Splash & Play: A Family-friendly Review of Splash Zone & Buds Indoor Playground at Shangri-La Singapore

September 2025

The last time we visited Splash and Buds at Shangri-La was during our staycation back in 2022, when access to both the hotel’s water play zone and indoor playground was automatically included in our chosen package.

A splashin’ good time

On the morning itself, we just turned up, mentioned our reservation and entered the Splash Zone. There was no queue at all. Inside, it wasn’t crowded at all, which made the experience so much more enjoyable.

The main highlight of Splash is the pirate ship water play zone, complete with three different slides: a covered tube slide and two open slides at the sides. Adults aren’t allowed on the slides, but the kids didn’t mind one bit — they went on them nonstop. Back when we first visited in 2022, the children were only 5 and 2 years old. At that age, only the elder one could fully enjoy the slides. This time around, at 7 and 4, both kids could finally go on them countless times together, which made it feel extra fun (and worth the admission fee, haha!).

What’s wonderful about the Splash zone is how everything revolves around the pirate ship itself. That meant it was easy for us to follow them around and keep an eye on safety. Even though the younger one can’t swim yet, the shallow play area is just 0.5m deep, so he could confidently wade and explore on his own.

They loved shooting from the ship’s water cannons, ringing the ship’s bell and steering the wheel to pretend they were out at sea. They even discovered a little mini hammock tucked into one of the decks.

Meanwhile, our elder girl, now a competent swimmer, got to swim freely in the adjacent 1.2m pool.

A lifeguard was stationed here throughout, which gave us extra peace of mind — we could relax a little and play with the younger one in the shallow side while still keeping an eye on his sister.

On the other side of Splash, there was also a dry water play area. This part was a hit too, with the classic tipping buckets that splash water down on the kids — lots of squeals and laughter there. Right beside it was another shallow pool, only about 0.3m deep, almost like a baby pool, with a small slide built in. It’s a perfect spot for toddlers and younger children to enjoy safely.

Indoor playtime at Buds

We’re usually not the biggest fans of indoor playgrounds — they can feel too big and maze-like, the kind of space where you’re constantly worried about losing sight of your kids (and have you ever crawled after them in those tiny tunnels? Urgh). Or they’re too small, and the kids get bored within minutes. But Buds turned out to be a sweet spot: just nice in size and well-designed.

Once the children got their bearings, they were off. Even our four-year-old managed to climb the nets and make his way back down — sometimes via the slides, but most often using his favourite, the fireman’s pole. There was always a staff member stationed at the pole, making sure the kids slid down safely, which gave us peace of mind.

After a while, we realised we didn’t actually need to trail after them from zone to zone. The layout was open enough for us to keep them in sight, so we could finally sit down for a bit while they played, watching them gain independence in a safe space.

What really stood out, though, were the creative rooms tucked within Buds. There was a Muddy Room — not actually muddy, but art-based — where the kids gleefully picked up fluorescent paints and finally got to do what they’d always wanted: draw on the walls. Aprons on, brushes in hand, they painted to their hearts’ content. On the day we visited, they also had a badge-making session themed around Mid-Autumn, which kept the kids happily busy.

There was even a Music Room, where the kids could experiment on the piano or just dance around to pop songs. It added a nice change of pace from the climbing and sliding, and they loved having the freedom to switch between physical play and creative play.

At the end of it all, we realised we had a really great time — not just at Splash and Buds, but at Shangri-La itself. Every visit reminds us that it truly is a super family-friendly hotel, thoughtfully designed with children (and parents) in mind. It’s one of those places where the kids are happy, entertained and safe… which means the adults can relax and enjoy too.

Little Notes

Book a slot: Reserve online at bit.ly/budsbooking. There are two timeslots available each day: 9am-1.30pm and 2.30pm-6pm, and advance booking is required.

Fees & duration: We found the fees reasonable — less than $30 per hour of play. That said, 3 hours of both water play + indoor play together can feel rather intense. It would be nice if there were the option to split it up, e.g. just 1 hour at either play space.

Order of play: We preferred to start with water play before heading indoors, since we booked the morning session (cooler and more comfortable). If you’re booked for the later slot, you might want to reverse the order.

Not hotel guests this time: There are no designated shower facilities inside the Splash Zone. After water play, we were only advised to rinse off at the outdoor shower and use the changing area. It was not ideal, so it’s something to consider if you’re not a hotel guest.

Safety first: Various sizes of lifejackets were provided, though we didn’t feel they were really necessary as the water play area is compact and manageable. There was also a lifeguard on duty at the deeper end of the pool.

Snacks & toys: Small toys and snacks were available for purchase on-site, but they were pricier. We brought along our own toys, floats and snacks, and there was no issue with that.

Memberships are available: Besides public admission, memberships offer perks like unlimited play sessions, priority booking for timeslots, and discounts on special programmes or workshops. They’re worth considering if you live nearby or plan to visit regularly.