Build-A-Party? FAQs
Click on the questions below to see their corresponding answers.
What happens when a Build-A-Party cele-bear-ation?
At a scheduled party, each Guest makes their own stuffed animal friend! A party leader guides them through each step of the fun-filled bear-making experience. Plus, play special games available only during parties. Then, if you choose, your Guests can pawsonalize their new furry friends with hundreds of outfits and accessories like shoes, sunglasses, hats and even add a sound. They?ll walk out, hand-in-paw with a smile and a new best friend!
To have the fun of a Build-A-Party cele-bear-ation, a group must have 6 or more Guests.
What is included in a scheduled Build-A-Party cele-bear-ation?
We provide:
- a party leader to help keep your Guests entertained
- a photo for you to rememBEAR your party and a gift for the Guest of Honor
- a party favor for all party Guests, plus a virtual party favor on Bearville.com?
- plus, a virtual party room for your Cub Condo? house on Bearville.com?, complete with beary special gifts to share with friends
- printable invitations and thank you cards (must have latest version of Adobe Flash Player. Click here to download for free)
All party Guests can continue their friendship adventure at home when they bring their new furry friends to life online for FREE on Bearville.com and get cool virtual stuff! Learn more about Bearville?.
If you?re a Stuff Fur Stuff? club member, you get even more:
- You will earn 1 point for every $1 you spend at your party
- For every 100 points you earn, you will receive a $10 Reward Certificate
- 100 Bear Bills? to spend on cool virtual stuff on Bearville.com for every $1 you spend*
- A Build-A-Party celebration is a great way to earn points
Learn more about our FREE Stuff Fur Stuff club.
(Must be a Stuff Fur Stuff member at time of purchase to be eligible for rewards. Receipt code can be used to give Bear Bills to up to 5 online characters associated with your Stuff Fur Stuff account.)
*Bear Bills are not lawful tender in the United States and Canada and exist only for exchange in the virtual world of Bearville. Bear Bills may not be redeemed for cash, merchandise or other consideration. This is a promotion open only to residents of the United States and Canada and Bear Bills may not be transferred, or copied, and no facsimiles may be made, or presented for payment or redemption. This promotion may be discontinued at any time at the discretion of Build-A-Bear Retail Management, Inc.
How much is a Build-A-Party?
YOU set the price, starting at just $10 per Guest!
Your Guests can select an undressed animal priced from $10 to $25, then, choose optional outfits and accessories (additional $3 ? $15) to pawsonalize it even more! You only pay for the furry friends and fashions your Guests take home.
Just tell your pawsonal party planner what you?d like to spend and your party leader will ensure that each Guest has a great time while staying within your budget!
How do I schedule a party?
Book online using our Party Scheduler, visit over 400 stores worldwide or call a pawsonal party planner at (toll free) 1-877-789-BEAR (2327).
You?ll want to have the following information ready:
- Contact name, address and phone number
- Guest of Honor?s name and age
- Preferred party date and time and location, plus an alternate date and time
- Number of party Guests you?re inviting
- Price per Guest
- Deposit to reserve party date (credit card payment for online booking, credit card or check for booking in store or by phone)
Once you?ve booked your party, you can use your confirmation number to make changes online up to 2 weeks before your party date. For additional changes please call a pawsonal party planner at (toll free) 1-877-789-BEAR (2327).
Is a deposit required to book a party?
We do require a deposit to reserve your party date. It will be applied to your total cost on the day of your party. Credit cards are accepted for booking online, and credit cards and checks are accepted when booking by phone. Parties cancelled more than 24 hours prior to the party date are eligible for a full refund, or the deposit may be applied to another date of your choice.
If you?re hosting an Ultimate Build-A-Party cele-bear-ation at our New York City store, your private party room fee of $400 is also due when you book your party. Parties at this store must be cancelled within 48 hours of the party date for a full refund.
How many Guests do I need?
6 or more Guests are required for a scheduled Build-A-Party. If you would like to schedule a party with more than 19 Guests, please call (toll free) 1-877-789-BEAR (2327), so that we may make special arrangements.
If you?ve booked a private party room, or are hosting an Ultimate Build-A-Party celeBEARation at our New York City store, you will need a minimum of 10 and maximum of 20 Guests.*
After scheduling, if the number of party Guests increases or decreases by 5 or more, please call and let us know as far in advance of your party as possible.
How long will my party take?
Parties typically range from 1 ? 1? hours. This is only an estimate. The length of your party will depend on the number and age of Guests and any additional activity going on in the store at the time of your visit.
If you?ve booked a private party room Great Lakes Mall ? Mentor, OH or Concord Mills ? Concord, NC, you will have access to the room for up to 2 hours.
If you are hosting an Ultimate Build-A-Party celeBEARation at our New York City store, you will have access to your private party room for up to 2? hours.
It is helpful to use the Party Guest Name Me Planner to gather information from younger Guests prior to the party to ensure they are able to register their new furry friend in our Find-A-Bear? ID system.
Is the store closed to the public during my party?
All Build-A-Party cele-bear-ations take place in the store with other non-party Guests. However, your group will receive pawsonalized attention from your very own party leader who will keep your Guests together and entertained. *We do not allow the opening of presents in our stores.
Should supervising adults attend a child?s party?
An adult must be present at every Build-A-Bear Workshop party. We also request that a parent be present for every child 3 years of age or younger. It is not necessary for all parents of party Guests above the age of 3 to be in attendance during the party.
Can we bring food & drinks to the party?
We are not licensed to serve food and beverages in our stores. Click here to find a store and see a list of mall food partners that may offer a discount to your group. Call the participating restaurant for information on what may be offered for your party.
If you?ve booked a private party room, you may bring snacks such as cakes, cupcakes or cookies for your party Guests, but meals cannot be served.*
If you?re hosting an Ultimate Build-A-Party celeBEARation at our New York City store, your party includes a themed cake with juice. We also offer a Kosher option, as well as breakfast, snack and dessert platter options for adults. A store manager will contact you one week prior to your scheduled party to discuss food options and pricing.
*Private party rooms are only available at Great Lakes Mall ? Mentor, OH; Concord Mills ? Concord, NC; 5th Ave at 46th ? New York, NY.
Can I bring a clown, mime, fortune teller, etc. to my Build-A-Party cele-bear-ation?
Additional entertainment is not allowed because your party time will be super stuffed with pawsome party fun and making your own stuffed animal friends!
What is Bearville, and what is a virtual party room?
Bearville is our online world stuffed with fun! On Bearville.com, your party Guests can continue their friendship adventure at home when they bring their new furry friend to life online for FREE! They can play games, chat with friends, earn Bear Bills to shop for cool virtual stuff and more, all in our beary fun, beary safe virtual world, backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.
As a special virtual party perk, upon booking your party, you?ll get a FREE virtual party room for your Cub Condo house on bearville.com. You?ll choose one of three party themes ? Beachtime, Sporty Fun or Dance Party ? AND get matching themed gifts to share with your online friends!
To redeem your virtual party room, just log in to bearville.com and give your party confirmation number, party date and time to the associate in the virtual Build-A-Bear Workshop store. Your new room will automatically appear in your Cub Condo and you?ll get a beary special Bear Mail message with your themed gifts.
I?m a Stuff Fur Stuff club member, do I get special party benefits?
As a Stuff Fur Stuff club member, you will earn 1 point for every $1 you spend at your party. For every 100 points you earn, you will receive a $10 Reward Certificate. A Build-A-Party celebration is a great way to earn points.
Learn more about our FREE Stuff Fur Stuff club.
(Must be a Stuff Fur Stuff member at time of purchase to be eligible for rewards. Receipt code can be used to give Bear Bills to up to 5 online characters associated with your Stuff Fur Stuff account.)
Which stores offer private party rooms?
Private party rooms are available at the following stores: Great Lakes Mall ? Mentor, OH; and Concord Mills ? Concord, NC
The fee for a private party room is $25. This reserves the room for your group for up to 2 hours. It does not include the other costs of your party, such as furry friends, clothing, accessories or other party add-ons that you purchase for your Guests.
For just $5 more per Guest, you can get the V.I.B package that includes a drawstring backpack for each Guest and Build-A-Bear Workshop themed party goods.
Does not include Ultimate Build-A-Party cele-bear-ations at 5th Ave at 46th store.
My local Build-A-Bear Workshop store has a Private Party Room. Is there a fee to use the room?
Private party rooms are available at the following stores: Great Lakes Mall ? Mentor, OH; and Concord Mills ? Concord, NC
The fee for a private party room is $25. This reserves the room for your group for up to 2 hours. It does not include the other costs of your party, such as furry friends, clothing, accessories or other party add-ons that you purchase for your Guests.
For just $5 more per Guest, you can get the V.I.B package that includes a drawstring backpack for each Guest and Build-A-Bear Workshop themed party goods.
Does not include Ultimate Build-A-Party cele-bear-ations at 5th Ave at 46th store.
My party is being held in a private party room.* How will it be decorated?
Our beary festive party rooms are decorated in bright colors and teddy bear-themed d?cor. No additional decorations are necessary.
What is the purpose of the Party Guest Name Me Planner?
During your party, each Guest will create a birth certificate at our Name Me computer station. We will gather name and address information to allow Guests to register their furry friend in our Find-A-Bear? ID tracking system ? in case the friend is ever lost and returned to us we can hopefully ensure that it finds its way home!Because our younger party Guests may not know their address or other details, we suggest using the Party Guest Name Me Planner Party Guest Name Me Planner to obtain the information from the parents of your party Guests. Please let their parents know that all information submitted will follow our Privacy Policy Guidelines and that their child can make a certificate with only the child?s and animal?s names, but without the additional information we are unable to return lost friends. If the party Guests? parents approve, the child may choose to sign up to receive email/mail from us that will let them know about beary special events and offers such as birthday cards and fun promotions.
Will the store contact me to review my party details?
Yes, a store manager will call you within one week of your scheduled party to discuss your party options.
What is included in a scheduled Ultimate Build-A-Party cele-bear-ation at the BIGGEST Build-A-Bear Workshop store in the world at 5th Ave at 46th?
With this exclusive party experience, you get:
- A private party room*
- Themed cake with juice
- 3?5 group party photo for each Guest
- Three favors per Guest from the Build-A-Favor? cart and a drawstring backpack
- A special party Birth Certificate for each furry friend
- Postcard invitations and thank you notes
Plus, all the virtual party perks you get with a regular party AND if you?re a Stuff Fur Stuff? club member, you?ll get those benefits too!
*2 ? hour maximum
I?m having my party at the BIGGEST Build-A-Bear Workshop? store in the world at 5th Ave at 46th in NYC! Are the costs different?
Parties at 5th Ave at 46th still start at just $10 per Guest, but there are these pawsome party add-ons you can choose for an additional fee:
- 3?5 group photo for each Guest (up to 20 Guests) ? $10
- Three favors per Guest from the Build-A-Favor cart and a drawstring backpack ? $10 per Guest
Or, you may choose to host an Ultimate Build-A-Party cele-bear-ation ? available only at our New York City store! For $400* (plus the cost of the furry friends, outfits, accessories or any other party add-ons), your party includes:
- A private party room*
- Themed cake with juice
- 3?5 group photo for each Guest
- Three favors per Guest from the Build-A-Favor cart and a drawstring backpack
- A special party Birth Certificate for each furry friend
- Postcard invitations and thank you notes
Plus, all the virtual party perks you get with a regular party AND if you?re a Stuff Fur Stuff? club member, you?ll get those benefits too!
You can also choose to have a 15 minute visit by either Bearemy?, our huggable mascot, or Pawlette Coufur?, Fashion Advisor to the Furry Famous, for an additional $100.
*Does not include the cost of any merchandise.
*2 ? hour maximum
What additional items can I add to my party at the BIGGEST Build-A-Bear Workshop store in the world at 5th Ave at 46th in NYC?
Balloon Bouquets
Make your party more festive with our balloon bouquets. Choose from 3 themes. Starting at $50. Custom packages available for parties booking 2 or more private rooms.
Make-Your-Own Menu
- Bearemy?s Basic Bash ($10 per Guest)
- Entr?e: Slice of cheese pizza or sandwich
- Beverage: Mini bottle of water
- Sides: Fruit snacks or veggies and Goldfish crackers
- Utensils and Build-A-Bear Workshop placemats included.
Platters Fur Any Occasion ($55 per platter)
Platters serve up to 15 Guests
- Cheese Pizza Platter (cut into mini triangles)
- Veggie Platter with Ranch dip
- Fruit Platter
- Hummus Platter (3 types of Hummus with Pita Bread)
Dessert
- Assorted Honest Teas ?$2.50 each
- Assorted Vitamin Water? $2 each
- Bottled Water? $1 each
- Assorted Juice Boxes? $1 each
Ordering food includes reserved seating in Teddy Terrace. All food must be ordered by the Tuesday prior to your party. Outside food is not permitted.
Can I have a Build-A-Dino? Build-A-Party?
Yes, at select stores, your party Guests can have all of the fun of making a rockin? Friendosaur? dino. Learn more about Build-A-Dino parties.
If I have more questions, who can I contact?
Call (toll free) 1-877-789-BEAR (2327) or contact your local Build-A-Bear Workshop store.