Disney’s New Realm

For weeks, passersby have tried to peek behind the curtains that covered the windows of the new Club Disney at the Promenade at Westlake shopping center in Thousand Oaks. This weekend, the curtains part for good.

On Friday, the 24,500-square-foot site, designed for children up to age 10 and their parents, opens to the public. It’s the first entertainment venue of its kind, and the Walt Disney Co. plans to repeat it many times throughout the nation.

Officials stress that Club Disney activities, based on Disney characters and stories, are intended for parents and children to participate in together--despite the possible inclination of adults to wander off to Bristol Farms, Barnes & Noble or other Promenade shops.

Upon entering the club, children will find cubby holes in which they will be asked to deposit their shoes. First stop is the Pooh ‘N You site, a life-size replica of Winnie the Pooh’s village, intended for tots.

Next up is the Team Time game room, where arcade-size games such as Goofy Golf and Duck-A-Puck (air hockey) encourage parents and children to play together.

The Jungle Climber, a 30-foot-high, multilevel clubhouse, lets children climb up and then slide back down by way of either the full 30-foot spiral tube slide or a shorter one for the less daring. The Mouse Pad, a computer room at the base of the Mickey Mouse sorcerer’s hat, offers 16 computers, a collection of educational software programs and access to family-oriented Internet sites.

Next to the computer room is the Applaudeville Theater, where children can dress up as a Disney characters and participate in a fantasy fashion show.

At the Curiosity Castle, there’s a maze of mirrors and surprise characters show up around certain corners. Adjacent to the castle, in the Character Creations room, children will work on art projects.

There’s also Animation Alley, where guests will fiddle around with the stuff for which Disney is famous, and the Wizard’s Lab, where children participate in hands-on science experiments.

Finally, there are six Disney-themed birthday party rooms where, presumably, kids can have their cake and eat it, too.

BE THERE

Club Disney at the Promenade at Westlake shopping center, Thousand Oaks. Opens Fri.; regular hours will be 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tue.-Thur., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri., 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat., 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun. Mondays the center is available for special events. (805) 777-8000.