Monsters, Inc. Party Planning Guide

Party Planning Checklist

Monsters, Inc. Party

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

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3–4 weeks before

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 codeKids can come as a monster: blue with purple spots, or green with one big eye.
Pick the spaceIndoors or out. Leave a wall for the pin-the-tail poster and a spot for photos.

3–4 weeks before

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 Monsters, Inc. cups, so plan on solid blue or green cups from the store.
Forks & spoonsGrab 20 of each: blue forks and blue spoons, or green forks and spoons. Prime Party
StreamersTwist royal blue and Caribbean blue together for Sulley's fur. Prime Party
Latex balloonsMike green, Sulley blue and pearlized green balloons. Prime Party
ConfettiSprinkle multi-colored circle confetti around the cupcakes like Sulley's spots. Prime Party
DécorThe fabric wall banner and jointed flag banner Prime Party.
Cupcake wrappers (12) and water bottle labels (16)Cupcake wrappers and bottle labels Prime Party. These set how many cupcakes and bottles you buy. See the food section.
GamesPin-the-Tail Prime Party.
Favors (8)Monsters, Inc. favor boxes Prime Party, one per kid.

1–2 weeks before

Order or bake 12 cupcakesYou have 12 cupcake wrappers, so get cupcakes, not a cake. Fluffy blue frosting for Sulley or green with a candy eyeball for Mike.
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 courseMonster mac and cheese and hot dogs.
SnacksCandy eyeballs on pretzels, "scream canister" yogurt tubes and fruit.
Plan the drinksMake Sulley Blue Raspberry Lemonade (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.

1–2 weeks before

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.
Pin-the-Tail: blindfold + tapeHang the poster at kid eye level with painter's tape. Blindfold with a bandana, spin twice, and the closest pin wins.
Photo boothSet up a photo spot in front of the fabric banner with the photo booth props Prime Party.
TriviaPrint this guide and leave the trivia page on the table. It's at the end of this checklist.

1–2 weeks before

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 "If I Didn't Have You" 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 eyeball 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 eyeball picks a prize.
Prize basketFill a basket with inexpensive prizes for winners to pick from: movie-theater candy boxes, googly-eye rings, bouncy balls, slime 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

Buy favor fillers for 8Candy eyeballs, a googly-eye ring, a mini slime and a monster sticker.
Check for choking hazardsUse age-appropriate fillers if younger siblings are coming.

Day before

Wrap the water bottlesPeel off the store labels, wrap with the Monsters, Inc. 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 green and 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.

Party day

3 hrs before	Pick up the cupcakes 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, photo booth open.
Every 15 min	Ring the bell for a Number Scramble round.
+30 min	Food. Lucky Plate reveal while they eat.
+1 hr	Pin-the-Tail.
+1 hr 40	Cupcakes, candles and "Happy Birthday." Read trivia while they eat.
Goodbyes	Hand out the favors at the door.

Take this to the store

Everything here comes from the grocery or dollar store.

Signature drink (non-alcoholic)

A furry-blue lemonade with a purple twist. Alcohol-free and kid-approved. Makes about 12 cups, enough for 8 kids with refills. Time: 5 min.

Tip: Serve in clear cups so the blue and purple show.

Table talk

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 the name of the company in the movie?
Show answer
Monsters, Incorporated
What is Sulley's full name?
Show answer
James P. Sullivan
What is Mike's last name?
Show answer
Wazowski
What does Sulley call the little girl?
Show answer
Boo
What powers the city of Monstropolis?
Show answer
Children's screams
Which sneaky monster can change colors?
Show answer
Randall Boggs
Who is the boss of Monsters, Inc.?
Show answer
Mr. Waternoose
What is the name of Mike's girlfriend with snakes for hair?
Show answer
Celia
What year did Monsters, Inc. come out?
Show answer
2001
Who voices Mike Wazowski?
Show answer
Billy Crystal
What snowy monster do Mike and Sulley meet in the Himalayas?
Show answer
The Yeti
What is the name of the prequel movie?
Show answer
Monsters University