Optimized Birthday Party Schedule

Source:https://chatgpt.com/share/6899670c-a6f0-8003-88a6-27335cd0225b

You’ve got a hard bottleneck (one changing/gear-off station + only two groups in the building at once). Under those rules, the best equal plan that finishes by 12:00 sharp gives each group 16 minutes of Laser and 16 minutes of Bounce. I also minimize van time (no one sits there longer than needed).

Final schedule (arrive ~9:10, done by 11:59)

Driver plan (when you’re in the van)

  • 9:00–9:10 — Drive Groups 1 & 2 from park → venue.
  • 9:46–10:06 — Quick round trip to park → bring Group 3 only (reduces van waiting).
  • 10:17–10:27 — Drive Group 1 back to park.
  • 10:27–10:37 — Bring Group 4 to venue.
  • (Optional quality-of-life) 10:52–11:02 — Take Group 2 back to park (return by 11:12).

Per-group timeline (by activity)

Group 1

  • 9:00–9:10 Drive to venue
  • 9:10–9:30 Suit up
  • 9:30–9:46 Laser
  • 9:46–10:02 Bounce
  • 10:02–10:17 Gear off
  • 10:17–10:27 Drive back to park Group 2
  • 9:00–9:10 Drive to venue
  • 9:30–9:50 Suit up
  • 9:50–10:06 Laser
  • 10:06–10:22 Bounce
  • 10:22–10:37 Wait inside (changing room busy with G3)
  • 10:37–10:52 Gear off
  • (Optional) 10:52–11:02 Drive back to park Group 3
  • 10:06 Arrive (wait in van ~11 min)
  • 10:17–10:37 Suit up
  • 10:37–10:53 Laser
  • 10:53–11:09 Bounce
  • 11:12–11:27 Gear off (starts after G4 begins suit)
  • 11:27–… Ready to return (whenever you want) Group 4
  • 10:37 Arrive (wait in van ~15 min)
  • 10:52–11:12 Suit up
  • 11:12–11:28 Laser
  • 11:28–11:44 Bounce
  • 11:44–11:59 Gear off (done before noon)

Room usage (no overlaps, max 2 groups inside)

  • Changing/Gear:

  • G1 suit 9:10–9:30 → G2 suit 9:30–9:50 → G1 off 10:02–10:17 →
    G3 suit 10:17–10:37 → G2 off 10:37–10:52 → G4 suit 10:52–11:12 →
    G3 off 11:12–11:27 → G4 off 11:44–11:59

  • Laser: G1 9:30–9:46 → G2 9:50–10:06 → G3 10:37–10:53 → G4 11:12–11:28

  • Bounce: G1 9:46–10:02 → G2 10:06–10:22 → G3 10:53–11:09 → G4 11:28–11:44

Why this is the max

  • With only two groups in the building and the single changing/gear-off station that every group must use twice, that station is the critical path.
  • This relay keeps one group playing while the other uses the changer, staggers the van runs so kids aren’t stuck sitting there, and back-times Group 4’s gear-off to finish before 12:00.
  • Any attempt to push play beyond 16 + 16 minutes forces Group 4’s gear-off past noon. If you want, I can turn this into a color-coded printable (or Google Sheet) so your helpers can just follow the blocks.