Top 10 Questions to Ask Before Renting a Bounce House or Inflatable

Renting a bounce house or inflatable can transform any event into an unforgettable experience. Whether you're planning a birthday party, school carnival, church event, or community festival, choosing the right rentals is key. At A&E Air Jumpers, we specialize in bounce house rentals, combo unit rentals, and extreme attractions, ensuring your event is safe, fun, and memorable. With over 15 years of experience, we’ve successfully catered to events of all sizes—from intimate backyard gatherings to large community events with over 10,000 attendees. Because we offer full-service staffing as an option, we’ve gained unique insights into how children respond to our inflatables, giving us a wealth of experience in recommending the right number and types of inflatables for all age groups attending your event. Here are the top 10 questions to consider before booking your inflatables.

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1. What Size Bounce House Do I Need?

Choosing the right size depends on the number of guests and available space. For smaller backyards, our compact bounce house rentals or combo unit rentals are perfect. Hosting a large event? Consider a giant obstacle course or multi-activity inflatable, like our waterslide rentals paired with an interactive sports zone.

• Capacity Considerations: Keep in mind that any enclosed inflatable, such as a standard bounce house, is limited by the manufacturer to allow only 5-7 children at a time. This is where selecting the right inflatable becomes crucial. Combo units with slides can almost double the number of children that one unit can handle. This is because some children will be sliding down the slide while others are running back to the entrance, spreading out the activity and allowing one inflatable to accommodate more children effectively.

• Our Experience Advantage: With A&E Air Jumpers, our professional staff can assess your space and recommend the best inflatables for your needs. Thanks to our 15+ years of experience at events of all sizes, we can help you select inflatables that fit your space, guest list, and age groups perfectly.

2. What Types of Inflatables Are Available?

At A&E Air Jumpers, we offer a wide variety of options tailored to any event type:

• Bounce House Rentals: Classic fun for kids of all ages, available in themes like castles and animals.

• Combo Unit Rentals: Combine slides, climbing walls, and bouncing areas into one inflatable for maximum entertainment.

• Waterslide Rentals: Perfect for summer events, our water slides add excitement and a way to cool off.

• Interactive Games and Sports: Options like carnival game rentals, Axe Throwing, and basketball hoops are great for competitive fun.

• Extreme Attractions: Take your event to the next level with Rockwall Rentals, Bungee Jump Rentals, and mechanical rides like the Bull, Meltdown, Kapow, Dizzy X, and Toxic Twister.

• Tailored Recommendations: With our full-service staffing, we’ve witnessed firsthand what inflatables work best for different age groups. Let us help you choose the perfect mix to ensure every guest has a blast.

4. What Age Groups Can Use Bounce Houses and Other Rentals?

Our inflatables cater to a wide range of ages, ensuring fun for everyone at your event. Whether you're hosting a birthday party, a school carnival, or a large community event, we have the perfect units for each age group:

• Younger Children:
  For smaller kids, classic bounce house rentals like the Princess Castle or Dinosaur Bounce House are perfect. These units offer a safe, enclosed space where children can jump and play to their heart's content. If you're looking for a little extra excitement, our Toddler Combo Units like the Little Builders Playland provide additional interactive elements tailored for younger age groups.

• Teens and Adults:
  Older kids and adults love high-energy attractions that challenge their skills. Our obstacle courses, such as the Extreme Rush Obstacle Course or Adrenaline Rush II, are great for competitive fun. Additionally, units like the Rockwall Rental or the Bungee Jump cater to thrill-seekers who want a memorable experience.

• Family-Friendly Units:
  Some inflatables appeal to all age groups, making them ideal for mixed audiences. The Monster Truck Combo combines bouncing and sliding fun, while interactive games like the Human Foosball or Connect 4 Basketball Shootout engage guests of all ages in friendly competition. For water events, our waterslide rentals like the Cool Sun Slide Waterslide ensure everyone can cool off while having a blast.

• Carnival Games and Attractions:
  Adding variety to your event, carnival game rentals like the Ring Toss or Hi Striker are universally loved and provide entertainment beyond inflatables. These are great additions for all age groups, ensuring your event offers something for everyone.

Event Customization:
Thanks to our full-service staffing option, we’ve observed how kids of different ages interact with our inflatables. This allows us to recommend the perfect number and type of rentals for your event, ensuring a balance of fun and engagement for all attendees.

5. What Is the Best Type of Inflatable for My Event?

The best inflatable for your event depends on your theme, audience, and the type of experience you want to create. At A&E Air Jumpers, we offer a wide range of units tailored to fit any event size or style. Here’s a breakdown of recommendations based on event type:

Birthday Parties:

For smaller, more intimate gatherings like birthday parties, bounce house rentals and combo unit rentals are ideal. They provide endless fun while being compact enough to fit in most backyards. Popular choices include:

• Dinosaur Combo: A hit with kids who love adventure, this combo features a bouncing area, climbing wall, and slide for dynamic play.
• Frozen Bounce House: Perfect for Disney fans, this themed inflatable brings Elsa, Anna, and Olaf to life for your little ones.
• 3-in-1 Green Venom Castle Combo: This versatile unit combines bouncing, sliding, and climbing, keeping the kids engaged for hours.

School Carnivals or Church Events:

For larger gatherings, interactive attractions are a must to keep the energy high and accommodate larger crowds. These inflatables provide opportunities for friendly competition and group participation. Some standout options include:

• Kapow: A high-energy interactive game where participants race through spinning arms to reach the finish. It’s perfect for older kids and teens who love a challenge.
• Dizzy X: A unique inflatable game that spins players in a giant gyroscope, testing their balance and coordination in a fun and exciting way.
• Toxic Twister: A visually striking inflatable that combines bouncing and dodging with a challenging twist, ideal for drawing large crowds.

Community Festivals:

For large-scale events like festivals, fairs, or corporate picnics, you’ll need larger attractions that can handle high foot traffic and provide memorable experiences. These inflatables and rides are designed to entertain a wide age range:

• Rockwall Rentals: A thrilling climbing experience that challenges participants to race to the top. It’s always a centerpiece attraction at festivals.
• Bungee Jump Rentals: A crowd-pleaser that lets guests experience the thrill of bungee jumping in a safe, inflatable environment.
• Mechanical Rides: Units like the Meltdown or the Bull Ride are guaranteed to draw spectators and participants alike, creating a lively atmosphere.

Expert Guidance:

At A&E Air Jumpers, our wealth of experience allows us to recommend inflatables that perfectly match your event’s size, audience, and goals. For instance:

• If your audience includes younger children, we might suggest units like the Little Builders Playland or the Wacky World.
• For mixed age groups, combo units like the Colossal Combo or interactive games like Tag Arena are excellent choices.
• For events with a competitive edge, obstacle courses such as the Adrenaline Rush IIor the Extreme Rush Obstacle Course are sure to be a hit.

By selecting the right inflatables for your event, you ensure every guest has a memorable experience. Ready to plan your event? Explore our full range of rentals to find the perfect fit!

6. Can I Use a Bounce House or Inflatable Indoors?

Yes! Many of our bounce house rentals and combo unit rentals are suitable for indoor use. When hosting an indoor event, ensure the venue has adequate ceiling height and open floor space. For larger attractions like Rockwall Rentals or Bungee Jump Rentals, outdoor setups are typically required.

7. What Happens If It Rains or There’s Bad Weather?

At A&E Air Jumpers, we understand how important your event is, especially when it comes to a child’s birthday party or a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. That’s why we strive to be as flexible as possible when it comes to weather. Rain alone will never be the reason we cancel your rental. If you’re ready to party in the rain, so are we!

Planning Around Northern California’s Bipolar Weather

Northern California’s weather can be unpredictable, but we’re prepared to help you navigate it. If you decide to host your event regardless of the weather, we’ll be right there with you to ensure your guests have an amazing time. Rain or shine, we’re committed to making your event unforgettable.

Rain or Shine, We’ve Got You Covered

The weather in Northern California is famously unpredictable—sunshine one minute, rain the next. We know how challenging it can be to plan around this, so we leave the decision up to you. If you decide to proceed with your event, even in the rain, we will deliver and set up your inflatables as planned. Whether it’s a bounce house like the Frozen Castle or a waterslide rental like the Blue Sky, we’ll be there to make sure your event goes forward rain or shine.

Safety is Always Our Priority

The only exception to our rain-or-shine policy is high winds. Strong winds pose a serious safety hazard, especially for larger inflatables like the Extreme Rush Obstacle Course or Rockwall Rentals. If high winds are forecasted, we will discuss alternative options with you, as safety always comes first.

No Cleaning Fees for Rain-Soaked Units

We understand that inflatables can get wet during a rainy event. While we won’t offer discounts for units used in the rain, we also won’t charge you a cleaning fee for a dry unit that ends up wet. For instance, if your Tropical Bliss Combo or Fire Station Combo gets a little soggy during the party, we’ll handle the cleanup without extra cost.

At A&E Air Jumpers, we take every event seriously, especially when it’s for a child’s birthday party. We’ll never let a little rain stop us from delivering fun and memories. If you’re ready to party, so are we—just let us know!

9. How Long Does Setup and Takedown Take?

Setup and takedown times depend on the complexity of the inflatable. Bounce houses, waterslides and combo units take about 30 minutes, while larger attractions like dunk tank rentals, Bungee Jump Rentals, or extreme attractions may require up to an hour or more.

• Seamless Execution: Our professional team, backed by 15 years of experience, handles every setup and takedown with precision, leaving you free to enjoy the event.

10. How Far in Advance Should I Book My Rental?

We recommend booking your inflatables 4-6 weeks in advance, especially during peak seasons like summer and holidays. Unique items like the Toxic Twister, Kapow, or Rockwall Rentals can book out quickly, so reserve early to secure your date.

• Reserve Early to Secure Your Favorites: We always encourage you to reserve your units as soon as you have a budget and a unit in mind. This ensures you get the inflatable that’s perfect for your event and fits within your budget.

• Why Book Early with A&E Air Jumpers? As the provider of the largest selection of inflatables in the Sacramento area, we offer an extensive variety of bounce house rentals, combo unit rentals, and extreme attractions. However, despite our vast selection, we have limited staffing, trucks, and trailers to handle the logistics of every order. To ensure all our customers receive the top-notch service they deserve, we limit the number of orders we accept in a single day.

• Lock in Your Delivery Schedule: Booking as far in advance as possible not only ensures you get the units you love but also guarantees your spot on our delivery schedule. Our commitment to excellent customer service means we prioritize delivering a stress-free experience, which starts with reserving your inflatables early.

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Check out our Rental Policy for more details. Also check out How to plan a PERFECT PARTY or Choosing the RIGHT Inflatable for your party or EVENT!

So, you’re ready to open your very own inflatable indoor play center. Or perhaps you own a family entertainment center and have decided to spice things up with some awesome inflatables. You’re excited, we get that! Inflatables are pretty awesome, and when combined with the successful family entertainment center-model, it’s even more... well, awesome!

But before you get ready to sign that lease or place that order for inflatables (with us, we would hope!), it’s important to know that – like everything — there may be many “pros”, but also a few “cons”.

Inflatable indoor play centers are lucrative business ventures... if you plan it out right.

We’ve been working with indoor facilities for nearly a decade, and few if any companies have had as much experience as we have. We’ve seen people get into this type of business and be very successful, and we’ve seen others quickly exit within the first year. Why? What causes some to spend a bunch of time and money to just fail and bail, while others rake in the profits?

This article’s purpose isn’t to scare you away from indoor facilities. On the contrary! Inflatable indoor play centers are lucrative business ventures... if you plan it out right. In that spirit, this article is intended to help guide you in the process of opening an indoor center. We value our customers (and our prospective customers), and we want nothing more than to see you succeed. With that in mind, let’s start at the beginning.

Why open an indoor inflatable play center?

If you’re currently an outdoor rental company, you may be eyeing an indoor business with a bit of envy. After all, there are less weather-related issues, less physical labor, less travel time, and less chance of damage to your equipment from weather, vandals, or unruly customers.

If you currently have an indoor play center, you may be eyeing inflatables with equal amounts of envy. Not only do kids love inflatables, they are quite affordable when compared to a similar type of hard-ride, making the cost of entry very manageable. Inflatables might just be the perfect way to really take your current business to the next level.

To franchise, or not to franchise?

This is an important first question. There are many franchise chains of inflatable indoor centers available, and many customers take that route. Like any industry, franchises provide a great way to enter a business.

When considering going the franchise route, it might be wise to investigate how established that brand really is in your area.

Much of the value of the franchise comes from the brand-name it carries. With that in mind, when considering going the franchise route, it might be wise to investigate how established that brand really is in your area. Do you see advertisements? Is it a household name?

Many other people decide to skip the franchise route and to go into business themselves, feeling that they can create their own valuable brand-name. Many enjoy the freedom of going-it-solo. In either case, it is totally a personal decision.

Since franchises often come with their own guidelines and rules, this article is probably more informative to non-franchises. However, we hope that some principles will be valuable in either case.

Location, location, location... and demographics

As the old adage goes, location really is everything and can make or break this type of business. Simply finding an inexpensive building with large floor space and high-ceilings (very important, mind you) will not bring the public to your door. Contrary to another popular saying, if you build it, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll come.

Think like a parent: will my location be convenient for taking the kids after school?

So, what is the ideal location then? That depends. Take some time and consider the demographics of your targeted location. Are there lots of kids between the ages of 2 and 10? This is the age group that will most likely be using your facility for birthday parties and the like. Choosing a location near a school or large center that supports youth activities is a good choice, as is a location near shopping malls and popular restaurants. Think like a parent: "Will my location be convenient for taking the kids after school?"

An important thing to remember is that it is very difficult to entertain all age groups, and you may find that it is better not to try. Why? And why does choosing the right inflatables matter?

Focus on your core age group

Some people have concluded that they need an inflatable for every age group: something for toddlers all the way up to obstacle courses for adults. Sounds like a great idea, right? Well...

Many have found, sometimes the hard way, that it is better to cater towards their primary age group. For most, this is children 10 years old and younger. While there may be an adult or teenager accompanying a child to a party, doesn’t it make sense to focus on what will entertain your core age group? There’s few things worse than purchasing a large inflatable obstacle course that’s too big for younger children, only to watch it rarely be used.

Themed inflatables really command attention, and kids love them.

There’s another reason to focus on just your core age group: liability. Unfortunately, we’ve found that most of the injuries we hear about involve adults and teenagers. It is very dangerous to have an adult bouncing with a small child, and teenagers often behave like, well... teenagers. Need we say more? Instead of trying to please everyone with inflatables, might it be better to provide something more age appropriate to entertain parents? Many customers have found providing wireless internet and a lounge area to be successful.

Which inflatables should I choose?

To answer this question, first you need to decide if you’re going to go themed or non-themed for your inflatables.

Themed inflatables really command attention, and kids love them, whereas non-themed inflatables are often cheaper and provide a more “professional” look. Many customers have found that themed inflatables need to be rotated in and out, so as to keep kids wanting to come back. The choice is yours.

Now comes time to choose which specific inflatables you want in your center. While you have the freedom to do whatever you want (choosing from our catalog can feel like being a proverbial kid in a candy store!), the reality often is that the inflatables you choose depend on how much space you have — especially the ceiling height.

Give us a call, we’d be happy to provide a solution tailored to your needs.

Don’t worry, a good inflatable company can work with you. For instance, we offer inflatables in multiple sizes and dimensions, and many can be configured as a “SpaceSaver” to reduce the height. While having 20’+ ceilings makes life easier, we work with countless companies that have space issues. Give us a call and we’ll be happy to provide a solution tailored to your needs.

Protecting your investment

We pride ourselves on selling the finest inflatables available. Cutting Edge Creations-brand inflatables are known for their durability (seriously, ask anyone). That said, here’s a bit of reality: inflatable products aren’t made with steel and rivets. They’re made by hand, sewn together with thread and are going to suffer from occasional wear and tear, depending on how often they’re used. Be prepared for this to happen to your equipment. Your inflatable, no matter who makes it, is most likely going to need at least a minor repair in the first year. It’s important to be aware of the required maintenance for inflatables.

That said, there are some things you can do to mitigate this. First and foremost, choose a reputable inflatable manufacturer that uses durable materials. Do they use only 18oz vinyl? Are the seams double-stitched? Does the inflatable have replaceable wear covers? How good is the warranty? What’s covered and what isn’t covered?

Would you drive across the country without a spare tire? Have a backup “spare” inflatable.

Another very important thing you can do is have a backup inflatable. A backup inflatable? Really? Think about it this way: would you drive across the country without a spare tire? Have a backup “spare” inflatable. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy — a simple bouncer will do. But when one of your main inflatables needs to go in for repairs, that spare bouncer will look much better than empty floor space.

Be sure to inspect your inflatables frequently, so you’re not blind-sided when an issue arises. It’s a great opportunity to check your blowers as well, making sure the cords are intact and the blower isn’t clogged. Clogged? Yes, blowers can get clogged with dust and debris, and this can affect performance.

Preparing ahead of time and understanding the warranty terms helps protect your relationship with your supplier. Having and maintaining a good relationship with your supplier means they will work with you, be on your side, and quickly attempt to correct the damage in a fair and equitable manner. That means you get back up and running quickly.

Closing thoughts

In addition to all of the above, sometimes adjustments are needed, including being prepared emotionally and mentally. As in all customer-service industries, diplomacy is a must, and a delicate approach is often required. Your customers have the power to make your business grow. Make sure you always provide a memorable experience. Keep in mind that a happy customer is a repeat customer, and a happy customer will chat with their coworkers, club members, relatives, and friends.

Operating an indoor inflatable family entertainment center can be a very rewarding and profitable business for those who plan accordingly. Please remember that we are here to help, and if you have any other questions, just give us a call.

Are you interested in learning more about indoor inflatable trampoline park? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!