Upset with party ETA - bday cake photo

I'm in NJ so it's not a LI place, but so disappointed with my DS's 5th birthday party. Had it at a NY Sports Club and just expected more. Especially since they charge a lot. It was totally disorganized. I did explain to the head person that it's a 5th bday for a special needs child. He just has some dev delays, but inviting the class so it's 10 kids that have some delays. Even real little ones. They give you 15 kids and bday kid is free and then you pay extra per kid after that. Fine... I get it, but there is no reason to charge for kids under two that were held the whole party, but they do.
They started doing relays with the scooters and picked two captains to pick teammates. They were confused and that was chaotic. Relays were too unorganized. Then they brought out the parachute. Great! Kids love that, but the two "coaches" were trying to think of ideas to do with the kids when all they wanted to do was run under it. After they took a rope out and were picking sides giving the kids numbers. Right... bc they'd remember what # they got so I told him to just split it himself. They got frustrated so the girl yelled out for parents to come and help. Well, what did I pay them for?!

Time for pizza... Great! Pizza was not on the plates and neither were the juiceboxes. They were throwing the pizza on the plates and kids were saying it was too hot. I told the head person that they should've been there waiting and her response was we wanted it hot. Well, they're kids and it needs to cool down. For cake the coaches couldn't find the lights to shut off. THat was great. Also forgot to add they couldn't get the usual room so it was more like a storage room. They did clean it a bit, but there was stuff in the back the kids were playing with that shouldn't of been there including a foosball table that a young kid got hurt bc they got pushed into the bar.
Finally DH asked to give seconds for cake and she put a spoon in the cake for each piece cut. Meaning it was still in the box and she cut the entire rest of the cake left even though everyone was served and then stucks spoons in each. Never needed to happen and there was still half left. Had to take all the spoons out to close the top and cake looked like crap.
Finally when it was time to leave they didn't even bag the gifts. I had to ask and we were all stuffing the gifts in bags.

Sorry it's so long if you made it this far. I am usually never a complainer, but was so disappointed. It's a lot of money too. DS was happy and so were his friends so that's all that matters.

Eta- so I was wrong. The spoons were left in the cake. I have a pic in misc to show how nice they left it.

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Message edited 6/3/2014 8:21:19 AM.

Upset with party

I would call today and speak with the manager.

Hopefully the kids still had fun, especially your ds, and didn't notice any of it.

Upset with party

I was very unhappy with a birthday party place a few months ago too. My husband told me to just let it go bc it was over and our DD had a good time anyway... But I just couldn't. I reached out to their corp office with a long letter explaining my disappointment and the regional director called me back. I also felt like some stuff was minor BUT some weren't and enough "minor things" put together can really make or break a party. THe guy was so nice and totally agreed with me that I did not have the kind of experience I should have. He sent me a nice gift card and made the manager of the place (who was part of the problem) send it out to me personally. It didnt change anything that happened at the party and we have barely even used the gift card but I felt better and I hope the next little kid that has their party there would have a better experience bc of it

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That really stinks. I'd be upset too. Unfortunately, I think I'd just chalk this up to a "you live and you learn" type of situation.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is that your DS had a good time and it sounds like he did.

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I would have complained.

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Definitely demand to speak to someone higher up. We as parents spend a lot of money on these parties. And we're willing to do so because we have the expectation that things will run smoothly and be well organized. Clearly that was not your experience. They really should do something to make it right.
Not to mention, it's pretty funny that they offered you a family swim time when you have a pool in your back yard.

Message edited 6/2/2014 6:27:39 PM.

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Posted by nferrandi

Definitely demand to speak to someone higher up. We as parents spend a lot of money on these parties. And we're willing to do so because we have the expectation that things will run smoothly and be well organized. Clearly that was not your experience. They really should do something to make it right.
Not to mention, it's pretty funny that they offered you a family swim time when you have a pool in your back yard.

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It looks like a little kid did that to the cake! That doesn't look like something an adult would do purposely. Not good.

Re: Upset with party ETA - bday cake photo

Ok... so I was able to add the picture of what they did to the cake in the end. It was after everyone was served and DH just asked the girl to ask if anyone wanted seconds... that's what she did. Ugh!

Anyway, thanks for listening to me vent. I will keep at it with them. I am tired of them saying that Saturday was a bit of a chaotic day.

Re: Upset with party ETA - bday cake photo

I'm sorry!

My BIL also had a bad experience with another gym party (Not NY Sports club).

As you had mentioned, the kids had fun, but it was very poorly organized, the lights couldn't be found (you'd think they would practice?), there was dangerous stuff left around (these kids were 4), and they couldn't figure out how to blow up the bounce house (they did eventually, but imagine kids whining that the bounce house wasn't going to happen).

I imagine they don't have the best employees running the parties. And, yes, they are expensive.

He complained, got a credit, still goes to the gym... but it was a bummer.

Because of his ordeal, we will never do a gym party.

So sorry you had to deal with this. I would call & complain... but to make lemonade out of lemons: your kid had fun & no one was hurt. Hopefully, this will be his worst birthday in life!

Message edited 6/3/2014 9:51:07 AM.

Upset with party ETA - bday cake photo

I would call and complain but I would also try to stick with places that only do kids parties. I wouldn't even think NYSC would do a good job since they are not in the business of parties.