Manchester Giants Basketball Party

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Disclosure - We were invited to the a Manchester Giants Basketball Party for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own.

Little J's birthday isn't till March but already he has been talking about his birthday party. Birthday parties are such a big deal when you are a kid and over the years we have hosted and been to so many different parties. We've been to soft play parties, swimming parties, Nerf parties, football parties, there are lots of different party venues to choose from.  We were invited last week to a basketball party and for us this was the first time we have ever been to a basketball party and game so we were very excited.

The Basketball party was at the home of the Manchester Giants in Urmston, Manchester.  I had already read about the party and what was included but I didn't tell little J as I wanted it to be a surprise.

When we arrived we were shown to a cafe / seating area to wait until our allocated time which was 3pm. There was another party waiting too and after reading the information leaflet there is a maximum of two parties per time slot.

We then followed the staff member to the basketball court area. Little J was really excited at this point and had no idea that for the next hour he would have a one hour basketball coaching session with the Giants coaches.

We were able to sit and watch the children on one half of the court as the coach did mini coaching sessions with them and little games. The other party I mentioned earlier was on the other half of the court.

The coach told all the children to get a ball and they practiced dribbling, tackling and shooting from different angles. It was lots of fun and all the children seemed to be having a great time. They finished with a game that involved two teams racing to their ball and trying to score a basket before the other team. They were joined by two Manchester Giants players which was amazing.

Once the coaching session was finished it was time for some food. The children headed to the cafe / seating area and were rewarded for their hard work on the court with Pizza, Chips and Juice. There was so much pizza and chips available so the kids could just help themselves once they had finished what they had been given. Afterwards they enjoyed birthday cake.

The children were given about 45 minutes to eat which was just the right amount of time as I could see some of them becoming a little restless.

Once they were finished their party meal we headed back to the court to watch the Manchester Giants take on the Newcastle Eagles. We have never seen a basketball match before but I have to say we all really enjoyed it. It's quick paced with music playing and a DJ/Compare talking on the microphone encouraging the crowd to get involved, it really was a fun and exciting experience.

All party children get to go on to the court which was an amazing experience. They all looked so happy.

After the game the Manchester Giants all stay behind and are quite happy signing autographs and having photographs taken which is a lovely way to end the party.

Included in the party is...

One hours coaching session on the court with Giants coaches.

Party Children run out with the players for a team huddle.

Match tickets on the day of the party.

Birthday child or group receives a Molten Basketball signed by the Giants.

A Giants T-Shirt for each child.

Pizza meal following the coaching session.

Parties take place on match days before games. The price for a party is £350 for 10 children and 2 adults, additional children are £35 per head. You can purchase extra adult tickets for the match at £10 each.

A Manchester Giants Party is a perfect choice for a basketball fan however we didn't know anything about basketball before we visited and absolutely loved it so I would say it's a great party choice for all.

Michelle

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What To Expect At The New Look Inflata Nation, Manchester

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Disclosure - We were invited to Inflata Nation for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

Last year we visited Inflata Nation in Manchester and little J loved it, he loved it so much that he has continued to ask when we could go back. Last week we finally managed to return and it was perfect as it has had a refurbishment and is bigger than before with dual level inflatables.

For those that have never been before Inflata Nation is an indoor inflatable arena so is perfect for lots of bouncing fun.

Little J couldn't wait to get bouncing as soon as we walked through the door. Upon arrival you need to complete a waiver form (if you haven't already done it when you booked online). You are given a coloured wristband to show staff that you have bought and paid for a one hour time slot. If you book two hours you will be given a second different coloured wristband. Once checked in you can remove your shoes and place them in a locker and then head for a safety brief.

As soon as that is complete you head to the inflatable arena ready for your session. There are so many features to choose from little J didn't know where to start.

The new arena has lots of super slides to choose from

Two lane slides with a jaw dropping 7m near vertical drop. This was little J's favourite thing. He went on it 25 times. He just wanted to go round and round and round again. He is such a daredevil and the look of excitement as he slid down with his arms crossed on his chest, made me giggle.

Next to the vertical drop slides are dual bumpy slides. Little J didn't quite fancy these but John had a turn and almost flipped upside down.

The incredible tipping slide looked fun so I encouraged John and little J to go on it. It will definitely test your balance and skills as the slide inflates and starts tipping you down.

Inflata Bubbles always makes me giggle as little J bounces from one to another.

Inflata Free fall is a new free fall activity for all thrill seekers. Take a jump off the 6m platform. You’ll be wearing a harness and clipped to a free fall device to help you land safely.

The new ball pit was another favourite of little J's.

There is also and Improved interactive obstacle course for trying out those challenging ninja style moves. Both John and little J tried this out and had lots of fun doing so.

Inflata Duel, the popular and hilarious gladiator podium is back however we were told it was reserved for a party only which was a shame. Little J was desperate to have a turn.

As well as the arena there is a downstairs cafe, party and viewing area plus an upstairs seating/viewing area too.

For more information you can visit Inflata Nation.

We really enjoyed our session and I would definitely recommend choosing a two hour bounce. It will give you time to take a break in between and have a drink as it does get hot in there.

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Bill's Restaurant and Bar, Trafford Centre

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Disclosure - We were invited along to Bill's to try out their menu. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own

Every weekend we like to try and get together and have a family meal out. This weekend we were invited to Bill's Restaurant and Bar at the Trafford Centre. Although we have seen Bill's a few times we have never tried it so it was a lovely treat for us all.

We decided to go for dinner but there are other menus to choose from including Breakfast, Lunch, Teatime and also a Dinner Set Menu which is £17.50 for 2 courses and £20.50 for 3 courses, Sunday-Thursday from 5pm. There is a separate Children's menu offering Breakfast and Lunch/Dinner options.

If you have dined out at the Trafford Centre before you will know them most of the restaurants are in the Great Hall, Bill's is upstairs and has just recently had a refurb. The interior is really eye-catching with lots of bright colours and lighting. Whilst waiting for our meals we all enjoyed a great game of I Spy as there are so many furnishings and accessories dotted around. At the Trafford Centre Bill's there is an option to eat outside the restaurant or inside, our table was inside and it was quite spacious and fitted the four of us round it, no problem.

We had already had a little sneaky peek at the menus online so knew what to we were going to order once we got there,  however we all changed our minds once we were inside.

To start we all chose Fried Halloumi Sticks. The Halloumi Sticks arrived on a bed of lettuce and what looked like chopped chilies, It also came with Bill's Chutney.  A portion of Halloumi was 6 sticks. They were nice and light and made a perfect started.

For our mains John chose Steak and Eggs. Chargrilled minute steak with 2 fried eggs on a bed of fries.

Big J had Bill's Classic Burger. The Burger is topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion and spiced mayo served in a sesame seed bun and arrived with a pot of rosemary salted fries on the side

I had the Pan fried Chicken with Wild Mushrooms. The pan fried chicken arrived with broccoli stems on top and a drizzle of mushroom sauce and creamy herbed mash. There was also a small jug of extra mushroom sauce if I wanted to top it up.

Little J chose a little Bill's Breakfast which includes sausage, bacon, egg, baked beans and toast. Little J chose scrambled egg.

When ordering both the burger and the steak we were asked if we would prefer medium or well done. We were also offered the choice of extras on the burger such as cheese, bacon, smashed avocado and with the steak we were offered a range of sauces. These cost extra.

If you want to choose a meal off the children’s menu you also get a dessert included however as little J went for the little Bills breakfast a dessert was not included in the price.

We were all impressed with Bills, not only was the food delicious but also the atmosphere inside the restaurant was nice and chilled and the staff were very helpful and friendly. The waitress asked us numerous times if our food was okay or whether we needed anything. Also just as we sat down and was handed our menus we were asked if we had any allergies. This is something we have never come across before and it was nice of them to ask. We have someone in our extended family who is coeliac and always has to ask for the gluten free menu so it was nice for them to check first before handing us the menus.

We would definitely pay Bill's another visit in the near future while shopping at the Trafford Centre or more locally Liverpool.

To find out more information or menus available you can head to Bill's

Michelle

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Walt Disney World | Hollywood Studios Ride Guide and Spoilers

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Hollywood Studios was very popular with big and little J on our last trip to Walt Disney World and I think we spent more time there overall than any other park. The new addition of Toy Story Land makes Hollywood Studios very popular so have a read of our ride guide and spoilers to make the most of your day.

Echo Lake

Star Tours - The Adventures Continue

Type of Ride - 3D motion simulated ride through space.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - We went on this a few ride a few times and if you are lucky you will be put in a different numbered simulator than the time before so you will have a different 3D adventure. They will choose someone from the spaceship as a rebel spy and pop their photo on the screen which is fun especially if it's you. Unfortunately you won't have time to snap a photo of it though. The shop on the way out has some amazing Star Wars memorabilia so make sure you take some time to have a look.

Min Height - 40"/102cm

Fast Pass + - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Toy Story Land

Slinky Dog Dash

Type of Ride - Family friendly rollercoaster with twists, hills and drops. Each row seats 2 comfortably.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Can be fast in places and stops briefly to then whizz off again quickly. Queues for this ride can get very long so fast passes are essential, we noticed that even booking 60 days in advance some days had already allocated all fast passes so make sure you are booking this one as soon as you possibly can.

Min Height - 38"/97cm

Fast Pass + - Yes

Ride Photo - Yes

Alien Swirling Saucers

Type of Ride - Spinning ride which weaves in and out with fast turns. Each rocket seats 2 comfortably.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - There are two sets of swirling saucers so the queue seems to move a lot quicker than what is advertised. Again queues can get long, however this one does have availability for fast pass at most times.

Min Height - 32"/81cm

Fast Pass + - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Toy Story Mania

Type of Ride - 4D Shooting game. Each vehicle seats 4 comfortably with each rider getting a gun so you can join in with games

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Lots of fun with you competing against everyone in your vehicle to get the best score over 5 different games. If you give it your all your arm will ache afterwards.  The ring toss section is the most valuable with plenty of 1000, 2000 point targets available.  Keep an eye out for the aliens in the top right and left corners as these are worth 5000 points in this section.  In the final section there is a bonus game which requires some shooting speed. The faster you can shoot the higher the points value unlocked.

Min Height - No

Fast Pass + - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Sunset Boulevard

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Staring Aerosmith

Type of Ride - Fly round on this high speed rollercoaster to the tunes of Aerosmith.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Starts off very quickly. There are several loop the loops and is very dark inside. Keep your head back to start with and smile. The camera is right at the start of the right before the first loop. If you are a music fan make sure to have a look at the framed posters and T-Shirts on the inside of the building just before you go through the doors, some are highly collectable and rare.

Min Height - 48"/122cm

Fast Pass + - Yes

Ride Photo - Yes

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Type of Ride - Hop on board the elevator of the Hollywood Hotel.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Sudden ups and drops whilst sat in the elevator. Your bum will lift off the seat and there is nothing to hold on too, which makes it more fun. This one takes both photo and a short video of you on the ride which is a really good idea. You don't need to scan your band or pass as the right will automatically detect you and send the video to your memory maker.

Min Height - 40"/102cm

Fast Pass + - Yes

Ride Photo - Yes

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Have you been to Hollywood Studios? What's your favourite ride? Leave us a comment below and let us know.

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Michelle

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Travel | Five Reasons To Stay At The Alton Towers Resort

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A trip to Alton Towers can be so much fun for all the family but it can also be very exhausting. Even though we don’t don’t live to far away we usually make the most of our visit by booking a night stay at the Resort. Staying the night has lots of benefits but here are our top five reasons why we think you should stay at The Alton Towers Resort.

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What To Pack For A Day Out With The Kids

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Disclosure - This post features gifted products however the idea for this post, opinions and photographs are our own. 

We are very lucky to go on so many days out with the kids throughout the year. I have become an expert when it comes to packing a bag of essentials that we may need over the course of the day. I thought I would share with you checklist on What To Pack For A Day Out With The Kids.

First we pack a bag that we will carry then we pack a bag that can be left in the car. We usually take a back pack style bag. We have quite a few but our favourite is one we picked up in Walt Disney World. It has lots of different compartments and the perfect size for a day out.

Essentials for the bag we will carry on the day out.

Spare Clothes

Taking a spare set of clothes is essential when travelling with little ones. They tend to get wet, muddy and all other things so having a fresh set of clothes ensures that they can have as much messy fun as they want without it spoiling the rest of your day.

Baby Wipes

Perfect for cleaning hands, faces, shoes, clothes or anything else that might get dirty.

Basic First Aid

We always carry a selection of plasters, calpol for the kids, paracetamol for adults, sudocrem, and piraton.

Sun Protection

We always carry sun cream with us as you never know just how hot it can be sometimes when you head out for the day. The weather can change suddenly and we need to make sure we take care of our skin. We usually wrap it in a sandwich bag to help prevent any leaks.

Drinks and Snacks

If we are taking a packed lunch with us we will usually make sandwiches and take crisps and a biscuit for a treat. Try and avoid chocolate type snacks as they can melt in the bag. We will usually take little J's reusable drinks bottle and then bottles of water for us.

Phone and Portable Charger

Unfortunately my phone battery doesn't last as long as it should anymore so I find that my battery can die quite quickly especially when I am taking photos or videos on it. We use the Zippo Heatbank and whilst it is a great way to recharge my depleted phone battery it also doubles as a hand warmer which is perfect for the chilly days or evenings. I suffer from cold hands so the heatbank has been perfect for keeping them warm and it can last up to 6 hours too.

Spare Change

I always like to carry some spare change with me as you never know when you will need some coins. It could be for a car park or a visit to the ice cream man.

Essentials for the bag we keep in the car.

Swim Clothes and Towel

Days out to the beach or park can usually end up with little J wanting to go in the water or splash park so its important to make sure we swim wear and a towel handy so he can enjoy water play and get dry afterwards.

Spare Shoes / Wellies

Depending on the day out and the wether I will usually take spare shoes and/or wellies with us in the car.

Tablet and Headphones

If the journey is long I will take little J's tablet and headphones in the car to keep him occupied.

What is your 'must pack' essentials for a trip out with the kids?

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Michelle

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Brickburn Paw Patrol Brick Trail | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration with Brickburn

We love packing up the car and heading for a day out and this morning we headed to Blackburn to complete the Paw Patrol Brickburn Brick Trail. The idea of the trail is to find all the Paw Patrol characters that are hidden in The Mall, Blackburn and also the surrounding areas. All the figures are made from Lego bricks.

When we arrived at The Mall we headed to the Ask Me Point to pick up a Brick Trail map which included a quiz for the children to complete as they found each character. There are three maps to complete.

The Brick Trail Quiz is all about the models you will find in and around The Mall. There are 15 questions in total asking you how many people built Skye? or how wide is Paw Patrol HQ?

The Paw Patrol Quiz Map has 10 questions all about the show. Little fans will be sure to know which pup is a lifeguard? or who is the human leader of Paw Patrol?

The Kitten Catastrophe Map and Quiz gives you clues as to where the kittens are hidden. Each location has a code and you need to fill in all 6 codes on the back of the sheet.

Once you have completed 1, 2 or all 3 quizzes you can hand your sheets back in to be in with the chance of winning £100 vouchers.

It was time for us to begin our trail. First we headed to Debenhams to find our first character, Chase. Each character has information about how many bricks it took to make, how many people and how many hours too as well as other information.

It was lovely to see lots of other children heading towards Chase with their brick trail map in hand ready to answer the quiz question and get a photo with the popular Paw Patrol character. 

We found all the characters in The Mall. Everest was hiding in Primark, Mayor Goodway was in Virgin Media, Zuma was at the Entertainer and Marshalls Fire Truck was at the Ask Me Point.

 Next we headed downstairs to Blackburn Market to try and find Kitten Catastrophe. For those who are Paw Patrol fans you will know that the kittens look just like the Paw Patrol but they are very mischievous.

Finding the kittens was our favourite part of the trail. Each kitchen was hidden on a market stall so we had to make our way through the stalls and find all six kittens. They were hidden high to low but we found all six kittens in the end.

We then headed out of The Mall to try and find more Brickburn Brick Trail Paw Patrol characters that were hidden in the surrounding areas.

We headed to Blackburn Cathedral. It was a lovely opportunity for us to go inside such a pretty building, something we may never have done without the Paw Patrol Brick Trail. There was a service being held inside the Cathedral so we had to be very quiet although we did let out a little gasp when we saw the Paw Patrol Lookout Tower. It was huge and looked just like the real thing.

If you are looking for something fun to do with the kids then I would definitely recommend heading to The Mall, Blackburn for the Paw Patrol Brick Trail. The trail is available from 23rd August - 1st September 2019. It is lots of fun and I loved watching little J  try to find each character, answer the quiz questions whilst taking in some of the some of Blackburns sights, and best of all it’s free.

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Animal Kingdom Ride Guide and Spoilers | Walt Disney World

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Animal Kingdom only has a few rides as it is mainly animals and attractions. If you are planning to visit Animal Kingdom and experience the rides then take a look at our ride guide and spoilers.

Pandora - The World of Avatar

Na'vi River Journey

Type of Ride - Slow moving boat ride along the river. Each boat seats approx 20 people fitting 4 comfortably per row.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Still fairly new so the queue times are extremely long. The effects used on the ride are stunning and the detail both in and around the ride are beautiful. You feel like you are actually in Pandora

Min Height - No

Fast Pass + - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Avatar Flight of Passage

Type of Ride - Fly on the back of a Banshee through  Pandora. Each ride seats 1.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - This is a 3D/4D experience. 3D glasses are required. You mount the ride like a bike and then are securely fastened around your back and your legs. If you suffer from motion sickness then I would not advise riding. Flight of Passage has long queue times so a fast pass is recommended. I have seen the queue go beyond 200 minutes however I will say it's worth the wait. The effects used on the ride are some of the best we have ever experienced. At times you can actually feel the Banshee breathing and even smell the environment you are in too.

Min Height - 44"/112cm

Fast Pass + - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Africa

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Type of Ride - Safari Ride through the African Savanna. Each Jeep sits approx 20 with 4 sitting comfortably per row.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Your safari jeep is driven by a tour guide who will tell you all about the animals along the way and also stops for photo opportunities. The safari is approx 22 minutes long. It is amazing to see so many different animals in a short space of time. If you are wanting to take pictures or video then try to be either at the beginning or the end of the queue in your row. This way you will be able to see clearly out of one one of the sides of the jeep. Its not quite as easy to see past people in the middle of the jeep.

Min Height - No

Fast Pass + - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Asia

Kali River Rapids

Type of Ride - A wet ride through the jungle rivers on a raft. Each raft can seat 10 people.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - There are lockers free of charge for 2 hours, adjacent to the entrance. Everyone on the ride gets a little wet however depending on where you sit you may get soaked. The raft spins so it is impossible to tell. Gets busy on hot days

Min Height - No

Fast Pass + - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Expedition Everest - Legend Of The Forbidden Mountain

Type of Ride - A rollercoaster ride through the Himalayan mountains in search of the Yeti. Each row seats 2 comfortably.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - When the train reaches the end of the track midway through the ride take a look to your right and you will see hundreds of bobbles. I'm not sure why but people seem to throw their bobbles there. Parts of the rides involves the train going backwards.  As you go up the lift section take a look to your left for an amazing view of Orlando, you can see for miles and I am always surprised at how flat the land is.

Min Height - 44"/112cm

Fast Pass + - Yes

Ride Photo - Yes

Dinoland U.S

Primeval Whirl

Type of Ride - Spinning rollercoaster with lots of dramatic drops and curves. Each capsule seats 4 comfortably.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Reminds me of the old cat and mouse ride were you reach the end of the track and it will dramatically turn the corner making you think you will fall off the edge of the track. Doesn't move too quickly though so still suitable for young riders.

Min Height - 48"/122cm

Fast Pass + - Yes

Ride Photo - No

TriceraTop Spin

Type of Ride - Soar above Dinoland U.S.A in this slow moving dinosaur ride. Each dinosaur seats 4 comfortably.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - You can control your dinosaur making him go up or down by using the lever in the front.  From this ride you can see the fairground down below, here you can play games to try and win prizes. We didn't win much this time, winning one small dino teddy.

Min Height - No

Fast Pass + - No

Ride Photo - No

Dinosaur

Type of Ride - Take a prehistoric tour to save a dinosaur from extinction.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Dinosaur is a very dark and bumpy ride which can be extremely loud in places as you meet lots of dinosaurs along the way. Although the minimum height for this ride is low it may be too scary for some younger riders.

Min Height - 40"/102cm

Fast Pass + - Yes

Ride Photo - Yes

If you found this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

Have you visited Animal Kingdom? Leave us a comment and let us know about your visit.

Take a look at our Walt Disney World Posts for more information on visiting the most magical place on Earth

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Michelle

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