Costco blog/discussion forum

Summer is coming and the kids need a place to play. Costco Warehouses and Costco.com are offering the Sunray Premium Play Ground System Model 2008 (Costco Item #738285). It seems that every year Costco offers one of these systems, last year it was the Sunray Model 2007.

This includes a big enclosed fort with a decorative chimney, three swings, a rope ladder, a tic-tac-toe panel, a picnic table, and a rock wall for climbing.

The manufacturer of the Costco play yard is Sunray Premium Play Ground Systems. This is just a different name for Rainbow Play Systems, Inc. Check out the Rainbow Play web site for a whole catalog of play systems similar to the Sunray 2008 model.

Rainbow Play Systems is a leading manufacturer of children's playground equipment. They have a huge 130 acre manufacturing facility in Brookings, South Dakota, where they make these play yards. These are then exclusively marketed through a network of showrooms in the US, Europe, and Latin America.

One advantage of buying a play system through a Rainbow showroom is that they typically also offer delivery and installation services. Of course, buying through it through Costco is going to give you a better price, but you'll need a truck and a weekend to install it.

I found this item, Sunray Model 2008, for $1399.99, at my local warehouse. You can order it from Costco.com for $1699.99, with shipping and handling included.

The KidKraft Outdoor Playhouse, model 00125 (Costco item number 152094) is currently being sold at many Costco warehouses for about $299. At our local warehouse, they display this playhouse on the floor. It inevitably attracts a crowd of children from 2 to 5 years old, who walk in and out, opening and closing the doors and windows.

The playhouse, once assembled, measures 73 x 45.5 x 56 (h) inches. It is mostly made of wood, not plastic. It contains a door, with door handle, a window with closeable shutters, a mailbox with flag mounted to the exterior, a simulated sink inside, a covered porch with two short bench seats and flower pot holders under the window. The playhouse does not come with a floor.

Walmart.com and other online retailers sell a similar, but smaller, Kidkraft playhouse (KidKraft model number 00132) for just under $400. This appears identical, but lacks the covered porch and benches.

As every parent knows, assembly is required. This playhouse has 124 bolts that need to be screwed in, so plan on spending a few hours assembling it once you get it home. Getting it home is going to require that you take out, or fold up, some of the seats in your minivan/SUV. You probably can't bring this home in a sedan. A pickup is the best choice. When you are leaving the Warehouse, ask at the door and they can help you load it into your vehicle.

Overall, this is will provide great fun for your 2 to 5 year old child. Also, it's a great price. Highly recommended.