My daughter's 7th birthday was December 20. We decided to hold her birthday party at Goldfish Swim School in Lakewood Ranch this year. It was the perfect birthday location for my little fish as she loves to swim - she could actually swim before she could walk! She has always wanted to have a pool party for her birthday but never could because, well, the water is pretty cold in December. But then we found out about Goldfish Swim School and their indoor heated pool (heated to 90 degrees year-round) and the rest is history! We were sold!
Having 3 children I have had lots of experience with planning birthday parties and, while I love the end result, I really hate all of the planning and running around, not to mention setting everything up and then cleaning up the mess at the end of the party. I have to say that planning this party with Goldfish was super easy and stress-free! Everything was done for me - all I had to do (literally!) was just show up on the day of the party. I actually kept feeling like I was missing something because I wasn't running around like I had for previous parties - worrying about invitations and decorations and ordering cakes. Goldfish did it all for me - they truly took all of the stress out of planning the party and for once I could sit back and enjoy it from beginning to end.
Easy and Stress-Free
The party package includes all of the following for 24 guests:
- Invitations to your party and matching envelopes
- Two hours of private access to the facility
- Certified lifeguards on duty to oversee all pool activities
- Cupcakes and beverages for the children
- Centerpieces, balloons and tropical decorations
- Forks, napkins, cups, plates and table coverings
The invitations were super cute and fun to fill out!
Party Fun and Pool Safety
The party was ready when we arrived - the school already has a fun tropical flair to it with beach huts and tropical music playing, and our table was set up with matching cups and plates and a colorful tablecloth. As a nice touch, all kids received a lei upon their arrival to the party and a balloon at the end of the party.
The party itself is 1 hour and 20 minutes of fun time in the pool and then 40 minutes to eat and open presents. There are 2 certified lifeguards provided so you don't even have to worry about keeping an eye on your kids (although if your child is under 5 years old it is required that a parent stay with them in the pool). Life jackets are also available. Kids can swim, play pool games or enjoy all of the fun pool toys that are available. They especially loved the little slide and paddling around on all of the foam boats and cars.
You also get a party coordinator and ours was awesome! Gina checked in with us once we had booked the party to go over all of the details, and then checked in again a few days before the party to confirm any last minute changes. She was very helpful during the party as well as she directed all of the kids while in the pool, organized games, and kept an eye on the clock so the party moved along well time-wise. I appreciated her taking care of all of the details, especially the set up and clean up! Goldfish also has kid friendly amenities like a hair drying station, swimsuit dryers and private changing rooms, which made it easier getting the kids out of the pool, dressed and ready for the rest of the celebration in a timely manner.
Having cupcakes included in the party package was the cherry on top for me as that was one less thing for me to worry about. Flavors are available in vanilla, chocolate and marble. You can also chose to order pizza or bring in additional food for lunch, but as our party was later in the day, we opted for just snacks and cupcakes.
Everyone had a great time at the party! It's a wonderful party option for kids of all ages which was nice because Abbey has an older brother and some of her friends have older siblings so it was a party that all ages could enjoy. If you are looking for a fun and unique place to host your child’s next birthday party, I would suggest you check out Goldfish Swim School.
Thank you Goldfish Swim School of Lakewood Ranch for making 7 years so much fun!
Goldfish Swim School of Lakewood Ranch is located in the San Marco Plaza at 8205 Natures Way, Suite 111 in Lakewood Ranch. You can contact them via telephone at 941-300-0964 or email swimlakewoodranch@goldfishss.com. Visit them online HERE.
* I received a complimentary party for the purpose of this review. All opinions stated are my own.
