Hours & Admission Fees
The National Museum of Play® is open 362 days a year. In 2012, the museum is closed only on September 21 (The Play Ball gala), November 22 (Thanksgiving Day), and December 25 (Christmas Day). The museum accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card. Museum admission fees do not include admission to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden.
Museum hours
Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE: Museum closes at 4 p.m. on July 4.
General museum admission
| Adults (age 16 and over): | $13 |
| Seniors (62 years and over): | $12 |
| Children (ages 2 to 15): | $11 |
| Children under age 2: | FREE |
| ACM reciprocal members: | FREE |
| Members: | Always FREE* |
*Both named members must show photo ID to receive free member admission.
Matinee admission
The museum offers matinee pricing on general admission from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Matinee admission is not available on Fridays, weekends, holidays, or during school breaks and is not available from July 1 through Labor Day.
| Children under age 2: | FREE |
| Adults (age 16 and over): | $8 |
| Seniors (age 62 and over): | $7.50 |
| Children (ages 2 to 15): | $7 |
College student discount
The museum offers two-for-one general admission to students with current college ID from Labor Day through May 31. (Both students must present valid ID.)
Active-duty military discount
The museum offers a $2 discount on general admission fees to active-duty military personnel (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy) and his or her immediate family members who present appropriate and valid identification.
Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden admission
Due to limited capacity, entry to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden is by timed ticket only. Learn more about ticket reservations and garden hours.
ACM Reciprocal Admission Program
Through the museum’s participation in the Association of Children's Museums (ACM) Reciprocal Admission Program, the National Museum of Play provides free general admission to guests who present a valid membership card showing the appropriate level of membership at another participating museum AND a photo ID showing that they reside outside the Greater Rochester area. The museum is not able to honor ACM membership cards that residents of Greater Rochester area hold from museums outside the area. The only exceptions are Greater Rochester residents who have the ACM reciprocal admission benefit through their membership with the Sciencenter in Ithaca, New York, or the Explore & More Children’s Museum in East Aurora, New York.
Effective April 1, 2013, the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) will change their reciprocal admission benefit from free admission to 50% off general admission for up to six people. Please visit www.childrensmuseums.org for a list of participating museums.
