If DS2 has a Build A Bear Workshop party, do I need to feed them too?

[recyclingbag]

For various reasons beyond my control, I think I've agreed to a Build A Bear party for DS2 who will be 7.

He is inviting 5 friends and it's a 2 in the afternoon.

There is no food or drink so, we would have to take them somewhere else for food afterwards.

Do you think we could get away with not feeding them? Or just going to Krispie Kreme for a doughnut and milkshake?

[recyclingbag]

Other option is trooping them all across the shopping centre to MacDonalds.

[CleanHankie]

Have taken the DD's to 3 BAB parties. Had Macdonalds for 2 of them, the other was cake and a drink in Debenhams cafe. Latter option quite acceptable and very nice!

[recyclingbag]

Did you go with them? I'm a little anxious about 6 children in a shopping centre!

[recyclingbag]

Ooh - Build A Bear is right next to Debenhams. That could work!

[Agadooo]

Doughnut n millshake idea sounds perfect -they'll have had their lunch already-go for it!

[WorraLiberty]

I think that sounds fine. Maybe tell the parents though, in case they don't give them much lunch, thinking that you might be sorting it.

If you're nervous about walking them anywhere though, make them walk in twos just like they do on school trips.

[CleanHankie]

We were encouraged by the staff, to leave them for the party as it's gets crowded in the store. We then went with them to cafe. The previous parties they ate first, so we dropped them off at McDonalds.

Our BAB is next to Debenhams too, hence the stop there (Costa were too busy!)

[mommy2ash]

Whatever option you choose is fine I would just let the parents know.

[Kryptonite]

As someone who's taken the small people to plenty of parties over the years, I think it's absolutely fine not to sort food.
Whatever you do though, make sure it's made clear on the invite that party food isn't going to be provided, as even though it's at 2pm, parents could quite easily have given a very light lunch thinking that they were going to be fed at the party as well.
If your party is a couple of hours long and then factoring in getting home afterwards, there's a potentially long gap between the light lunch and their tea dinner to southerners who speak wrong lol !

[Caboodle]

I don't think you need to feed them at all. BaB is a real treat anyway.

[Caboodle]

Or, if you feel you must, sandwich/drink/cake in party bag for way home.

[YouMakeMyDreams]

Donuts and milkshake would be fine. Ds1 had a build a bear party fee years ago and we went back home and had a teddy bears picnic in the garden afterwards I had made up the little cardboard lunch boxes you get in advance and put them in the fridge.
If we had somewhere easy to get to like a Krispy Kreme we would have done that. The kids would love it.

[Spartak]

For the cost of a Krispy Kreme and milkshake, they could probably have a happy meal each.

[SevenSeconds]

When DD had a Build a Bear party I took them to McDonalds afterwards.

[Dancergirl]

What's times the party?

[PuntasticUsername]

Did anyone else not get a lot of sleep last night and read the thread title thinking op was on about also feeding the builded bears? I was like "sure, gonna have to take a few pots of honey...".

No? Just me then. As you were...

[recyclingbag]

Haha! Well they do have honey Krispy Kremes on special offer at the moment

Only reason Krispy Kremes is better option is that it's opposite the shop. MacDonalds is on a different level and over the other side.

[ThePrinceofParties]

i never mind if mine aren't fed at a party, but do appreciate a heads-up beforehand so that I can make sure they've eaten/will eat later.

[yorkshapudding]

I agree a doughnut/piece of cake and a drink is fine as long as you let parents know so they can plan meals accordingly.

[Cheby]

We went to a build a bear party last year, I stayed because DD was much younger, not quite 2. They all trooped over to Frankie and Bennies afterwards, I helped supervise the walk through the shopping centre, but I will admit to having my heart in my mouth trying to keep track of all the other kids with so many people around.

I wouldn't mind if they got fed or not, as long as the party wasn't over lunch or dinner time and it was clear on the invite what was happening. Getting a bear is a pretty good treat for each of the kids. I was a bit of a convert, they all loved it so much.

[TheFormidableMrsC]

I guess that by the time you finish, it's going to be 3 at the earliest, so I would probably feed them after (I have done the same party and we went to Burger King afterwards). However, at that time you could probably get away with drink and cake. My DD is now 17, but she still remembers that as one of her favourites...and still has her bear .