https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:46:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910114 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 23:35:23 +0000 PurplePeony 2910114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@helloperidot: now I’m really curious about the venue, I’m in the same geographical area as you and I can’t think where it might be! If you decide to do another party in the future, I can suggest a couple fun places that do packages that make things much easier. They’re not cheap, but honestly, we had DD’s 6th birthday at our house and somehow ended up spending close to what we did at a venue the past couple years 🤷🏻‍♀️. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910093 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 20:13:28 +0000 crazydoglady 2910093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted to add that hosting birthdays suck! After my kids' first birthdays, we have done super low-key stuff. We had a bowling alley birthday party and came back to our house for pizza and cupcakes. I'm all for easy peasy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910083 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 19:22:08 +0000 JJ2626 2910083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This thread has solidified my plan to never have birthday parties! It sounds like the worst. You should do whatever works for you and if people don’t love it, they can suck it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910080 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 17:36:20 +0000 PinkElephant 2910080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@helloperidot: When I saw the road this post was taking, I clicked your profile, and saw that you're on the West Coast. I think there is still a large population on this site that is in the NYC/tristate area, and birthday party customs are such a regional thing - they can differ vastly from place to place. It sounds like for your area and your social circle, the arcade is just used as a get-together venue when you don't want a million kids in your house (totally understandable!) If it's the norm to just do food and maybe a small craft or activity in the table area, then I think that doing just that makes sense, and if you're worried about what people's reaction will be, then you can just include a small voucher in the goodie bag. I'd just be sure you let people know - then those who don't want their kids nagging them about games that they'd have to pay for can decide whether or not they want to fight that fight with their LO. It might not even be a fight if the kids are used to doing parties at this place and not having a particular activity! </p> <p>And I voted that birthday parties are soul-sucking. :silly: I actually LOVE party planning, but around here (NYC area) it feels like a giant competition, and that part sucks. It's totally not uncommon for someone to spend close to a thousand dollars or more on inviting the whole class to what has come to seem like a relatively modest party at a venue (My Gym/kids' museum/Bounce place when they're little; trampoline parks or big arcades/bowling alleys/spas/gymnastics or aerial places when they get bigger). This would have been considered super extravagant when I grew up, but not here/now! I had a sleep-under/late-over/whatever you want to call it for my seven year old last year, and by the time I arranged all the activities I wanted them to do to make the home party seem adequate (decorating hair bows, making bath bombs, painting nails, ordering pizza, getting a movie, making their own sundaes) - it wasn't actually cheap and I used a TON of energy. It was awesome, but I was exhausted and worried about how it would go over! Birthdays are tough, I think we might crack down on big in #s yearly parties now that all three girls are getting old enough to say who their "real" friends are and what they'd really like to do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910075 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 16:43:34 +0000 honeybear 2910075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would do what @bakingdoodle suggested. I like the idea of everyone being together for most of the party time. If you could do an easy craft (maybe grab some kits at the craft store?) or some sort of group game, then do food/cake, and then let everyone loose on the arcade (or to go home), I'd do that. That keeps your group together for the bulk of the party time and then the parents can do whatever they want re: playing the games. If you go with that timeline, I wouldn't necessarily feel like you had to provide game tickets, especially since it doesn't seem like that's the norm for your friend group anyhow. Also, that way it doesn't matter if whatever tickets you choose to hand out are gone in a flash, and I suspect if they do get used quickly, at least a few parents will be very pleased with you. (I sure would be! "Honey, when your game tickets are gone, we will go home." And then: "Your game tickets are gone. Time to go home!" :happy: ) </p> <p>To the third option: birthday parties that involve a bunch of little guests are not that fun to plan for many of us. I think some people really enjoy planning them, but it's okay not to! I don't do a big friend party most years. I'm not a big party planner--they stress me out. Small get-togethers I do an amazing job of, however, so I do those most years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910070 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 15:54:52 +0000 crazydoglady 2910070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@helloperidot: My thought is that if I didn't want to pay for other kids to play games, I wouldn't host it at an arcade and would do a simple house party. I mean, if the kids don't play games (or the parents don't want to pay for it,) how is it really different than having it elsewhere? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910069 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 15:51:26 +0000 helloperidot 2910069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: I didnt specifically think about providing game cards because we've gone to parties there for other kids in our friend group and 99% of the time people pay for their own kids' activities and the hosts provide food/goody bags.</p> <p>And for everyone asking why I didn't book a party package, not only were the packages not something my daughter, the party guest of honor, does not want to do at her birthday, they're only built for groups of 10 or less and we had 30 kids RSVP. 👍</p> <p>Sorry to be salty but I'm feeling a lot of judgment over what should've been an easy logistics question. Miss me with that noise. A simple "yep, we would pay for game cards too" would've sufficed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910067 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 15:21:57 +0000 bakingdoodle 2910067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agreed that you need to change your timing a bit... I would do one or two activities (I would pick a pinata... but that's me, I love pinatas) and then have pizza and cupcakes. Pizza and cupcakes is usually so rushed... and then they can go play a few games. I say to have one or two activities because one of our friends had it at LegoLand Discovery and she told she should have organized something before eating so that the kiddos hangout together.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910065 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 15:16:12 +0000 Pollywog 2910065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I've been thinking about what I'd do in your situation all day. Presumably you haven't budgeted for the games, right? One option is you could all go through the games together-- take turns with skee ball, take turns at the basketball, those kinds of games. That would keep the costs down and have everyone go through the party together.</p> <p>Another option would be to make it a pizza party with no games. Make the favor a $5 voucher they can use on the way out. </p> <p>And for future parties, I think this place just makes it unnecessarily complex and expensive. Most places are much easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910033 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 10:16:50 +0000 Mommy Finger 2910033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From a timing perspective, we went to a birthday party at a similar place. The first hour was pizza and cake in a big room with all of the other parties that they had that day. Then they had one of those creepy animatronic shows like Chuck E Cheese or Show Biz Pizza used to do or still does. Then each kid got a card that had $7 on it for the arcade games and it allowed you to do 2 activities. I think there was a small race car track and this other small ride you could go on. That card lasted us like 15 minutes. So I would switch up your timing to do your pizza and cake first and then let the people do the other activities so they can leave when they want. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910025 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 08:47:14 +0000 bakingdoodle 2910025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am surprised like everyone else that a package is not available. I mean you're renting the tables and that's it?<br /> My son had one birthday party when he was 5 (he guilt tripped me by saying I didn't love him a lot because I didn't give him a party) at a bowling alley. Package included bowling time and a $10 gift card arcade. $10 gift card nowadays goes nowwhere. It last 2 minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910022 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 07:50:45 +0000 lady baltimore 2910022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I agree. this sounds like a tough set up. We did my daughter's 4th birthday at a gymnastics studio, and they entertained the kids the whole time. It was zero stress for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910018 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 06:57:44 +0000 Ajsmommy 2910018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@helloperidot: I find it very odd that the place doesn’t offer bday packages!!! Of some sort. My suggestion would be to pick a location that does party packages next time.... then it’s all included and you don’t have to worry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910017 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 06:50:43 +0000 Foodnerd81 2910017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@helloperidot: I think that will work great!<br /> I also think you happened to pick a harde location that many others. Most parties I’ve gone to or hosted are more of a price per kid and they provide all the entertainment and tables, you just bring food. So one day you can host another party- justcwait yntil you forget this stress :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910016 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 00:26:53 +0000 helloperidot 2910016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: I did but they don't do unlimited play or bulk cards on the weekends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910015 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 00:24:46 +0000 helloperidot 2910015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay, FML, I am never doing a big birthday again. So I'm going to give everyone a choice between unlimited time in the bouncy houses or $10 on a game card. It's the same price either way and most kids will go on the bouncers. A few will stay out and play games or do mini bowling.</p> <p>Never again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910014 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 00:20:19 +0000 helloperidot 2910014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Madison43: as for wrangling, I'm just going to tell parents to come on back up at 4 for pizza and cake. That works really well with our group. All parents will be staying and playing with their kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910013 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 22:25:48 +0000 Madison43 2910013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree you need to provide game cards. Something else to think about - depending on how many kids are attending and/or how big the space is - you'll need to figure out how to wrangle everyone back to the table for food and cake after an hour. We've been to a bunch of arcade parties and that always seems to be the most challenging part! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910011 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 21:59:37 +0000 Foodnerd81 2910011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@helloperidot: oh also- my kids would rather bounce in a bounce house than play arcade games, if that factors in. I know you said your LO hates them though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910010 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 21:52:15 +0000 bhbee 2910010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree I expect things to be covered at a party. I wanted to vote 2 and 3 because I do think big parties sometimes steal your soul. Maybe you could call and ask a manager if they offer any bulk discount or anything for play time? Or even - offer an activity if there’s a package appropriate to 5 year olds, even if your LO doesn’t want to do it, to keep the kids busy. As an adult I would expect some paid activity related to the venue. You could also try to think of something to play at the table if you think you need to fill time beyond whatever arcade $ you offer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910009 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 21:51:05 +0000 Pollywog 2910009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a parent, I'd expect you to provide the entertainment. So I'd expect you to provide about an hour's worth of games. I wouldn't expect to be paying for my kids games.</p> <p>If you are not providing games, be sure to let parents know ahead of time so that they can decline if it isn't in their budget. I'd send an email like "we're so excited to see you on Saturday! When you get here, meet us upstairs to get a $5 gift card to the arcade and then join us for skee ball, pizza, and cake!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910008 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 21:40:27 +0000 Foodnerd81 2910008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry, I would also assume there is some play time involved. We went to an arcade party once and it was unlimited play for like 45 minutes, then pizza and cake. I would be upset if I had to pay for my kid to pay arcade games at a party. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910007 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 21:15:54 +0000 erinbaderin 2910007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say you definitely need to buy arcade cards, yes. I’m not sure $5 a kid is going to be enough, frankly - how much is a game?</p> <p>And for your second question I would say play for an hour and then have food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910006 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 21:14:58 +0000 charm55 2910006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to a birthday party this weekend that was at a bowling alley attached to an arcade. When we arrived, I told my girls “we are NOT going to the arcade after the party is done - don’t even ask me”. Well, after bowling, but still during party time, everyone went to play the arcade. I couldn’t let my girls be the only two not to play so I forked over some money. I was super annoyed I had to shell out $20 that was gone in less than 5 minutes. I admittedly have a bung about arcades though, they bring out the worst in my kids 😂</p> <p>So long story short - I would provide a card of some sort. 5$ will be gone pretty fast if my two very unskilled wannabe gamers are any indication. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910005 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 20:40:56 +0000 gotkimchi 2910005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@helloperidot: then yes I think you should provide arcade tickets </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910003 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 20:12:59 +0000 helloperidot 2910003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: I wish, unlimited play isn't offered on weekends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910002 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 20:09:42 +0000 ChitownRo 2910002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would expect some sort of arcade package TBH. Like one hour of unlimited play or something </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910001 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 20:03:28 +0000 helloperidot 2910001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: we rented tables. None of the packages were things my kid is interested in (she hates bouncers and is too young for later tag). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2910000 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 19:59:03 +0000 gotkimchi 2910000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we got an invite to a party at an arcade place I would assume the games were included (that’s how it’s always been by us) I would not be planning on purchasing anything or probably even staying. Usually by us if you’re going to a place it’s x dollars for however many kids. How does it work by you? Was this not a package and you only rented the tables? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2909999 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 19:55:29 +0000 helloperidot 2909999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter's 5th birthday party is this weekend at a local sports/arcade complex. We are doing pizza and cupcakes upstairs and have our tables for a quick 2-hour time block (3-5pm). However, I didn't plan any activities because...I don't know, I've never done this before!</p> <p>Do I need to buy arcade cards for all the kids so they can play arcade games? Is that something you would expect, as a parent? Should I have the food ready and waiting right away, or an hour into the party?</p> <p>I guess in my head I thought people would show up, play games for an hour, then everyone would come to the table for pizza and cake. Is that silly? </p> <p>Ugh, I've never done this and I'm never throwing a big party again. </p>