Pin the tail on the donkey is passé and bobbing for apples is only cool if little Ethan or Mia come up with an iPad between their teeth. The business of kid’s parties is serious stuff and increasingly competitive for those who want to throw bashes that kids (and their parents) will talk about long after the last gift has been unwrapped.

So why have a party with a robotic mouse and bad pizza when you can blow it out at the Omni Hotel or have a tweenybopper spa party in your living room?

Fantasy suite at the Omni

Head to the sixth floor of the Omni Houston Galleria Hotel where the hotel has created the Kids Fantasy Suite, a regular room turned playland.

Omni Hotels already appeals to the younger set through its Omni Kids program, which includes suitcases full of games and toys when checking in, a kid’s backpack and, depending on the location, games and activities by the pool. The suite is an extension of the chain’s interest in family travelers, but it is also an avenue for a unique birthday party experience.

“It’s a new concept in parties,” Desiree Tapping, manager of catering and special events, says. “We can tailor the party to meet the guest’s personality and we have things you can play with, touch and feel.”

The party can start in the suite that is decked out with two double beds, an art table, full chalk wall, a Wii and multiple games, an electric guitar and an iChair for iPods or other gaming systems and a mini-carpeted basketball court and hoop. From there, Tapping says the party can head poolside for spa treatments and feather extensions or off the hotel grounds to places like the Children’s Museum, all delivered by limousine, of course.

Back in the hotel, the birthday kid gets served from a personalized menu, as well as complimentary turndown service including cookies and milk and birthday breakfast in bed.

Rollaway beds can be brought into the room and the suite is attached to a guestroom for adults that includes a king size bed. Five to six pint-sized overnight partiers could reasonably sleep in the suite — that is if any of them actually would take a snooze. Tapping says the room can accommodate eight to 10 kids. Rates for the room range from $250 to $350 and vary depending on the add-ons.

It's Moodylicious

For the birthday girl who wants the party to come to her, there’s the new Moodylicious Children’s Spa and Boutique, a mobile spa experience complete with all-natural products, facial and mani/pedi stations, hair and makeup stylists, gift bags and lots sweet treats. Owner Christina DeJesus developed the idea after creating a coffee-based line of beauty products in her kitchen. From there, she launched the Wicked Chocolate Face Frosting skincare line and her party in a box concept, which soon evolved into the mobile kid’s spa parties.

DeJesus and her team set up the entire event, from food and products to mani/pedi stations and a craft table for anywhere between six to 40 girls. Party guests rotate from each station and in between make candy jewelry and nosh. Parties with up to 12 girls also don spa robes.

“It’s a great spa atmosphere,” DeJesus says. “The first thing they do is get their party bags with a flower head band in it and pull their hair back. The treatments are all natural with vitamins and nutrients so the girls leave wanting to wash their faces.”

The parties last for two to three hours, include all cleanup and start at $475 for eight kids.“I have two boys and doing this has really brought out the little girl in me,” DeJesus says.