Monster Mini Golf Party?

[bigmama67]

Has anyone been to one of these? We are checking the place out tomorrow and considering having DS' 8th birthday party there. (It's in December so unfortunately we're limited to indoor parties).

The basic package is $200 for 12 kids, and the next step up (which I am considering) is $225. You get 90 minutes in the party room - you can bring in your own food - then followed by mini golf for all.

Each kid gets 100 tickets towards trading in for stuff at the arcade counter (arcade games take quarters so they don't get any tokens so I guess this is instead of tokens). The birthday kid gets 250 tickets and a T-shirt. Parents golf for free and each additional kid over the 12 (not counting the birthday kid!) is only $5.50. This sounds really good but I am wondering if I am missing something obvious? Two years ago we had a bowling party that went quite well and last year we just did it at the house.

If anyone has been to a party there, or has ideas about the value of this, I'd love your thoughts. Thanks!

 

[gr8mommy]

Two of my kids just went to parties there---my 5 yo DD for a friend's birthday, and my 12 yo DS for a grad party. Perfect for both, though my little girl was a little freaked out by some of the monsters and sounds. Are you thinking of going to the one in Paramus? That one is very new. I've heard the one in Wayne/Fairfield area is little scarier and not quite as nice (though that may be because it is older).

 

[mjkacmom]

My kids have gone to the one in Wayne, and loved it. Make sure they wear white! That's a pretty good price for parties here - I'd go with the party room option.

 

[bigmama67]

Thanks! We're thinking of the one in Fairfield. Will let you know. We'll probably go tomorrow; today is not shaping up too well. Everyone is in a "mood' already.

 

[jackie101]

We have been 2 a few parties there and the kids loved it

 

[dizneechic]

We have a monster mini golf up in MA as well and if it's the same type of place my kids love parties there. The price sounds great, especially for 90 minutes in a party room (although even with food/cake mine would be done in 30-40 max). I would suggest maybe having some tokens to help fill in because at 8 many parents drop off and go, and if you end up with extra time on your hands you could run into having crazy kids running around and the tokens will help them fill in time playing games.

I just wish ours was closer than 45 minutes away, we would go more often just to play!

 

[bigmama67]

The one in Fairfield was a blast! They tell me the one in Paramus has the same owner but has a 'shopping center" theme whatever that means; this was a 'construction site" theme.

DD had fallen asleep on the way so she slept in her stroller for about 1/2 of our play time and then just sat and stared at us like we were nuts...LOL.

Definitely would be a cool party place but we'll check out the Paramus one and then pick one.

For those of you whose children have attended parties there...how was it handled with arcade games? No way are we going to supply $ for the party guests, plus we don't want them playing games without their parents' blessing, so do we just tell people as they RSVP that they can provide game $ for their child at their discretion? Each guest will be given 100 tickets to redeem for the prizes and also gets a little gift (she said at the moment it's a glow bracelet), so it's not like they'll be leaving empty-handed.

Thanks again for any input.

 

[mjkacmom]

The one in Fairfield was a blast! They tell me the one in Paramus has the same owner but has a 'shopping center" theme whatever that means; this was a 'construction site" theme.

DD had fallen asleep on the way so she slept in her stroller for about 1/2 of our play time and then just sat and stared at us like we were nuts...LOL.

Definitely would be a cool party place but we'll check out the Paramus one and then pick one.

For those of you whose children have attended parties there...how was it handled with arcade games? No way are we going to supply $ for the party guests, plus we don't want them playing games without their parents' blessing, so do we just tell people as they RSVP that they can provide game $ for their child at their discretion? Each guest will be given 100 tickets to redeem for the prizes and also gets a little gift (she said at the moment it's a glow bracelet), so it's not like they'll be leaving empty-handed.

Thanks again for any input.

Having been to a million birthday parties, I can't imagine a parent dropping off a 7 year old at Monster Golf. I'm pretty unprotective, but I usually send DH and some other kids (that we pay for, of course). I don't think you have to worry about the arcade.

 

[carj]

The one in Fairfield was a blast! They tell me the one in Paramus has the same owner but has a 'shopping center" theme whatever that means; this was a 'construction site" theme.

DD had fallen asleep on the way so she slept in her stroller for about 1/2 of our play time and then just sat and stared at us like we were nuts...LOL.

Definitely would be a cool party place but we'll check out the Paramus one and then pick one.

For those of you whose children have attended parties there...how was it handled with arcade games? No way are we going to supply $ for the party guests, plus we don't want them playing games without their parents' blessing, so do we just tell people as they RSVP that they can provide game $ for their child at their discretion? Each guest will be given 100 tickets to redeem for the prizes and also gets a little gift (she said at the moment it's a glow bracelet), so it's not like they'll be leaving empty-handed.

Thanks again for any input.

The way that I would do it if I am not providing tokens or arcade card is to not build time in for the arcade. If parents are there and want to give their kids money, they can play in the acrade. If the child is dropped off without money, then there are no hurt feelings or anyone being left out.

I am not saying to avoid the arcade. I would just structure the party so that there is not a specified time for playing games. I think that if you have a set arcade time, then you should provide at least a nominal amount of arcade $$.

I hope that makes sense!

We have not done a party at Monster Golf but have hosted many parties and attended many at places with similar party structures.

 

[3boymthr]

I did a sort of party at Monster Mini-Golf a couple of years ago.

We didn't reserve the party room. Our Monster Mini-Golf only had 5 different games and a really limited selection of prizes so the tickets seemed a bit of a waste to me, plus the cost of the room seemed exhorbitant as compared to the cost of a round of golf (which with a coupon was $6/kid/round; regular is $7/kid/round). Of course ours didn't include the T-shirt either - I think that's new.

I did the cake and ice-cream at home, recruited a friend to help transport the kids and did a call ahead to reserve a time to Golf. We did have to wait to Golf, but only like 10 minutes. I bought tokens to fill the time while waiting to golf. I think the whole thing cost me $70 for 8 kids.

 

[bigmama67]

I LOVE the idea of not booking the party room! This would be super-cool. Also the "not building in arcade time" stuff.

I agree that it would be poor judgment for a parent to drop a kid off there, but then again people who don't even know us dropped their kids at our house last December...

 

[FigmentFinder]

I had my son's 10 b-day party at the Fairfield location in October. I spent 20 bucks in tokens for the earlier arrivals (transported 4 of them). There really wasn't arcade time built into the party, but since I had 5 kids there on the early side, it was better than the kids running around.

The party room was nice and our host was great with the kids. I loved being able to spend a normal amount of money on regular pizza and I brought cheap soda and chips for snacks. I did buy the ice cream cake, it was a decent price.

Since I had my son's party on a weekday. We pretty much had the golf course to ourselves. It was as good as renting the place out.

 

[mjkacmom]

I LOVE the idea of not booking the party room! This would be super-cool. Also the "not building in arcade time" stuff.

I agree that it would be poor judgment for a parent to drop a kid off there, but then again people who don't even know us dropped their kids at our house last December...

I find that people drop off at home parties starting in kindergarten, but don't drop off at parties out until the age of 10 or so (but might have another parent bring their child to a party out younger).

 

[pagano12111]

Definately check out the Monster Mini Gof in Orlando. Their Birthday Parties are fantastic and a nice change to the ordinary. The MMG in Orlando is under new ownership and and they are running great specials so finately them in mind.

Thanks - Kelly

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would totally avoid the arcade area unless you want to provide money for everyone. I would not be surprised if you do have some dropped off and parents that do not have extra cash and those machine are a magnet for 8 year olds!!! I would feel really bad if a few kids had money for them and some did not.

90 minutes is a LONG time in the party room. 8 year olds are going to eat in about 15 minutes and then maybe 15 for cake another 15 for gifts! You might want to plan some activities to prevent them wandering into the arcade.

 

[DisneyToddlers]

Just went to a party in Fairfield with arcade time built in. They gave child a small plastic condiment cup with quarters. The kids loved the arcade time!

 

[bigmama67]

Sounds cool! DS ultimately decided (after drivin me nuts with vacillations!) to have a Lego Party at the house. That's this coming Friday, 12/10. Looks like 14(!) boys will be attending. I'm going to have fun with it but it's crazy this week, LOL!

Today is his actual birthday. We did pictures this morning, he is at an end-of-season lunch with his flag football team now, and tonight we have a dinner/Hanukkah party/special service at our synagogue. In between all of this, he's trying to build the Hogwarts Express my mom got him for his birthday.

Then tomorrow the Hebrew school is having a party. Tomorrow night we may go to our town's tree lighting/menorah lighting, or we may go to holiday lights at the local zoo, or we may just collapse! LOL.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I had no idea there were more than one.. We were going to go to the one in Fairfield for a girl scout trip but haven't made it yet.

 

[ibela]

Just wanted to add that I'm thinking about booking a party there too. Instead of goody bags filled with random stuff, I'm going to spend that $ on a card for the arcade games there instead - then they can redeem the tickets for whatever they want.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would totally avoid the arcade area unless you want to provide money for everyone. I would not be surprised if you do have some dropped off and parents that do not have extra cash and those machine are a magnet for 8 year olds!!! I would feel really bad if a few kids had money for them and some did not.

90 minutes is a LONG time in the party room. 8 year olds are going to eat in about 15 minutes and then maybe 15 for cake another 15 for gifts! You might want to plan some activities to prevent them wandering into the arcade.

My daughter went to a party at one by us last week and as you come in they pack up the gifts in a plastic garbage bag and tie it up and hand it to you to take to the car- they don't open gifts there. We have yet to go to a party where kids actually open gifts at a party.
The parent at this party gave each kid a certain amount for the arcade to spend.