Build-A-Bear Birthday Party?

K.,

I also do Noah's Ark

www.noahsarkworkshop.com/teresadoerr3713

The Animals are great - Its a blast and I do almost all the work - I even have invitations and Candybar Thank-you's, a special gift for the birthday girls and a goody bag for each of the kids!

Let me know if you're interested - NO MALLS - NO CROWDS - and kids stuff the animials with their own paws.

Noah's Ark is AWESOME.

I attended a Build-a-bear birthday party a few months ago. I was disappointed. We all gathered at the front of the store (just hung out) until all the kids were there. They do not have a "birthday room" or anything. The kids had fun, they did handle the price limit very well. They guided the children to which animals they could choose, and then to which accessories they could get with the package and the animal that they chose. Some kids chose a less expensive animal and so therefor were able to choose more accessories.

I personally would go with Noah's Ark, they have a very personal approach to the party. They come to you wherever you want to have.

Hope that help,
H.

My friend does Noah's Ark which is cheaper and in my opinion a little easier than Build a Bear.
She travels to you and the children stuff and fluff etc. just like Build a Bear then you have cake etc.
Her email is ____@____.com and she is wonderful! Have fun!

My daughter had a build-a-bear party when she turned 7 and it was great. We had it at the store at Firewheel, which was a little less crowded than Stonebriar and also has a cookie place where you can enjoy cake and presents (if you buy your cookie there of course) as well as a beautiful creek and grassy area, where we had cake and presents. Also, the girl at the store played some fun games with the girls. We bought infant t-shirts and tye-dyed them and gave them to the girls for their bears so they didn't ask to buy clothes. And we limited them to a choice of the 2-3 $10 priced animals. They all seemed happy.

My husband and I took our 5 year old to a Build a Bear party right before Christmas. We had some problems with it. The party was a combined party for two kids so we bought two gifts. I thought it was a good idea to combine the party because BAB can get expensive. Well, they invited about 16 kids. We were given a limit of $10. It was understood that we would pay for anything over that. The only problem is that the very least you can spend is $10. There were only two bear choices for $10 and of course that doesn't include any accessories. So once you build the bear you're done. And it took a long time with so many kids. The party was right before Christmas and I hadn't planned on spending money at a party for my child. Also, as I said before, I bought two gifts. So all the kid's parents are spending $25-$40 to upgrade and dress up their bears. My daughter and one other kid were the only two who got the $10 bears. And I just had to give in and let her choose something to dress it in. I left spending $12 and I was the cheapest of anyone. Thankfully my daughter wasn't upset and didn't seem to be bothered after I explained that Christmas was coming, etc, etc. So, moral to the story- ok idea for a party, but keep it small or don't be cheap. If you can't afford to give kids a bigger bear budget, don't have the party at BAB. Oh- we walked the kids to chick-fil-a at the food court and had cake there, too. Not a problem. Again, a better party for small groups. We did have to buy our own dinner at the food court. So we drove 25 miles to the mall, bought 2 gifts, spent $12 on a bear, and bought our dinner at the food court for a birthday party of two little girls we hardly know.

YOu can always buy each child a build a bear kit like this one from target : http://www.target.com/Build-A-Bear-Baby-Chick-Set/dp/B000...
that is like $7 bucks and have way more fun making them at your house than you would at any mall.

I have recently been to a few Build-A Bear parties and I have to say that I rank it right there with a Chuck E Cheese birthday - A DISASTER! The one party I went to was too big and it took FOREVER! Plus, we had to go in the mall food court (YUCK) for cake and ice cream which was very loud and distracting. The other party we went to the I spent more at that party than the parent did who was throwing it! The spending limit was so low that you couldn't get anything really. You could hear the kids whining about the stuff the wanted and the parents moaning about the extra $50.00 they just spent. I personally told my husband that if we ever get invited to another B-A-B party or Chuck E Cheese party that we will decline and send a gift.

Hi K.,
My sister in law had a build a bear party for my niece and it was lots of fun. My daughter was 5 at the time and she loved it. You can choose the theme that you want and they work around that them. For example the theme of the party that she did was a pajama party. So everyone wore their pajamas, and they did stuff like painted their toe nails and had their feet soaked listened to music it was kinda like a mini day spa thing for the girls. Plus of course making the bears. Also they did the cake and gifts there. The entire party was done right there in the store. I do know that it was pretty pricey though, but if you limit your guests it shouldn't be so bad. I would recomend it. It is lots of fun for the girls and everyone gets to take something home. Hope this helps.

We recently attended our first B-A-B party. Everything was handled perfectly. The birthday Mom explained the party included a bear in whatever price range they paid for and additional accessories were available for purchase. Employees at the Parks Mall were enthusiastic and made sure everyone was keeping up.

i recomend it my daughter had her party there and loved it it was simple to have since i did not have to lead it .

Are you twin boys or girls? If the answer is girls...then I can recommend hosting a spa di da party for them....let me know your thoughts...

Both of my children have had Build-A-Bear parties of their own and been to others as well. My daughter had hers when she turned 2. They don't really recommend them for that young, but the kiddos were really into it. My son had his last year when he turned 8. His friends had a great time too. After both parties, we went up to the food court (for free) and decorated a table for cake, icecream, and presents. Everyone had fun. The price limit is easy to stick to becuase you have a "party coordinator" who keeps the kids on budget. He/she will direct the kids to what they can afford with the bear they chose. Only once did we have a mom who did not want to stick with the budget, but she paid the difference to me (party mom) and that was that. Hope that helps. Have a great time.