The Worst Birthday Party Experience -- Save Your Money!
I…read morewould not recommend Whatz Up in Seven Points, TX, especially for a birthday party. What should have been a fun, memorable celebration for our grandson turned into a stressful, upsetting, and very expensive experience.
The outside of the building appeared run-down and dirty, which was not a great first impression.
Our grandson's mom had paid a deposit weeks in advance and had been sent a picture of the party room. When we arrived, the room looked nothing like the picture. We questioned whether we had been given the wrong room, only to be told that the picture they had sent was an old photo. If customers are paying a deposit and planning a party in advance, they should be given an accurate picture of the room they will actually be using.
We decorated the room anyway, only to discover that there was no working air conditioning. It was hot throughout the party, making an already disappointing situation even more uncomfortable for the children and guests.
We had requested the complete three-hour package, including go-karts and the other activities. However, there were problems from the start. The staff took a while to bring the children their activity passes, and when they finally did, they handed out cards instead of wristbands. After about 20-30 minutes, some of the children returned because their cards would not work on the go-karts and some of the other attractions.
We were then told that the children had been given the wrong items and should have received wristbands instead. When their mom asked the staff to correct the mistake, she was told that the cards could only be exchanged for the remaining unused credits. She eventually agreed to pay extra for wristbands so the children could enjoy the activities they had been promised.
As a result, the cost ended up being more than double what she had originally been quoted. She also had to purchase additional food beyond what was included in the package. By the time everything was added up, she had paid over $500 for the party.
To make matters worse, the staff would not provide the wristbands until she paid the entire balance upfront, even though the confusion over the activity passes had resulted from their own mistake. After she signed and the charge had already gone through her bank, staff asked to see her driver's license, saying that the signatures did not match. She signed again, but the situation continued to escalate.
Management then accused her of being rude and called the sheriff's department to have her removed from the building. She was told to leave, and no refund was offered, even though the children still had more than an hour and a half remaining to enjoy the activities included in the package.
Imagine spending hundreds of dollars to celebrate your child's birthday, trying to resolve problems that arise during the party, and ending up being told to leave before the paid activities are finished. That is not how a family should be treated.
Our family and friends had also spent money on activity cards and wristbands. After what happened, everyone left, and the money spent on those activities was essentially wasted.
What should have been a happy birthday celebration for our grandson turned into a day of frustration and disappointment for the entire family. Instead of enjoying the celebration, we were dealing with an uncomfortable party room, incorrect activity passes, unexpected additional charges, and a confrontation with management.
Mistakes can happen at any business, but how those mistakes are handled matters. We expected the staff to work with us to resolve the problem, especially since we had paid for a complete package. Unfortunately, that was not our experience.
Based on what happened, I would strongly encourage families to carefully consider their options before booking a birthday party here. I would not host another party at this location, and I cannot recommend it based on our experience.
Our grandson deserved a fun birthday celebration, and our family deserved better for the money we spent.