BuildaBear Birthday parties

[SC Minnie]

Anybody ever had a birthday party at BuildaBear? DD10 wants to have her party there this year. I was wondering if anyone alse has done this and how did it go? Was it worth it? How much did you let the kids pick out? Did you do anything before or after?

Thanks--

 

[H&Hmommy]

My kids were invited to a BAB party. I'm sure it cost the mother a pretty penny. Each child could spent $15.00. Some got a $10.00 bear and $5.00 for clothes and others just got the $15.00 bear. It was a cute party. After making their bears they all got in a circle and sang and showed off their new friends. My kids loved it.
Kim

 

[missypie]

DD went to one. I think they had a $25 dollar limit! (But I think there were only about 4 girls.) It is an hour party - no longer - and at least at our Build a Bear there is no place to have cake and presents, so there was absolutely no food served and the presents were unwrapped standing up.

 

[cynsaun]

My daughter is turning 8, and is having a party at Build a Bear next Thursday.

We are allowing each child to pick out a $10 or $12 bear. After the bear portion of the party is complete, we are going up to the food court for pizza and the cake and juice we will bring.

It is going to be very expensive, and difficult to manuever 10 children!

 

[SC Minnie]

On the website it states that there is a minimum of 6 kids. I have told DD that she will have to limit it to 5 friends.

cynsaun-- please post on the outcome of the party-- if it was worth if etc.

 

[cynsaun]

I will do that!

 

[Kimberle]

We have been to 2, one yesterday and one a couple months ago. They are alot of fun. Both parties took about an hour.

Yesterdays: the kids could pick any animal with the execption of 2 (higher priced). They each got to pick a sound chip. No clothes. No gift unwrapping (noone here unwraps them at the party, they are always taken home.) Mom gave cupcakes "to go" to each child.

Prior one: Each child picked out whatever animal they wanted. No sound chip or clothes. After the party, everyone went to Chicago Pizza for Pizza and cake.

Build a Bear unually "pairs" with a local resturant. If you look on their web site, you'll see. I've also seen lots of people just set up tables in the food court. Sometimes they buy pizza from a food court vender, sometimes happy meals, sometimes they just bring their own food.

As a host, you have the "right" to decide how much to spend. You can choose just a few bears for the kids to choose from, you can give them each the same bear, whatever you want.

They are alot of fun & if you plan wisely, you can have a great party with out "breaking the bank".

 

[dizagain]

Hi...my girls have been to numerous B-A-B parties. Most of the time they had a $20 limit, which allows for a cheaper animal and a few accessories. I did help with a Girl Scout party there, and we also gave a $20 limit to the girls. At every party we have gone to, we have moved the party to another location in the mall for snacks/present opening after making bears. As a previous poster stated, each store has "partner" restaurants/snack stands in the mall. I have also seen people bring in their own cake and drinks and sit in the food court with no problem. Good luck! It is an expensive party, but if your DD has never been to B-A-B before, it will be really special for her!

 

[SC Minnie]

Thanks Kimberle-

I was wondering what other parents did. Didn't want to be disorganized or end up spending way more than budgeted.

It seems like a fun and 'different' party plus these girls won't be in my house ( we did the sleep over thing 2 years ago)

 

[jel0511]

DD has had two Build-A-Bear parties. Both of them we had a $22 limit per child (24 kids at the first one, and 19 at the second). They were able to pick out a bear up to $12 and then an outfit up to $10. The larger parties last up to 2 hours, our first one was 2 hours, but this years was an hour and a half. After the parties, we took the kids out for dinner, this year was McDonalds. It was next door to Build-A-Bear, and very convient. Last year we took them to Rainforest Cafe, and some kids loved it, some were scared of the rainstorm, so we decided against it this year. DD LOVES her Build-A-Bear birthday parties, and probably will have another one next year.