Guests paying to get in to a bday party?

[phamy76]

Ok, budget minded friends. I need your help.

My daughter (3) was invited to a birthday party at a local amusement park.
The invitation says "chips, drink, cake and ice cream will be provided. Tickets in to the park are required for all 3+".

So, I go to the park's website. The "hosts" are paying for a party room inside the park. You can't get to the party with out paying admission. My daughter is 3, so it's not like it can be a drop off party. So, 1 child and 1 adult are $26 just to walk in to the party. My husband will be working that day, so I'll have to bring our 11 yr old with. Now $39 total.

Please help!!!

Is this the way of birthday parties in the recession?

 

[AnjieNet]

Ok, budget minded friends. I need your help.

My daughter (3) was invited to a birthday party at a local amusement park.
The invitation says "chips, drink, cake and ice cream will be provided. Tickets in to the park are required for all 3+".

So, I go to the park's website. The "hosts" are paying for a party room inside the park. You can't get to the party with out paying admission. My daughter is 3, so it's not like it can be a drop off party. So, 1 child and 1 adult are $26 just to walk in to the party. My husband will be working that day, so I'll have to bring our 11 yr old with. Now $39 total.

Please help!!!

Is this the way of birthday parties in the recession?

Wow. Surely not?!? I think I'd call the "host" and get clarification. I can't imagine buying the birthday child a present for $10-$20 and then having to pay for my child and myself to attend as well (and an extra sibling). Sure sounds that way though... For a child of 3 they should provide entrance into the park for each child and a parent at the least. Yeah, it's costly but it's the right thing to do, IMHO.

 

[lunalibre]

All I can say is: WOW.

Some people have a LOT of gall!!!!

I would absolutely respond with "Sorry, can't attend". The parents can't even say they're hosting a party! If you're hosting, you pay for your guests...and those people clearly aren't doing that.

As to whether or not that's the norm...it certainly isn't in my part of the Dallas area.

Decline the party invitation and do what you can to avoid those folks in the future! If your child is only 3, you've got LOTS more birthday parties coming up that will be actual parties. Go to those instead.

 

[MSSANDRA]

WOW, no way would we attend. That is just crazy. I am renting the big bounce/slide thing for DS next month.Maybe we should charge admission to pay for it.

 

[ksloane]

That is not norm where I live in Texas either. We have gone to several bowling and skating parties over the last few years and haven't had to pay for my daughter to participate at all.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

No, certainly not the norm. I have four kids and have never seen or heard of such a thing. If parents want to do a birthday at an expensive place like a theme park they just invite 2 or 3 kids (or however many they can afford to pay for) and cover the whole cost.

 

[Madison'smommy]

Wow! That is crazy! I would definatly NOT be going to that party!! There will be many many more!!!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

We have been to lots of parties over the years and I have never heard of this. I'm sorry, but we would be passing on that party for sure.

 

[MomToOne]

I once hosted a birthday party for my daughter at a local zoo/amusement park. It was one fee for the party area rental, plus admission tickets were required for each guest. After I had my headcount for the party, I bought the admission tickets for everyone and distributed them ahead of time. There was NO WAY I would have expected them to pay admission...I can't imagine what these people are thinking! If they can't afford to buy everyone admission tickets, then this isn't the party they should be having!

 

[daraddg]

WOW that's tacky....if you want to have a party at an amusement park then you pay for your guests or do a different party...I would definately not be going to that party.

 

[Tinkh]

That is so incredibly presumptuous! I would be declining for sure.

 

[cbg1027]

How tacky! I would politely decline...just say your child can't make it, you don't need to give a reason why.

If someone is hosting a party, then they are responsible for any admission fees, tickets, food, etc. Otherwise, it's not a party. It's a gathering where you ask people "Hey would you be interested in meeting up with us at ______? It cost ______ if you would like to join us."

If the hosts want to have their child's party in an amusement park, then they need to be prepared to pay the cost for each child invited.

 

[5forDis]

Not the norm at all...tacky, actually. I would politely decline. I always account for paying for at least 1 adult + child. Very rude.

 

[EMom]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If your child is invited to a party and you are expected to pay their way, they have ceased being a GUEST and have become a CUSTOMER. Hell would freeze over before I woud take my DD to a party like this and encourage such tacky behavior.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I feel bad for the little girl, because no one is going to show up. No doubt you are not the only parent who feels the same way. Even if I was a millionaire, I wouldn't take my child out of principle. It's SO tacky! The only thing you are expected to supply is a ride to and from (or staying there and keeping an eye on yours if they are small) and a present. That's it. I really hope there is a misunderstanding on this. Please update us.

I just started thinking, we live about 5 hours from a very popular beach and it's pretty much ritual to take a friend or go with a friend, both with the parents of course. Both of our girls have done this, and we have done it for their friends, as well. You pay for everything. No one expects the friend to pay for food, hotel or swim parks or amusement parks. It's an invitation! This is the same thing!!!! I always send along $100 in spending money, but they usually bring it back because the parents will even pick them up a souviener. And I've done the same for my girls friends.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I would politely decline and then ask if there is a day you can get together to give the little girl a small gift. Looks like it is going to be a very small party at those prices.

I think it is very tacky to do this and it is definitely not the norm in our area.

 

[cinmouse]

I would call the parents to clarify..it might be listed so that people rsvp & to discourage bringing siblings.....since the OP knows she would be bringing her older daughter I would call & say...thanks for inviting us, is it ok to bring my older daughter & I will cover the costs for her, as I assume xx & I are already included in the party. If they say then that you must buy your own admission I would decline @ that time.

 

[sharonmickey]

My youngest was once invited to Cedar Point (a nearby amusement park) for a birthday party. The hosts had a charter bus waiting at their home, transported the children to the park, handed each person $10 to spend on snacks when they got off the bus, purchased their admission, provided both lunch/dinner to each person, then the bus brought them home. I think it was an 18th birthday party - so the kids were fine on their own in the park.

I would have to decline my child attending if I had to purchase admission for myself and my 3 year old, plus an older child. Good luck explaining that to a three year old though.

 

[C.Ann]

I would politely decline and then ask if there is a day you can get together to give the little girl a small gift. Looks like it is going to be a very small party at those prices.

I think it is very tacky to do this and it is definitely not the norm in our area.

Agreed..

 

[MaleficentRN]

I think people feel pressured to have big parties for their children. The thing is, you have to pay for those parties. There is nothing wrong with having a birthday party at your house with just some kids having cake and ice cream.
I'd be mortified to ask people to pay to go to a party I invited them to. It's like asking everyone to pay a cover charge to a prty at your house because you have a clown and bounce house.