Last weekend we celebrated Krystopher’s 6th birthday. We were lucky enough to win the bidding for a birthday party voucher from Bounce About NW, an indoor bounce playground located in our local mall. The voucher, generously donated to the Central Park Elementary School annual auction fundraiser, was for a full party package for 11 kids.
Ease and Convenience
In typical form, I was late getting around to booking our party. I worried that we wouldn’t get a time on the day we chose, but despite less than 2 weeks notice, they had an opening that was perfect for us. We went over the package details. Party length is 2 hours. They recommend 90 minutes of bounce time for the kids, followed by 30 minutes for cake and presents. understandably, they ask that kids not bounce after eating.
The party package includes the necessary paper products (plates, napkins, forks, spoons, cups, and table covers), as well as one bottle of water per child. All we had to provide was our cake and any food that we planned to serve. Our time slot was mid-afternoon, so we opted for a simple spread of chips, cheese-balls, and a variety of soft drinks. There were plenty of tables for everyone to sit at, plus tables for food, gifts, and the cake.
Check-in was quick and easy. As the guests arrived they were directed to the rear party area. After the parents filled out a safety waiver, the kids got a quick overview of the rules and a wristband. They were able to hit the bounce-houses within minutes.
Fun for All
With 6 unique bounce-houses, there was no risk of the kids getting bored. 2 of the smaller houses are reserved for smaller children, allowing younger siblings to play safely while the older kids enjoyed the larger houses. The favorite by far was the giant pirate ship. 
The front entrance is always staffed, preventing kids from wandering out of the play area. There are plenty of picnic tables spread around between the bounce-houses, allowing parents/guardians to relax in full view of the children.
Guests who are not part of a party can bring drinks in (a must for the littles, who play HARD!). They generally don’t allow food inside, but I did see a selection of snacks available for purchase at the front desk.
The area is loud. Between the air pumps feeding the 6 giant bounce-houses and the excited voices of the kids playing, this is not a place to sit and enjoy a quiet break. Children with sensory issues may have a hard time managing the noise levels. For the most part though, most kids don’t seem bothered at all by the din. We did find it advantageous to have 2 adults who have a clear piercing whistle, used to rally the kids at cake time.
We have 5 kids, 3 of which are just entering the birthday party years. The teenagers couldn’t bounce (max age 10), but this venue would definitely accommodate a very wide range of ages at one party. This is really important for large extended families like ours, or families with multiple children.
The Verdict
Over all, I rate Bounce About NW 5 stars for our birthday party experience. The other kids (other than the teens) have already announced that they want their parties there too. I wholeheartedly recommend Bounce About NW for birthday parties. It is also a great place to let the kids expel some pent-up energy through our west-coast rainy days.
Oh, and apparently you can rent the houses for parties at home, if you meet the criteria for setup. They make it easy to earn “Best Parents/Grandparents Ever” status with the kids!