Party for 3 yesr olds - Bouncy Castle or inflatable ball pit??????

[HandbagAddiction]

Stuck in a dilemma. I've hired out a local church hall for dd's 3rd birthday party but can't decide on whether to get just a bouncy castle, a bouncy castle that is all a ball pit or an inflatable ball pit that has a slide going into it.

Any thoughts on which you think would be best would be much appreciated.....

Thanks!

[scotlou]

Personally I would just go for a straight bouncy castle otherwise you will be collecting balls from all over teh hall before you go home!

[heiferjamese]

Bouncy castle sounds enough to me.

I imagine that it will be easier to manage - if you have older children coming they might jump from the bc to the slide or ball pit etc..

Hope you have a good time whatever you go for...

[Anchovy]

The place we rented from had one that was both - same price as ordinary bouncy castle. Bouncy bit on one side, ball pool on the other. I had it for DS/DD's joint 3/1 and 4/2 birthday parties and it was a resounding success. If you are in S. London I can give you the phone number. IIRC the ball pools are quite deep sided and spillage wasn't too much of a problem.

[HandbagAddiction]

Anchovy I'm just south of Guildford so the number might be quite useful - thanks

[TwoToTango]

I don't think you can go wrong with a bouncy castle. My ds was at a party with one that had a slide on it (not a slide into a ball pit just a slide onto some maps) all the kids had a fab time.

[MarsLady]

Bouncy castle. Wonderful!

Hot dogs and ice cream!

Perfect party.

Works for me every time!

[Anchovy]

Sorry, HA, just come back to this.

123 Partee - 020 8546 4280/020 8542 6456. Think they are on the A3 somewhere so you will probably be in range. I have always had fantastic service from them. Its cost £75 for the last 3 years so may have gone up but that sort of ballpark (tee hee) figure.

Much cheaper than an entertainer round our way. Put it in the garden, bit of supervision, let them bounce away for a couple of hours and then fill them up with sausages on sticks and a bit of cake. Result!

[Issymum]

Hi HBA

We're in central Guildford and used this company a couple of weeks ago. They were efficient, prompt etc. and came recommended by a friend of ours as a supplier to council playschemes etc.

I think bouncy castles work best where they provide some sort of route: in the entrance, across the castle, down the slide. It seems to be easier and safer if all the kids are going in the same direction!

So a ball pit plus slide would be perfect for 3 year olds.

Have fun!

[Anchovy]

Issymum you are so sensible. We had a fantastic melee last year - 4 year old boys bouncing up and down on top of 2 year old girls: they all loved it!

[BettySpaghetti]

We went to a party where they had the half ball pit and half bouncy castle option -great if there are younger or more timid children who prefer the ball pit to the all-out chaos of the bouncy castle!

(Quick tip -don't let your DP/DH in a ball pit with the car and house keys in his pocket -luckily for us the man taking down the inflatable and emtying the ball pit found them -DP hadn't even realised he'd lost them!)

[MarsLady]

Nice site. Wonder if there's anything like that in N London? Really liked the soft play indoor only set. Would be perfect for the DTs party next Feb