"Dream" Birthday Parties

Just for fun-

When you were a kid, what kind of birthday party would you have had if you'd been able to choose anything you wanted? If money were no object and distance wasn't a problem? What about your child? If you could give her any birthday party she wanted, what would it be?

I can think of a few awesome parties off the top of my head that any kid (and parent!) would love. Yes, I know these are very unlikely unless you know someone and can shell out the cash, but it's fun for kids (and adults!) to dream.

Renting out a toy store. When I went to Harrods in London, they had entire floors dedicated to nothing but toys. I was 24 and there were a few stuffed animals that were bigger than I was, as well as a toy train set you could actually drive. Cool, huh? I think it would be every kid's dream to attend a lock-in or sleepover at a store with that many cool things that we don't normally get to play with. It's not just “kid stuff”, either; my husband was practically in heaven when he went with his family and saw the sheer number or puzzles and computers for sale! I would have enjoyed every minute of it.

For something a bit closer to home, FAO Schwartz has pretty much every toy you can think of. There is also a “cupcake decorating experience” that allows kids to make some of the best pastries they've probably ever had. Can you imagine how much fun a budding chef or cake connoiseur would have? The best thing about it is that they actually do host private parties! It would probably cost your firstborn son to book one but, like we said above, money is no object.

A TV or movie studio. When I was a kid, I would make up sketches and plays for my My Little Ponies to act out. Can you imagine what it would be like for a child to watch her favorite TV show being made and even have a “walk-on” part? It would probably be a story he would tell his friends over and over again and everyone still wouldn't believe him! A kid who loves trivia would probably enjoy being on Jeopardy or another game show. The good thing about that is that, while it might not happen very often, Jeopardy and shows like it actually do have children's competitions. 

A princess party in a real castle.  We don't have royalty in this country, but can you imagine what it would be like for your little girl and her friends to be able to dress up like princesses and live "that life" for a day? It would be a huge bonus to be "swept away" by a handsome prince!

Disney! I went with to Disneyworld with my family in 1999 and soon discovered that it would take several months of wandering around to see everything.

If you've ever been to Epcot Center, you'd know that that giant gray golfball has every “science=y” exhibit you can think of-exercise bikes that make you feel like you're riding though the city, “walkthroughs” of the human body, professional-grade video equipment etc. That's not even considering the Tour of Nations where you could taste the cuisines of several different countries while taking in a martial-arts show in “Japan” or walking through a kitschy “German” town.

In Animal Kingdom, they have ginormous aquariums and terrariums with animals most of us would only see on a National Geographic special. Can you imagine what it would be like for your child and his/her friends and family to spend the night next to an aquarium with manatees and a Manta ray? The latter looks pretty scary in pictures, but both are some of the most graceful animals you'll ever see. I'd love to lie down and nap next to a lion, but that's probably “pushing it”!

What kind of party would you have loved to have when you were a kid? Like I said, these things are rather unlikely to happen for most of us, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun to dream!