Build-A-Bear for DD3 brithday

[PrincessPeyton]

Has anyone hosted or attended a Build-A-Bear birthday party? We have never but now my DD3 is asking to have her 4th Bday party there in a couple of weeks. How does it work? Can we pick out a couple of choices for the kids or do they pick out their own clothes? I was thinking about $20 per kid but is that really enough?
We have the $$$ for the party, that's not a problem but we leave for Disney World the following week!!!

TIA!

 

[princessmom29]

We did BAB for DD's 4th birthday. We did $25 per child. They could get a $10 animal and spend the rest on an outfit or get a more expensive animal and no outfit. It was their choice. The pary attandant was very good with making suggestions that were within buget and not allowing the children to go over buget. Our party went really well. There was no party room at our BAB, but we went to the Marble Slab next door for ice cream cake. DD and her friends really liked it.

 

[scjo68]

We had my dd's bday there but it was 6 years ago so it may have changed...

At that time, there were two or three simple $10 bears that we let them choose from. For $20 per child, that would still leave you $10 per child so they could get a shirt/ accessory for their bear. We let the kids each pick out a shirt. The party attendant was good about keeping the kids on budget, but to make it simpler, I pulled out one of each shirt that was in the correct price range, and set them out on the edge of the counter, and they picked one from those. It made it easier for them to see the options clearly.

We went first thing as the store opened on a Saturday am., and it was nice because there was really no one else in there.

The party director was good at running the party and keeping the kids occupied, even though we just paid for the merchandise, not a party fee.

We ordered an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins in the same mall and walked over there to eat it/ sing/ presents. They didn't allow any food in BABW.

We could have brought our own cake, but it is an outdoor mall, with open seating areas only outside and I was worried about the weather.

 

[mjkacmom]

Around here, you need to book parties many weeks out, because the time slots fill.

 

[justwinnie]

We love birthday parties at BABW! My daughter had her 5th and 7th birthday parties there.

For her 5th birthday, the party host pre-selected outfits from the store that fit into our budget, which was $20/child (we upped it from $16 which would have been bear + shirt). They also told the children which bear they could select-- grabbed the stuffed bears from the displays and passed them around so the kids could hug and decide which one they liked.

It was great and really well run. They understood that young children could only handle so much and made it as easy as possible to stay in budget.

For her 7th birthday, our budget was $22. The children could get the most expensive bear and no outfit, or a less expensive bear and clothes/accessories. It was much more of a free-for-all between selecting the bear and the clothing. What they did was after each child selected their bear, the party host wrote the balance of what could be spent on a tag and let the kids shop. Since the kids were older, they were able to understand what to do and actually did the math!

Both boys and girls really enjoyed themselves at the party.


We did not have food/cake at either party and it was fine. The food court is on another floor and we felt it was too difficult to lead the children there. Both parties were drop-offs and I had a sign-in sheet to collect phone numbers in case of an issue.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

We just did this for my DD 3rd birthday. We had done it before for my older child. Their prices have gone up. We actually had a 25 limit. We let them choose between the two 10 bears (chocolate or Vanilla)...then they could pick any of the Disney outfits...They had Tinkerbell, Cinderella, Aurora, Tiana, Ariel, Buzz Lightyear and Woody. all $15 I think it was easier having a Theme to go with.

I would recommend you have the person running the party bring the bears and the outfits to the children rather have them over with all the others bears/animals and all the outfits...That way the kids don't get confused about what they can pick and possibly have a meltdown (its happened to me).


Oh and to get by the "no food/cake" problem we had them all hold a ribbon and walk to the food court..DH had gone earlier and set up a table and we got pizza's and I did Tinkerbell cupcakes.

 

[MouseMadness]

We had a BAB party for my daughter's 3rd B-Day last year. It was pretty much like everyone else's on here that has responded.

I don't remember what we budgeted, but our attendant held up a few different bears for the girls to choose from. After they made their bears, she sat the girls in a circle and held up all the pre-selected dresses and outfits that were within our budget. Each girl got to choose which outfit they wanted. While they were dressing their bears (with help from the girls that worked there and from the moms) they kept the girls entertained with games and such. We had a really nice time.

After, we just went over to the food court in the mall and had cake/ice cream and opened presents. We have a Ben & Jerry's at the mall, so the ice cream came from there. They also held our cake for us for after the party, so that was a plus.

It was really fun! Age 3 is a great age for a Build a Bear party!

 

[carj]

We are having my DD 7th birthday party there in about a month. I just booked it today! They told me that it will take about an hour and a half based on the budget we have set and the number of kids.

We are going to just bring a cake from a bakery and our own drinks and have those and open presents on some tables outside of BAB. I thought about getting lunch from one of the places in the food court but it doesn't seem like it would be worth the trouble. There are several places that give a special rate if you are doing a BAB party in that mall. We are having the party at 1:00 so I think that most people will have already eaten lunch.

My daughter LOVES stuffed animals. When she asked about having her party here, I knew that it just fit her personality very well.

For those of you who have had a party at BAB, did you tip the party hostesses?

 

[MSSANDRA]

I agree to limit your children's choices to a few! DGS (3) LOVES BAB but can get very overwelmed trying to pick out clothes. A three yaer old has no concept of how much things cost and this will save lots of tears!! I think they will be very happy with just a t-shirt as long as they know that is the choice.

Have Fun....looking to do this one on October when our litle one turns 4!

 

[PrincessPeyton]

OMG, I never thought about tipping the party helpers! Has anyone done that before?

 

[carj]

OMG, I never thought about tipping the party helpers! Has anyone done that before?

I DON"T want to be the one who starts this trend. We do usually tip at bounce places, Little Gym, Pizza places when we have a party but this seems different to me somehow. Maybe because there is no food and no opening gifts. It seems like all we are really getting is the retail help which they provide to everyone. I guess I will wait and see how the party goes and how the helpers do at entertaining the kids. If I end up running the whole thing, except making the bears, then I am not planning on tipping. We don't tip when we go there to buy a bear normally.

 

[princessmom29]

OMG, I never thought about tipping the party helpers! Has anyone done that before?

I don't tip party helpers. They are paid to help at the party. They are not paid based on tips like wait staff, and are not doing anything outside their job description for us.

 

[scjo68]

I used to be one of the party directors at a party venue. We provided absolutely everything: entertainment, food, treat bags, directed gift opening, and ran the whole party (and charged for it), and it was rare that we got a tip. I certainly never expected one, and did not think badly of those who didn't tip.

 

[PrincessPeyton]

I guess I will wait and see how the party goes and how the helpers do at entertaining the kids. If I end up running the whole thing, except making the bears, then I am not planning on tipping. We don't tip when we go there to buy a bear normally.

Everyone at our BAB is so helpful when we are there, it is so stinkin' cute! But I am with you, I am going to play it by ear and see how the party goes. My poor little guy has the chicken pox so I am hoping to make it up to the mall this week-end to talk to them at BAB about the party.
I have been checking everyday online to make sure they have that date open still and it still is!