Submitted by Lewk S, olympic-level Funnel Ball master.

Growing up in the early/mid ’90s, I fondly remember the numerous playground games I used to play. One of my favorite pastimes, of course, was throwing a kickball, basketball—or anything, really—into the towering Funnel Ball tower with my friends. I still see these on playgrounds, and I often see kids throwing balls into the funnel. Simple, very entertaining, and fondly remembered—that, to me, is pure win!

Submitted by Stu S, who’s stuck in the ball pit:

You begged your parents to stop at McDonald’s during the annual cross-state road trip to Grandma’s house just so you could play in the Play Place, which was better than any Play Place near home. You’d meet that one special person in the ball bit, or at the top of the slide, or somewhere in the maze of tubes. At that moment in time, he or she became your very best friend. You two worked as a team and braved the tube maze or explored the depths of the ball pit. Usually, you’d get this person’s name, and it would be something uncommon, like Blake, Kip, or Ike. When your mom told you it was time to leave, you told your new best friend that you would go play at their house some time. The next day, you completely forgot about Blake (or Kip or Ike).

Submitted by Alain C, party crasher.

Oh, the number of birthday parties we attended at Discovery Zone! I believe I probably logged more “party hours” at a Discovery Zone than I did at a Chuck-E-Cheese over the course of my childhood. Re-watching this advertisement (which sparked a dozen memories instantly), I realize it wasn’t the ball pit or the tubes you crawled through or the “party rooms” with cafeteria-style seating that brought me back each time; it was my favorite Nickelodeon characters coercing me! What clever (and cruel) cross-promotion. Ah, well. I stopped attending Discovery Zone parties at about the same time I noticed them shutting down around town. Just as well, right? You reach a certain age and ball pits no longer seem fun, they just seem icky.

Submitted by D Buendorf

I remember throwing tantrums if my parents wouldn’t let me ride every single mini carousel that I saw. Totally silly, totally tacky, totally the best way to spend a quarter.

Submitted by Monique R

There are some playground wins so epic that I wonder why we haven’t posted them before. Kickball — an easy-to-pick-up-and-play sport that (sort of) combined soccer and baseball — is arguably the best recess game (well, maybe four square).

It just sucked being picked last.