Anonymous wrote:OP here - I did not think people would drop off. We have never done a party other than our immediate family. Reading this site, I thought I was supposed to invite the class, so I did. Reading this site, it sounded like many people decline parties, so I assumed I would have 10 - 15 kids. And it is on Father’s Day, and the consensus was that people would go to a close friend party but not a classmate party, so I was super shocked when families RSVPed at close to 100%.

Lesson learned and I am trying my best to make a fun party for my kid. Hindsight - would have brought cupcakes to her class and taken her do something with me for the day of her birthday. But now I am just trying to survive the party.

What time is the party? I remember when you posted and asked about father's day.

Here's the thing. It's usually up to me (mom) to plan something for Father's Day, either with or without Daddy. So if I got the invite I'd think SWEET! We can go this party on Sunday and it counts as an easy and fun outing (leave dad at home) or a fun afternoon with dad.

It’s fine to have the craft just not the designated craft time. It would be better to have it set out for any kid who needs a break. But trying to get all kids to sit still for a craft when that giant playground is right there will be tough. Plus it makes the party run long.

OP here - I did not think people would drop off. We have never done a party other than our immediate family. Reading this site, I thought I was supposed to invite the class, so I did. Reading this site, it sounded like many people decline parties, so I assumed I would have 10 - 15 kids. And it is on Father’s Day, and the consensus was that people would go to a close friend party but not a classmate party, so I was super shocked when families RSVPed at close to 100%.

Lesson learned and I am trying my best to make a fun party for my kid. Hindsight - would have brought cupcakes to her class and taken her do something with me for the day of her birthday. But now I am just trying to survive the party.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - this is devastating to see consensus. Won’t skip the craft project, as DD specifically asked for it and returning the materials will not even come close to making up the carousel money. The crafts are also the favors - pet themed party so craft is pet related and then take home. Spent 15 dollars total and birthday girl is over the moon for it. But 21 kids RSVP and their parents, which means I am hosting a 50 person party - was not the intention but invited the class and then all their parents and siblings said yes and things have spiraled. I thought maybe I would have 15 - 20 people total! Which means my food budget is 3 times what I expected.

An extra 70 dollars (since tickets are 3/per child) is hard to stomach (especially after an unexpected house repair) I was really hoping that people would say they had been and not had the host pay for the carousel and it was fine.

Ahh!!

Sorry, OP. What did you think would happen? This is not a "pet themed party". It's a Clemyjontri party. If you wanted a small themed party you should have done it at home. You knew parents would come, right? No way would I set my child to Clemyjontri unsupervised. How the heck were you planning to watch 21 kids at Clemyjontri?!?

For me, C is like going an amusement park. It's a big ordeal, and all hands on deck with our children. It's also a big deal (we don't go often). I have no idea if other DCUMers feel the same. I think it is going to be very hard to get the kids off the playground and over to do a craft.

OP here - this is devastating to see consensus. Won’t skip the craft project, as DD specifically asked for it and returning the materials will not even come close to making up the carousel money. The crafts are also the favors - pet themed party so craft is pet related and then take home. Spent 15 dollars total and birthday girl is over the moon for it. But 21 kids RSVP and their parents, which means I am hosting a 50 person party - was not the intention but invited the class and then all their parents and siblings said yes and things have spiraled. I thought maybe I would have 15 - 20 people total! Which means my food budget is 3 times what I expected.

An extra 70 dollars (since tickets are 3/per child) is hard to stomach (especially after an unexpected house repair) I was really hoping that people would say they had been and not had the host pay for the carousel and it was fine.

Ahh!!

Anonymous wrote:I've never seen DCUM agree on anything like this! I agree that you should skip the craft and get tickets instead. Getting tickets there can often be a pain. Maybe they have a group rate for parties?

Also, I agree don't split up pizza and cupcakes.

I would do:

45 mins of free play
30 mins of pizza/cake
15 mins on the carousel
(party over/free play again)

+1!
Another vote for skipping crafts and doing the carousel. Maybe they have a bulk/group discount?
Since you haven’t been there, keep in mind that there is essentially no shade other than the pavilion and it’s a big play area...i.e. it can be hard to keep track of kids running around.
I probably over prepare, but I would bring those Wet Ones hand wipes (kids wipe hands before eating), a roll of paper towels, sunscreen/bug spray, and some band aids (just in case, but a lot of kids running around = increased likelihood that at least one kid will fall down and get a scrape).

Anonymous wrote:I've never seen DCUM agree on anything like this! I agree that you should skip the craft and get tickets instead. Getting tickets there can often be a pain. Maybe they have a group rate for parties?

Also, I agree don't split up pizza and cupcakes.

I would do:

45 mins of free play
30 mins of pizza/cake
15 mins on the carousel
(party over/free play again)

I think I would switch the order slightly and put pizza/cake first? since that way people are showing up and already in the pavillion and you won't have to hunt everyone off of the playground to tell them to come back to eat pizza/cake.

I've never seen DCUM agree on anything like this! I agree that you should skip the craft and get tickets instead. Getting tickets there can often be a pain. Maybe they have a group rate for parties?

Also, I agree don't split up pizza and cupcakes.

I would do:

45 mins of free play
30 mins of pizza/cake
15 mins on the carousel
(party over/free play again)

Anonymous wrote:
Oh, noticed you want to split up lunch and cupcakes, don't do that. It is like herding cats to get the kids and adults back for lunch and then again later for cupcakes, no reason to do it twice.

+1. I'd plan for the whole thing to be 90 minutes. I'd nix the special time for the craft project and just have it out for anyone who wants to do take a break and do it. That's how most parties we've been to have done it, including ones at playgrounds (although we haven't been to a party at Clemyjontri). Also think it would be nice to hand out carousel tokens, maybe right after cake as the final thing? Or when they arrive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carousel is what makes it a party rather than just going to the playground. A craft project is totally unnecessary.

I 10th? this, skip the craft project and do the carousel. I'd do the carousel then go right into food/cake (let parents know the plan) It will be easier to gather everyone for cake if they are all coming from the carousel

Oh, notcied you want to split up lunch and cupcakes, don't do that. It is like herding cats to get the kids and adults back for lunch and then again later for cupcakes, no reason to do it twice.

Anonymous wrote:Carousel is what makes it a party rather than just going to the playground. A craft project is totally unnecessary.

I 10th? this, skip the craft project and do the carousel. I'd do the carousel then go right into food/cake (let parents know the plan) It will be easier to gather everyone for cake if they are all coming from the carousel

Carousel is what makes it a party rather than just going to the playground. A craft project is totally unnecessary.

Anonymous wrote:Another thing to consider is to buy all red (or whatever color) bandanas so parents can spot their kids more easily if they're hanging out at the pavilion. Those $1 foam visors work great too.

Since $ is tight, I would not do this. But do spring for the carousel is possible.

I'd have a craft station open the whole party. Some kids will want to hang out there the whole time, and other kids will want to be on the playground.

Another thing to consider is to buy all red (or whatever color) bandanas so parents can spot their kids more easily if they're hanging out at the pavilion. Those $1 foam visors work great too.