Finding Nemo Party Planning Guide

Party Planning Checklist

Finding Nemo Party

A step-by-step checklist for a Finding Nemo birthday. Quantities are for 8 kids, plus a few grown-ups.

Guests: 8 kids
Length: 2 hours
Dessert: cake
Colors: clownfish orange, ocean blue, white

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3–4 weeks before

Invitations & guest list

Set the date, time and headcountA 2-hour party is the sweet spot for kids. Count the parents who'll stay too.
Send invitationsAsk parents to RSVP 1 week out and to note any food allergies.
Optional: dress codeAsk kids to wear orange or ocean blue.
Pick the spaceIndoors or out. A kiddie pool full of balls makes a great "ocean."

Kids posing in front of a Finding Nemo banner

3–4 weeks before

Order your party supplies

Tableware for 8The Standard or Deluxe Pack Prime Party covers this. To build your own, get 8 dinner plates, 8 dessert plates, lunch and beverage napkins and a table cover.
Placemats (8)Placemats Prime Party, one per seat. They mark each kid's spot.
CupsThere are no Finding Nemo cups, so plan on solid blue or orange cups from the store.
Forks & spoonsGrab 20 of each: orange forks and orange spoons, or ocean blue forks and spoons. Prime Party
StreamersTwist orange, white and Caribbean blue together for clownfish stripes and ocean waves. Prime Party
Latex balloonsOrange and white pearlized balloons with powder blue "bubbles." Prime Party
ConfettiScatter multi-colored circle confetti on the table like bubbles. Prime Party
DécorThe fabric wall banner and jointed flag banner Prime Party.
Water bottle labels (16)Bottle labels Prime Party. They set how many bottles of water you buy. See the food section.
Favors (8)Finding Nemo favor boxes Prime Party, one per kid.

1–2 weeks before

Plan the food & drinks

Order or bake the cakeBlue frosting "ocean" with orange candy fish, or a sheet cake with Goldfish crackers swimming on top.
Buy 16 bottles of waterYou have 16 bottle labels, so that's 2 per kid. Standard 16.9 oz bottles are the easiest to wrap.
Plan the main courseFish-shaped chicken nuggets and mac and cheese.
SnacksGoldfish crackers, blue Jell-O "ocean" cups with gummy fish, and fruit.
Plan the drinksMake Under the Sea Blue Punch (the recipe is after the store list), plus juice boxes. Plan for 2–3 drinks per kid.
IceAbout 1 lb per person, so one 10 lb bag.
Check allergiesConfirm against your RSVPs.

Kids eating lunch at a Finding Nemo party

1–2 weeks before

Games & prizes

Buy prizes for every gameWinners pick from the prize basket (see the DIY games below). Plan on 20–30 small prizes so every kid wins something.
Go fishingTape paper fish with paper clips to the floor and let kids "fish" with a magnet tied to a stick.
Ocean coloringPut crayons out with the placemats.
TriviaPrint this guide and leave the trivia page on the table. It's at the end of this checklist.

1–2 weeks before

Bonus DIY games (free to make)

Number Scramble: make the numbersWrite one big number per guest (1–8) on half sheets of 8.5 × 11 paper and tape them to the floor around the house. Write the same numbers on slips of paper and put them in a bowl.
Number Scramble: how to playAbout every 15 minutes, ring a bell or play "Beyond the Sea" on a speaker. Everyone scrambles to stand on an open number. Draw a slip from the bowl, and whoever is standing on that number picks a prize. Set the winning slip aside so every kid gets a turn.
Lucky Plate: mark one plateBefore you set the table, draw a small fish on the bottom of one dinner plate.
Lucky Plate: the revealHalfway through the meal, announce that everyone should check under their plate. Whoever finds the small fish picks a prize.
Prize basketFill a basket with inexpensive prizes for winners to pick from: movie-theater candy boxes, bubbles, gummy fish, bath toys and stickers. Use it for every game. Buy more than you think you'll need. Leftover candy and toys make great thank-you prizes for your clean-up crew. 😉

1 week before

Favors

Buy favor fillers for 8Gummy fish, a bubble wand, a sea-creature toy and a sticker.
Check for choking hazardsUse age-appropriate fillers if younger siblings are coming.

Day before

Prep & set up

Wrap the water bottlesPeel off the store labels, wrap with the Finding Nemo labels and chill.
Fill the 8 favor boxes
Make the Number Scramble signs and slips; mark the lucky plateTape the numbers down on party day so they don't get kicked around.
Hang the banners and wall décorPut the wall piece behind the food or photo area, and drape the banner over a doorway or the food table.
Inflate balloonsMix orange, white and powder blue. Air-filled clusters last longer than helium. Hang the streamers and scatter the confetti on the table last.
Set out serving dishesFood goes in bowls and on platters, not on the printed plates, so the artwork stays visible.

Toddler with a Finding Nemo water bottle

Party day

Run of show

3 hrs before	Pick up the cake and order the food.
2 hrs before	Table cover and 8 place settings.
1 hr before	Fill the cooler, set up the games, and tape down the Number Scramble numbers.
Arrival	Music on and drinks out while everyone arrives.
Every 15 min	Ring the bell for a Number Scramble round.
+30 min	Food. Lucky Plate reveal while they eat.
+1 hr	Go fishing and Ocean coloring.
+1 hr 40	Cake, candles and "Happy Birthday." Read trivia while they eat.
Goodbyes	Hand out the favors at the door.

Take this to the store

Your pick-up list

Everything here comes from the grocery or dollar store.

Food
Cake or cupcakes
Chicken nuggets + mac and cheese
Goldfish crackers
Blue Jell-O + gummy fish
Fruit
Drinks
16 bottles of waterfor the labels
Blue punch ingredientssee the recipe below
Cupsblue or orange solids
Iceabout 10 lb
Games & favors
Prize basket: 20–30 small prizesget extra, since games go lots of rounds
Paper, tape + markerfor Number Scramble
Bell or speaker
Favor fillers for 8
Supplies
Painter's tape + removable hooks
Balloon pump or helium + ribbon
Serving bowls & platters
Birthday candles + lighter
Cooler or tub

Signature drink (non-alcoholic)

Under the Sea Blue Punch

An ocean-blue punch with gummy fish swimming inside. Alcohol-free and kid-approved. Makes about 12 cups, enough for 8 kids with refills. Time: 5 min.

Ingredients

6 cups blue sports drink or blue raspberry lemonade, chilled
4 cups chilled lemon-lime soda
2 cups pineapple juice, chilled
Gummy fish
Ice

Steps

Mix the blue drink and pineapple juice in a punch bowl.
Top with lemon-lime soda and ice.
Drop a handful of gummy fish in the bowl.
Serve in clear cups.

Tip: Swirl a little whipped cream on top of each cup for "sea foam."

Table talk

12 Finding Nemo Trivia Questions

Leave this page at the table and read them out between bites. They make for fun conversations at the table, and kids love stumping the grown-ups.

What is Nemo's dad's name?
Show answer
Marlin
Which forgetful blue fish helps Marlin?
Show answer
Dory
What kind of fish is Nemo?
Show answer
A clownfish
What does Marlin call Nemo's small fin?
Show answer
His "lucky fin"
What is the name of the surfer-dude sea turtle?
Show answer
Crush
In what city does Nemo end up?
Show answer
Sydney, Australia
What is the name of the dentist's niece?
Show answer
Darla
What is the sharks' motto?
Show answer
"Fish are friends, not food."
What is the name of the pelican?
Show answer
Nigel
What address does Dory remember?
Show answer
P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney
Who leads the fish in the dentist's tank?
Show answer
Gill
What year did Finding Nemo come out?
Show answer
2003