If your kids are driving you crazy at home with their pent-up energy, or if you need to release some of your own, come to Rebounderz and bounce off the walls — literally.
Rebounderz, which opened July 2008 in Longwood, is an indoor jumper court open to all ages. Composed of 6,700 square feet of trampolines, it gives toddlers, teens and active adults the chance to jump around for hours.
Christiane Iacono brought her children to Rebounderz after hearing about it from one of her son's friends. She thought it would be a great place to bring her four boys, who range in age from eight to 14.
"One of my sons does a lot of back flips. This seemed like a good place for him to do them safely," she said. "It's a safe atmosphere where I can watch all of them."
Iacono said that compared to other places she takes her kids for fun, Rebounderz offers a lot and is reasonably priced.
"I like it better than taking them to the movies because it's great exercise, and they have a cafe for us to sit down and relax," she said.
Tyler McCoy, 16, and his brother Baxter, 11, have been to Rebounderz four or five times since it opened.
"My little brother, he's really hyper, he comes almost every day to release that energy," McCoy said. "It's a cool place. Even my mom's friend has been here to do an exercise class."
The jumper court is unique because it is the only one in the country that is a single unit, as opposed to multiple trampolines tied together.
Jo Palladino, 47, owns Rebounderz with her husband, Al, and their business partner Mark Gurley. Gurley, a structural engineer and the couple's karate instructor, created the jumper structure and approached the couple with the idea.
Palladino liked it.
"I mean, there are over 200 million things for little kids to do. I thought, 'It's time for the big kids to play.' I wasn't going to put money into something I couldn't play in," Palladino said with a laugh.
Rebounderz strives to create an all-ages atmosphere. The facility hosts everything from Toddler Time for parents and young children to Friday Night Lockdown, for kids ages 12 to 18.
"We have a huge diversity of people," Palladino said. "No single age group is excluded."
The Friday Night Lockdown event often draws a large crowd. Parents can drop off their teenagers between the hours of 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. every first and third Friday of the month. Rebounderz keeps track of every guest on the jumper court, and does not let anyone leave during these hours without the consent of his or her parent or guardian.
These teenagers are in a "gray area," where they are too old for babysitters but still should be allowed to have fun on their own, Palladino said.
Dylan Bryan is 16 years old and started coming to Rebounderz after it opened last year across the street from his high school. Since then, he has returned over 15 times.
"If I had to pick between somewhere like the mall or here, this would always be my first pick for extra time," he said.
Bryan has attended on Friday nights for the lockdown, but bounces mostly on his own time.
"I like this place because you get a lot of fitness—it really works on your leg muscles and stamina," said Bryan, who has noticed he can run longer when he plays baseball and football at school.
Shayla Silva, a 19-year-old University of Central Florida student who came to Rebounderz after hearing about it from her friend, said bouncing off the walls is a great workout. She compared the experience to her days as a child when she did tumbling and gymnastics.
"I think it's a great form of exercise," she said. "I'd rather go there than the gym any day."
For those interested in utilizing the jumper court as a work-out tool, Rebounderz offers 45-minute Cardiorobics classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. The class combines the fun of jumping on trampolines with an intense cardio workout.
"Trampoline work is the best all-around workout you can get. You use every single muscle in your body," Palladino said.
In addition to the lockdown event and cardio classes, Rebounderz has open jump time beginning at 10 a.m. every day of the week. During open jump, the indoor jumper court provides a fun way to relieve stress and work up a sweat.
After strapping on a helmet and donning some special shoes provided by Rebounderz, guests are free to jump around, bouncing off of the trampolines on the floor or the trampolines that comprise the walls.
Jumping time is paid for by the hour, but it doesn't take longer than ten or 15 minutes to feel the effects of propelling yourself into the air to the pulse of high-energy music. Moving around the trampoline-covered surface for long enough results in profuse sweat and energized limbs.
David Latshaw, 16, came to Rebounderz after hearing his friend describe it as a giant trampoline. He's only been once but said he likes doing something active for a change.
"I play a lot of video games, so it's nice to have a physical thing to do to have fun," he said. "And they also have really good smoothies."
Rebounderz has two rooms set aside for birthday parties, and Palladino said these rooms are usually booked to capacity every Saturday and Sunday. In addition to being a "family organization for families"—even Palladino's 9-year-old daughter helps clean the facility for a small allowance—the staff strives to accommodate the wishes of its guests.
"One Saturday, we had a 2-year-old's birthday party in here and a 71-year-old doctor celebrating his birthday on the same day," she said. Whether you're looking for a different place to take your kids this summer or eager to try a new kind of workout, Rebounderz has something for everyone. Spending a day bouncing off the walls is a fun alternative to whiling away lazy summer days at the mall or in front of the TV.
Rebounderz, 480 S. Ronald Reagan Blvd., Longwood, about 20 minutes outside of Orlando. All children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult when jumping. Liability waivers are required, as are safety helmets and shoes issued by Rebounderz. Open jump is $10.28 per hour, $8.41 for each additional hour. $8.41 per hour per person for groups of 15 or more. $8.41 for college students. Cardiorobics classes are $10 for a 45-minute class, $30 for an unlimited monthly pass. Friday Night Lockdown is $25, includes three and a half hours of jumping, two slices of pizza and a drink.
