I can’t sing the praises of Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum enough. Back in March of 2010 when I had first visited the museum on their free day, I had made a modest donation to the museum and was then informed I could draw a prize from the prize cart. Not expecting anything big, I selected a bag and was awarded with a birthday party package at the museum. I was overjoyed – especially since the package was worth $175.00.
Since it was Free day at the museum, it was crowded. We enjoyed ourselves anyway. There was so much to do and see there, that my children seemed oblivious to the crowds and simply lost themselves in the seemingly endless activities. Before I knew it, we had spent three hours there.
Just last week we redeemed our birthday package prize and celebrated my second son’s birthday there. Now I’ve shelled out the money at another museum for my oldest son’s birthday party, and so I wasn’t expecting much at all at Discovery. I was surprised and delighted at every turn. First, we were greeted by enthusiastic staff members who were so kind and obliging (even after a little misunderstanding on my part about guest passes vs. membership passes). Anyway, my guest had showed up before we did. The weather was terrible and the roads were slushy and slippery and we were fifteen minutes late. Nonetheless, after checking everyone in, the staff members whisked us upstairs to the whimsical birthday party room proceeded to entertain the guests with a craft project.
I elected to upgrade the birthday package to include a theme and hands on activities, and so the kiddos got to make wands and eat popcorn. I really didn’t have to do anything but snap pictures as our own personal birthday helper took care of everything. It was great!
When all the guests had arrived and wands were completed, the whole group was escorted out to the museum where a “wizard” awaited us with a table spread with all sorts of interesting and magical items. The wizard, a red-headed, English accented young woman entertained us as she tried to figure out who the birthday boy was and how old he was. The kids loved it. They laughed and laughed. We drew a crowd of other museum guests who also thoroughly enjoyed the show.
My son was of course the “star” of the party and got all the special treatment. He got to wear a special wizard hat and he helped make “troll snot” which he enjoyed wagging at the girls. He also got to help make fake snow and toothpaste for a dragon using special magic words he made up (chicken licken at the airport). Then he helped hatch a dragon egg.
Afterwards we went back to the party room and enjoyed cake and ice-ream which the Birthday Party Helper took charge of (I just had to help, of course. I couldn’t let her do everything, since I’m sure she was perfectly willing and happy to anyway). Then we opened presents and the red-headed wizard came in and wrote down the birthday gift lists for me so that I could send out thank you cards. I really did not expect all the thoughtfulness and detailed planning that Discovery Gateway put into the birthday party. It was an absolutely delightful experience. Even more so since it was a party that I didn’t pay for.
After the presents were opened, the staff placed everything on a cart and put it in a secure area while we enjoyed the rest of the day at the museum exploring all of the hands on exhibits. We ran out of energy before we ran out of things to do.
When it was time to go home, a manager escorted us the parking garage right next door with the party cart holding our presents and leftover cake. He was so kind and helpful. This was first class treatment and I highly recommend having your kid’s next birthday party there.
On my rating scale – I give them the Unicorn Award. Thank you Discovery Gateway - It was wonderful!!!
Note to rating scale:
Unicorn Award: Excellent experience/service/product.
Fairy Godmother Award: Good experience/service/product
Fairy Award: Fair experience/service/product
Goblin Award: absolutely worse experience/service/product
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