Kids Party Package: What's Included and What Costs Extra

What's usually in the package

National ranges, 2026. The "worth" column is what the venue would charge a walk-in for the same thing; it's the fastest way to see whether a $450 package for 12 kids is a deal (it usually is, by 10-25%).

What costs extra

• Extra kids over the minimum: $20-35 each. This is the biggest variable — read the pillar guide on minimum headcounts.
• Adults who participate: $10-20 each for jump or skate time; watching is free.
• Adult food: pizza is sized for kids. An extra large pizza for the parents is $18-28 at the venue's markup.
• Goodie bags: $3-6 each from the venue, and usually worse than $2 of candy and a sticker from a dollar store.
• Outside cake fee: $0-50 where allowed. Some venues allow only a cake; a full dessert table is almost always not allowed.
• Extra room time: $50-100 per 30 minutes, if the slot behind you is open.
• Character visit or add-on activity: $75-200.
• Tax and tip: sales tax on the package (6-10%) and $20-50 for the host.

The $399 package, itemized

• Package, 10 kids: $399
• 3 extra kids at $28: $84
• Pizza for the adults: $24
• Goodie bags, 13 at $4: $52
• Tax at 8% on $559: $45
• Host tip: $30
• Total: $634. Skip the venue goodie bags and bring a supermarket cake and it's about $560. Either way, the "$399 party" was never $399, and the venue never said it was.

Three questions that change the package

• "Is the cake included, and can I bring my own?" — the $30-90 swing and the one most parents forget to ask.
• "Does the birthday child count toward the minimum?" — sometimes yes, sometimes no; it's one $28 kid either way, but it changes which package you book.
• "What's the extra-child rate, and is there a cap?" — some venues cap the room at 20 or 25 kids and require a second package beyond it.

If the answers push the total past $700 for 15 kids, the backyard starts winning — the crossover math is in Kids Party at Home vs a Venue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a kids party package usually include?

Sixty to ninety minutes of the activity, a party room for 30-45 minutes, a host, cheese pizza and drinks for the kids, paper goods and a digital invitation. Cake is included at some venues and not most; goodie bags are almost always extra.

How much are extra kids at a party venue?

$20-35 per child over the package minimum in 2026. Since RSVPs are unreliable, budget for two or three extras beyond your confirmed count.

Do adults pay at a kids party venue?

Watching is free almost everywhere. Participating — jumping, skating, bowling — is $10-20 per adult. Adult food is extra and priced at the venue's markup.

Are goodie bags worth buying from the venue?

Rarely. Venue goodie bags run $3-6 and contain a few cents of candy and a sticker. Making your own for $1.50-2.50 each is cheaper and no worse.