Everything you have always wanted to ask about a Wacky Wheelers party, from venues and timings to Jeep numbers, younger children and what happens on the day. If you cannot find the answer here, just ask us.
1: General questions ↑ Back to FAQ contents
A: How long have you been doing parties?
We set up Wacky Wheelers at the end of 2006 and did our first party in March 2007. There are not many party situations we have not come across since then, so we are used to adapting when needed.
B: What is the booking process?
1. Get a quote. Start on our quote request page. Please complete it as accurately as possible because location and travel information help us prepare the quote.
2. Check availability. Once you have your quote and are happy with it, use our availability form.
3. Complete the booking form. Once our availability and the venue line up, complete the booking form. It is more important to get the booking secured than to have every party option finalised at this stage; we can usually adjust the package later.
4. Pay the deposit. We will send an estimate and details of the deposit required to secure the booking. The booking is not secured until the deposit has been received.
5. Prepare for the party. Once the deposit is paid, we will confirm it and send the remaining party information nearer the date. The balance is due no later than 7 days before the event unless otherwise agreed in writing.
C: Do you have insurance?
Yes. Wacky Wheelers has £5 million public liability insurance. If a venue needs confirmation, please ask us.
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2: Venue questions ↑ Back to FAQ contents
A: Is the venue included in the price?
No. We cover a very wide area and venue prices vary enormously, so venue hire is arranged and paid for separately from the Wacky Wheelers entertainment.
B: Why do you charge a mileage surcharge?
We do not charge mileage for parties within 20 miles driving distance of our base. Beyond that, a travel charge may be added to allow for the extra time and fuel. Larger parties can also involve more staff, so the travel element can vary.
C: Do I need to find a venue, or can you recommend one?
We have a large database of venues and can often suggest somewhere near you. Your own local knowledge may uncover alternatives too, and we are happy to comment on a venue’s likely suitability. You can also browse our venue pages.
D: Who books the venue?
You do. We can advise on suitability and often recommend venues, but the venue booking itself is made directly by you. That lets us concentrate on supplying and running the party entertainment.
E: Do the Jeeps damage the floors?
In general we do not need to put a floor covering down. The Jeep wheels used indoors have a soft finish where they meet the floor, and we have successfully operated on sprung wood, tiles and even marble. There is one important caveat: if a Jeep is stationary while the wheels keep spinning, friction can mark a floor. We are therefore very firm about children taking their feet off the pedals when stopped, and may ask a child to sit out a turn if repeated instructions are ignored.
F: How long do I need to book the venue for?
We normally need about 30 minutes to set up. For a typical 90-minute driving party, allowing around 3 hours of venue hire is usually sensible so there is time for setup, driving, birthday food, packing away and getting the room back in order.
G: How much space do we need?
The exact requirement depends on the party size and the venue layout. As a guide, our standard track is around 10m × 15m. A Large party can use roughly the same footprint or extend to around 10m × 17m where space allows. Supersize needs considerably more room and we recommend at least around 12m × 20m.
You also need to allow space for waiting children, parents, chairs, table football and any food tables. A separate room for birthday food is particularly useful. If you are unsure, send us the venue details and dimensions and we can advise. Our venue suitability guide is also useful.
H: What access and parking do you need?
Quite a lot of equipment comes with us: the track, Jeeps, PA system, table football, blowers, batteries and more. Good vehicle access to the door makes a huge difference, and we prefer to leave the vehicle or trailer in the loading area while we work.
If we cannot get close to the entrance, or the entrance is a long way from the party space, it adds significant loading time. Doorways of about 1 metre wide are ideal; double doors are even better. Stairs are a major complication, so please tell us about difficult access when booking. Every metre counts!
I: Indoors or outdoors?
The Jeeps are electric, so they can operate indoors or outdoors. We generally prefer indoors because the surface is smoother, the party is more contained and there is no weather risk. An outdoor party can be brilliant in good weather, though. We generally restrict outdoor parties to the warmer months, roughly March to mid-September, unless agreed otherwise.
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3: Party questions ↑ Back to FAQ contents
A: How many Jeeps are best suited to our party?
In general we recommend a ratio of about 3 or 4 children to each Jeep. Three children per Jeep means more driving time per child; four is normally a very good balance.
Up to 16 children normally suits the 4-Jeep Small party. For numbers in the low 20s, the 5-Jeep Standard party is normally enough. In the mid-20s, consider the 6-Jeep Large party. High-20s to low-30s can suit 7 Jeeps, and the mid-30s can suit an 8-Jeep Supersize, provided the venue has the extra space.
For a quick guide, try our Ride Ratio Calculator.
B: What do the children do while they wait their turn?
If you have the right Jeep-to-child ratio, they will not be waiting long. With four Jeeps and 16 children, for example, eight can be on the track, four can have just come off and four can be ready for the next changeover. We also bring mini table football, which is very popular between turns.
C: What happens if it rains and we are outside?
Light rain does not necessarily stop us, but we will not operate if conditions become unsafe or the rain is torrential. Outdoor bookings carry weather risk, and wet or muddy conditions can also mean extra cleaning and drying. Please read the current Terms & Conditions if you are planning an outdoor party.
D: Is food included?
No. We concentrate on running the entertainment, so Wacky Wheelers does not provide catering. Venue hire and food are arranged separately by you.
E: What are your normal party times?
Our normal party start times are 10:30am and 2:30pm. That usually gives us enough time to finish a morning party, pack up and travel to an afternoon booking.
F: What if I want a different start time?
Earlier than 10:30am or later than 2:30pm is often straightforward. A later morning start or earlier afternoon start can be more difficult because it may prevent us from taking a second booking that day.
Where a requested time effectively blocks the other normal slot, we reserve the right to apply a surcharge of up to 50% of the party price, excluding extras. If the requested time is only slightly different, we may instead be able to shorten the session and add an extra Jeep so the children still get plenty of driving time.
One practical reason we like 10:30am is lunch: a 90-minute party finishes at around midday, just when most children are ready to eat.
G: Can we have a party shorter than 90 minutes?
Yes. We would normally charge the same as the 90-minute party, but can often compensate for the shorter session by bringing an extra Jeep at no additional charge, subject to space and availability. That gets more children onto the track at the same time.
H: Can children younger than four take part?
Yes, younger children can still join in as passengers. We do not normally allow very young children to drive because they may not yet have the coordination to steer and use the accelerator safely at the same time.
Please help us keep younger children in the passenger role and waiting their turn. If a child is not able to manage the Jeep safely, we will ask them to remain a passenger. It is helpful if children who are not eligible to drive can be identified clearly to our staff.
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4: Jeep questions ↑ Back to FAQ contents
A: If the Jeeps are suitable for four-year-olds, will they be too tame for an older child?
Not at all. Our Jeeps are heavily modified for party use. They are 12V vehicles and we can control their performance to suit the age and confidence of the drivers. We can adjust speed and responsiveness, and the Jeeps are fitted with remote safety controls so we can stop them if necessary. The driving exercises themselves also become more challenging as the party progresses.
B: My child is big for their age. Will they fit?
The seats are adjustable and slide forward for smaller drivers and back for larger ones. Very occasionally a particularly tall or older child may be too big to take a passenger as well, in which case they can drive one-up.
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5: Party options ↑ Back to FAQ contents
A: Driving licences – what do we need to know?
Our personalised driving licences are credit-card sized and laminated, showing the child’s name, the date and whose party they attended. Because they are personalised, we need the names in advance, preferably at least three days before the party and in the format we request.
B: What about medals for a joint party?
One Wacky Wheelers medal is included for the birthday VIP. For a joint party, please add the extra medal or medals you need so each birthday child has one for the finale.
C: How much chequered bunting do we need?
One set is normally enough to go around the track. If you also want to decorate a separate eating room or other areas of the venue, you may want additional bunting.
D: When is the extra 30 minutes driving time useful?
Our normal programme is designed around 90 minutes of driving. Extra time is mainly worth considering when you are pushing the upper limit of children for the number of Jeeps – for example, around 30 children on a 5-Jeep party. For a normal-sized party, 90 minutes is usually ample.
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Still got a question? Get a quote or contact us and we will be happy to help.