FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

Fill out the booking request form on our Book Now page. Tell us your event date, guest count, location, and which package interests you. We'll get back to you — usually within a few hours — to confirm availability and send your custom quote. No payment is required to submit a request.

As early as possible — especially for weekend dates. Saturdays between May and August book out weeks in advance. We recommend booking at least 5–6 weeks ahead for weekends, and 2 weeks ahead for weekday events. That said, reach out even if your event is coming up soon — we'll always let you know if something is available last minute.

To put together your quote we need: your name and contact info, the event date and preferred start time, your event location or general area, approximate guest count, and which package you're interested in. If you want to add claw machines, mention that too so we can include it in the quote.

We aim to respond to all inquiries within a few hours — often same day. During busy weekends we may be running events, so responses on Saturday and Sunday mornings can occasionally take a bit longer. If you haven't heard back within 24 hours, feel free to follow up by calling (623) 888-8174 or emailing contact@buscadeaz.com.

Absolutely. Weekdays are a great option for school events, corporate team days, and daytime birthday parties. Weekday availability is typically better than weekends and we can often accommodate shorter notice for weekday bookings. Just reach out and we'll check what's open.

Rescheduling: With 14 or more days notice, your $100 deposit moves to the new date at no charge — no penalty. We'll work with you to find an available date that fits.

Cancellations: Handled case by case. We understand life happens and we'll always try to be fair. Reach out as soon as you know so we have the most flexibility to work with you.

We're based in the Cave Creek / Scottsdale area and serve the entire Phoenix metro — including Queen Creek, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Peoria, Glendale, Avondale, Goodyear, Buckeye, Surprise, Anthem, Fountain Hills, Apache Junction, San Tan Valley, Maricopa, and more. A travel fee may apply for locations further out. We'll always be upfront about this in your quote — no surprises.

Yes — schools, HOAs, churches and businesses often book us multiple times throughout the year. Reach out directly and we can discuss availability and pricing for recurring or multi-date bookings. Email us at contact@buscadeaz.com for multi-event inquiries.

Yes — and it's one of the most unique fundraising options available to schools right now. Forget donut nights and pizza fundraisers. Buscade gives your school community something genuinely new and exciting that families actually want to attend.

We work with PTAs, school administrators and parent groups to structure events that drive attendance and engagement. Reach out directly at contact@buscadeaz.com and we'll walk you through how a Buscade fundraiser night works for your school.

Yes — Buscade has been engaged as featured entertainment at corporate events, brand activations, trade shows and community gatherings, bookable through entertainment and media budgets. We provide professional invoicing and can work with your procurement or events team directly.

If you're exploring Buscade as part of a larger event or activation, email us at contact@buscadeaz.com and we'll put together a proposal tailored to your needs.

The bus requires a flat area of at least 26ft long × 11ft wide. Driveways, parking lots, school grounds, and parks all typically work great. If you're unsure whether your venue can accommodate this, mention it in your booking request and we'll confirm before your event date.

The bus has 8 gaming stations, each supporting up to 2 players simultaneously — so 16 guests can be actively playing at any moment. For groups larger than 16, our game host continuously rotates players in and out so everyone gets meaningful time. Game cards are available for larger events to keep rotations fair and organized.

Buscade runs on an onboard solar power system — making us fully self-sufficient for most daytime events with no hookup required at your location.

For nighttime events or longer sessions where solar capacity may be limited, we'll need access to a standard outdoor electrical outlet with an extension cord. We'll confirm this with you at booking so there are no surprises on event day — just let us know your setup when you inquire and we'll tell you exactly what's needed.

Yes — fully. The bus has a complete A/C system that runs throughout your entire event. This was a deliberate design choice for Phoenix — we live here too and we know what July feels like. Guests step inside to a cool, comfortable environment no matter what it's doing outside. Events run rain, wind, heat or dust storms without a single interruption.

We need a flat area large enough to park the bus — 26ft × 11ft. If you have questions about whether your location works, just mention it in your booking request and we'll confirm before your event date. We've set up in a wide variety of locations across the valley without issues.

We arrive approximately 30 minutes before your event start time to set up. By the time your guests arrive, the bus is open, everything is running, and the game host is ready. Teardown after the event is also handled entirely by us — you don't touch anything.

Each of the 8 stations can be configured one of three ways:

• Retro & Indie Arcade — Classic arcade cabinet experience. Street Fighter, Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, Galaga, indie titles and more. Available in all packages.
• Console Gaming — PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or Nintendo Switch 2 connected to the station. Fortnite, Mario Kart World, Roblox and more. Available in Starter, Level Up, and Business packages.
• PC Gaming — Full PC gaming on the station hardware. Minecraft, Rocket League, and more. Available in Level Up and Business packages.

With Level Up and Business packages, you can mix and match modes across the 8 stations at the same event.

Our Base and Starter packages run 90 minutes — the sweet spot for most birthday parties and group events. Level Up includes a full 2-hour session. For corporate, school, or larger events, custom durations are available through the Business Pack. Just let us know your preferred duration in your booking request and we'll build it into your custom quote.

We carry 100+ games spanning every era and genre:

• Retro Arcade: Pac-Man, Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, Galaga, Donkey Kong, NBA Jam, Contra, Tetris, Burger Time and more
• Console (PS5 / Xbox X / Switch 2): Fortnite, Call of Duty, Mario Kart World, Smash Bros, Minecraft and more
• PC: Rocket League, Among Us, Fall Guys and more
• Monitored Online: Roblox in a safe, supervised environment

We update our library regularly. Full game list available on request.

Yes — mention any specific games or genres in your booking request and we'll do our best to include them. With the Level Up and Business packages, full custom game curation is included. For other packages, we're happy to prioritize certain titles for your crowd — just ask when you inquire.

Yes — we tailor the game selection to your audience. For younger kids we lean heavily on age-appropriate titles: Mario Kart, Minecraft, Pac-Man, Sonic, Smash Bros, Roblox and other family-friendly games. Titles like Mortal Kombat or intense shooters are only run when appropriate for the age group at the event. Just let us know the age range of your guests when booking.

Absolutely. Tournament mode is available with the Level Up and Business packages. Our game host sets up a bracket, manages elimination rounds, tracks scores on a digital leaderboard, and crowns a champion. It's one of our most popular features for birthday parties with competitive kids and corporate team events. Just request it when you book.

Yes — Roblox is available in a fully monitored, controlled environment. Our game host manages what's accessible, chat features are restricted, and content stays appropriate throughout the event. Parents are welcome to check in at any time. We take online safety seriously at every single event.

All ages love Buscade — adults are honestly often harder to drag away from the machines than the kids. Our retro arcade library especially resonates with parents who grew up in that era. Corporate team events are one of our most-booked event types. We have something for everyone regardless of gaming experience or age.

The claw machine add-on brings 1, 2, or 3 mini claw machines to your event — set up right outside the bus. They're fully stocked with prizes and come with a token pack. We handle all setup and teardown. They create a second activity zone outside the bus that keeps the whole event buzzing — kids who aren't actively gaming flock to the claw machines, though we'll warn you — they're always asking for more tokens!

Claw machine tiers start at $109 for a single machine, $149 for two machines, and $199 for all three. Each tier includes a starting token pack and prize stock. Additional tokens are available for purchase on-site if you run low during the event.

Yes — claw machines are available as an add-on to every package. Just select your preferred claw machine tier when submitting your booking request and we'll include it in your quote.

Prize stock is included with every claw machine tier. Prizes are kid-friendly toys and plush items. If you have specific prize preferences or a party theme you'd like to match, mention it when you book and we'll do our best to accommodate.

Every tier includes a starting token pack to get the fun going right away. If you run through your tokens mid-event, additional tokens are available for purchase on-site. Our game host manages the claw machines throughout the event so you never have to worry about it.

Our packages start at:

• Base Pack — from $249 / 90 minutes (retro & indie arcade only)
• Starter Pack — from $299 / 90 minutes (arcade + console, custom game curation)
• Level Up Pack — from $399 / 2 hours (all modes: arcade + console + PC)
• Business Pack — custom quote / custom duration (corporate, schools, fundraisers & activations)

Claw machine add-ons start at $109. Travel fees may apply. All pricing is included transparently in your quote — no surprises.

A $100 deposit is required to confirm and hold your date. The remaining balance is due before your event. The deposit is applied toward your total — it's not an extra fee. With 14+ days notice, your deposit can be moved to a new date at no charge if you need to reschedule.

We accept all major credit cards, secured with Square. For corporate events and school bookings — reach out directly to discuss invoice and PO billing options.

No — never. The price we quote is the price you pay on event day. The only variables are add-ons and travel distance — both disclosed upfront in your quote before you commit to anything. We pride ourselves on transparent pricing.

Absolutely. If you need a longer session, a larger crowd, or a multi-day event, just mention your needs in the booking request and we'll put together a custom proposal through our Business Pack. There's no charge for a quote.

Yes — invoice and PO billing are available for corporate events, schools, and organizations. Email us directly at contact@buscadeaz.com to set this up and we'll handle the paperwork.

Buscade is not a babysitting service. Our game host manages the gaming experience inside the bus — game selection, rotations, and the general flow of play. However, parents and guardians remain fully responsible for their children at all times.

We ask that a responsible adult remain on-site for the duration of any event involving minors. Our team is here to run an amazing gaming experience — supervision and care of children remains with their parents or guardians as it would at any event or venue.

Yes. Online-capable titles like Roblox are played in a fully monitored, controlled environment. Our dedicated game host manages what's accessible, chat features are restricted or disabled, and content is appropriate throughout the event. Parents are welcome to check in at any time. We take this seriously — your kids' safety is non-negotiable.

Our game host tailors the available titles to the age range at your event. For younger kids, we stick to family-friendly games. For teen and adult events, a wider range of titles is appropriate. Tell us the age range of your guests when you book and we'll make sure the game selection is right for your crowd from the moment we pull up.

The bus is professionally cleaned before every single event — no exceptions. Guests always walk into a fresh, clean environment. All hardware is tested and maintained regularly. If anything doesn't work on-site, our game host addresses it immediately. We hold ourselves to a high standard because we know parents trust us with their kids.

Yes — always. A dedicated Buscade game host is present inside the bus for the entire duration of your event. They manage the gaming experience, help guests find games they love, run rotations, handle any technical issues, and ensure everything runs smoothly. You never have to step inside and manage anything yourself.