The popularity of inflatable party toys in recent years has been phenomenal. It used to be that professional inflatable houses were only found at carnivals and other major production events. But I soon began to see them appear at local birthday parties and even for sale to the average consumer in retail stores.
I think the growing interest in them has taken off because it is a way to let off steam and recharge in a fun and relatively safe environment. This was evident to me when I attended an elementary school birthday party last summer. When it got late and the party was over for the kids, the adults (who maybe had a beer or two during the day) proceeded to bounce around the kids’ house when we were alone.
The popularity stems from the fact that something inflatable is generally more comfortable and safer than hard plastic, steel, or wood, which ultimately drives you crazy. Add some water and you have a recipe for another inflatable flavor of fun, the inflatable water slide party rental.
I have only found places where you can rent this now very popular item, but I am sure that just like inflatable houses it will soon be available on the retail market. Dry versions of inflatable slides are available at retail stores, but they are in the same category as jump / bounce houses. Please note that dry slides should not be used as water slides unless they are specifically designed for wet and dry slides.
Now, there are a few precautions to keep in mind before putting your heart into an inflatable waterslide for your next party. Get all the details on setup from your party rental provider. They generally recommend that you place the slide in the middle of the lawn and let the water run over the lawn. It sounds simple enough, but if you don’t have proper drainage in your lawn, this could lead to a muddy mess. Usually areas with properly installed drainage systems are in hard surface areas like driveways or concrete patio areas, both of which are not really suitable for waterslides as you generally want to stay away from hard surfaces and slippery with wet kids, running and excited. (And adults!).
Also, when the party rental company comes to pack the waterslide, you may find additional charges included if you did not empty the water properly. Or as I mentioned before, if they come back to pick up a rental that is now 2 feet under a quagmire, there will be additional charges.
Once you have all the details on what water slide rental entails, and if you have the right space to install one, the possibilities for children’s parties and adult summer parties are endless. After our 5 year old daughter’s birthday party, we kept the 25ft inflatable waterslide and used it for our neighbor’s Hawaiian Luau party the following weekend for a pig roast.
