Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Which party option?

51 replies

PartyPanties · 17/02/2023 18:23

DH and I disagree on which party option is best for DTwins (turning 7)

Both parties at the same venue - huge play centre with laser quest, electric climbing walls, rope climbing course and massive soft play.

What do you think is best?

Option 1) £250
15 children so each child can invite 6 friends plus cousins (+ 1 adult per child) includes hot party food & 1.5 hours of play in the soft play and climbing walls only & 30 mins food.
Unlimited squash for kids and 1 hot drink per adult.
Party bags and invites included.
Afternoon slot 2-4 / 4-6

Option 2) £400
Exclusive hire for 120 guests (this would probably be 60 kids + 60 adults) so could each invite their whole class plus a few outside of school friends / cousins.
Exclude use of all facilities. Adults allowed to use the electronic climbing walls and rope course whilst their children play.
No food or drinks included but parents could buy from the on-site food bar (20% off menu prices for the night)
No party bags
2 hour session 6.30-8.30pm on a Saturday night.

DH is concerned option 2 has no food included and parents would be funny about having to buy their own if they want anything - we can't afford 60+ meals on top of the £400 but I think it's late enough in the eve that it wouldn't really matter.

DH also thinks option 2 is too late in the evening for 7 year olds. Venue is 20 mins away from school. It would be during Easter holidays.

OP posts:
Paturday · 17/02/2023 18:44

1 no question.

My son is 7 (year 3 so older than yours) and I would be 😲 at party 2! I want to drop and run also so would be annoyed if I HAD to stay. Especially on a Saturday night.

And would be surprised it was so late and think you were mad 😄 DS usually in bed for 7:30!! but wouldn’t stop my DS going.

NatalieH2220 · 17/02/2023 18:46

Option 1.

I think option 2 is too late. Don't think the no food is an issue but I'd still go for option 1.

TaskmasterAssistant · 17/02/2023 18:47

I think on the whole at age 6/7 you could still just go for hiring a hall and a bunch of bouncy castle type equipment. You can get some impressive set ups these days, not just a standard castle. Maybe an entertainer too and then you can invite all the kids.

ChicoryDip · 17/02/2023 18:47

Another consideration with Option 2 is that the larger the number of children invited the more likely people are to drop out or just not turn up. They'll assume that nobody will notice, particularly if they are not close friends of the birthday child or if they've been doing other things during the day.

autienotnaughty · 17/02/2023 18:48

I'd say 1 and see if you can add children on? Also can you add the laser quest etc in?

HeddaGarbled · 17/02/2023 18:49

1

2 is far too many people and sounds like it has the potential to descend into absolute chaos.

Cas112 · 17/02/2023 18:55

Option 1.. I would never even think about having option 2

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 17/02/2023 18:55

I'd be a bit confused if I arrived at a birthday party and it was like option 2. Plus, the activities would be totally taken over by dad's trying to out man each other. And it is always the fucking dads, even if it's not all the dads.

Original poster
PartyPanties · 17/02/2023 18:55

To add laser quest on it would have to be "out of hours" so 6.30-8.30pm again which does just seem so late. No option to add additional children onto option 1. Rubbish! Will need to look at some new venues I think.

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 17/02/2023 18:56

15 children is a perfectly acceptable number at an activity like this. The only whole class parties I go to seem to he a booked hall, a beige buffet and a balloon artist. Where its a flat rate and it doesn't matter if more or less kids come.

Activity centres like this aren't typical venues for whole class parties.

pilates · 17/02/2023 19:00

6 friends each is fine for that age - they have established firm friendships

MarshaMelrose · 17/02/2023 19:02

Times have changed. At 7, the parties I went to were being dropped off at the door, pass the parcel, musical statues, a feast in the kitchen with jelly and ice cream and pop, a wrapped piece of cake, and everyone piling into the dad's cars to be taken home. Ah, simple times and happy days.

Paperplanesfly · 17/02/2023 19:05

Option 1 sounds perfect. Option 2 sounds crazy.

Morechocmorechoc · 17/02/2023 19:13

Wouldn't attend an option 2 party. No food is unusual. Option 1 sounds ideal for that age, don't see the option with only 15, it's much more manageable

ChuckMater · 17/02/2023 19:16

Option 1

Who knows 120 kids without inviting the whole school or hiring it if you run a club. Parents also generally don't want to be attending a kids party on a Saturday night

ouch321 · 17/02/2023 19:18

I loved laser tag parties. So much fun.

Option 1.

But why don't you talk to the centre to find a middle ground. I'd be surprised if they weren't willing to do something off-menu as it were.

Silverribbons · 17/02/2023 19:24

Option 1. Apart from any other objections I would hate to have to potentially deal with 60 presents for each child!

Favouritefruits · 17/02/2023 19:29

6:30 till 8:30 is far too late, especially if the adults have other siblings as it’s hard to find sitter for that time of day. The first party seems like the best option you have put forward but neither really meet your criteria.

NerrSnerr · 17/02/2023 19:43

If you can afford option 2 could you do two separate option 1 parties?

ABlindAssassin · 17/02/2023 20:22

If your DC were different ages you'd have two separate parties - maybe do that so each twin can invite more friends? If their friendship groups overlap then it's less of an issue. We've always done a separate party tea at home for cousins.

2chocolateoranges · 17/02/2023 20:25

Definitely option 1.

as a parent I wouldn’t take my children to a kids party on a Saturday night and also as a parent party 2 sounds like a bloody nightmare.

LlynTegid · 17/02/2023 20:50

I'd go for option 1. No way would I do a child's party at 6.30pm for seven year olds.

SausageinaBun · 17/02/2023 21:37

Option 1 would be great if you had one child. It seems a bit mean to have to split it for twins. Could they each have a party separately? Either 2 x option 1 or just different parties?

geminiflanagan · 17/02/2023 21:44

Option1, all the way. I would turn down an invite at that time for my dd7 tbh!

LoveBluey · 17/02/2023 21:52

Option 1 is better. Option 2 is bonkers.
But really I'd look for a different venue that better suits your needs.