Are Party Favors Necessary?

[kirstenb1]

I vote not even remotely necessary!! I know what GWL costs for our family of 4. I shudder to think what a group costs, including all food etc.

This is a wonderful gift, not only to the birthday girl, but all the guests!!

 

[Patience]

I hate goodie bags full of junk too. I try to give each child one party favor. I have given horse figurines at a horseback riding party, swim goggles at a swim party, etc. My 5 year old daughter wants a Hello Kitty party for her next birthday in the spring. We are having it at a children 's art studio and they are doing a Hello Kitty craft. I am planning to hand out Hello Kitty pez dispensers as party favors.

 

[jentifred]

It only just now occurred to me that I forgot to do favors for DS's last birthday party. He turned six. In April. I meant to....just forgot!

 

[Southernmiss]

I don't see why a goodie bag is necessary at that age. I like the idea of a beach towel from the Lodge or picture frame and a picture from the weekend.

Another idea is nail polish and manicure stuff. Maybe the girls would want to do manicures/pedicures at the lodge in the room.

 

[pyrxtc]

I don't do favors for birthdays and never will.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I know GWL has sack type bags for like $6 if you wanted to get them something. But I definitely don't think it's necessary. Have a great time!!

 

[JamesMom]

For my son's 8th, 9th and 10th we did a Great Wolf Lodge party. I got excellent groupon deals. The same 2 buds were present at all three.
8th: Water park only - no favors.
9th: Magi Quest added - gave wands as favor (gotten free with a gift card promo)
10th: Sleep over - boys brought their old wands and parents paid the activiation. Groupon included lunch for all for 2 days and we bought pizza for dinner and donuts for breakfast. No favors necessary.
Everybody was fine with us babysitting their kids for days on end, lol.

 

[Fueledbycoffee]

Goodie bags not required!

You could also buy some fun nail polish colors for them to use when they got back to the room. Walgreens carries Sinful Colors that are really nice & cheap!

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

Thanks for the ideas. We may definitely go without favors at all, but I do like the idea of giving them something to do for the hours the waterpark is closed and they are supposed to be quiet in the hotel room. Although, I'm a bit scared to give them fabric paint and nail polish in a hotel room - I'm having nightmare visions of charges for carpet stains.

I was planning on making a collage of pictures for the front of the thank-you cards, but I could frame it instead - maybe magnetic locker frames.

 

[HeatherFeather]

Agreed that she is beyond the age where the friends will expect goody bags or favors from the party. I'm with the other parent that said they hated them...most of the time they were just junk I had to toss eventually when DD was at school. We did have a few that were useful, like a beach towel or a string bag.

That said, last year I found really nice Philosophy Amazing Grace shimmer powder compacts and Philosophy purse brushes at Big Lots for $3 each. I bought several of each and made paper purses and put them in there for the 5 girls at DD's last birthday. They loved them.

I think nail polish is a great idea. Just make sure you bring some remover, cotton balls, and q-tips for "mistakes."

 

[GatorMommy2007]

Definitely not necessary at that age, but you could make it fun and make them "bling" shirts like bridal parties. Shirts are often 2.50 at AC Moore and Michaels. You can buy iron on bling transfers--maybe their high school mascot, anything they are interested in, or create a custom design etc--on etsy and they aren't very expensive.

 

[aprilgail2]

After around 10 here goodie bags/ favors stop UNTIL they hit 16--for that party there are always favors. BUT they are usually not great wolf lodge type parties, for that I would not give a favor but many sweet 16s here are in catering halls and are much like weddings so favors are given.

 

[Erin1700]

Are you having soda or iced tea for them when they are watching the movie?
I would get cool cups for them to use and then take home.

 

[zoemurr]

Thanks for the ideas. We may definitely go without favors at all, but I do like the idea of giving them something to do for the hours the waterpark is closed and they are supposed to be quiet in the hotel room. Although, I'm a bit scared to give them fabric paint and nail polish in a hotel room - I'm having nightmare visions of charges for carpet stains.

I was planning on making a collage of pictures for the front of the thank-you cards, but I could frame it instead - maybe magnetic locker frames.

makes really nice fabric markers. This should make it no-mess for teenagers. I imagine you could get a pack at Michael's with a coupon.