Birthday Party Invite--Wrong Time on Purpose - The DIS Discussion Forums

ctinct · 09-21-2009, 05:36 PM

Well, this is a new one for me. My daughter brought her son to a birthday party that was held at a laser tag place for one of his classmates. The invitation said 12:30, so she , unsurprisingly, got him there for 12:30. There were a few other parents and children there, too, but the birthday girl and her family were not there yet. My daughter inquired at the front desk and was told that the party was not scheduled until 1:00. Okay, no big deal, just a small mis-communication, right? Wrong. When the birthday girl arrived, someone mentioned that there had been a mix up with the times. The mom said, "Oh, no. No mistake. The party starts at 1:00, but I wrote 12:30 on all the invitations because I didn't want anyone to be late." Wow. Just wow.

Rora · 09-21-2009, 05:38 PM

Wow.. that was real considerate of the mother. I don't understand this type of stuff. Ugh.

SydSim · 09-21-2009, 05:40 PM

You know, I'm not mad at her (although she should have been there as well). I was told to do this at one of the party places. It worked - we didn't have any late guests showing up 15-20 minutes into the party.

When the party involves an activity that starts at a particular time (like laser tag), it makes it difficult to begin if half the guests are there. Other parties have scheduled times after them, so things have to keep moving.

Family is the worst at getting to parties on time.

laurie31 · 09-21-2009, 05:51 PM

This is a toughie. Late arrivals are a big deal, especially in a location like that, but getting everyone to show up half an hour early is also kind of uncool. Maybe having something fun to do for those who managed to show up "on time" at 12:30 would have been good?

ETA - maybe when people RSVP'd she could have said that the activities would begin at 1:00 sharp, so arriving a few minutes early would be a good idea. But not 30 minutes early.

pixiewings71 · 09-21-2009, 05:59 PM

Well, my BFF put 5:15 on her wedding invites so they can be sure to start at 5:30. I've been known to put a start time 15 min. early, but not 30, that's a little much...

Sleepingbooty · 09-21-2009, 06:01 PM

Pretty rude. I could see maybe 15 minutes early, but 30? And, if she were going to ask everyone else to be there at a specific time - the birthday girl and parents should have been there BEFORE that, to welcome each guest as they arrived. I think that's the worst part - not asking them to come early, but not coming early themselves.

MoonFaerie · 09-21-2009, 06:11 PM

IMO, it's only rude because the mom throwing the party wasn't also there 30 mins early. Otherwise I see no problem listing an earlier time to make sure everyone's there on time.

MaumeeMom · 09-21-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleepingbooty

Pretty rude. I could see maybe 15 minutes early, but 30? And, if she were going to ask everyone else to be there at a specific time - the birthday girl and parents should have been there BEFORE that, to welcome each guest as they arrived. I think that's the worst part - not asking them to come early, but not coming early themselves.

I think that is the part that would have upset me too - the party hosts not being there at the invitation time. Yikes!

mamacatnv · 09-21-2009, 06:48 PM

I thought the Mom was pretty smart until she arrived late herself and then fessed up.
I would have been there at 12:20 and would never have said a word to the parents.

Serena · 09-21-2009, 06:59 PM

Pretty rude.

Why couldn't she have the start time at 12:30, been there when she invited the guests instead of leaving them there twiddling their thumbs wondering what was going on. And started activities at 1:00?

It was one thing to ask people to come early and not bother to tell them, but not to be there herself? That was not cool.

Sparx · 09-21-2009, 07:30 PM

an ex friend (for good reason) of mine once had a birthday dinner at a local restaurant. she said to be there at 5. i was there at 4.45pm, and she didn't show up till 5:45. yes, birthday girl was 45 minutes late and then got attitude with someone who got tired of waiting and left.

some people just live in their own world, and time doesn't matter.

Jennasis · 09-21-2009, 08:12 PM

Not rude at all. (I LOVE being the voice of dissent!!!).

When I have kiddos throw horseback riding parties at my farm, it infuriates me when the party-goers show up for a 1pm party at 1:05...why? There is quite a bit of prep getting the horses ready for all the kids and I need to know how many there are. Even when mom has a "final count" somebody always doesn't show or brings a sibling along who wants to ride too. I tell the parents when they schedule the party, if the party (riding) starts at 1pm, then get everyone here at 12:30 to be fitted for helmets and so I know how many horses to get ready.

At a laser tag place there IS actually some prep work that needs to be done...fitting with the vest/helmet/gun etc.

RunningGirl · 09-21-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennasis

Not rude at all. (I LOVE being the voice of dissent!!!).

When I have kiddos throw horseback riding parties at my farm, it infuriates me when the party-goers show up for a 1pm party at 1:05...why? There is quite a bit of prep getting the horses ready for all the kids and I need to know how many there are. Even when mom has a "final count" somebody always doesn't show or brings a sibling along who wants to ride too. I tell the parents when they schedule the party, if the party (riding) starts at 1pm, then get everyone here at 12:30 to be fitted for helmets and so I know how many horses to get ready.

At a laser tag place there IS actually some prep work that needs to be done...fitting with the vest/helmet/gun etc.

Stating an earlier start time wasn't the rude part. Not being there at that time was.

Jennasis · 09-21-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunningGirl

Stating an earlier start time wasn't the rude part. Not being there at that time was.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...that wasn't what I got from the op. Sounded like she was cheezed about the time change, not the lack of b-day kid punctuality.

In this case at a party at my place, I already know the b-day kid is coming (and which of my pretty pretty ponies he/she has chosen to ride) and have their horse already waiting. It's the other party goers I need to account for. So them not being there at 12:30 wouldn't faze me at all. YMMV of course.

Mad4Mickey · 09-21-2009, 08:22 PM

I think that would be the last party with that Mom I would go to . Sorry but that is rude. Being the Mom of 2 grown children I can tell you that I have had many a birthday party . I have had them at places like that I always put on there if there was saomthing startign at a certain time .
" Bowling will start at 1:00pm please be there before to get your shoes"

09-21-2009, 05:36 PM	#1
ctinct Mouseketeer Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 458	Birthday Party Invite--Wrong Time on Purpose Well, this is a new one for me. My daughter brought her son to a birthday party that was held at a laser tag place for one of his classmates. The invitation said 12:30, so she , unsurprisingly, got him there for 12:30. There were a few other parents and children there, too, but the birthday girl and her family were not there yet. My daughter inquired at the front desk and was told that the party was not scheduled until 1:00. Okay, no big deal, just a small mis-communication, right? Wrong. When the birthday girl arrived, someone mentioned that there had been a mix up with the times. The mom said, "Oh, no. No mistake. The party starts at 1:00, but I wrote 12:30 on all the invitations because I didn't want anyone to be late." Wow. Just wow.

09-21-2009, 05:38 PM	#2
Rora I'm the needy, sexy Unicorn fruit-hating Ballerina I just eat it. I bite into it. Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 4,204	Wow.. that was real considerate of the mother. I don't understand this type of stuff. Ugh. __________________ Me-Rory, 23 and DFiance-Jackson, 24 Marrying my Prince Charming April 10 2010. Happy Valentine's Day!

09-21-2009, 05:40 PM	#3
SydSim Keep Dancin' Now, if she could just get passionate about remembering to put a period at the end of a sentence Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: East Coast Posts: 720	You know, I'm not mad at her (although she should have been there as well). I was told to do this at one of the party places. It worked - we didn't have any late guests showing up 15-20 minutes into the party. When the party involves an activity that starts at a particular time (like laser tag), it makes it difficult to begin if half the guests are there. Other parties have scheduled times after them, so things have to keep moving. Family is the worst at getting to parties on time. __________________ "Vincit Qui Se Vincit"

09-21-2009, 05:51 PM	#4
laurie31 Once had a roommate in college who had 17 boyfriends! Unplugs the internet with her toes I refuse to eat in a restaurant that also sells bait or jail bonds Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Leeds, Alabama Posts: 4,086	This is a toughie. Late arrivals are a big deal, especially in a location like that, but getting everyone to show up half an hour early is also kind of uncool. Maybe having something fun to do for those who managed to show up "on time" at 12:30 would have been good? ETA - maybe when people RSVP'd she could have said that the activities would begin at 1:00 sharp, so arriving a few minutes early would be a good idea. But not 30 minutes early. __________________ Last edited by laurie31; 09-21-2009 at 05:59 PM.

09-21-2009, 05:59 PM	#5
pixiewings71 Sweet!!! Totally!!!!! YAY for good weather! It's that Disney Magic, I don't know how it works but it does! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Suisun City CA Posts: 11,104	Well, my BFF put 5:15 on her wedding invites so they can be sure to start at 5:30. I've been known to put a start time 15 min. early, but not 30, that's a little much... __________________ Kerri DBF DD13 DD9 APs expired 1-3-2010, the girls are still good until 2-6-2010 but we have no plans for a visit before they expire. No plans for our next visit, it will be 2011 or 2012 before we head back. We've had fun DLR/DCA, we will miss you while we are gone. We took 14 trips from July 07-July 08 and around 16 from Jan 09-Jan 10.

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09-21-2009, 06:01 PM	#6
Sleepingbooty DIS Veteran Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: St. Charles, MO Posts: 544	Pretty rude. I could see maybe 15 minutes early, but 30? And, if she were going to ask everyone else to be there at a specific time - the birthday girl and parents should have been there BEFORE that, to welcome each guest as they arrived. I think that's the worst part - not asking them to come early, but not coming early themselves. __________________ Rebecca

09-21-2009, 06:11 PM	#7
MoonFaerie Mouseketeer Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 254	IMO, it's only rude because the mom throwing the party wasn't also there 30 mins early. Otherwise I see no problem listing an earlier time to make sure everyone's there on time. __________________ Kids first trip to WDW: Dec 13 - Dec 20 Me DH DS (6) DD (4) Trip report coming in January!

09-21-2009, 06:48 PM	#9
mamacatnv I am the queen of straw! Almost anything can be fixed with pasta Do my DH's "Shorty Shorts" count? I go in search of code! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: N. Nevada Posts: 5,956	I thought the Mom was pretty smart until she arrived late herself and then fessed up. I would have been there at 12:20 and would never have said a word to the parents. __________________ MamaCatNV DH51 Me43DS 20 DD11 Baxter, Simon & Deck'Ster POFQ-1/1-1/9/07, ASMu-Dec 05/Jan 06 ASSp-Dec 99/Jan 00 Turn of the Century Thanks AidensMom

09-21-2009, 06:59 PM	#10
Serena Not afraid of canned biscuits Silly string is always fun I fell on ice and cracked my tailbone once Ask me what people will do for my cosmetics case! Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Indiana Posts: 34,133	Pretty rude. Why couldn't she have the start time at 12:30, been there when she invited the guests instead of leaving them there twiddling their thumbs wondering what was going on. And started activities at 1:00? It was one thing to ask people to come early and not bother to tell them, but not to be there herself? That was not cool. __________________

09-21-2009, 07:30 PM	#11
Sparx DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: tn Posts: 25,286	an ex friend (for good reason) of mine once had a birthday dinner at a local restaurant. she said to be there at 5. i was there at 4.45pm, and she didn't show up till 5:45. yes, birthday girl was 45 minutes late and then got attitude with someone who got tired of waiting and left. some people just live in their own world, and time doesn't matter. __________________ sometimes, the dreams that come true are the ones you never even knew you had. its you and me up against this whole wide world. mighty putty can fix everything but my broken heart rip billy mays i love, i have loved, i will love. and the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

09-21-2009, 08:12 PM	#12
Jennasis It's a miracle! I stayed awake during the El Rio Del Tiempo ride! Let's not even TOUCH the whole Dog vs. dawg vs. Dowg thing! PLINKO baby! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: The Triad, NC Posts: 8,625	Not rude at all. (I LOVE being the voice of dissent!!!). When I have kiddos throw horseback riding parties at my farm, it infuriates me when the party-goers show up for a 1pm party at 1:05...why? There is quite a bit of prep getting the horses ready for all the kids and I need to know how many there are. Even when mom has a "final count" somebody always doesn't show or brings a sibling along who wants to ride too. I tell the parents when they schedule the party, if the party (riding) starts at 1pm, then get everyone here at 12:30 to be fitted for helmets and so I know how many horses to get ready. At a laser tag place there IS actually some prep work that needs to be done...fitting with the vest/helmet/gun etc. __________________

09-21-2009, 08:22 PM	#15
Mad4Mickey All SINGLE Firemen have a MARRIED wife at home Well loved by the Tagliarchy It makes me wonder who is in charge of the yellow stickers Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: in the Burbs of Dallas, Texas Posts: 3,967	I think that would be the last party with that Mom I would go to . Sorry but that is rude. Being the Mom of 2 grown children I can tell you that I have had many a birthday party . I have had them at places like that I always put on there if there was saomthing startign at a certain time . " Bowling will start at 1:00pm please be there before to get your shoes" __________________ Still PASSING out before TAPPING out !

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