MOOKs: Which birthday party sounds better

[origami]

My twin boys are turning 14 and we're looking at 2 different options. Curious which one you think would be better. Either option would be the same amount of time and food and about the same cost

Option 1: Local place with a party package that includes bowling, arcade games, ping pong, pool, darts

Option 2: We rent a video game trailer that comes to the house. Kids would game inside the trailer and then we'd probably have other lawn games depending on weather. If it rains then we'd still have the trailer and would have to come up with something inside the house. If it's hot they could swim b/c we have a pool but it's unlikely to be warm enough. 

[gretchenindisguise]

Option 1.

I think the game trucks are usually for younger kids.

[momin2013]

I like the idea of option 2 but I think the downsides are a) you’d need to be sure the kids are all into gaming, b) it sounds like it wouldn’t take up the whole time so coming up with ‘other’ activities might be a challenge and c) I assume you’d want to feed them and would therefore need to have them in the house for that part of the party.

All that said, as much as option 2 sounds cool, and I’ve looked into it for a party for my own DS, I’d go with option 1. IME, those types of parties are pretty foolproof.

[nicolewi]

Option one, because everyone will be entertained at the same time for the entire party., And you don’t have to worry about weather.

[macmars45]

Which one do your boys want to do? Or are they split and each want to do one of the choices?

[scribellesam]

My 12yo would be very into attending either choice, but #1 sounds easier for planning because you’re not tied to the weather, so that would be my pick.

[Deleted]

Turning 14? I would probably do the first one. I like the gaming trucks, but my kid and his friends already spend way too much time gaming as it is.

[jinkies]

Yeah definitely #1

[mcppalmbeach]

Do the kids have a preference?

For me I would steer to #1 just because I’ll be honest and say I prefer not a house full of kids, making sure everyone is comfortable, etc. I am not a good hostess and hate the stress. I was also looking at some options for my ds3 and so many of the things I can bring into my home (video game truck, bubble truck, giant water slide) end up being the same price as having an outsourced party somewhere that food etc is already provided. Granted at home I could have way more kids, but we never end up with more than 10 or 15 anyway.

[cmeon]

The bowling alley/bar whatever setting is probably the best, with the caveat that I wouldn't let my kid anywhere near it if you're in a state that doesn't ban smoking in those places (we haven't had indoor smoking in forever, but I'm always shocked when we run into it when we're OOS). I think most 14yos that game already game together a lot, so the bus doesn't feel very exciting at that age. I just think they're better for kids who aren't allowed to game with friends yet.

[expectantsteelerfan]

1 unless your boys were both wanting 2 more. I've offered to do a gaming truck for a party for ds the past few years, and he always turns me down even though the party is for him and his group of friends that he plays video games with. He always says something like...you can only play each game with 1 or 2 other people, so other people have to play another game or wait or something, you can't all play 1 single game, and I've never cared enough to look into it to verify if he's right or not and just gone with what he wanted.

[origami]

Aug 11, 2024 17:05:57 GMT -5 macmars45 said:

Which one do your boys want to do? Or are they split and each want to do one of the choices?

they'll be fine with either one but 1 prefers option 1, the other prefers option 2. Sigh

[pittpurple]

Can they each do what they want or do they have all the same friends? My daughter is friends with a twin and they never share birthday parties as they have different friends. Would be easier to have the game truck with fewer kids too.

[glitzy07]

I'd obviously see what they wanted to do, but would probably prefer #1. It offers a variety of activities for different interests and you don't have to host at home, which usually means cleaning up before and after!

[Poeticxpassion]

Option 1- there is a variety of entertainment available

I hired a gaming truck once, and the games were old school arcade games. There was a Nintendo switch that was hooked up, but many kids were just not interested.

[waverly]

I too would do #1. I get they want different things, but I feel like with the inclusion of the arcade games then they are both getting the option of the gaming experience. And #1 then offers other options for the non gamer kids.

[cmeon]

If you do 1 for the party, you cam host a small video game party one night. Just your boys and a friend each, lots of snacks, hands off game as much as you guys want fun. The promise of that might scratch the itch for the bus without a large investment!

[origami]

Aug 12, 2024 5:02:33 GMT -5 pittpurple said:

Can they each do what they want or do they have all the same friends? My daughter is friends with a twin and they never share birthday parties as they have different friends. Would be easier to have the game truck with fewer kids too.

I’d do 2 small get togethers but not 2 full bday parties. That’s too expensive and I’m tired just thinking about it. My kids have some overlap in friends, some separate but neither has a ton of friends they’d invite