Once Upon An Island

12/15/2025

12/15/2025

Welcome to the South Pole Portal! Where we say Mele Kalikimaka — Balboa Island’s way to say Merry Christmas to you. 🌴🎅✨

Step inside Santa’s magical submarine and travel from the South Pole to the North Pole in a magical, bubble filled adventure. A touch of Island Christmas on the outside… and a full, traditional North Pole wonderland waiting on the other side. ❄️🏝️And the magic starts THIS weekend.

✨ Tickets are already 85% sold out for the entire season — this may be your last chance to experience our spectacular North Pole adventure.
🌺Talking Tiki totem’s, an enchanted Tiki Submarine, Santa’s reindeer barn, make toys and more!!!

Grab your tickets now before the portal closes! 🎟️✨Tickets linked daily in our story until we’re sold out! Link also in bio☝️

12/15/2025

Swim in, THIS FRIDAY, let’s make your dreams come true ✨…and some magical memories along the way!!! At Once Upon An Island we specialize in truly intimate and memorable experiences for you & your little ones, If you havent had a chance to swim in yet THIS FRIDAY’s Mermaid story time is the perfect time to swim in! 🎟️ Tickets are selling fast online, grab yours now at onceuponanisland.net> public events OR use the link in our story!!!

12/15/2025

You know what we HATE about our Christmas experience?

…that we can’t magically create more days in December. ❄️🎄

Every year we sell out. Every. Single. Year.
We’ve even had CELEBRITIES call us begging for a mid-December slot and guess what?
There just aren’t any to give. 😩✨

If you snooze… you truly do lose — and we hate it because we wish we could see EVERY family.

But here’s the wild part ⬇️
For the first time ever, we’re already 47% sold out by mid-November. 🤯
That means sales are trending WAY ahead of this same time last year… and last year?
We sold out by early December. 😳

We’d LOVE to add extra dates, but our Christmas season is only 17 magical days — and once they’re gone… they’re gone.
And this year? They WILL be gone. We promise.

Why? Because the experience is just that good. ❤️🎅

👏🏼 Please don’t miss out.
Tickets are live now — grab your date before someone else does!

🎟️ Link in bio

12/15/2025

Hi, I’m Heather.
In 2020, there was nowhere for my 1-year-old, Christmas-obsessed son to meet Santa. I walked past a tiny shop for rent, grabbed rolls of wrapping paper for wallpaper, and decided to build a one-year Santa pop-up for kids like mine.

Everyone told me it was crazy.
No one would come.
(Especially in 2020.)
But they were wrong.

You came. You loved it. And you convinced me to keep going.

Six years later, we’re still here… building new magic year after year.

The idea for Santa to know the kids came from one simple truth: I wanted him to know my kid.

Everything inside Once Upon A Christmas is created by a parent, for other parents, to bring Christmas to life the right way.

No cardboard cutouts.
No cheesy props.
Every detail is hand-picked, vintage, or custom-made because it has to feel real.
I look through the lens of my son every single year and build the world I know he’d believe in.
Thank you to every family who has supported us, returned to us, and made this your tradition. It’s my family’s tradition too, and sharing it with you means the world. 🎄✨

12/11/2025

…OF COURSE he knows Josie 😉 🐶

🎄✨This is the kind of real, intimate, core Magic memory you could only get from a small family run business who really cares✨🎄

We spend hours every week behind the scenes preparing for moments like this! Here you’re not just watching the Christmas movie, you’re the star! Let us whisk you away through magic portals to the North Pole… the only Christmas experience where Santa KNOWS you!

If you’re waiting for that “it finally feels like Christmas” family magic moment….. The time is now- and it’s running out! With premium time slots selling out- we’ve added WEEKDAY times for the first time ever starting TOMORROW and at a huge discount so that everyone can experience this☝️ magic!

✨Same magic + off-peak times = better pricing!!!✨Grab tickets now starting at only $40 weekdays through 12/19 while they last!!!!

11/13/2025

✨ BUILD-A-BESTIE! ✨
Every mermaid and princess has a little animal bestie… and now you can too! 🐚👑
Pick your favorite stuffy and bring it to life with magical glitter wishes, a heart, and even your very own custom scent. Then give your new buddy a cuddle and take them home! 🧸✨
Perfect for parties, your Mermaid Experience, or even a weekday walk-in — starting at only $15!

Because every adventure is better with a bestie by your side. 💖

11/12/2025

✨ This year, gift something they’ll remember. ✨
(And not another toy that ends up in the bin by New Year’s…)

Studies show that experiences create deeper happiness, stronger family bonds, and lasting memories — far more than another toy or “thing.” 🎁💛

Try this little test:
👉🏼 Ask your child what they got for Christmas last year — name one present.
👉🏼 Then ask them the last fun thing you did together.

They’ll light up telling the story… because experiences stick.

But don’t worry — we know you still want that special moment of surprise under the tree. 🎄

That’s why, this year, ALL OUAI holiday gift cards come with a personalized video from one of our mermaids or princesses 💕
🌊 We say your child’s name
🌟 Include fun facts you share with us
🏝️ We show them around our magical Mermaid Shop
🍰 And invite them in for a tea party or playtime!

Imagine your little one opening a gift…
and seeing their FAVORITE character talking directly to them. 😭💖

✨ This year, give the magic they’ll never forget.

Give an experience. Give a memory.

🎁 OUAI Holiday Video Gift Cards Now Available
Perfect for: Parents, Grandparents, Aunties, Uncles & Chosen Family

11/10/2025

🤫🚨Pssst: the pirates hid a PARTY COUPON CODE ON LAST SLIDE 👉🏼🏴‍☠️⚓️👉🏼

🌊💀✨ Did you know our magical island isn’t just for mermaids?
Our Signature Mermaid & Pirate Party Package brings Neverland to life — complete with a climb-through Skull Rock, a hidden Treehouse Play Fort, and an entire ocean-themed wonderland waiting to be explored.

📖Fun fact: have you noticed there’s not much pink around here? That’s intentional! For a venue known for its sparkle, you might not have noticed… we actually avoid pink! 💙💜
Ocean hues, teals, and light purples make our space feel like Neverland, not a “girls only” wonderland — and boys LOVE it!

🏴‍☠️Captain Crowe leads ethe adventure ⚓️ — from treasure hunts and sword fights to pirate face paint and games at sea. 🏴‍☠️

Because here at Once Upon an Island, magic isn’t just for mermaids — it’s for every child who believes in adventure. 🐚

🪞 Package: Signature Mermaid & Pirate Party
📍 Balboa Island | www.onceuponanisland.net
🎉 Private Parties • 7 Days a Week

11/10/2025

Our newest full service travel package: 👑The Princess Tea Party! 👑 An enchanting tea party fit for royalty!

✨ If you think this looks magical, you should see us set it all up and clean it too! Our Full Service Travel parties, are ALL INCLUSIVE- just like our in-house parties! Meaning you get to relax and watch the magic unfold! Everything from decor, characters, crafts, food and entertainment are all handled by our staff! We make sure mom doesn’t lift a finger. A true one-stop-shop! Just grab a cake and we’ve got the rest.

✨✨BOOK ONLINE TODAY! We are filling up through JULY! ✨✨

11/09/2025

Some moments feel straight out of a fairytale… and this was one of them. ❄️

Service category: Daily Experience
Service: Princess Transformation Experience

✨Meet any character for one on one magic, any day! Perfect for a small celebration, mommy and me day or just a magical transformation!

11/09/2025

💭 Let’s normalize being nostalgic about right now.
Because one day, they won’t believe in mermaids anymore…
But today, they do. ✨
Picture this —
You’re six years old.
Mom is your best friend. 💕
You still believe in magic, in fairytales, in seashell crowns and happy-ever-afters.
Your besties all show up to celebrate you — and when real mermaids swim out to greet you, you don’t question it for a second. You just know it’s real. 🌊💖
There’s glitter in your hair, laughter in the air, and love all around you.
Because more than the sparkle or the cake… what you remember most is how loved you felt. 🫶
It’s your day.
Your story.
Your world under the sea. 🐚✨

Service: Private Party
Package: Signature Mermaid Party