OT: Birthday Party? Do I have to server pizza?

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

We're having a movie party from 4 - 6. It's a beverly Hills Chihuahua party at a movie theater. I'm thinking of serving the cupcakes first at 4 because the kids will probably be hungry after school. Then they get drinks and popcorn during the movies...The party will wrap up by 6:00. Do I need to...should I....serve pizza? Then I would just do popcorn and drinks during the movie and pizza and cupcakes at 5:30. That probably makes the most sense but I hadn't planned on the extra expense...any thoughts? Should I just suck it up and put out the money (another $50 - $75) so that when the kids leave they are fed.

What would you do?

 

[luvmy3]

I would since it is near dinner time, especially if its a school day. We tend to eat dinner a little earlier on s day the kids go to school, just becaues they eat breakfast and lunch earlier than on the weekends.
Does the movie theater provide the pizza, or can you order your own? I don't know how many kids you will be having but $75 for a couple of pizza seems really high.

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

being 4-6, depending on the age of kids I'd say you really do need to do pizza or some form of dinner because alot of kids are in bed not long after that, especially if some have a drive back home first and then have to bath/shower/homework.

I'd maybe use the time they're watching the films to cook pizza from frozen at home, it'd save alot of cash. (I was taking it as you're having a movie party at home not the cinema? If it's at the cinema could you do something like one of the adults run out to subway for kids sub-meals?)

...ahhh scratch that just re-read you ARE going to a cinema for it, in which case I'd say yeah- see about subway or somewhere after because that seems like a high price for pizza.

 

[mjkacmom]

Around here, pizza is almost always served, even at a 2 - 4 party, unless the invitation clearly states cake only. I'd definately serve pizza, since it's dinner time.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Ooops. I meant to post on the budget board...

Thanks for the speedy reply! It's north Jersey and 25 kids so I have to get at least 4 pies ($48 plus tax...). But then there'll be some parents and few siblings and I am a sucker for siblings -- especially since a bunch of the parents who will stay are my friends, too, so I'd have to add on a few more pies at least

 

[PrincessKsMom]

How about pizza first, then cupcakes after? That will save you the expense of soda and popcorn (unless it's already included as part of a party package). Also, I'm sure many of them are used to having a snack after school, so they might be hungry enough for pizza.

I did the same thing with my DD. We had popcorn and soda during the movie, then I took them to Houlihans for dinner and none of them were hungry. We ordered, but they all went home with doggy bags because they just weren't hungry after popcorn and soda. Of course they still had cake, but I completely wasted money on food.

 

[mjkacmom]

We're having a movie party from 4 - 6. It's a beverly Hills Chihuahua party at a movie theater. I'm thinking of serving the cupcakes first at 4 because the kids will probably be hungry after school. Then they get drinks and popcorn during the movies...The party will wrap up by 6:00. Do I need to...should I....serve pizza? Then I would just do popcorn and drinks during the movie and pizza and cupcakes at 5:30. That probably makes the most sense but I hadn't planned on the extra expense...any thoughts? Should I just suck it up and put out the money (another $50 - $75) so that when the kids leave they are fed.

What would you do?

Okay - I'm in NE NJ, where food is always offered. What day of the week is the party? Most pizzaria's around me have specials, depending upon the establishment, M/T/W 2 for $16sih. I'd serve the pizza at the beginning, when you might have less parents and/or siblings (I've found that a lot of the extra pizza goes to those who come for the last 20 minutes of a party).

 

[christa112]

I always try to get out a little cheap, so if I can plan the party midday that will keep me away from buying lunch and just serve cake and icecream, I sure will. I also put on the invitations cake and icecream, so parents don't get confused and starve their kids before the party.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Id figure way more than 4 pizzas. I just had DD's birthday party last Sunday and she had 12 kids plus parents and we went through almost 5 whole pizzas. I went home with 3 pieces and this was a 5 yo's birthday party.

I agree about the specials. I called Papa Johns and I got a special for 5 pizzas. The deal was even better for 10. It was 10 pizzas for $60.00.

 

[dougsmom98]

If there is a Little Ceasar's nearby, I think they have large pizzas for $5.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

Hey - are you having it at the Ramsey Theater? Love that theater for birthday parties!
Ditto what everyone else said.

 

[jellybeans0607]

No of course you don't have to serve dinner. Thats crazy to think you would be expected to. Renting out a theater is expensive, parents know that.

Just on the invite be sure to write something to the effect of " cupcakes and icecream to be served before the movie and popcorn during the movie."
who would also expect you to provide pizza.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

No of course you don't have to serve dinner. Thats crazy to think you would be expected to. Renting out a theater is expensive, parents know that.

Just on the invite be sure to write something to the effect of " cupcakes and icecream to be served before the movie and popcorn during the movie."
who would also expect you to provide pizza.

Sorry but I would and I think the majority of parents who send their child to a birthday party during dinner hours.

If the party starts at 4 and ends at 6 you either have to feed your child at 3-3:15 at the latest or not until 6:30 - 7pm, and with the latter the kid is going to be stuffed full of popcorn , coke and cupcakes.


If the OP didn't want to serve dinner food then maybe she should have picked a different time for a party. Thats what we do here. If the parents don't want to serve food then they pick a mid-afternoon time . If it is a lunch or dinner time party, myself and obviously the majority who answered this post figured food would be served.

 

[jellybeans0607]

Sorry but I would and I think the majority of parents who send their child to a birthday party during dinner hours.

If the party starts at 4 and ends at 6 you either have to feed your child at 3-3:15 at the latest or not until 6:30 - 7pm, and with the latter the kid is going to be stuffed full of popcorn , coke and cupcakes.


If the OP didn't want to serve dinner food then maybe she should have picked a different time for a party. Thats what we do here. If the parents don't want to serve food then they pick a mid-afternoon time . If it is a lunch or dinner time party, myself and obviously the majority who answered this post figured food would be served.

Thats why I said to put on the card that it wouldnt be served, that way the parents were fully aware.
I feel its unreasonable to expect anything from a party that you yourself aren't paying for.
If she doesn't want to serve pizza, she doesn't have to.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Thats why I said to put on the card that it wouldnt be served, that way the parents were fully aware.
I feel its unreasonable to expect anything from a party that you yourself aren't paying for.
If she doesn't want to serve pizza, she doesn't have to.

Well maybe in your part of the country and OP's , its done that way but not here.

Between both my kids, they have been to at least 50 birthday parties and seriously I can't think of 1 that didn't serve food.

True the OP doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to, she asked for opinions and I'm just saying at dinner time I would expect my kids to be served something more than popcorn or cake.

She doesn't have to serve anything for all that I care, I just gave an opinion and how things are usually done in these parts.

And certainly if the OP decides not to serve dinner food, it should definetly clearly be stated on the invitation.

 

[jellybeans0607]

Well maybe in your part of the country and OP's , its done that way but not here.

Between both my kids, they have been to at least 50 birthday parties and seriously I can't think of 1 that didn't serve food.

True the OP doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to, she asked for opinions and I'm just saying at dinner time I would expect my kids to be served something more than popcorn or cake.

She doesn't have to serve anything for all that I care, I just gave an opinion and how things are usually done in these parts.

And certainly if the OP decides not to serve dinner food, it should definetly clearly be stated on the invitation.

And I gave my opinion, so whats your problem? There was really no need to qoute me and tell me i'm wrong. I'm not, she can do what she wants.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

And I gave my opinion, so whats your problem? There was really no need to qoute me and tell me i'm wrong. I'm not, she can do what she wants.

I don't have a freakin' problem.

You made it sound like we were all crazy to think the OP should serve food. I gave the reason why she should. I never said you were wrong. I just said that if my kid was going to a party at dinner time I would expect food to be served.

Gees! I can give a rats butt what she does, my kids certainly are not invited. And I'm not the one footing the bill. I did that last weekend.

 

[jellybeans0607]

I don't have a freakin' problem.

You made it sound like we were all crazy to think the OP should serve food. I gave the reason why she should. I never said you were wrong. I just said that if my kid was going to a party at dinner time I would expect food to be served.

Gees! I can give a rats butt what she does, my kids certainly are not invited. And I'm not the one footing the bill. I did that last weekend.

I do think it's crazy for anyone to expect anything from a party they aren't paying for, but I think i've said that. My reply was to the OP, it really had nothing to do with you
You know, just because you answer a post doesn't mean you need to argue with the people that disagree with you.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I do think it's crazy for anyone to expect anything from a party they aren't paying for, but I think i've said that. My reply was to the OP, it really had nothing to do with you
You know, just because you answer a post doesn't mean you need to argue with the people that disagree with you.

Whatever I have better things to do tonight

 

[jellybeans0607]

Whatever I have better things to do tonight

obviously