A Mom’s Review: How far will you go to experience an incredible game of high-tech, Space Age indoor laser tag that’s all the rage for children and adults alike?

For my eight-year-old son and his friend, we drove the distance and went to Laser Planet in Waterbury for an “out of this world” adventure that’s well worth the 42-mile car ride just to get there!

Not too far off I-84 at Exit 25, and close to Route 8, finding Laser Planet was a breeze and parking was ample.

When we arrived at 2457 East Main Street the boys were ecstatic and couldn’t wait to get inside. After all, they had plenty of time to think about the game and strategize.

WHAT TO EXPECT…

Upon entering the impressive 10,000 square-foot entertainment complex, the owner, Charlie Catanzaro, was welcoming and accommodating.

Laser Planet, which has been in business for 12 years, is the only indoor laser tag center in Connecticut that has a “walk-ins always welcome” policy, which makes it easy to plan a weekend day trip because visitors are never turned down at the door.

At the front desk, laser tag employees greet guests and guide them straight to the 5,000 square-foot space-themed “arena” that’s dedicated to nothing but laser tag fun and thrills. Players are then paired with others in their age group.

As the techy sci-fi doors close behind the group, they enter the first chamber to learn how to play laser tag. The players then grab their gear and suit-up in a second chamber, which adds to the suspense of the game.

At last, another door opens and players are lead into a gigantic two-story maze room where an action-packed 20-minute game of intense laser tag excitement begins!

This sensory experience is in overdrive. The artwork itself is mesmerizing and the murals are all painted by a professional artist, Stewart Smith, from Michigan. He uses neon glow paint that makes the space-age theme come to life in bright, vivid colors.

For those with a competitive streak, the scoreboard tells all and each player is ranked. The electronic sensors are highly accurate in recording vital game stats like shots fired, accuracy, players tagged, tag ratio, and effectiveness. At the end of each game, every player gets a printout of the data.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW…

Check the website for events and promotions to know ahead of time what’s going on and to see what specials Laser Planet is running.

Although Laser Planet accommodates drop-ins, there’s sometimes a wait to play laser tag, especially on Saturday and Sunday, so call to find out the best times.

There’s typically 15 to 30 minutes of downtime between games.

If your party is large then make a reservation.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Phone: 203.841.0081

POCKETBOOK HIT (per game): $5 on Thursday, $6 on Friday, and $8 on Saturday and Sunday.

Bring your wallet for the Arcade Room. There are tons of games to choose from with options to “cash in” tickets for prizes.

Snacks and beverages are available and it’s a limited selection. Eat before you go or bring your own healthy snacks.

LASER PLANET EXTRAS…

There’s a smaller “Little Dipper” play area for younger children that’s loaded with space-themed activities ideal for toddlers up to age five. The space can also be rented for birthday parties.

Birthday Party Packages, Corporate Team-Building Packages, and Fundraising Events are offered.

Visit LaserPlanet.com for more details.

IS IT WORTH LEAVING “THE LAKE?”

In my opinion, no matter where you live in Connecticut, Laser Planet in Waterbury is well worth the trip, even if it may take an hour to get there!

The boys played three fantastic games of laser tag and had an absolute blast in the arcade. We lost track of time. On the car ride home, the only thing they talked about was what they did that afternoon at Laser Planet.

Weeks later, they’re still talking about Laser Planet with friends and can’t wait to go back. My son wants his birthday party to be there and my husband wants to join in on all the fun and action the next time we go.

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