Short answer: the most affordable way to throw a kids birthday party in Aurora that still feels like an event is to book a weekday venue package, keep the guest list at or under 11, and use what the package already includes. At Lazer Runner, the weekday Special is $290 + HST for 10 kids plus the birthday child free (11 in total) and already covers two private laser tag games, a private party room, pizza, water and invitations. For a tiny group, walk-in games start at $8 per person Tuesday to Thursday.
Birthday parties can get expensive fast. Between the venue, food, decorations, goodie bags and that one more guest who just has to come, parents in Aurora and across York Region often end up spending far more than planned. The good news is that cost and excitement are not the same thing. Kids remember the fog, the lights and the moment they topped the scoreboard, not how much the napkins cost. Here are practical ways to keep the budget down while keeping the party big.
The simplest saving is the calendar. Lazer Runner’s weekday birthday packages cost less than weekend packages, $70 less for the Special and $30 less for the VIP:
Extra players are cheaper on weekdays too: $26 instead of $29 for the Special, and $33 instead of $37 for the VIP. An after-school party on a Tuesday or Wednesday can feel like a midweek treat for the kids. If a PA day falls near the birthday, even better. Our weekday vs weekend guide walks through the trade-offs.
Both Lazer Runner packages are priced for 10 kids plus the birthday child free (11 in total), and the price is the same whether you bring 1 player or 11. Adults get in free. That means the 12th guest is where costs start to climb. Some ways to keep the list tight without hurt feelings:
Our post on how many kids to invite has more on finding the right number.
Parents often buy things the venue already provides. Before you shop, check what the Special includes:
That covers lunch or a snack, drinks, invitations and a gift. The VIP adds more pizza, juice packs, cake plates, forks, napkins and a double-game gift card. Full lists are on the party packages page.
Lazer Runner offers free printable invitations, one boy’s design and one girl’s design, as PDFs on the party packages page. Print them at home, fill in the date and arrival time, and you have saved the cost of a card pack. For wording ideas, see our laser tag invitation wording guide.
A custom tiered cake can cost as much as the party itself. Kids are happy with cupcakes or a sheet cake, and both are faster to serve. Remember three rules at Lazer Runner:
Our nut-free party food ideas include simple, inexpensive options.
Goodie bags can add $5 to $10 per guest. A laser tag party is a strong enough memory on its own. If you want to send kids home with something, try one small item, a homemade treat or a printed scorecard-style thank-you note. Our goodie bag ideas post lists low-cost options.
At home, decorations do a lot of work to make the space feel like a party. In a laser tag arena, the environment already does it: swirling fog, effects lighting, music and neon. You do not need a balloon arch to impress a 9-year-old who just played Vampire Game in a fogged-up arena. A few themed plates or a banner in the party room is plenty.
If your child wants to celebrate with just two or three friends, a walk-in visit can be the most affordable choice. Lazer Runner’s walk-in rates are per person:
| Session | Tuesday to Thursday | Friday to Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| Single game (20 minutes) | $8 | $10 |
| Double game (40 minutes) | $15 | $18 |
| 3 games (60 minutes) | $23 | $27 |
Four kids playing a Tuesday double game is $60 before any extras. Walk-ins do not include a private room, private games or food, so this is a different kind of outing: play, then head home or out for a treat. For groups of more than six, reserve a time slot on the walk-in pricing page. Our party package vs walk-in guide explains when each is the better choice.
Siblings, twins or two best friends with birthdays close together can share one package. The base price covers 11 players, and you split the cost. Our joint birthday party guide has tips for keeping it fair for both kids.
Children under 6 can join free without a vest when accompanied by an adult. Younger siblings can be part of the fun without adding a player cost, which matters for families who would otherwise need a babysitter.
Here is what an affordable but complete party can look like for 10 kids:
Estimated total: about $360 to $380, with two private laser tag games, a private room, pizza, water and a gift card for the birthday child included. For more examples, see our kids birthday party cost guide.
When parents look back at a party that went over budget, the overspend almost always came from three places: extra guests, food bought “just in case,” and goodie bags. The activity itself is rarely the problem. That is why a package with a fixed price for 11 players (10 kids plus the birthday child free), food included, is one of the easiest ways to control the total.
Try this before you shop: write down every item the package already covers, then only buy what is missing. For a Special, the missing items are usually the cake, candles, a knife and a lighter. For a VIP, it is just the cake, candles, knife and lighter, since forks, cake plates and napkins are included. Everything else is optional.
A second habit that helps is setting the guest list before you book. The package covers 10 kids plus the birthday child free, 11 in total. If the list reaches 13, you know the two extra players will add $52 to $74 before tax depending on package and day, and you can decide whether that fits.
Children under 6 can join free without a vest when accompanied by an adult, so younger siblings do not add a player charge.
Yes. The Special is $70 less on weekdays and the VIP is $30 less, and each extra player costs $3 to $4 less. For a 12-player party, that adds up to $34 to $73 in savings before tax.
The weekday Special at $290 + HST for 10 kids plus the birthday child free (11 in total) is the lowest-priced party package. It includes two private games, the private party room, 12 pizza slices, 10 waters and invitations.
The package price stays the same for 1 to 11 players, birthday child included. Fewer kids does not lower the package price, but it avoids extra player charges.
Yes. You can bring any food you like as long as it is nut-free.
For a small group, yes. Walk-in games are $8 per person Tuesday to Thursday. They do not include a private room, private games or food.
Yes. Party reservations require a deposit at booking to hold your date.
No. Prices are listed before HST, which is 13 percent in Ontario.
An affordable party at Lazer Runner still gets the fog, the lights, two private games and a room of your own. Compare the birthday packages, pick a weekday if you can, and book your party online. Lazer Runner is at 2 Allaura Blvd #10, Aurora. Call 647.500.8512 with questions.
Related reading: Special vs VIP package · 10 birthday party ideas for kids 6 to 12 · Guide: choosing a party venue
Reserve a private party online, or check live walk-in availability. Questions? Call 647.500.8512.
