Pizza for adults at mid afternoon birthday party?

[Anonymous]

I’m planning a 6th birthday party at a bowling alley and around 25 kids will be invited. The party is from 2-4 on a Saturday and includes pizza and drinks for the kids as part of the party package. The venue does not allow any outside food except for a birthday cake.

Drop-off parties haven’t really started in my circle, and definitely not at public places so I expect at least one parent will stay per child. Given that the party does not span a mealtime, how many extra pizzas should we order to feed the parents?

DH thinks none of the adults will want crappy lukewarm bowling alley pizza at 3 in the afternoon and that we should just skip it, but I don’t want to be seen as rude and/or cheap hosts if people are hungry and there isn’t enough. At the same time, I don’t want to waste food or money needlessly (the pizzas are $18 for a plain cheese and not very good). There will be plenty of cake for anybody who wants it.

Normally I would just do snack foods for all – kids and adults – in this timeslot, but again, the kids’ pizza is included in the party package and they don’t allow outside food. They have a snack bar with things like chicken tender baskets and hot dogs, but the only “group” food item would be the pizza. They don’t have like veggie platters or cheese and crackers for people who just want a snack.

What do you think, DCUM? Would you as a parent want a slice (or two or three) of pizza at a mid-afternoon birthday party?

[Anonymous]

Here's the thing...I probably wouldn't want it, but I'd think you're cheap for not offering. No win situation.

[Anonymous]

A 6 year old is going to enjoy bowling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A 6 year old is going to enjoy bowling?

Not OP but we just went to a 7yo bowling party. They had ramps and bumpers.

[Anonymous]

OP, I wouldn't hold it against you at all if you didn't provide pizza, and I'd also probably have a slice of crappy bowling alley pizza if you did. Either way is fine.

[Anonymous]

My DH would totally have a slice. I probably would too honestly, but I’m pregnant and always hungry.

In your case, I would order 2 large pizzas for adults (I’m thinking 25 adults and maybe half of them grab a slice). If no one eats it, take it home and send with your pizza loving family members for work or school lunches that week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A 6 year old is going to enjoy bowling?

Many 3 year olds love bowling.

OP lots of the kids won't want any so there will be some extra that way. I would maybe order one extra pizza. I wouldn't eat it unless I had been really busy and skipped lunch. Have lots of drinks though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A 6 year old is going to enjoy bowling?

Many 3 year olds love bowling.

OP lots of the kids won't want any so there will be some extra that way. I would maybe order one extra pizza. I wouldn't eat it unless I had been really busy and skipped lunch. Have lots of drinks though.

Agreed. Kids will have eaten lunch and won't be hungry. Order extra if you want, but I'd bet you'll be throwing out a few pizzas worth of leftovers. Is it an option to order a few extra when you're there if it looks like you're running low?

[Anonymous]

Ugh, don't. Except for the pregnant lady above, normal adults don't eat shitty pizza at none food times.

I never eat at kid birthday parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A 6 year old is going to enjoy bowling?

Many 3 year olds love bowling.

OP lots of the kids won't want any so there will be some extra that way. I would maybe order one extra pizza. I wouldn't eat it unless I had been really busy and skipped lunch. Have lots of drinks though.

Since you'll be right there, would ordering another be an option if needed? At bowling parties people tend to graze rather than all sitting down to eat at once. If your one extra pizza starts to disappear while there's still a good amount of time before cake, then maybe just order another as needed?

[Anonymous]

Get at least one extra so in case people do eat you’re not freaking out because you don’t have enough.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. We’ve been to several bowling alley parties in this age group and the kids love it.

I like the idea of getting an extra pizza or two with the understanding that not all of the parents will partake... but then I wonder if the hungry parents will see that there’s obviously not enough to go around so nobody wants to be “that guy” bellying up to the pizza table... I may be overthinking this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. We’ve been to several bowling alley parties in this age group and the kids love it.

I like the idea of getting an extra pizza or two with the understanding that not all of the parents will partake... but then I wonder if the hungry parents will see that there’s obviously not enough to go around so nobody wants to be “that guy” bellying up to the pizza table... I may be overthinking this!

I have no idea why the pp said that, really odd - sounds like a great party for 6 year olds. Couldn't you always walk up to the counter and order another pizza if you truly ran out?

[Anonymous]

OP again. The venue tells me I have to give them numbers for food in advance (including extras). They’ll be open to the public during the party, though, so I can’t imagine I couldn’t order more on the fly unless the snack bar is really slammed.

[Anonymous]

People are crazy.The kids absolutely will eat it and at least half the adults. Some kids will have both parents. I'd get however many pies equals 1.5 -2 slices per kid, then be prepared to double cut if you get lots of parents.