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Friday, August 29, 2008 12:04 PM CDT
Parents spend big bucks on little buckaroos' birthday parties
Parents spend big bucks on little buckaroos' birthday parties
Who needs brains when you've got beauty?
DISCLAIMER: The Courier provides our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. For a more in-depth explanation of our policy, please see our Rules of the Road. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.
Parents spend big bucks on little buckaroos' birthday parties
By AMIE STEFFEN, Courier Staff Writer
WATERLOO --- Remember when birthday parties involved a bunch of your friends, a cake and pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey?
These days, more extravagant birthday parties are the trend. Think MTV's "My Super Sweet Sixteen" or Tori Spelling's over-the-top shindig for her 1-year-old son on Oxygen's "Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood."
Whatever your style --- upgrade or on a budget --- the Cedar Valley can deliver. Here are a few party suggestions:
Chuck E. Cheese
For kids who like: Playing games and being as loud as they want
For parents who like: Chomping down on pizza while ignoring crazy flashing lights and sounds
Details: The "Birthday Star" package runs $10.99 per guest; includes reserved table for 90 minutes, 20 game tokens per child, two slices of pizza per child, 100 tickets, sticker, foil balloon centerpiece, mini lunch box, medallion and special birthday show for the birthday child.
Upgrade: The "Superstar" package, for $15.99 per guest, includes everything in "Birthday Star" package plus 12 extra game tokens per child, party favor bags, 3-D souvenir cups and a Chuck E. Cheese plush toy for the birthday child.
Budget: If you schedule the "Birthday Star" party during the week (Monday through Thursday), everybody gets 28 game tokens apiece, and you can have the table reservation for as long as you'd like.
Book it: Chuck E. Cheese, Black Hawk Village, Cedar Falls; (319) 277-2933
College Square Theater/Crossroads 12 Theatres
For kids who like: Watching movies
For parents who like: Watching kid movies; or being able to leave for 90 minutes and pick the children up after
Details: Bring in at least 30 people and everybody gets in for $5.50 per person ($165 for 30 people) to see any movie the theater currently offers; popcorn and soda are only $1.75 each, and Kiddie Combos are $4.25. A row in the theater is blocked off so guests can sit together.
Upgrade: Don't like what the theater is offering? Choose any movie you want, old or new (think "The Wizard of Oz" or "Shrek") and you can rent out the theater all to yourself and your guests. But get that wallet ready: Prices to bring in your own movie start at $500 and can reach $1,000.
Budget: Forget an expensive restaurant party before the movie; rent out College Square's birthday party room for $25 and enjoy your cake and ice cream there before or after the movie. Also good if you don't have 30 guests --- smaller parties can use the room and watch the movie at regular prices.
Book it: College Square Theater, 6301 University Ave., Cedar Falls; (319) 553-7277. Crossroads 12 Theatres (no party room), 2450 Crossroads Blvd., Waterloo; (319) 235-9703
Kindermusik
For kids who like: Acting out fantasies, being musical
For parents who like: Structured activities and letting someone else take the lead
Details: Choose from 14 preset themes, including Beach Party Luau, Princess/Dolly Tea Party and Explore the Outer Space --- or make up your own and instructors will plan activities around it. Parties include the use of Kindermusik space, teacher-led party games and activities, a balloon for each child and additional studio time for opening presents and enjoying ice cream and cake. For $85, you can have activities for 30 minutes, $100 for 45 minutes or $120 for an hour; for a total of eight children. $3 extra per child after that.
Upgrade: Add an inflatable trampoline or roller coaster rides for an extra $15 total; tack on party favors for guests or themed craft activities for an extra $2 to $5 per child.
Budget: Don't want a theme? Just use the space --- $60 for 45 minutes, $75 for an hour and $100 for two hours.
Book it: Kindermusik at Joyful Noise Studio, Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, Room 30, Cedar Falls; (319) 415-9404
Phelps Youth Pavilion
For kids who like: Art; being creative
For parents who like: Sneaking some education into the birthday fun
Details: Twelve children and two adults can get unlimited access to Waterloo Center for the Arts' Phelps Youth Pavilion all day, get a Birthday Buddy staff member to help supervise, use a private room for two hours and have a take-home craft activity; birthday child gets a free T-shirt for this Kit package ($125). If you want a themed party and want to invite more guests (up to 20), get the Caboodle package ($260), which includes everything in the Kit plus themed decorations, relay races and activities. Additional guests are $5 each.
Upgrade: Lose the crowds and have the place to yourself with the Whole Kit and Caboodle package. For $600 (and with a Passport membership), 50 guests and 10 adults can come have a themed birthday party for two hours after the Pavilion is closed to the public. Plus, get an appearance by Art, the Youth Pavilion mascot; a free pass for each child for a future visit; three Birthday Buddy staff members to help supervise and access to the Hurley-McCoy Rooftop Deck.
Budget: If you're not worried about the room or crafts, bring the party to the Youth Pavilion on the third Thursday of every month for Dollar Days. One dollar per person gets you all into the Youth Pavilion for as long as you want.
Book it: Phelps Youth Pavilion, Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial St., Waterloo; (319) 291-4490
Thorp Family Fun (Due to flooding, won't be open for parties until Oct. 1)
For kids who like: Jumping around
For parents who like: Wearing energetic children out
Details: Kids can jump their guts out in either a SpongeBob Square Pants jumper ($100 for 90 minutes) or a Candy Factory jumper ($125); guests jump for 30 minutes, take a 30-minute break to open presents and eat, then go back in the jumper; includes tables and chairs; up to 10 kids ($2 for each additional child). All at the Thorp Family Fun Center's party room. Other jumpers can also be brought to your particular location ($100-$175).
Upgrade: Get as many extras as you can handle --- party packs ($25-$35), cotton candy ($1-$4.50 per guest), sandy candy ($1-$3.50 per guest), do-it-yourself charm bracelets ($15 per dozen), etc. --- to personalize it all. Or, go big, and rent the 22-foot Xtreme Slide ($450 for up to eight hours at a location of your choice).
Budget: Older kids who still enjoy letting off steam can have fun with ladder ball or bean bag toss; each rents for just $15 for 12 hours, so you can take it to a park or your backyard and have a blast on a budget.
Book it: Thorp Family Fun, 4345 E. Shaulis Rd., Waterloo; (319) 290-0297
Contact Amie Steffen at (319) 291-1464 or amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com.
These days, more extravagant birthday parties are the trend. Think MTV's "My Super Sweet Sixteen" or Tori Spelling's over-the-top shindig for her 1-year-old son on Oxygen's "Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood."
Whatever your style --- upgrade or on a budget --- the Cedar Valley can deliver. Here are a few party suggestions:
Chuck E. Cheese
For kids who like: Playing games and being as loud as they want
For parents who like: Chomping down on pizza while ignoring crazy flashing lights and sounds
Details: The "Birthday Star" package runs $10.99 per guest; includes reserved table for 90 minutes, 20 game tokens per child, two slices of pizza per child, 100 tickets, sticker, foil balloon centerpiece, mini lunch box, medallion and special birthday show for the birthday child.
Upgrade: The "Superstar" package, for $15.99 per guest, includes everything in "Birthday Star" package plus 12 extra game tokens per child, party favor bags, 3-D souvenir cups and a Chuck E. Cheese plush toy for the birthday child.
Budget: If you schedule the "Birthday Star" party during the week (Monday through Thursday), everybody gets 28 game tokens apiece, and you can have the table reservation for as long as you'd like.
Book it: Chuck E. Cheese, Black Hawk Village, Cedar Falls; (319) 277-2933
College Square Theater/Crossroads 12 Theatres
For kids who like: Watching movies
For parents who like: Watching kid movies; or being able to leave for 90 minutes and pick the children up after
Details: Bring in at least 30 people and everybody gets in for $5.50 per person ($165 for 30 people) to see any movie the theater currently offers; popcorn and soda are only $1.75 each, and Kiddie Combos are $4.25. A row in the theater is blocked off so guests can sit together.
Upgrade: Don't like what the theater is offering? Choose any movie you want, old or new (think "The Wizard of Oz" or "Shrek") and you can rent out the theater all to yourself and your guests. But get that wallet ready: Prices to bring in your own movie start at $500 and can reach $1,000.
Budget: Forget an expensive restaurant party before the movie; rent out College Square's birthday party room for $25 and enjoy your cake and ice cream there before or after the movie. Also good if you don't have 30 guests --- smaller parties can use the room and watch the movie at regular prices.
Book it: College Square Theater, 6301 University Ave., Cedar Falls; (319) 553-7277. Crossroads 12 Theatres (no party room), 2450 Crossroads Blvd., Waterloo; (319) 235-9703
Kindermusik
For kids who like: Acting out fantasies, being musical
For parents who like: Structured activities and letting someone else take the lead
Details: Choose from 14 preset themes, including Beach Party Luau, Princess/Dolly Tea Party and Explore the Outer Space --- or make up your own and instructors will plan activities around it. Parties include the use of Kindermusik space, teacher-led party games and activities, a balloon for each child and additional studio time for opening presents and enjoying ice cream and cake. For $85, you can have activities for 30 minutes, $100 for 45 minutes or $120 for an hour; for a total of eight children. $3 extra per child after that.
Upgrade: Add an inflatable trampoline or roller coaster rides for an extra $15 total; tack on party favors for guests or themed craft activities for an extra $2 to $5 per child.
Budget: Don't want a theme? Just use the space --- $60 for 45 minutes, $75 for an hour and $100 for two hours.
Book it: Kindermusik at Joyful Noise Studio, Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, Room 30, Cedar Falls; (319) 415-9404
Phelps Youth Pavilion
For kids who like: Art; being creative
For parents who like: Sneaking some education into the birthday fun
Details: Twelve children and two adults can get unlimited access to Waterloo Center for the Arts' Phelps Youth Pavilion all day, get a Birthday Buddy staff member to help supervise, use a private room for two hours and have a take-home craft activity; birthday child gets a free T-shirt for this Kit package ($125). If you want a themed party and want to invite more guests (up to 20), get the Caboodle package ($260), which includes everything in the Kit plus themed decorations, relay races and activities. Additional guests are $5 each.
Upgrade: Lose the crowds and have the place to yourself with the Whole Kit and Caboodle package. For $600 (and with a Passport membership), 50 guests and 10 adults can come have a themed birthday party for two hours after the Pavilion is closed to the public. Plus, get an appearance by Art, the Youth Pavilion mascot; a free pass for each child for a future visit; three Birthday Buddy staff members to help supervise and access to the Hurley-McCoy Rooftop Deck.
Budget: If you're not worried about the room or crafts, bring the party to the Youth Pavilion on the third Thursday of every month for Dollar Days. One dollar per person gets you all into the Youth Pavilion for as long as you want.
Book it: Phelps Youth Pavilion, Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial St., Waterloo; (319) 291-4490
Thorp Family Fun (Due to flooding, won't be open for parties until Oct. 1)
For kids who like: Jumping around
For parents who like: Wearing energetic children out
Details: Kids can jump their guts out in either a SpongeBob Square Pants jumper ($100 for 90 minutes) or a Candy Factory jumper ($125); guests jump for 30 minutes, take a 30-minute break to open presents and eat, then go back in the jumper; includes tables and chairs; up to 10 kids ($2 for each additional child). All at the Thorp Family Fun Center's party room. Other jumpers can also be brought to your particular location ($100-$175).
Upgrade: Get as many extras as you can handle --- party packs ($25-$35), cotton candy ($1-$4.50 per guest), sandy candy ($1-$3.50 per guest), do-it-yourself charm bracelets ($15 per dozen), etc. --- to personalize it all. Or, go big, and rent the 22-foot Xtreme Slide ($450 for up to eight hours at a location of your choice).
Budget: Older kids who still enjoy letting off steam can have fun with ladder ball or bean bag toss; each rents for just $15 for 12 hours, so you can take it to a park or your backyard and have a blast on a budget.
Book it: Thorp Family Fun, 4345 E. Shaulis Rd., Waterloo; (319) 290-0297
Contact Amie Steffen at (319) 291-1464 or amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com.
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More Stories from Features » Lifestyles
Parents spend big bucks on little buckaroos' birthday partiesWho needs brains when you've got beauty?
Hawkeye4ever wrote on Aug 30, 2008 11:35 AM:
" I totally agree that parents are too eager to be liked by their kids and also want to impress others with these ridiculous parties. I am originally from Waterloo and now live in California where, in my neighborhood every kid's party has at least two bouncers and a a budget of $1,000-$1,500 or more and that's just for the kids under age 10! A pre-teen on the block insisted she and four friends get to go to a prominent amusement park and spend the night in a 4-star hotel and that set Mom and Dad back about $2,200. The sad thing is the parents who give these parties see nothing wrong with any of this. True, many people on my block earn pretty darn good salaries but that's no reason to indulge your child to that degree. Get a grip people! I can see doing something a little special for the 16th, 18th and 21st...but again...within reason. "
Wardski wrote on Aug 30, 2008 8:17 PM:
" I agree with both comments so far- would like to add my 2 cents worth. My son LOVES Chuckie cheese and so does his friends. I WILL NOT buy their packages-- only show up when they open at ten in the a.m. get a table or two and some boothes and let the kids have fun and order some of their cardboard tasting pizza (which kids dont mind parents not so much) and get out of there by noon!! I just had a party for my son there and 10 of his friends and got out for under 70 bucks--tokens included and we took our own cake of course.YES I did leave with a headache after --dont go there after 12 or 1 p.m. "
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DISCLAIMER: The Courier provides our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. For a more in-depth explanation of our policy, please see our Rules of the Road. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.
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arnold wrote on Aug 29, 2008 11:01 PM: