Tell Disney Party your top tips on how to create the best children’s parties - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[EllieMumsnet]

Is it party planning time? Is one of your DC’s birthdays coming up? Perhaps there is a baby shower on the horizon or maybe you’re throwing a tea party or simply hosting a BBQ? Whatever the event, Disney Party can help you create the perfect Disney themed celebration and want to know your top tips on how you create/plan the best parties.

Here’s what Disney have to say about Disney Party:
"Disney Party is the one-stop shop for all things needed to create the perfect party. The site provides free and easy scheduling tools and of course, the extensive party shop with everything from plates and napkins to banners and balloons. There are party game ideas, free invitations, a free party planning service and some delicious recipes which are great for little ones. Visit Disney Party and let us know what you think via Instagram using #DisneyParty"

Do you start planning months in advance or is improvisation key? Do you or don’t you open presents with the party guests? How do you go about choosing the right date? Party rings, finger sandwiches or cheese and pineapple sticks…what’s your go-to party food? Is it better to hire a venue or host it in your home? Do you have a schedule for the day or simply go with the flow?

Whatever your tips are to create the best party, Disney Party want to hear them. Share it on the thread below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw with a chance of winning a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck

MNHQ

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2 hours max. Don't have the party too long.

I always plan in advance. There has to be party bags, a small buffet with cakes and finger food, balloons and has. Party games are a must too!

accept it will be noisy - let it be noisy - hire the village hall and have loads of games

I love that Disney Party has been set up. I'm a huge Disney fan so having this will help with the kids parties. I always fine planning is key with a kids party. A few of my friends have not started looking for balloons and party bags did the week before and then they find they can't get what they want and end up with a mismatch of different themes and items.

I get my kids to pick their theme and then for several months before hand I gets bits off the internet for the parties - party bag fillers and decorations. I also make sure there are several different sorts of entertainment - bouncy castle, soft play or a magician because younger kids get bored and then start fighting. Inviting the parents as well helps that way you have extra adults on hand to help out and keep their kids under control.

My son is older now and we have mainly done low-key parties involving just a few of his friends and going for a meal or to the cinema followed by a trip to McDonalds or Burger King, or an ice-cream parlour. I think when kids are younger the best parties are at play parks or in a hired hall with face painters, people making balloon animals, bit of music, followed by food, bit more dancing/games, then party bags and time to clear up the mess!!

If there's 10 kids or less I host it in my own home, otherwise i'd rent a venue. Usually plan a few months in advance and stock up on supplies over a couple of months to spread the cost a bit

Start planning well in advance! If you want the easy life, go for a venue that does everything - catering, party bags, the lot! If you're a bit more adventurous and want to personalise bits, then shop around - ebay, Aliexpress, online sites. Doesn't have to be expensive to be good. Hence planning well in advance, as shipping can sometimes take weeks!

Save money by having the party at your house, the company is more important than the venue.

Get the kids involved in making party food, pizzas are always fun! Make the bases (or buy them!) and the pizza sauce and have kids pick the toppings.

Play Just dance, it's always fun for both adults and kids.

I like to make the cake, it is the show piece of the day and it gives me a chance to showcase my (lack of!) cake making skills. I vowed to make all of my daughters' cakes and so far I have managed and the pictures will be something the kids can look at when they are older.

In relation to the party I give them a choice of 2 or 3 places and then I just sort the entertainment and party bags. 1 hr of playing and then 1 hour for food and tidy up.

i think the best thing to do is make sure you have lots of help if you are doing the party yourself and not going to a venue. Make sure you have thought about games / food/ party treats .

I just do everything simple and do things in advance

A bouncy castle never fails! And enough room for them to run around like mad-heads.

lots of cake and music!

It's my sons 1st birthday this year so is very special to us. Even though with presents we won't be going over the top, it's still a huge milestone and we will be creating memories for me and my husband and photos for my son to look back on.

As we returned from Disney world Florida only days before his birthday we will be having a Mickey Mouse themed party and will be using Disney party online to get all the plates, serviettes and party bags etc. We have a Mickey Mouse cake on order from a local baker and will have decorations to match. I'm even planning on bringing some back from Florida with us from the world of Disney.

We will have a few games mainly for my nieces and nephews who are older and good will be traditional party food- sandwiches, crisps, party rings etc
I'm hoping It will be a lovely time for everyone to get together for our son. He was a long time coming and then a traumatic birth means we are lucky to be here so it's very special to us.

Definitely planning is key or my favourite is letting someone else do all the food and work by hiring a venue or activity! I find no need to stress too much about it as they hardly eat any anyway at a party and are more interested or playing or going home with a party bag or gift! I find a small gift is much better than a party bag too. I have wrapped up books and done a bit like a lucky dip before

After the relaxed, this will be fine, DIY version I did with a friend, organisation or outsourcing are the best options!

15 minutes in we ran out of games and had to resort to dancing competition .

Next party we hired soft play!

My children are now too old for traditional birthday parties, so it's usually paying for someone else to entertain and feed them with very little input from me. It's wonderful.

I do think a large amount of treat food is essential at any party, for children or adults.

A polite reminder a few days before will always help avoid embarrassment, especially if invitations went out a few weeks in advance.

Doesn't have to cost a lot of money. Only proviso is weather. Go to the local park or beach. Go with a teddy bears picnic theme and encourage guests to bring there own picnic blankets/camping chairs. Spend about a fiver in poundland on bunting/balloons/paper chains. Food can be simple too. Bakeries always a good go to and don't break the bank/supermarket also do some good stuff that won't break the bank and are pretty much hassle free (deli counter - sons firm favourite chicken on a stick). Paper plates/cups and bin bags make tidying hassle free. Try not to over think it. Enjoy don't stress - I know easier said than done.

We always make sure there is plenty of finger food, lots of variety including plenty for children with allergys. Party games are a must, lots of balloons to decorate and play with and the children always love a party bag filled with a variety of sweets and silly toys.

My tip tip is always. always over cater! There will be siblings and adults and other people not officially on the guest list that will eat all the Food.

I am divorced and my ex is very difficult. I have a new partner with a disabled son. My ex insists on unlimited access to our two young daughters via phone and FaceTime when we are away on holiday for example. We have had several situations where breakfast or dinner has been interrupted by an half hour plus FaceTime call or has come in the middle of an activity and totally taken over, including my young daughter walking round the holiday home showing my ex every nook and cranny which my fiancée feels invades our privacy somewhat and I tend to agree. I hav tried to talk to my ex about it and come to some sort of compromise but she is abusive and insists she should have a free reign to call when and how she chooses. I'm not an unreasonable man and would never try to stop my daughters talking to their mum, but the current situation is extremely difficult and invasive. What is 'normal' in these circumstances and what could I do about it? Any help would be gratefully received x

Make sure you get a head count and schedule in blocks per part of the party. Makes it easier to carry it out.

In my head I'm the perfect hostess at home where we play retro party games and eat freshly prepared and delicious party food from coordinated children's tableware; in reality I book a soft play two weeks before and let others take charge of the mayhem while I drink a weak coffee.

Hire an entertainer to sort the kids out!

After four years of having them at home and all the tidy up it entails, this year we're shipping out and going to a play centre where we can leave all the mess it creates!

However, I have learned that too many games causes more stress than the enjoyment it creates - the kids just want to play and I end up seeming mad as I tear them away from what they wanted to do in order to get them to play the game I've put a load of effort into. So now it's just music and balloons and letting them do their thing. Oh, and a cracking cake - my DSis is Queen of them!