Short answer: choose the Special if your guests are younger, your group is 10 or fewer, or you plan to bring extra snacks yourself. Choose the VIP if your guests are older or hungrier, you want juice as well as water, or you would rather not bring anything except the cake. Both packages include the same two private laser tag games, the same private party room and the same 1 hour and 50 minutes of party time.
Lazer Runner keeps its birthday menu simple on purpose: two packages, each priced for 10 kids plus the birthday child free (11 in total). That makes the choice easier than at venues with five or six tiers, but parents still ask the same question at the front desk: what is the real difference? This guide lays it out line by line so you can choose in a few minutes and get back to the guest list.
Start with what is identical, because it is most of the party:
The private games are where the party happens. Kids suit up in fibre-optic vests, the fog rolls in, and staff run the game modes your group chooses. With seven game modes available, including Team Capture, Vampire Game and Eliminator, you can play two very different rounds.
| Item | Special | VIP |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday price (11 players) | $290 + HST | $390 + HST |
| Weekend price (11 players) | $360 + HST | $420 + HST |
| Extra player (weekday / weekend) | $26 / $29 | $33 / $37 |
| Pizza | 12 slices, half cheese, half pepperoni | 24 slices, half cheese, half pepperoni |
| Drinks | 10 bottles of water | 20 drinks: 10 waters and 10 juice packs |
| Tableware | 10 pizza plates | Pizza and cake plates, forks and napkins |
| Birthday child gift card | Single-game gift card | Double-game gift card |
In short, the VIP costs $100 more on a weekday and $60 more on a weekend for 11 players, and gives you twice the pizza, juice for everyone, a full set of tableware for cake time and a bigger gift card. Full package details are on the party packages page.
Six and seven-year-olds often eat one slice of pizza and save room for cake. For a young group, the Special’s 12 slices for 10 kids usually goes around. Tweens and teens, especially after two rounds of laser tag, can easily eat two or more slices each. For ages 10 and up, the VIP’s 24 slices is a safer bet. Our guides to parties for 8-year-olds and 13th birthday ideas cover age-specific planning.
An after-school weekday party means kids arrive hungry. A late-morning weekend party may land before lunch. If the party overlaps a meal time, more food helps. If it falls mid-afternoon, the Special plus cake is often plenty.
You can bring any food you like as long as it is nut-free. Some parents pick the Special and add fruit, veggies or a snack tray from home. Others want to show up with the cake and nothing else. The VIP is built for the second group: forks, cake plates and napkins are already there.
The birthday child takes home a gift card with either package: a single game with the Special, a double game with the VIP. A double game is 40 minutes of walk-in play, so it works well as a reason to come back with a friend after the party.
Parents often find it helpful to see the price per child:
For context, a walk-in double game alone is $15 to $18 per person, so both packages bundle two private games, a private room, food, drinks and invitations for a modest step up. Walk-in rates are on the walk-in pricing page.
Extra players are added at a per-person rate: $26 on weekdays and $29 on weekends for the Special, or $33 and $37 for the VIP. If you are inviting 14 or 15 kids, the extra players make up a meaningful part of the total, so it is worth running both packages through the math. Our birthday party cost guide has sample budgets with tax included.
For a smaller group, remember the package price stays the same whether you bring 1 player or 10. A party of six still gets the full room and both private games.
Six and seven-year-olds, a Saturday at 11:00 am, cake from a local bakery. The Special covers it: 12 slices for eight kids leaves a little extra, the 10 waters are plenty, and the package price stays the same because the group is under 11. The birthday child goes home with a single-game gift card to use with a friend.
Ten and eleven-year-olds coming straight from school on a Thursday. The VIP makes sense: 24 slices plus two extra players at the weekday VIP rate of $33 each. Juice packs and forks for cake mean the host only brings the cake and candles.
Fourteen-year-olds on a Friday evening. Some families pick the VIP for the food, others pick the Special and stop for something to eat afterward. Both work, because seven players is still one package price.
Cousins aged 6 to 13, plus a younger sibling who joins free without a vest with a parent. The VIP gives older cousins enough to eat, and staff can adjust lives, shots and handicaps so the younger players stay in the game.
No. Both packages cost the same for 1 to 11 players, birthday child included, so a party of six gets the same room, games, food and gift card as a party of 11. Extra players are only added above 11.
Yes. Invitation cards come with both the Special and the VIP, and free printable boy’s and girl’s invitation PDFs are also on the party packages page.
No. Both packages include the same two private games in the arena and the same private party room for 1 hour and 50 minutes. The differences are food, drinks, tableware and the gift card.
Call the team at 647.500.8512 to ask about changing your package before the party date.
Yes. The Special includes 12 pizza slices (half cheese, half pepperoni), 10 bottles of water and 10 pizza plates.
Yes. Any food you bring must be nut-free. A refrigerator is available for cakes.
Both are booked often. The Special suits younger and smaller groups; the VIP suits older, hungrier groups and parents who want everything handled.
You can reserve either package online. A deposit is required at booking to hold your date.
Still deciding? Pick the day first, then the package. Our weekday vs weekend guide helps with the first step. When you are ready, book your party online or call 647.500.8512. Lazer Runner is at 2 Allaura Blvd #10, in Aurora.
Related reading: Why kids 6 to 12 love laser tag parties · Nut-free party food ideas · Party day timeline
Reserve a private party online, or check live walk-in availability. Questions? Call 647.500.8512.
