlight of Bubble Planet.

A whole series of selfie zones follows: Take your photo in a bathtub filled with rubber ducks. Take your photo sitting on a swing. Take your photo in a giant bubble. It's the least interesting part of the experience, but popular with visitors.

After a Sparkling Bubbles room filled with swirling silver mylar balloons, you can take a break in a hanging bubble chair to enjoy a 10-minute virtual reality experience that takes you under the sea and beyond. Finally, a bubble shower rains down on you before the experience ends and drops you in the gift shop.


It's all intended to spark joy and playfulness. While you may learn a few things from the educational panels that dot the space, Bubble Planet is fun, plain and simple, and you don't have to bring a kid to enjoy yourself.

“Bubblegum pink … there’s not a more uplifting and playful color on the planet," Zaller says.

Bubble Planet Phoenix: An Immersive Experience. Arizona Mills, 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Tempe. Cost starts at $20 for adults, with discounts for children, students, seniors, disabled and military. VIP packages and group packages are available. Visit the Bubble Planet website for details.