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Frequently Asked Questions Princess Party Plan Cost Cancellations Form of Payment Minimum Age Costumes Girls and/or Boys No Show Guests Participation Parents Number of Kids Volume Discount Dressing Eating Damage Deposit Cleaning Transportation Fee Shipping Tax Tipping Price Changes Donations Other stuff |
SUMMARY - WE OFFER 50 DIFFERENT THEMES
OUR 2 MAIN THEMES: **In order to focus on the theme of the party and the
birthday child's interest, we do
not combine the Princess with Pirates. Hosted and Costume Parties are NOT recommended if the birthday child is just turning 1 or 2 years old and the majority of the guests are under 3 years old. Parties for 3, 4, and 5 year olds: Parties for 6 and up: The initial party price is $195. This price includes 8 children. $15 per each additional child $2 per favor set (or 50% regular favor prices such as more expensive light sabers) Transportation fee possible for parties located 20 miles or more from the hostess' location Optional 30 minutes is $5 per child or $50 depending on activity If you are planning on 22-29 kids the cost is $400, for 30-39 kids $500, etc. (excluding bear stuffing parties) A $75 deposit is required to reserve a date and time. The deposit is non-refundable but fully transferrable to another date, person, or option. The remaining balance ($195 less $75 deposit = $120 balance + $15 per additional child) is due the day before the party if you are paying by credit card or the day of the party if you are paying by check or cash. Tips are greatly appreciated after a successful party. Additional optional services and fees: Additional children, invitations, a craft, extra time, prizes, treat bags or party favors, renting a grown-up costume so a "costumed character" can make an appearance, additional assistants, travel time for more than 20 miles from the hostesses home and special services are all available for an additional fee. Additional Parties: Parties available but possibly not listed on our site include: "Lilo & Stitch", "Finding Nemo", "Sponge Bob", "Wizard of Oz", "The Little Mermaid", "Dora the Explorer", "Scooby Doo", "Prom Princess", "Spirit Horse Parties" Important Information: Only ONE person is guaranteed to come and host the party unless you specifically ask and pay for a second or more individuals. A second person MAY attend at no charge depending on our schedule, training, and the size of your party. Please feel free to request a specific hostess
based on a referral from a previous party. However due to illness and
scheduling conflicts we cannot guarantee a specific hostess for your party. |
Detailed EXAMPLE of A PRINCESS PARTY - Our most popular party!!!
No two parties are the same. This is just an example. The party is held in your home or other location you choose. A total of fourteen guests including boys and girls are expected to attend. The scheduled party is from 1:00pm to 2:30pm.
We (one or two people) arrive shortly before our start time to set up and discuss a hiding place for the party favors with you. Then we bring in a couple of boxes or treasure chests and possibly a background such as a Castle Stage, Unicorn Mural, Red Curtain, Disney Tent, or Disney Stage. The children's excitement at the site of a treasure chest makes a dramatic beginning and building the castle (two minutes) creates the festive theme decor you need.
Once all of the guests arrive or 15 minutes after everyone SHOULD have arrived, the hostess tells or reads a 5 to 15 minute story about how she will turn the girls into Princesses and the boys into Knights. Following the story the birthday girl opens the treasure chest to reveal the Princess Dresses inside.
The birthday girl chooses her favorite dress first. Of course, if the
birthday girl wants to be Cinderella, her best friend wants to be
Cinderella too. So we bring duplicate costumes of the traditional
Disney Princesses: Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Belle,
Jasmine and Ariel. After girls go first, the boys are given their turn.
After everyone has put on a costume, we take individual pictures with a digital (web page) camera and encourage you to do the same. Then we try and do a group photo. Please keep in mind that only select cities offer a web page for each party. The Princesses and Knights make their royal entrance to the ball being introduced one by one.
Then the birthday girl opens the second treasure chest to
reveal
tiaras, wands, swords, shields, and other accessories. At
this point the boys are sword fighting and hiding treasures while the
girls begin to switch in and out of different costumes and parade
around. We've done over 500
parties and the boys are very good with the swords in this atmosphere.
At this point it is probably about 1:30. We do a variety of theme related games and activities conducted to fill the time so the children are always entertained. We have over ten different activities to choose from but usually only do about two or three. These games are mostly unique to Princess and Pirate Parties, Inc. and may include: Peek-a-boo Purse, Find Cinderella's Slipper, Slay the Dragon, Ariel's Treasures and more. The activities are chosen based on the birthday girl's interests and the overall personality of the group. (If we started 15 minutes late, we can run 15 minutes into the half hour break time.)
At the end of the first 45 minutes of story, dress-up and activities portion of the party, the fairytale clock strikes midnight and all of the children have to undress as fast as they can before their princess dresses and knights costumes turn into rags!
By now its 1:45 and the kids are ready for cake and ice cream.
While the Mom is handling the children, we are cleaning up game
materials, taking
inventory of costumes and accessories, and hiding clues for our
final treasure hunt. Sometimes it is easier to settle the final
balance while the children are eating cake since you might be
socializing with parents as they pick the children up at the end of the
party.
After the 30 minute break it's now about 2:15. The hostess will read clues to the children leading them on a treasure hunt where they find and keep the treasure. We explain to the children that they have to figure out where the next clue is and find each in order. If they all work together as a group to find all of the clues the final destination will have the treasure that they keep to take home.
The first clue might be,
"Snow White took care of 7 little men. Their favorite place to sit in
in the den. But where would they ALL SIT, if you scrunched them
together a bit, UNDERNEATH it you will find, a clue that is one of a
kind." We bring about 20 theme and age appropriate clues and make sure
each child has a fair turn
to find a clue. The final clue leads the children to the treasure which
would be their party favors. If you buy the favors from Princess
and Pirate Parties, they would include wands & tiaras for the girls
and sword with sheath for the boys. Parents love seeing the
children
dash from location to location as they figure out the clues. The kids
love the feeling of pride when they figure out the answers and find
their reward. I have some clues that parents can't figure out but
a child rushes straight for the secret destination. Once they
find the treasure they are ready to depart. The party has now had the
perfect flow with a clear beginning, middle and end. Everything
appears to be timed down to the exact minute even though flexibility is
built into the format.
Frequently Asked Questions:
FOP Question: What form of payment do you
accept?
Answer:
For advance payment of the deposit or for the party we accept a check
or credit card via paypal.com. For payment the day of the party
we accept a check
or cash. Checks for payment of deposits and parties should be
made out
to:
Princess and Pirate Parties, Inc.
and sent to:
Princess and Pirate Parties, Inc.
Attn: Ruth Princess
4106 Franklin Avenue
Western Springs, IL 60558
OR if you have a LOCAL Hostess, the check may be made out directly to the independent contractor by their full name and NOT Princess and Pirate Parties. Please check the main page for links to affiliates for their names and phone numbers.
Ruth Princess' local phone numbers are 708-246-BDay and cell phone 708-579-1963. Balance will be due by credit card the day BEFORE the party or if you choose to pay the day of the party you may do so by check or cash. You will be charged all fees if a check is declined for NSF. Tipping is greatly appreciated.
All Pricing and Policies are subject to change. Please check the
bottom of a page for the most recently updated date, if it is old,
please verify the information. You are protected from Hostess price
increases if you have paid a deposit and a dated copy of on-line
pricing.
Cancellation Question: What happens if I
have to cancel the party, lets say the birthday child is sick?
Answer:
I will work with you to arrange another date for the party. The
deposit is nonrefundable but fully transferable. You may transfer the
deposit to another date or use it toward a Do It Yourself Party or
supplies. If the party is
cancelled while the hostess is in transit to the party or after she
arrives,
the deposit and/or a transportation fee may be necessary to compensate
the hostess for her time and costs.
Age Question: My child is only turning 3 years
old. Do you have a minimum age?
Answer: No. I believe that your child's party should be
memorable for everyone attending the party. However, we do NOT
RECOMMEND our hosted parties if your child is turning one or two AND
most of the children attending are under three.
These parties are best handled by purchasing costumes and
supplies and doing the party yourself. The typical 2 year old
loves to play independently and therefore group activities are mostly
pointless. But we do lots of parties for one and two year old
birthday children where the guest attending range in ages from 1 to 12
years old.
Costume Question: For hosted parties, are the children assigned
a costume or do they get to choose?
Answer: The children get to choose the costume and they
may
try on more than one. Duplicates of many costumes are provided in
order to prevent arguing. Keep
in mind there are NO Pirates at Princess Parties, boys would be
Knights, Kings, Wizards and Dragons. At Pirate Parties the girls
are able to choose between Tinker Bells, Pixies, Mermaids or Pirates.
Girls & Boys Question: I want to have a Princess Party for my daughter. Can boys attend too? Can girls attend the Pirate Parties? Answer: Yes, I have Knight, King, Wizard and Dragon costumes for the boys for a Princess party. At Pirate Parties the girls can dress up as mermaids or Tinkerbell pixies.
No Show Question: Do I pay for a child if
they do not attend?
Answer: No. You also do not have to pay for babies/children
too young to walk alone. However, you do pay for uninvited guests
such as siblings old enough to participate.
Participation Question: Do I pay for a child if
they do not participate?
Answer: YES. Often when a child does not want to
participate,
more time is spent by me trying to make them comfortable. Costumes and
activities are available for them as part of our preparation.
Exceptions
would be if all of the guests are 5 and 6 years old and it is a 2 year
old or 10 year old that is not participating. However, parties with
mixed ages are charged for children who can walk and up to 12 years
old. If you have uninvited guests such as siblings old enough to
participate, you will need to
pay for them as well. Another exception is if those not
participating are in another room not even watching. This is
common if the party is for entire families with mixed ages but just 8
girls all the birthday girl's age are in the basement playing dress-up
while the other guests are outside at a barbeque. The final 15 minute
treasure hunt can include all of the other children at no additional
charge.
Parents Question: Can Parents attend the
party?
Answer: Yes. There is no per person charge for adults.
Grown-up
costumes are available FREE for parties with 6 or fewer children by
requesting them prior to the party date. You may also rent a
grown-up costumes for the parents or for someone to make a guest
celebrity Princess appearance. We request parents attend parties if
their children are
under 4 years old. If the children are 4 and 5 years old, it is
common practice to have the young guest or the guest's parent decide
whether it is best to stay or leave. If guests are older than 5
years old, the
invitation should specify if parents are invited or if the party is a
drop off party.
Number of Kids Question: Is there a minimum
or a maximum number of children?
Answer: There is no minimum. An Initial fee of $195 is set
regardless of the number of people. The first one through eight
children are included in this price and each additional child is $15.
If you are having 22-29 children, there is a flat rate of $400.
If you have 30-39 kids it is $500, 40-49 is $600, 50-59 is $700, etc.
(excluding bear stuffing parties). I have over 100 Princess
costumes and more than 100 other costumes to accommodate larger groups.
Discount Question: Do I receive a discount
for a large number of children.
Answer: Yes, but not usually. The $15 per child charge for more
than eight children covers the additional stress on costumes and
accessories, increased preparation and wrap-up time, scheduling of
other parties immediately before & after, maintaining an extensive
inventory of costumes and the possible need to bring an assistant. I
have to prepare for more than the RSVP count but only charge you for
those that actually attend. If you are having 22-29 kids, you receive a
break by only paying $400 (excluding bear stuffing parties). If you are having 30-39 kids, the cost is
$500. If you have more than 40 children, you are charged on the RSVP
count plus additional children in one to ten children increments at
$100.
Dressing Question:
What should the children wear?
Answer: My costumes
are designed to go over the child's street clothes. No one should get undressed.
For the best possible fit and for comfort, I suggest girls wear leotards
or swimsuits. However, this is not mandatory. The children should NOT
come in their own princess dresses. My GIRL invitations usually contain
the following note: "Formal Princess attire for the Little Ladies will
be provided at the party. For faster costuming, consider wearing a
leotard or bathing suit."
Eating Question: Can the children eat while
wearing the costumes?
Answer: NO. The party is formatted for the dress-up to take place for approximately 45 minutes. We have an easy
method for changing back into their regular clothes before eating. Also,
for hosted parties, we need the half hour breaktime to put the costumes away and take inventory.
Damage Question: Am I responsible for
damage of the costumes?
Answer: Not usually. A child
running around stepping on things is expected wear and tear. This is
incorporated into the price. However, if there is intentional damage
(shredding or painting the costumes) or unusually extreme situations (chocolate fondue served during the dress-up time), I
do expect compensation for the replacement value of damaged costumes.
Deposit Question: How do you determine the
security deposit for costume rentals?
Answer: The
security deposit is to encourage the return of the costumes. You are
not charged for usual wear and tear. Children running around stepping on
hems, spilling light colored liquids, pulling seams when dressing is
normal. However, if the damage is negligent or intentional (shredding
or painting the costumes) or you do not return the costumes, you will
not receive your security deposit back and you WILL be responsible for
ADDITIONAL charges for the replacement cost. The security deposit is
NOT the same as the purchase price. Some costumes are no longer
available for purchase and can sell for 3 - 4 times their original
value on Ebay. This is why you will be charged the REPLACEMENT
COST, not the security deposit.
Cleaning Question: Do I have to wash the
costumes before returning rentals?
Answer: No,
you do not have to but you are welcome to do so. For example, if
something was spilled, it will wash out better if you clean it right
away. We appreciate you helping us out. We machine wash the
costumes in cold water and hang dry despite the fact they instruct spot
cleaning or dry clean only. We do not expect you to pay for dry
cleaning.
Transportation Question: Do you charge
a transportation fee?
Answer: A transportation fee is charged if you are more than 20
miles from the hostess' central location. We charge approximately
$1 for every mile from the hostess's location rounded to the nearest $5. For example, you
are located 40 miles from the hostess, you will be charged a $40
transportation fee. For a Chicagoland map, click here. Please visit your local Hostess' web page for
their transportation fees or please request a fee quote for other
areas (i.e. Out of State).
Tax Question: Do your prices include tax
or is it extra?
Answer: Tax
is charged on item purchases (such as costumes) in Illinois. Tax
is not charged on hosted parties or rentals as this is a service.
Tipping Question: Do you accept tips?
Answer: Yes, if you feel you received good service, tipping is
always greatly appreciated.
Price Changes: What happens if I book in
advance and you have a price change?
Answer: When a
substantial price change is made, we will call everyone who has paid a deposit and
let you know you will receive the old price, but to please remind us the day of the party
that you booked prior to the price change. If I make a special offer
over the phone such as waiving the transportation fee because another
party is in the same town that day, please make a note of it and
include it with your deposit. I know my web page is extensive and it
may be difficult to find answers to all of your questions. If you find
conflicting prices, please check near the bottom of the page to see
when it was last updated and let me know about the error. In the last
5 years there has only been 2 major
price changes.
Donation Question: I am on a fundraising committee. Would you be
willing to donate a party for charity?
Answer: Usually I will make one donation per month. Please call 708-246-2329 or email to request a donation.
Other costumed themes that I can add with your $75 deposit and 3 weeks notice include:
For just $20 for any theme, I can provide you with a Do It Yourself Treasure Hunt (just scroll down once in the store).
Princess and Pirate Parites, Inc. currently runs and owns the following web sites:
Other sites might directly link to those above.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and visiting Princess
and Pirate Parties.
Ruth Princess
Owner and Creator of Princess and Pirate Parties, Inc.
back to Princess
and Pirate Parties home page
E-mail: ruth@4mybday.com
Copyright 2001 - 2007
All rights reserved
Party plans are for personal use only or for affiliate paying monthly dues
Dress-up Parties since 2001 and Cooking Parties since 1999
Web Page and Parties by Ruth of Princess and Pirate Parties, Inc.
Party Planners are independent affiliates with permission to use name,
logo and party plans.
All liabilities are the responsibility of the home owner or the party
facility.
We are providing a service in your home with your expressed permission
to conduct the described activities.
Disney Princess names, logos, and all related titles are a registered trademark of The Walt Disney Company©. All rights reserved. Other names, characters, images, trademarks and logos are protected by trademark rights, copyrights and other rights and are the property of their respective owners. These companies are suppliers to Princess and Pirate Parties, Inc.
