Sloomoo Institute NYC: What To Expect

Are you considering a visit to the slime museum known as Sloomoo Institute in New York City but aren’t quite sure what to expect?

My family visited Sloomoo Institute when our kids were 9 and 10 and we all enjoyed our visit, but there are a few things I wish I had known before we went.

The Sloomoo Institute is set up in sections and when you are in one section, you can play as much as you want before moving on, but once you have gone to the next section, you can’t move backward.

Keep reading to find out what to expect during a visit to Sloomoo Institute in NYC and decide if it is worth a visit with your group.

Map to Sloomoo Institute in Soho

Getting Tickets

Head to the Sloomoo Institute website to get timed tickets in advance. Their hours change depending on the day, but they are generally open from 9 or 10 am until 6 or 7 pm.

Each ticket has a 30-minute entry window. If you purchase a 10 am ticket, you can arrive anywhere from 10 am until 10:30 am. Flexible arrival tickets are available for an additional fee if you know what date you want to go to Sloomoo Institute but don’t want to commit to a time.

They do allow you to enter after your ticket time if there is space. They will also let you reschedule.

You can buy tickets at the door if there is space available, but they are cheaper online.

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Arriving at the Sloomoo Institute

We booked the 10 am slot, which was the first time slot of the day. We got there early and were the first group in line.

The doors do not open early and there is a roped-off area on the sidewalk to wait in. While you are waiting, you can watch through the window as someone makes slime.

As soon as you get inside and your tickets are checked, they ask you to make a name tag with your Sloomoo name.

Take out the vowels in your first name and replace each one with “oo.” So, if your name is Kara, you are now Kooroo. If your name is Kevin, you are now Koovoon.

Of course, the kids thought it was hilarious.

Moork was with us too, but he joined us a few minutes later as he had an errand to run while we waited in line. It was easy for him to catch up with us inside the museum.

This location has both a coat check and a space for strollers.

It’s Slime Time

After putting on our name tags, a staff member gives everyone a piece of slime to add to the slime wall.

I knew this place was going to be a little bit gross, but I tried not to think about how old some of the slime on this wall was and how many people had touched it.

After sticking our slime on the giant slime wall, we got to boomerang slime at each other. One person stands at the boomerang while the other group members go behind a clear wall.

The best part about being the first group to enter Sloomoo Institute is knowing that your hands are the first to touch the giant bowls of slime.

I assume the slime is replaced daily, but to be honest, I have no idea how often they replace the bowls of slime.

Each bowl of slime has information that goes with it. The information includes the color, type of slime used, and scent.

They also include the stretch factor, poke factor, pop factor, drizzle factor, and swirl factor.

Along the bowls of slime is a place to stop and create your Sloomoo Sidekick. You answer questions on a touch-screen to determine who your sidekick is.

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Sloomoo Falls

When you book your tickets to Sloomoo Institute, you can add on Sloomoo Falls, where one or more members of your group get slime dumped on them.

I opted to wait and see what it was like before booking, and I am glad that I did.

Sloomoo Falls is not cheap, and while I am sure it would have been fun for my kids, they didn’t even ask to do it after watching someone else get slimed.

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Interactive Experiences

I guess every experience at Sloomoo Institute is an interactive experience, but after the first group of slime bowls, the sidekick computers, and Sloomoo Falls is a screen where the slime dances like you do.

Then, on to more bowls of slime.

DIY Slime Bar

Each visitor gets to make their own slime to take home.

First, you choose which type of slime to make. They have each kind available for you to touch first so that you can see which one you like best.

They also have difficulty levels.

After you decide on a type of slime, choose the scent.

A scent wall is located on the opposite side as the slime bar and you are welcome to smell all of the scents before you pick one.

I chose jasmine, and I do not recommend it. I chose it because then I wouldn’t have to smell the scents and I love the smell of jasmine.

Unfortunately, in slime, jasmine smells like an old lady.

When you know what you want, you can approach the staff at the bar. You can choose your color in addition to the scent and type of slime.

The last thing to choose is 3 add-in shapes.

More Slime

The DIY slime bar is not the end of the museum, it is just about halfway. Once you finish making your slime, they give you a bag to keep your slime in.

There is a photo opp right after the DIY slime bar, and then more large bowls of slime.

At this point, a few people had gotten in front of us as we were taking our time and playing with slime.

In addition to the bowls of slime, there are a few interactive experiences on this side of the museum.

Walking on Slime

Never in my wildest dreams did I consider that they would allow people to walk on slime at Sloomoo Institute.

Gross!

First, you take off your shoes and socks. Then, you use a wipe to clean your feet.

If you aren’t interested in this part, you can walk straight past. It is not necessary to walk through slime.

There is a bench to sit on for those who do not want to participate, or to sit down to take your shoes off.

My kids loved walking through slime so much that I eventually tried it, and guess what?

It is just as disgusting as you imagine.

Clean Up Time

After the slime walk, there is a place to wash up.

Some of the slime was sticky, and either way, everyone should wash their hands after touching all of that slime.

Sloomoo Institute Store

As you could have guessed, there is a store before you officially exit Sloomoo Institute. You can also access the shop without visiting the museum.

The Sloomoo Institute store sells slime, stuffed animals, toys, and clothes. If you are traveling with carry-on only, you can purchase TSA-approved packaging for the slime that you made at the DIY bar.

Sloomoo Institute Wrap-Up

My kids loved Sloomoo Institute, as expected, and both my husband and I enjoyed ourselves as well, at least as long as we could forget that we were touching the same slime as everyone else.

Expect to be at Sloomoo Institute for about an hour, and up to an hour and a half if it is busy or you want to play with each tub of slime.

You can come to Sloomoo Institute and never even touch slime, but what’s the fun in that? Plan to wash your hands and sanitize before and after your visit.

Best Things to Do With Kids Near Sloomoo Institute

One of my biggest tips for those visiting New York City is to plan your days by seeing what is nearby. The city is huge and you don’t want to waste your time running around.

Here are some of the best things to do with kids near Sloomoo Institute.

• Museum of Ice Cream
• Color Factory
• Tenement Museum
• Housing Works Book Shop

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