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Published April 27, 2010 @ 08:06 by Tania in Kids Activities

Son One wanted a birthday party. His birthdate falls right around March Break, so we have lucked out only doing family parties in the past.

This year, he wanted a big one. Kids from school, kids from hockey, other friends. I booked a Cineplex Birthday Party at Queensway Cinema on Sunday. Yes, a month and half late. Here are my thoughts and recommendations from a movie birthday party - the good and the bad.

• Book well in advance. You need to book at least two weeks in advance, but really think about at least a month if you want a particular date.
• Getting in contact with the manager at the theater was a challenge. I averaged four calls before I had one returned.
• You need to be flexible. Because you book so far in advance, you may not know the movie or time. We booked a party on the 25th from 3-5 (movie start time). We got a call the Wednesday before the movie and found out that the movie would start at 3:40, so we got the party room at 2:10. I recent information to each family.
• We paid for the premium package, $19 a child. They got pizza or hot dog, the kids combo and the movie. Birthday child is free.
• Bring something to entertain the kids before the movie - the theater does nothing but feed them. The room is small-ish, but the sound is terrible and I think everyone ended up with a headache. Both of my boys were crying from the noise.
• They reserve your seats in the cinema, and you get to tell them where you want to sit! Unfortunately, you don't pay until everyone is seated. On a busy weekend like this one, it meant the movie was sold out. Doesn't really effect us with our reserved seating, however the other 19 people who bought tickets before the movie was sold out didn't have seat! Terrible system.
• We saw "How to Train Your Dragon" and it was an amazing movie.
• No set up or clean up for the party, and your house doesn't get trashed!
• They tell you the end time of the movie, so all of the parents were there and pick-up lasted about 5 minutes.

Son One was happy with this party, and at the end of the day, that is all that matters. We had 16 kids, but I would recommend 8-10, just to save your sanity and your ears.