š„ Welcome to Big Thunder Events!
Weāre fired up to bring the funāand this page is your go-to guide for making your event smooth, safe, and unforgettable. From contracts to weather, weāve got everything you need to know right here.
Payment is due at delivery, and we keep it simpleābut specific:
- šµ Cash ā Please have exact change ready. Our crew canāt make change on-site.
- š³ Credit Cards ā Accepted! (Visa, Mastercard, Discover only) ā No American Express
ā ļø A 3% fee applies on charges over $1,000.
- š§¾ Checks ā Accepted from churches, schools, government agencies, or businesses only.
ā No personal checks, sorry!
Need to confirm your payment type or update your invoice? Give us a call before the big dayāweāre happy to help! ā”
š« Sorry, we do not offer refunds.
ā ļø Donāt forget to hit the "Save" button after each initial and again after your signatureāif itās not saved, itās not signed!
Fast, easy, and one step closer to party time. šā”
Please make sure:
- š Driveways or access points are clear
- š« No vehicles are blocking the setup area
- š Gates are unlocked
- š³ No tight turns, low-hanging branches (9ā tall trailer), or hidden obstacles
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If the only access is via a loading dock, let us know in advance so we can make the right arrangements.
š” MECHANICAL RIDES = FULL PARKING REQUIRED
If your event includes a mechanical, trackless trains or carnival ride, weāll need space to park the truck and trailer for the entire event, not just setup.
Many rides stay connected to the trailer during operation (like swings, spinners, etc.). Othersālike our trackless trains or Mechanical Bullsāmay detach, but still need trailer access nearby.Got a tricky setup or weird layout? Give us a shout and weāll help you make a game plan.
Weāre good at navigatingābut backing a trailer into a jungle gym isnāt exactly part of the Big Thunder dream. šā”
If the forecast shows a 50% chance or higher of rain during your event time and you're thinking about reschedulingāno problem. We offer one fee-free reschedule with full payment, as long as you let us know when we call with your delivery ETA.
Weāll move your event to a new date at no extra charge, and you wonāt owe a dime on the reschedule.
šµ Paying by check? No worriesāyouāll have 7 days to mail it in. If we donāt receive it in that timeframe, your deposit will be forfeited.
šļø Reschedules are subject to availability, and substitutions may apply depending on what's available for your new date.
BUT ā once you give us the green light and say, āLetās roll!ā during that ETA call, your payment becomes locked inārain or shine.
That call is your moment to decide, so if Mother Nature looks moody, donāt wait to speak up! ā”š§ļø
š” Carnival & Mechanical Rides
These attractions are rain or shine and cannot be canceled or rescheduled once booked.
Due to staffing, logistics, and vendor commitments, no refunds or changes are available for these items under any circumstances.
āļø Setup & Site Requirements
Before we roll in with the fun, here's everything you need to know to keep your event safe, smooth, and Thunder-worthy.
ā° THE EARLY BIRD BRINGS THE BOUNCE
We might arrive up to 4 hours before your scheduled rental timeāsometimes as early as 5:30 AM. Why? Because we want every setup perfect and on time, especially for larger or more complex events.
ā
No stress: Your rental time still starts as scheduled.
ā ļø If you hear us rolling up at sunriseāitās just that Big Thunder magic at work. ā”āļø
ā° Timing Matters ā Help Us Keep the Thunder Rolling!
Our delivery schedule is tightāweāre on a mission to bring the fun all day long.
Hereās what you can expect:
-
š Youāll get a 30-minute ETA call when weāre en route
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š More than 5 minutes late? A $50 wait fee applies
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š More than 15 minutes late? Weāll move on and reschedule your delivery to the end of the route
ā” Please be on-site and ready when we arriveāyour whole event depends on it!
ā” POWER UP!
Each blower requires its own dedicated electrical circuitānot just another outlet on the same line.
Hereās the breakdown:
-
Multiple blowers = multiple circuits
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We provide up to 100 feet of extension cord per blower
-
Power must be ready and working when we arrive
-
Running cords through a door or window? Itāll need to stay open during the event
š« No daisy chains, plug splitters, or customer cords.
We only use our safety-rated 100' cords designed for our equipment.
š” Not sure about your setup?
Call us at +1-866-246-5867āor rent a generator for total peace of mind.
š§¼ CLEAN ZONE = FUN ZONE
Before we can blow up the fun, your setup space must be:
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Flat
-
Clean
-
Safe
Please clear the area of:
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šŖØ Rocks or debris
-
šŖ Sharp objects
-
š© Pet āsurprisesā (yep, weāll know)
-
š³ Low branches, power lines, basketball goals, or shade structuresāmost units need 18ā22 ft of vertical clearance
š« We do not set up on gravel or rock.
ā
Acceptable surfaces: Flat grass, concrete, asphalt, or turf
A clean, clear area = faster setup and max bounce time. Letās do it right! šā”
š± GRASS SETUP? CALL BEFORE WE STAKE!
We anchor all inflatables with 18"ā42" steel stakes when setting up on grass. That means deep ground penetrationāand potential contact with underground lines.
Before we arrive:
š Mark your sprinkler systems and underground lines
š Call 811 to mark utilities for freeāitās fast and protects your lawn (and your wallet)
Big Thunder is not liable for damage to unmarked utilities.
Letās keep your yard safeāand your party grounded! ā”š¾
One Setup, One Spot
Once our crew begins setup, that location is final.
š Want it moved? A 40% relocation fee applies and must be paid before we move anything. Plan ahead to save time and money!
Delivery & Wait Time
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Our crews may arrive up to 4 hours early, sometimes as early as 5:30 AM, to stay on schedule.
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Your rental time starts as scheduled, regardless of delivery timeāthere is no early delivery fee.
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You'll get a 30-minute ETA call before arrival.
-
If our crew waits more than 10 minutes, a $50 wait fee applies.
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If the wait exceeds 20 minutes, we will proceed to our next event and your delivery will be moved to the end of the route for the day.
Park Events
Hosting your event at a park? Hereās what you need to know:
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Most parks require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) ā we need 3 business days to process your request
-
Power must be within 100 feet of setup location
ā ļø If not, youāll need to rent a generator from us
If the forecast shows 50%+ chance of rain during your event time and you want to reschedule, no problemāwe offer one fee-free reschedule with full payment. Just tell us during the delivery ETA call.
- Paying by check? Youāve got 7 days to mail it in. If not, your deposit is forfeited.
- Reschedules are subject to availability and substitutions may apply.
- Once you say āLetās roll!ā, payment is locked inārain or shine.
Carnival/Mechanical Rides:
Rain or shine, no cancellations or reschedules. These items are locked in once booked.
šØ SAFETY FIRST ā WIND IS A BIG DEAL
If winds hit 20+ MPH, inflatables become unsafe to operateāno matter how well theyāre staked down.
If the weather turns, you must unplug the unit and stop use immediately.
Safety always comes firstāfor you, your guests, and our crew.
Big Thunder Events reserves the right to cancel or postpone events due to high winds or unsafe weather conditions at our discretion.
If itās not safe to operate, we wonāt risk itāand we know you wouldnāt want us to.
- Reschedules (non-weather):
- More than 72 hrs = 50% payment upfront, no extra fees
- Less than 72 hrs = 30% restocking fee + full payment for reschedule
- More than 72 hrs = 50% payment upfront, no extra fees
Carnival/Mechanical Rides:
Rain or shine, no cancellations or reschedules. These items are locked in once booked.
We get itāplans can shift. Hereās how we handle changes to keep the fun (and fairness) rolling:
š Cancellations
- More than 72 hours out? A 30% restocking fee applies.
- Less than 72 hours out? Full payment is required, no exceptions. At that point, your event is packed, prepped, and scheduled
š Reschedules (Non-Weather Related)
- Outside 72 hours: You can reschedule with 50% payment up front and no extra fees.
- Inside 72 hours: A 30% restocking fee applies, and weāll reschedule your event with full payment. Your new date will be completely paid in full.
š” Carnival & Mechanical Rides
These attractions are rain or shine and cannot be canceled or rescheduled once booked.
Due to staffing, logistics, and vendor commitments, no refunds or changes are available for these items under any circumstance.
Our biggest weather concern? Wind.
If gusts hit 20 MPH or higher, inflatables become unsafe to operateāno matter how well theyāre staked down.
If you decide to move forward with your event despite the forecast, itās your responsibility to monitor the weather and deflate the unit immediately (just unplug it) if conditions turn dangerous.
Safety always comes firstāno exceptions. ā ļøš¬ļø
If your event includes a mechanical, trackless trains or carnival ride, weāll need space to park the truck and trailer for the entire event, not just setup.
Many rides stay connected to the trailer during operation (like swings, spinners, etc.). Othersālike our trackless trains or Mechanical Bullsāmay detach, but still need trailer access nearby.
Got a tricky setup or weird layout? Give us a shout and weāll help you make a game plan.
Weāre good at navigatingābut backing a trailer into a jungle gym isnāt exactly part of the Big Thunder dream. šā”