Taller means better, right?

 
 
     When it comes to the the height of a slide, bigger does not mean better. Every manufacturer makes their slides a little differently which means not every 21' slide is equal to other 21' slides. Some manufacturers make their slides taller by adding unnecessary height. They make a rainbow, or a tree, or a log, anything that can add overall height to make it more appealing to buyers and then to renters, but not add anything to the actual slide itself.
 
 
       Let's use our 21' tall Rockin' Rapids vs our 19' tall Tiki Island for example. Both are manufactured by the same company and are supposedly the same slide just different themes. The Rockin' Rapids is by far my personal favorite waterslide. It is the biggest, the fastest, and is the most fun I have ever had on a waterslide. It stands at 21' tall, and when you stand on the top platform you can see over some of your neighbors' houses. It is truly awesome.  The Tiki Island waterslide is the same slide just a different theme. The platform height is the same height and the actual slide area is a mirror image to the Rockin' Rapids. However the Tiki Island measures 19 feet tall, 2 feet shorter. That is because there is a few small logs on top of the Rockin' Rapids that add to the total height of the slide. It doesn't actually add any height to the slide but when you quickly look at the 2 waterslides, you automatically assume the Rockin' Rapids is bigger.
 
     When we look to buy new waterslides, we do a lot of research. There are several companies that add a faux decoration to the top of the slide to make it appear bigger than it really is. Some slides are actually equivalent to a 15 foot slide but advertise as an 18 foot slide just because it has a wave or dolphin or fish added to the top of it.  Although the Rockin' Rapids is one of those slides that has a (for lack of a better term) false height, we do not advertise ours as a 21 foot tall slide. We advertise ours as a 19 foot tall slide. Not everyone, and I mean no one else, in the valley does this but us. Sure it may decrease our sales but we will not lure customers into thinking they will be getting a much larger slide than they will actually get.

     Not all slides are created equal and just because it is advertised as an 18 foot slide does not mean it is equal to all other 18 foot slides. When calling around and looking for a slide don't just ask for the height. Ask for the platform height. A good rule of thumb is the platform height should be 8 feet or less than the total height of the slide. The best advise is use a reputable company, look at reviews and make sure you can trust what they say.

                                                 
                                                   
                                                 

Reviews?! I ain't got no time for that!

     Christmas time is here and we are all doing the same thing. Trying to find something online for a better price. We all shop around trying to find the same item for the cheapest price or comparing similar items trying to get the best deal. I don't know about you but every time I am price matching online, I get anxiety. "Get free shipping!" As long as you don't need it before Christmas, in which case the shipping fees may be higher than the item you are buying. Trying to remember what website I saw that has what model or brand. I can't keep track anymore so I just choose one with a picture of what I want and in the price range I want to buy it. Well, if you are like me than you know we don't always get exactly what we think we are getting. I have opened a package or two very disappointed saying "This is not what I ordered."  Unfortunately hidden in the "I have read and accepted the policies" button you find out that it is what you ordered and the picture you thought you were getting is "not an accurate depiction of the item".

     You know where I am going with this, I am sure. No matter how much we tell ourselves to check the reviews on a company, we don't. The sites aren't useful because all they do is show the few best reviews, leading you to believe that they are a reputable company. A company always seems great when there are no problems but their true colors come out when there is an error or return on the line. Some companies have great reviews, 5 stars, but all the reviews are from a "Google user" and there are only 5 reviews when the business has been around for 5 years. Hmmm, one review a year. When I am in a hurry I don't think twice, but as I am looking at a remote control helicopter that is 1/4 the size it's supposed to be and held together with twist ties and fishing wire, I now know there is more to the story. Some companies will delete their profile and start a new one if they cannot get the bad reviews removed. And of course, the anonymous reviews. A few I can understand but 1/2 to 3/4 if not all.......I say again, Hmmmm. Why doesn't someone want their name tied to a 5 star review? All red flags that leads to the thought, "I should've known better" and my favorite "Hindsight is 20/20".

     Unfortunately, I know several bounce house companies that are advertising equipment they don't even own on their website. I know this because the pictures are of my equipment. They are showing you a well kept, clean and maintained bounce house, slide or obstacle course and delivering you something else. If you ask them why it looks different, their answer is "oh we have several different models but they are all the same really." We also get at least two calls a month stating that the company they reserved with just cancelled on them last minute. Planning a party for your kids is stressful enough, especially around the holidays. You don't need any doubts on your inflatable company. Do a little research and make sure the company you are using will provide you not only with a great inflatable but a great experience.

P.S. Dreamland Bouncers has 5.0 Google review with 47 reviews. 5/5 star Yelp rating with 12 reviews, 4.9 star Facebook rating with 110 reviews.  After every rental, we email a review survey as well, to make sure we are doing our job correctly. For 2016, we have an overall satisfaction of 99.3%. Not to toot my own horn, but we do pride ourselves on providing great customer service.

Going the extra mile

       For those of you that have used us in the past, you know we pride ourselves on the cleanliness of our equipment. During the week, we inflate the equipment and spend quite a bit of time vacuuming and sanitizing just about every square inch of our bouncers (including the outside and places kids cannot even touch). We do everything possible to ensure the equipment you reserve is in the BEST possible condition that we can provide. Occasionally, the equipment is used the day before and we have to clean it when we deliver it. We will not leave it dirty and will make sure that it is up to the quality you expect from us before we let your kids in to play. You also know that we don't make it a regular practice to rent our equipment twice in the same day. This helps ensure you are getting a clean inflatable and a quality worth paying for.
       Occasionally, and I do mean it is rare, we will double book an inflatable but only when it will benefit all parties involved. This past weekend was one of those times. One of our customers wanted a Shopkins party for their little girl. But, we did not have a modular inflatable to put the banner on so they accepted a princess theme. Fortunately, there was 2 Frozen themed parties that were perfectly timed so we were able to double up Frozen Combo. With some extra hard work by our employee and friend Jose, we were able to give both parties a clean Frozen Combo and surprise a little girl with a Shopkins Combo for her birthday. Whenever it possible, we will always go the extra mile to give you the best possible party experience. That is what separates us from our competition and will always be a driving force of our company.  Thank you.

Monsoon season

    Wow, it has been a while since I posted on this blog. I am sorry. The purpose of blog is less to do about self promotion and all to do about ensuring you get the best party experience.  I will make sure that I do a better job giving you hints and tips that help you choose the best equipment and activities for your party.
    Arizona has over 300 days of clear sunshine. Most of the summer is just plain HOT, but those that say "at least it is a dry heat" are obviously forgetting about monsoon season. Humidity, early evening thunderstorms, flash floods and haboobs. All of these are issues that trump the heat in my book. You can always beat the heat. The kids keep cool on the waterslide, parents (that don't go on the waterslide) keep cool in the shade with an evap cooler or go inside with the air conditioning.  Monsoons though, can threaten the success of your party. Those storm clouds build up and before you know it, a haboob is on its way. With winds over 40 mph and enough force to damage roofs, push over trees and yes, even send an inflatable flying. When the wind picks up or a haboob rolls in, the inflatable must be put down which will hit the pause or even stop button on your party. 
     Most people book an inflatable for their party about 2 to 3 weeks in advance and there is no way to predict the weather that far out. But the easiest way to beat the monsoon weather is start and end your party earlier.  Here are a few reasons why starting your party at noon and ending at 4 pm is a good idea.

  1) Most monsoon storms or haboobs occur in the early evening. In our experience, if a storm is going to pick up, it will occur at +/- 5 pm. Having your party end at 4 will ensure you and your guests have had adequate time to enjoy the inflatable before a storm hits.
  2) If there is no storm, this will maximize your time with the inflatable. Most companies, like ours, will add extra time both before and after the event which benefits both you and the inflatable company. It allows you plenty of time to enjoy the inflatable and allows the company to create the most efficient delivery and pick up schedule. 
   3) The 4-5 o'clock hour is the hottest part of the day.
   4) The temperature can remain above 100° until the 10 o'clock hour. Although it dark out it is still hot.

    If the weather does turn for the worst, it is better to not risk it and turn off the inflatable. Bounce houses, waterslides, or any inflatable is not able to be used in winds of excess of 20 mph.
    Although the weather it is unpredictable, we at Dreamland Bouncers constantly watch the weather and will help you make the best decision as to what the weather may be like for your party. If you are considering an inflatable for your party during monsoon season and have questions or concerns about the weather, please give us a call. We will be happy to help you find the best equipment, time frame or even back up ideas to ensure your child's party will be a successful one.

Featured product

The first featured product is.......the Snow Cone Machine!  What?!? Snow cones in January? Are you serious?  Yes, yes I am. The snow cone machine is awesome for 3 big reasons. First, it's snow cones. They are fantastic anytime of the year. Sugar filled snowy goodness that leaves kids' mouths, teeth and tongues bright red, blue and/or purple. They taste great. Sure it may be January but it is Arizona. This weekend has a high of 78°. We have it pretty good here and what would better than a nice frozen treat to celebrate this perfect weather.
       Second, there is an activity that is highly underutilized...the snow ball fight. The snow cone machine isn't just for eating, it's for throwing. What would be better than watching your kids run around throwing snowballs at each other? Now I am sure you may think that they can become an ice ball but rest assured that is not so. Once the ice is ground down the shaved ice doesn't freeze together as a frozen ball rather it is a ball of slush.  Depending on how much you make, the snow ball fight can last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. If you do not want them throwing snow balls at each other, then take a piece of chalk and draw a target on your back wall. If you are an artist, draw Prince Hans on the wall to throw at. Or do what I do, emphasize no throwing any snow balls at "kids". Soon they will realize you are not a kid and have them chase you around throwing the snow balls at you. Make sure you have a good clear path to run once they figure that out though.
   Lastly, any left over syrup is yours to keep. Anytime you want a treat or reward for your kids, just throw some ice in a blender and BAM! Snow cones. The syrup also has another very useful purpose. Are you familiar with the movie Mary Poppins? Well, a spoonful of sugar (syrup) makes the medicine go down in the most delightful way. If you kids are anything like mine, they hate the taste of the medicine no matter what the flavor is you buy. The snow cone syrup is just sugar, flavoring and water, so you can add it to any of your kids' liquid medicine for a better taste.
   I hope you consider adding the snow cone machine to your next rental. It is a wonderful addition to party and when used to its full potential, it will leave a lasting memory for you and your child.

Flu bug strikes again.

    For many of you that have used our services for your party, you may know that I am a full-time paramedic. I love my job. I have always wanted to be a paramedic and it is a calling that I was happy to answer. I enjoy being there to help and I take a great amount of pride when I make a difference in someone else's life. We are in the middle of Flu season and boy, it is going around fast. I have been on countless flu-like emergency calls and my wife has been fighting a cough and congestion for weeks now. I have been fortunate not to have caught it. That is until today. As a paramedic I am exposed to sick people daily and my immune system is normally very efficient at keeping me healthy. But today, the flu has gotten the better of me and it came on FAST. You would think as a healthcare professional I would've been able to prevent this or at least hit it hard before it decided to come on strong but alas I am just as susceptible to the flu as anyone else. It also went from a minor irritant to making me a full blown cry baby in the matter of hours. Yes, like most grown men I am kinda of a cry baby when I am sick. Stuffy heads, runny noses, coughing, headaches, that overall funk that we feel, it is just unbearable at times. No one likes being sick or even seeing their loved ones being sick. No matter how hard we try to prevent it, we just cannot escape the flu. You may also notice it comes at the worst possible time. I can't tell you how many times either the parents or kids get the flu just days before your party. Almost as if the flu knows you have something big coming up.
        If anyone understands the flu and how it effects your party, it's us. That is why we don't require deposits and why we spent so much time cleaning our inflatables. You cannot predict the weather, your families health or events that will lead to you needing to cancel or postpone the party. While some companies require deposits and then have all kinds of rules as to how much you get back if you cancel, we don't do that. We are parents as well and we know the stresses of planning a party. That is why we don't want to add any stress. We watch the weather leading up to your party so we can give you the best options. We call 3-4 days ahead to make sure everything is on track and your kids are healthy. If not we work with you to find your best option. And if that means cancelling or postponing the party so you and/or your kids can get healthy, then we support that. We are here to help you and do what's best for you.
         I also want to touch on our cleaning. We pride ourselves on our quality and cleanliness of the inflatables. We spend quite a lot of time ensuring our equipment is wiped, vacuumed and sanitized after every party. We spent countless hours cleaning every square inch of the inflatables with a anti-bacterial cleaner, both inside and out. We will never let our equipment sit for weeks at time, waiting for it to be rented again so we can clean it "on-site". Although due to it being rented the day or 2 before, we will clean it on site, but it is definitely not what we try to do. If we can clean it at our warehouse with a commercial vacuum and and all our best resources, we will. You can also rest assured that if we need to clean it at your party site, we will do so just as diligently as we would at our warehouse. I would never let dirty inflatable or a "good enough" inflatable be rented out to you and your family.
     When you make a reservation with Dreamland Bouncers, we will do everything in our power to make your party as stress free as we possibly can. You can bet our equipment will be clean and sanitized. You can also know that no matter what life throws at you, we will be here to help you with your party.

January Slide Month

     I am sure it is obvious that I am not much of a blogger. I only have a few posts and they are pretty spaced apart. I find it hard to write articles that I think people would be interested in. I was never much of an author but I am passionate about our products and parties. I hope to change our minimal posts to frequent ideas, quick tips and highlighting a products. So to kick off the new year, I will write about our current special. 

     January is Slide Month here at Dreamland Bouncers. I know what you are thinking, "But Steve, aren't your slides waterslides? It's winter, won't the kids freeze?" The answer is, of course not. Almost all of our slides are wet OR dry. They can be used year round and to be honest, I think they are just as fun dry as they are when wet. We chose January because of the weather. The vinyl is much stiffer and the kids are usually wearing fleece products which make the slides faster. We also use a product that decreases the friction and really makes the kids fly down the slide. I call it my Griswold spray, those of you that love Christmas Vacation will understand. All these things combined make the slides super fast and incredibly fun. 

      Kids will also gravitate to the slides more often. When we have public events, the kids always want to be on the slide. They can ride it over and over and over again. Slides have a high output of riders so it doesn't take very long to climb up and slide down, and it also means the wait time really isn't very long as well. 

      We also extended our special to include our interactive inflatables. Our obstacle courses, bungee cord run and Volcano Rock Wall are great for all ages especially the bigger kids. Again, at public events, these inflatables always have the longest lines and most repeat riders versus combos & bounce houses. The best part of having these inflatables for your private party is the amount of times you can ride them. You can ride these inflatables all your hearts desire. The obstacle course is my favorite inflatable we have. It is high intensity, great for younger kids, older kids and the young of heart adults. They are incredibly fun and your kids will not want to get off it. 

     If you are interested in reserving a Slide, Obstacle course, Bungee cord run or the Volcano Rock Wall, give us a call and mention the slide month special and we will take $50 off your order. This is good for private parties in the month of January. No matter what the age, an inflatable brings excitement, fun and memories that will last a lifetime to your next party. 

     Follow us on our social media sites to get up to date pictures, videos and the latest deals. We are on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The holidays are coming upon us so fast and wow, it's already Christmas time. Well, Thanksgiving did get pushed in there right after Halloween. How many aisles of Christmas stuff is there already at the store?  The Turkey kind of got pushed aside!

With the holidays, comes time with friends, family and those we hold dear. Many celebrate with food or football where as some spend their time planning the best Black Friday sales and deals.  However you choose to spend your time this holiday season, it will be good no matter what you do.

This week, I am thinking of Thanksgiving at our house.  We host the family dinner each year and I really like looking forward to having everyone at our house.  I don't do the cooking as my husband does, but I do go crazy making sure the house is clean and organized.  I know that our family does not care if my bed is made, but for some reason, I only make my bed when people are coming over.  And I put away the toys and tidy up the rooms as if family cares if the toys are out. Everything is going to be played with as soon as the cousins come through the door!  I guess I feel that I need to put on my "best" when guests are coming over so I will spend my morning running around and making sure everything is just so. Whereas my husband will be in the kitchen making the turkey and mashed potatoes with everything single pot we have.  Oh, but it tastes so good!

After dinner, we will sit around and look at the specials and deals for shopping and watch football. Usually we will have a bounce house or slide up in the backyard so the kids can burn off some of that energy and turkey.  Then of course, there is always the second go around of the turkey and pie a few hours later when you have just a little bit more room in your stomach.

I am looking forward to this week with the food, family, fun and then putting up Christmas decorations too.  I wish you all a wonderful week!

What kind of party are you having?  A baby shower, child's birthday party, graduation party, wedding?  There are so many reasons to host a party that sometimes we miss having people over just because.  In today's world of scheduling and play dates and online calendars, do we often make the time to just get together?  Everything seems to be so scheduled around activities, work, and well, stuff.  The best nights we have is meeting up with the neighbors in the driveway and end up talking for a few hours because we can.  And we didn't have to clean the house, load up the car or plan a fancy meal.  I understand that there are responsibilities and commitments we all have and I am not saying to toss those out the window but sometimes the best things are unplanned.  I think that putting the camp chairs in the driveway is a great way to get together and have a party too.  Bring out the grill and burgers and there you go!  Now, if you know a neighbor who happens to have a bounce house or a waterslide, well that can't hurt either but you know, one thing at time!

Upcoming Party

So your child is having a birthday soon, what kind of party do you throw?  Well, I think there are many questions to ask yourself first such as: Who will be coming? When can we have the party? Should we invite friends and family?  What is our budget?

Our daughter is turning 9 in a month so we asked ourselves some of those questions.  The biggest question for me is who will be coming.  Now that she is in school, there are many classmates that she would like to invite. There are friends in her class and friends in other classes so we have to figure out how many to invite. We do not want to hurt any feelings nor be selective but I am not sure if inviting all fourteen girls from the third grade class is a good idea.  But then I am reminded that only ten percent of that fourteen with RSVP and maybe half will actually come.  So that isn't so bad. Plus there are other friends that she would like to come so if ten girls came, that would be great.

In counting up party guests, we have to add our family too. With cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandmas coming, our guest list has just grown exponentially.  We know that our family will come to the party because they are family and that is just what we do for birthdays in our house.  Now adding 25 more people with children has gotten a guest list of almost 50 people.

Having a party for 50 people is not too hard in our family where hamburgers on the grill and soda in the cooler works just fine.  But what if classmates' parents decide stay?  Now we have to think about their food and drinks, chairs, tables, etc.  So should I plan for 60?  But wait, I didn't even invite the neighbors and their kids too.  Okay, maybe now I'm up to 75 or 80 people?

My husband thinks we should do a party activity like a large movie screen or have a magician come.  I am entertaining the magician idea because for a total of one hour, he walks around showing tricks to the party guests then provides a show and interacts with the kids.  Magic is always fun no matter the age.  Whether you can catch the magician in his act or just be entertained and wonder, magic is always a good time.  And for one hour to ninety minutes of entertainment, that might be a good idea.

We will have an inflatable obstacle course up for the kids to play on too. I think that we do need to have something else going on during the party before the magician comes. With the obstacle course, then various ages can play and race a friend to see who has the fastest course time. Maybe I should give prizes away for that?

In looking at all that would go on for this party, I am thinking that I may not want to prepare all of the food as it is a lot of work and money in the end. I saw an advertisement for a hot dog vendor to come to your party.  How fun is that?  They bring the cart, food and serve it during your party. No prep work for me!  Just sit back and eat a hot dog.  I need to look into this further but a hot dog cart may be coming to my backyard soon.

I am not sure what we will decide in the end, but the goal is to make our 9 year old (middle child) have a fun and special birthday party.  Now onto planning her 10th birthday party huh?

Safety

     Recently in New York there was a incident involving a bounce house that injured 3 children. This has brought up questions and concerns to many parents about the how safe a bounce house truly is. You can look up on YouTube and see many inflatables being blown away. Many are staked down appropriately, but the 2 key factors are a good rental company and adult supervision. First, in New York the inflatable that was blown away was a toy inflatable that one could get from a large super-center or big box store. It was blown away most likely because it was not adequately staked down and put up in unsafe weather conditions. The stakes provided in the store bought inflatables are no better than small tent stakes. We at Dreamland Bouncers always put safety first. We have some the best and safest equipment manufactured. We have commercial grade equipment with reinforced anchor points, made by the best manufacturers that take safety as serious as we do. We watch weather conditions and get the most up to date weather conditions possible. We always use 18" stakes to secure our bouncers and waterslides and we also use extra stakes on windy conditions to ensure it stays on the ground. We go over the rules and let parents know what signs to look for so they know that the weather has become too unsafe to use.  If the weather does turn bad, we go over the steps to ensure the kids stay safe and the inflatable gets deflated quickly so it would stay on the ground. Having your own small bouncer is an easy way to entertain the kids but there is a lot more to it than just putting it up and walking away. When you want an inflatable up at your next party, make sure you get a good quality product from a good reputable company. The good rental company can make all the difference in the world.

What to do in the summer...

As summer is approaching, many of us wonder what we are going to do with the kids once school is out.  What activities do you plan to do for their time off?  Do you plan any vacations? Do you enroll them in swimming lessons? Is there going to be any relaxing during the summer?

Many parents try to find ways to keep their families busy in the summer months. From swimming lessons to summer camps to trips to the beach, we are always trying to find ways to fill those summer days. What happened to just enjoying the time off?

Here in Arizona, we do look for ways to cool down and stay out of the heat during the summer with the kids.  Going to the movies is often a summer activity and anything else that is in the air conditioning too.

Also in the summer, people are gathered around water whether that is the family pool, the city pool or even just the sprinkler in the yard.  For us, a water slide is the way to go! We will often put up an inflatable water slide in the backyard and the kids will slide for hours.  And the adults will give it a try too. :-)  Some good family fun while trying to stay cool is how our family likes to enjoy the summer days.

Party Theme

New movies, new toys, new party themes.  With so many great kids movies and  television shows these days, everyone has a favorite character.  So do you like The Avengers, Despicable Me, Monster High, Super Mario Bros, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? What will your party theme be?  Once you decide on your party theme, then it is time to go shopping. Hitting your local party or big box store to find the best decorations for your party is a must. Now, do you buy streamers, tablecloths, cups or a pinata?  But what if you can't find your favorite character?  Many online sites do offer a large variety of party supplies to suit your specific theme if you don't find what you are looking for at your local store.  But how much do you spend?  In the end, those matching napkins and plates sure do add up.  But they match everything right?  As a parent, I have bought every matching party supply to make sure our party looked great. And the kids really cared that it all matched right?  Ha!

In the end, no matter what your party theme is, there is a party decoration somewhere for you.  Happy decorating and planning!

Birthday Parties and the Holidays

The holidays are coming and so are family parties.  Do you just add your birthday party onto Thanksgiving or Christmas? Do you just celebrate the birthday child and the holiday at the same time?  I mean, family and friends are already there right?  I know there are many kids out there who do have their birthday parties Thanksgiving weekend or Christmas time so it does make sense.  It is cost effective too. And, everyone is already at your house!  Now, there are some kids who would rather have their birthday moved to July so that way it could be celebrated apart from the holidays. I know that is not always possible but at least their birthday is still made special because everyone is there to celebrate.  Many families just lump everything together and who doesn't like pumpkin pie and birthday cake at the same time?  Anyhow, no matter the day, family, friends and celebrations are what is important so eat up and have a great time!

The weather is getting nicer outside and that means lots of people will be heading to their local parks. The city and community parks offer lots of space for your party guests including tables, ramadas, and playgrounds.

Many city parks do require you to reserve your space with a permit so make sure you check that out before your party day to ensure you have the spot you would like.  Some of the reservations do have a fee attached so plan your party appropriately with that cost. Also, some cities rent the spaces in certain time increments so do check when you will be allowed to use the space and when you need to leave the space for the next reservation.

Many parks are limited on the electrical outlets that are available so you may want to see what needs you have and what the park offers. Generators are a common site at parks in order for you to plug in your rentals items like a  bounce house, or your personal crockpots and radios.  Many cities require you to provide a generator if you have other items to plug in as they do not allow you to use their electrical outlets nor can they guarantee the outlets working properly.

The cooler weather brings parties outside and what a great way to celebrate!

Halloween is coming and that means lots of candy and parties too!  This year, Halloween falls on a Thursday so what day are you going to have your party?  Many people decide to have their party on a Saturday or  Friday night which makes sense for availability of the masses.  Many people will still have their Halloween party on Halloween night when the kids are ready to Trick-or-Treat and the pumpkins are glowing.

One safe way to host a party at home is to include an activity for the kids and the adults too.  Many play games like pin the nose on the pumpkin or bobbing for apples. A bounce house can also be another way to keep the kids entertained and the adults able to enjoy the party.  A bouncer can have a Halloween theme with Frankenstein, a witch or pumpkins to add to your party decorations.  Or the jumper can have ghosts and goblins in order to make the scene a bit more spooky.  What ever you decide to have for a theme, a bounce house is a good way to let the kids and the adults have a good time at your Halloween party.

Party Tents

New party tent coming next week!  We recently ordered a white, 20x20 pole tent that can fit in most Arizona backyards. If you want to add a little something extra to your party, a tent may be it.  Party tents are great for adding extra shade from the sun, or simply setting your party area.  A 20x20 tent can fit 3-4 tables underneath it to provide additional seating for your guests. The tents are about 7 feet tall at the lowest point so the average person has plenty of height clearance.

You can also had so many decorative lighting choices now to make your tent special. From spot lights, uplights, or twinkle lights, your tent can fit any type of setting.

And don't forget to add an evaporative cooler to cool your tent down in the summer  months too.  At little extra air conditioning can make your guests feel more comfortable.

Consider renting a party tent next time your have a backyard party to create a bit more drama to your party!

Sno Cones and Snow Balls

Have you ever had a snow ball fight in the middle of the summer?  Why not?  Sno cones and snow balls are a great way to cool down in our Arizona heat.

What do you need to make a snow ball?  Stop by your local convenience store and pick up a bag of crushed ice, maybe two bags if you want.  Once you get home, set the ice outside to melt just a little bit so it crushes better.  Get your sno cone machine set up and ready to go.  Then pour in the ice and soon, snow appears.  Sculpt your snow into the desired size and put in a cooler. Continue to make balls until you have enough balls for a good fight.  The best thing to do is to not tell the other party guests that a snow ball fight is coming as the moment of surprise is always fun.

Once you have used all of your snow balls, then you can proceed in making tasty sno cones. Get your snow, put it in a cup and add syrup. Instant fun!

After your snow ball party, you will have had the "coolest" party in town!

Dreamland Bouncers 480-788-JUMP(5867)
www.dreamlandbouncers.com

Being prepared for your next party

     When we think about being prepared for a party, we think food, snacks, decorations. When we think of the weather, we just look at weather.com to see if a storm is coming. But do we really look at the summer monsoon weather? It is all too common to have clear hot afternoons and stormy nights here in the Phoenix area. Not to mention the wall of dust being brought into the valley by high winds. When you look at the weather, all you get is an average daily look. The weather could call for clear skies and a chance of rain of 20%. But when you dive deeper into the specifics you may be surprised to see late afternoon showers and higher percentage of rain almost everyday.  Or the monsoon will be unpredictable and not even show up for one night and the evening will be perfect.
     I may not be a meteorologist, but I know that the heat and humidity go up throughout the day. At night, all of that heat and humidity builds up into a storm. Most days the storm is small, light cloud cover and mild winds. Some days it builds into a fast, furious quick storm. I have been in the inflatable bouncer and waterslide business for about 5 years now, and I have noticed that pattern. Hot, clear days and stormy nights. For the most part, the storms seem to come into the valley around 5 pm. This is real helpful when you are trying to plan a party. If you know when the storms normally come into town, then you can make sure your party will end in enough time for you to have fun and clear out before the winds and rain come in.
     Here at Dreamland Bouncers, during the monsoon season, we recommend that you plan your party to end around 3 or 4 pm. This will ensure if the monsoon does build up, you can have all of your fun in sun and get cleaned up before mother nature makes a mess of things.
     For those who want later parties, please understand the risks. We are not just talking about napkins and cups being blown around. We are talking about the safety of your kids and guests. For example, our 2 lane waterslide, the Master Blaster, weighs in at a monstrous 450 pounds. When you turn on the water and fill the pools, it adds up to 1200-2000 pounds of water weight. Even when the unit is properly staked down (using 18" large stakes can add 500 lbs of strength per stake), the wind can get the slide either tipped over or blown away. You don't need a hurricane to blow over an inflatable. Don't believe that wind can be that damaging. Just take a look after the monsoon hits as you will see broken branches and tipped over trees. If the wind can do that to a tree, just think what it can do to a vinyl, air filled balloon. After the wind does get a hold if it, the inflatable can still cause a lot of damage. Remember, although it is made up of vinyl, the inflatable still weighs up to a ton. That is a lot of weight that is being thrown about by the wind and can cause some pretty serious injuries and damage.
      So remember when you start planning a party in the monsoon season, it is better to start around 11 am and end around 3 pm. As unpredictable as our Arizona weather can be, we want you to have a wonderful party regardless of what time of day your party is.  We want you to be aware of the weather for your party date to ensure the inflatables can be used safely and enjoyed for the duration of your party.



If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dreamland Bouncers. 480-788-JUMP (5867)

Anniversary Special

On 8/15/11, Dreamland Bouncers celebrated it's 4 year anniversary and we would like to celebrate it with you. For all past customers who are Facebook fans, we are offering you 25% off your rental. For Facebook fans that are non-past customers we are offering 10% off your rental. A reservation must be made from 8/15/11-8/19/11. That's right it is only available for a week. BUT the special is available for any rental from 8/15/11-12/31/11. ANY rental for rest of the year!! So if you know when your party is going to be, give us call and reserve it. 

    This offer is good for residential private parties only. This excludes all public, corporate and HOA events. Delivery fees and attendant fees will not be discounted. Special applies only toward the equipment and concessions.

   Call Dreamland Bouncers for more info. 480-788-JUMP (5867).