Adult behavior at Chuck E Cheese

[bcla]

Our child wanted to go, and frankly it's not that bad an option just for the food. However, every :30 minutes on the hour they have someone in a Chuck E Cheese costume come out to do the "Chuck E Dance" and throw out tickets (and sometimes tokens) for the assembled kids. Last night I saw what looked like a kid cleaning up - noticeably faster and more aggressive than the other kids. Then I saw she was small but an adult. She was right in the middle with the kids.

I've seen one YouTube video showing something similar. Seems kind of classless to be an adult just grabbing these tickets and even snatching a few out of a kid's hand.

 

[fly girl]

I am not a fan of the Rat, err ... I mean Chuck E. Cheese.

Anyway, the only thing I'd like to think is that she was getting them for her small child who isn't fast enough, but who knows? If it was for her gain that's pretty low imho.

 

[bcla]

I am not a fan of the Rat, err ... I mean Chuck E. Cheese.

Anyway, the only thing I'd like to think is that she was getting them for her small child who isn't fast enough, but who knows? If it was for her gain that's pretty low imho.

Well - when I was a kid my parents never took me to one. In fact I'd never been to one until I had my own child. However, I remember the original Chuck E Cheese with the bowler hat and an almost mob boss look. There was certainly something sinister about him. The current looks is certainly less sinister. Here's what it used to look like:

I know one of the rules there is that the adults are allowed to have fun, play games, etc. However, what I saw almost seemed like the adults at easter egg hunts that are grabbing everything is sight without any concern that it's for the kids. The last time I took my kid to an easter egg hunt, the organizers yelled out "REMEMBER, THIS IS FOR THE KIDS!" I certainly followed my kid around, but was careful around other kids, and only pointed out where to go or one that was missed. I never grabbed anything myself, because I frankly had an unfair advantage.

 

[Miskey]

Reminds me of how adults act at the CHILDREN'S parade during Mardi Gras. Amazes me to see grown women mowing down small children for some cheap plastic beads. You would at least expect a little bit of decency and courtesy at a parade especially geared towards the children

 

[fly girl]

Well - when I was a kid my parents never took me to one. In fact I'd never been to one until I had my own child. However, I remember the original Chuck E Cheese with the bowler hat and an almost mob boss look. There was certainly something sinister about him. The current looks is certainly less sinister. Here's what it used to look like:

I know one of the rules there is that the adults are allowed to have fun, play games, etc. However, what I saw almost seemed like the adults at easter egg hunts that are grabbing everything is sight without any concern that it's for the kids. The last time I took my kid to an easter egg hunt, the organizers yelled out "REMEMBER, THIS IS FOR THE KIDS!" I certainly followed my kid around, but was careful around other kids, and only pointed out where to go or one that was missed. I never grabbed anything myself, because I frankly had an unfair advantage.

OMG, he does look like a mobster rat!


I agree, that place is really for the kiddos. Personally, I would never go reaching into the pile for tickets/tokens or whatever even if they were for a kid. I'd spend extra money not to get into that mess. Touching that floor ... Uhh, NO!


If adults want that kind of gaming atmosphere that's what Dave & Busters is for!

 

[scdak]

I've been going to CEC for many years and trust me, there is NOTHING available as a prize for tickets that I would consider worth the effort of trying to gather them up off of the floor and fighting off kids I didn't even want my kids to collect tickets from the games as they played them because of the cheap, junk that they offer the kids for a ridiculous number of tickets! They learned really fast that a trip to Walmart or Target to pick out a simple toy was WAY more exciting and they had a lot better things to choose from! So they would cheerfully give away tickets to other kids.

 

[bcla]

I've been going to CEC for many years and trust me, there is NOTHING available as a prize for tickets that I would consider worth the effort of trying to gather them up off of the floor and fighting off kids I didn't even want my kids to collect tickets from the games as they played them because of the cheap, junk that they offer the kids for a ridiculous number of tickets! They learned really fast that a trip to Walmart or Target to pick out a simple toy was WAY more exciting and they had a lot better things to choose from! So they would cheerfully give away tickets to other kids.

I do have memories of ticket redemption games, so I don't mind since it's more about playing the games than getting the redemption. My kid wanted the biggest item they had, which was maybe 60,000 tickets. I figured I'd go broke trying to get that through playing games and by then they might not even have it. I also found out it was no longer being made, although it was a well-known brand name. In the end I just bought one on Amazon.com sold by one of their "fulfillment" clients for less than $40. My kid had a blast with it.

The other thing is that if you really want something, they will "sell" additional "tickets" for one cent each. It may in fact be cheaper than trying to get tickets via playing the games, although I thought that the point was to play.

 

[bushdianee]

I was just there the other day for a couple of hours with 3 little ones ages 5, 5,&7 and Chucky only came out once the whole time. That was a mixed blessing as my 5yo DNiece is terrified of characters and mascots. She has been working on being brave but had herself worked up anticipating him coming and ended up screaming and dove under the table when he first came out. As soon as I was able to calm her down and tell her it was just the guy who stamped her hand when we went in she said ok and went up and gave him a high five and took a picture with him!
They did throw a few tickets on the floor a couple of times when my 3 were the only ones around. I assume they did that for other families also. I had mine combine their tickets and split them. the kids liked that and the manager really took time with them and called them up one at a time to pick out the trinkets until all their points were gone. They may not each have ended up with the same number of points but they each got what they wanted and were happy. CEC is not my first choice although the food has improved recently, but I was the only adult with 3 younger kids one of whom is special needs. I like the way they stamp the hands and check the stamps as you leave. I could let them have some freedom while still be able to see them from pretty much anywhere in the place. The 2 boys stayed together while DNiece stuck to me like glue.

 

[dotfurio]

Our CEC strategy is to go at opening and leave after a couple hours. It's still pretty empty then and about the only way I deal with the place, lol. None of us really care for the food, we just buy drinks and a bunch of tokens.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I once watched an adult literally shove my son aside, knocking him to the ground, so she could use HIS skeeball lane--he kept getting high scores and she thought the lane was slanted better or something. She was with another lady and they laughed about pushing a 6 year old down. I had been coming up to tell him pizza was ready, so saw and heard it all. Oh, and it was not crowded and they were the only three people playing skeeball, there were empty lanes.

Yeah, ok. I picked my startled kid up, told her that was I couldn't believe she'd behave that way to anyone, much less a child, told a manger, moved our table to where we could be easily seen by staff (just in case she decided to try anything) and kept both kids right with me while we ate and then left,

I could only ever stomach Chuck E Cheese (as an adult) early in the day. We'd go when they opened on a weekday, which was early, I want to say 10--play and then end with lunch. Even then, we'd only do that as a treat when we dropped DH off at the airport for business trips, since it was near the airport. We lived about a half hour away from a really big arcade with a bowing alley and lots of skeeball and tons of games--it was family owned and a little less chaotic and I much preferred going there with the kids.

 

[indimom]

I've only been to CDC once for DD's fifth birthday (13 years ago). I don't remember it being crowded, or anyone in an animal costume handing out tickets. We must have gotten lucky. lol

 

[Tiffylv]

.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

I thought this thread was going to be completely different based on the title.

 

[Ceila]

We have one near us in a nice area. I was "panhandled" there by kids asking me for tokens or soda. Um, no. Go ask your own parents.

 

[WorldWacky]

I am NOT a fan of CEC. Without fail, my kids would get sick 3-4 days after we had been there. EVERY SINGLE TIME. Those tube things must not be cleaned very well. No thank you. They're a bit older now and aren't interested in CEC and more. Thank goodness.

 

[tcufrog]

WorldWacky...

It could have been the food too. Every one of them I've been to has had nasty food.

 

[pooh4evr]

oh the tales I could tell! I worked at a very very successful CEC in high school and college. Our store was a money making machine! It was impossible to get a table Friday- Sunday from New Years Day until Easter without waiting for at least 30 minutes some night we got up to 2 hour waits for tables, with a line out the doors. Sundays were the worst for bad adult behavior- fights, people bringing in crock pots of food (seriously), custody exchanges. Tons of fun!

 

[Southernmiss]

I can't help but wonder if the adult in the OPs tale was mentally challenged. If not, I do not understand at all.

 

[bcla]

I can't help but wonder if the adult in the OPs tale was mentally challenged. If not, I do not understand at all.

She was an otherwise normal adult. Later on she was carrying a conversation with another adult. I'd guess late 20s or early 30s and ironically enough she appeared to be pregnant. Her motor skills and hand-eye coordination were just fine.

Frankly I wouldn't get in the middle of a bunch of kids. First it looks bad for an adult to outcompete a bunch of kids when size/speed difference create a huge disadvantage. Second, it would seem to clearly be a kids' activity. Here's their description:

http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7418851-chuck-e-cheese-dance/

IRVING, Texas (January 19, 2015) / PR Newswire / — Chuck E. Cheese’s is giving kids the chance to dance with Chuck E. himself—and grab free tickets while they’re at it. Kids can learn to “Do the Chuck E.,” an original Chuck E. Cheese’s dance, and then perform the dance with Chuck E. during the Ticket Splash every hour on the :30. And now, throughout January and February, Chuck E. Cheese’s is giving away even more tickets.​

 

[sersee05]

I only take my kids if they need a few days off of school with strep throat