Chuck E. Cheese...or am I totally out of my mind

[isyne4u]

I'm trying to decide what to do for my oldest son's birthday this year. He is bugging me to take him to CEC. So I thought maybe I would look into it.

I looked on line and saw the cost but then I realized I would not have to clean, set up, or haul anything.

So my question to the great dis cb is....Has anyone done it and lived to tell about it? Do you have any suggestions if you do it? Any real negatives?
Please any and all thoughts on it.

BTW...ds will be 6.

thanks!!
tara

 

[Christine]

We did it many years ago. I hate CEC, but they did fine for the party and I would do it again. Yes, it's pricey (they all are) but it is easy and the kids have a great time.

One recommendation is to pick a time that is "off". You will have a much better time then going with the crowds. Typically their first party slot on a Saturday morning works well. Your party is usually finishing up when the masses of people are arriving.

 

[justhat]

Well, we haven't done a party there, but have gone to a few parties there and my daughter absolutely loves the place. We're actually thinking of taking her there Sunday cause it's her birthday, but it would just be me, my husband, and the birthday girl cause we already have a party planned for her the following weekend at Gymboree.

I would say to go ahead with it, cause like you said, everything is included in the cost, you don't have to worry about bringing food, setting up, cleaning up, etc. You walk in, party, and walk out. I am sure that your son and his friends would love it there, what young kid doesnt!?! And hey, as annoying as that place might be to adults, if you really hate it, you dont' have to go back!

 

[CEDmom]

I haven't thrown one because my friends said they'd hurt me if I did . However, DD has been to ones for school friends. I actually end up having a good time because it's a chance to gab with other parents but I usually need a drink when I get home . I'd say go for it and just make sure to take some Tylenol with you .

 

[KarenAylwood]

I'd say go for it if you've got the money (well, are willing to pay it). And like you said- nothing to haul around or set up!! My sister had one for my nephew (was out of town so I couldn't go) and as far as I know everyone had a good time- they did it at a "off time" too, so I agree with that. The less people there the better!! And be prepared for a headache to follow... of course you'd probably get that at any 6 year old's bday party!



And OP~ DBF's sister's name is Tara and it's pronounced like yours

 

[Maleficent13]

Well, I went to one a few years ago and we had to hit the bar afterwards. It was a nightmare, plain and simple. The decibel level was unreal, the kids were beating up the character mouse, and you couldn't move for all the people.

So I would go with the "totally out of your mind" option.

 

[Beth76]

My son had his last two parties there. They were FANTASTIC! All you do is show up and have a good time. Nothing to plan or clean. They do everything for you. Now, he was in preschool so we had his parties on a weekday morning, so it was less crowded. I've been to a Friday night party and it wasn't bad either. If your CECs is normally chaotic and you don't like it, then you won't like the party either. But, if you can handle it on a normal day, I say go for it. It really is so easy.

 

[isyne4u]

thanks for all the quick responses.

While I was mulling over the costs it occured to me that I spent about half of that a couple of years ago for a party at my house...not to mention the prep before and after.

And I noticed for another small fee they will do the goody bags for you!! woohoo!!

I'm going to have to discuss it over with myself (single mom planning it ) and if I do it make sure I have a babysitter for after the party so I can have a drink!! hehehehe

The party won't be until april so I have some time to decide (not much if I want to get the time and date I want).

I'm looking at a sunday afternoon because that is when his birthday falls.

thanks for the wonderful advice.
tara

ps. KarenAylwood...cool!! not many pronounce it my way! Everyone wants to say it like from Gone with the Wind!

 

[Pembo]

You are totally out of your mind! I hate Chuck E Cheese!

We have had parties at the bowling alley (they put up the bumpers), an indoor swimming party, McDonalds, and just Saturday a party at the Roller Skating Rink.

All of these places were great. Making goody bags is very easy. Pick up some small bags at the store and fill them with cheap candy. We don't always have pizza. Cake and ice cream is sometimes enough.

I always found CEC to be very pricey. Consider other places and call to ask about price. McDonalds was fun. They used the playland, they all got burgers, fries and a drink and McD's provided the cake. No clean up either.

Part of the fun for my kids is going shopping for the plates and napkins and picking their "theme".

 

[laurie31]

We did CEC when DD1 turned 4.

The good: no pre-party clean up, no prep, just show up. The kids had a blast, DD liked meeting Chuck E.

The bad: It cost $$$, and I felt like DD never really got to spend tme with her guests. They scarfed their pizza and went off to spend their tokens. BTW, this bothered me more than it did her. Also, the set-up with the long skinny tables, meant the kids couldn't cluster around to watch her blow out the candles and open the gifts. They had to lean over and stare down the table trying to see.

Would I do it again? If the kids asked, I guess. I haven't brought up the idea, though

I don't mind CEC too much but it can be a wild and crazy place. For sure, it's LOUD. If loud doesn't send you over the edge, then you'll be okay

Laurie

 

[tkd lisa]

I did it for DD's 4th birthday. Actual cost wasn't any more than I spent on family parties since I didn't feel the need to do big goodie bags. And no clean up/set up! But yes, the noise is a killer!

I would say to have several adults agree to stay for the party, since keeping track of a number of kids can be really hard to do! We had about 1 adult for every child, since all the family came too.

 

[tiff211]

We did CEC when DD3 turned 2. They had a blast. If you do it on a Friday night, it's not as crazy and it's cheaper. You can hear yourself think. We used coupons as well to get more pizza for the adults and extra tokens. I would do it again. Easy, easy, I think you can even email the invites from the CEC website.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We had DS's 1st birthday there, and we also had his 8th birthday there. He LOVES Chuck E. Cheese, and I don't mind it too much. I'm a nanny so I have been there often enough to become partially immune to the noise!

My complaints are:
They are on a VERY tight time schedule, so when your 90 minutes is up you MUST move out of the way. They bag up your gifts and move you out at lightning speed. You are welcome to stay, you just have to move out of the party area. The tables are very close together, so if there are people sitting at the table you can't walk between the tables. It is loud, it is chaotic, and it is expensive.

BUT the kids love it, it is very easy, and the cost isn't much worse than anything else. My son has a winter birthday so we have to plan indoor parties. The one thing we noticed at his 8th birthday was the kids who don't have a parent present tend to be token hounds. They blow through whatever tokens they have, then they beg for more. Be sure to set a limit of how many tokens each child gets, and make it clear that when they are gone they are gone, no more, period. The ones whose parents stuck around either had better manners or got money for more tokens from their parents!

 

[isyne4u]

I'm getting the feeling the noise is the worst part.

I hadn't thought about the kids not being able to see too well because of the other kids....hmmm...good point.

As for adults, where ever I do it, I'm going to ask that each child have his or her parent on hand for the event (and include the siblings so the parents can attend!) I can barely handle my own two...I'd never be able to handle all the other kids.

I hadn't thought about the bowling alley...that's a good thought. I'll call them to find out.

I'm not a huge fan of the Mickey D's play areas...they don't seem big enough for the number of kids that get in there (not to mention that 2 years ago a little girl pinned my ds to the while another little girl put her hands around his neck and choked him...left marks and all...but that's another story.

I might just end up inviting his cousins and the one boy in his class that he really gets along with and just take them to CEC and not make it such a big deal.

Thank you for all the advice!! I am weighing it all...you all really have me thinking now!!
tara

 

[missypie]

CEC is hell on Earth. One child of ours got invited to a party there. When we picked him up, by the time we got out of there, we were all yelling at each other. I told my kids they would NEVER have a party at CEC!!!

I think the thing that makes it so amazingly terrible is that all the parties are in the same room. Other kid spots have separate party rooms, so that you are only hearing the noise of the kids YOU invited...not everyone else's.

 

[hubby_of_newtodisney]

Dang it people, CEC isn't for the adults, it's for the kids!

Look at the kids' faces when they are there, and base your evaluation on that, not on a bunch of adults with migraines . I personally cannot stand CEC, but the kids love it.

I will NOT be celebrating my upcoming birthday there.

Also, don't trash it, DW and I made it our first rest stop on the way to our honeymoon in Kennebunk.

 

[MoniqueU]

I agree CEC is hell on earth!!! My kids are getting a bit too old for getting invited to parties there anymore thank goodness. I will say they do serve wine at our local CEC. My kids do love that place though and I bet my almost 13 year old would bounce on out to the car if I said you want to go right now to him. LMAO.

 

[daisyduck123]

3 years in a row!!

We did it for my DS (turned 8 last week) for his 3rd, 4th, & 5th birthday parties. We invited about 15 friends each time. He loved it & I loved not having to clean, set up, or anything.

Then we did pool parties for his 6th, 7th, & 8th b-days.

We seem to go with one theme for 3 years in a row.

Next year, we're doing laser tag.

ANYWAY, he loved it. I tolerated it. It is rather germy. I just brought a big container of handi-wipes & made sure each kid cleaned up before eating any pizza.

 

[tiggerlover]

I have to tell you Tara, I absolutely hate CEC, it is pure torture to have to go there and I avoid it all costs (the main reason is the noise level and the crowds), but I know the kids love it.

I asked DS (9) about you having a party there and he said he would recommend Jeepers at MacArthur mall over CEC, he says it is better. I don't have any personal experience with it (besides what DS has said), but thought I would throw it out there for you. Here is their website: http://www.jeepers.com/index2_copy.htm

We have done the bowling party, which was a great success, but the one I liked the best was the one we had down on Pacific at Jungle Golf, http://www.junglegolf.com/ they did everything and the kids had a blast! Instead of goody bags I gave the kids tokens to use in the attached game room, DS said it was one of his best parties ever.

Good luck with your planning and an advanced Happy Birthday to DS!

 

[Pam]

We had my son's 2nd birthday at Chuck E. Cheese's. He's now a Junior in HS and he and his friends said that they wish they could have another birthday party there this year!

Go for it! And play some Skeetball for me!!