Family Pass with Kids Bowl Free: Love the program but venting

[OceanAnnie]

So unhappy about the changes in the Family Pass (Add on to the Kids Bowl Free Summer Program) this year. In the past we could go as a family up until 8 p.m. and I think until 6 p.m. on the weekends.

I'm not complaining about the price going up. Everything is going up. But come on! They originally planned to have this years Family Pass hours up until 5 p.m. on weekdays. Where is family time in that? So they have recently changed it for the hours to be until 6 p.m. because of complaints. But really that's not much. It takes people time to get home from work and change. How could they not think of that?

They cut weekend hours completely! No family time there. Ugh.

The price went up but there is less value for what is purchased. So frustrating.

So we didn't sign up for the Family Pass this year. I also wrote a letter telling how unhappy we are with the changes.

I *know* they aren't obligated to keep the program as it was. But IMO they should keep some semblance of hours in keeping with the name of the program.

Anyone else unhappy with the changes?

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

I hear ya, I also wish they would keep better hours.

Alas, IMO, this program is set up more on the task of giving families cheap activities to do during the day over the summer. Geared more toward sitters, nannies and moms who keep kids over summer.

 

[wuzzles]

I'm curious - what did you pay last year and how much did it go up?

I paid $25 last year for a family pass. This year there was a promo code sent out for $5 off so I ended up paying only $20.

I'm pretty sure the individual alleys set their own hours of participation because we have 2 in our area and their hours vary greatly. One ends at 5 on weekdays and 4 on weekends. The other one accepts the passes until 9. That one has a restaurant, an arcade and some kind of laser tag so I imagine they give away the bowling thinking you will end up paying for the other things.

Maybe you can appeal directly to the alley in your area to see if they would consider expanding the hours.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

What is this and how do I find out if our alley participates?

 

[OceanAnnie]

I hear ya, I also wish they would keep better hours.

Alas, IMO, this program is set up more on the task of giving families cheap activities to do during the day over the summer. Geared more toward sitters, nannies and moms who keep kids over summer.

The program is set up that way now. But it wasn't before. They should change the name of "Family Pass" because families typically do things together after 5 p.m. (when lots of people get off from work) and on the weekends. They aren't allowing for that now. The weird thing is many times the centers we went to would be empty except for a few families after 5 p.m. and on the weekends (except on league nights and we really avoided that!).

I'm curious - what did you pay last year and how much did it go up?

I paid $25 last year for a family pass. This year there was a promo code sent out for $5 off so I ended up paying only $20.

I'm pretty sure the individual alleys set their own hours of participation because we have 2 in our area and their hours vary greatly. One ends at 5 on weekdays and 4 on weekends. The other one accepts the passes until 9. That one has a restaurant, an arcade and some kind of laser tag so I imagine they give away the bowling thinking you will end up paying for the other things.

Maybe you can appeal directly to the alley in your area to see if they would consider expanding the hours.

Our $25 rate was 3 years ago. Last year it was $29.99 and this year it went up to $39.99. Funny thing about the rate differences. I thought it would be more standard than that.

I spoke with a manager at their corporate office. I was informed there were many, many complaints. They did change the time by increasing the time by 1 hour. So instead of the cut off being 5 p.m. M-F, now it is 6 p.m.. Granted, you get an extra game this year. It's 3 games now. But there is no time to get those games in as a family! The cut off is one hour after most people get off from work. So if you do purchase the pass, you have a small window of time to get to a bowling center and compete with families trying to get their games in too.

The policy isn't just for one center. It's for all of them, I thought nationwide. I know it is for all of our area. The individual centers all have the same hours and don't have the discretion to change the time (around here). It's a corporate thing. Anyway, I was told they made the change of 1 hour based on complaints. Maybe they will change it back to M-F till 8 p.m. and till 6 p.m. on weekends. That was nice. This new time frame isn't a customer friendly, at least not for families.

Have you seen the policy for this year? AMF sent the e-mail out a day or two ago.

What is this and how do I find out if our alley participates?

Check out amf.com

"Summer Games" for Kids Bowl Free and the Family Pass (That I would have recommended had the hours not been drastically cut.)

They have a "find an AMF near you" tab.

 

[EMode]

I just signed my kids up the other day and our family pass rate is $24.95 but I didn't read the terms. I know they will keep sending me emails about it so I'll see if our hours have changed this year.

I realize you are upset because this makes it hard for your family to bowl together but I don't see any reason it shouldn't be called family pass, there are many families that are able to take advantage of this promo during the hours they set.
I can understand having to limit hours, if they didn't they run the chance of losing business of pay by game customers. I appreciate that they let my kids up to age 15 bowl 2 free games a day, anything else they offer me is a bonus.

 

[fofinia]

It seems as there are two different programs possibly?

http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/

Gives your kids two free games a day and the family pass through them is $25. and they keep sending out emails to get it 10% off. For Mass none of the AMF lanes are listed as participating in this program. Maybe it's different in different states? There aren't really any participating centers that are that close to me. But I clicked on 5 or6 different ones and they did all have different hours posted.

OP maybe this program is participating at a local place for you?

 

[OceanAnnie]

I just signed my kids up the other day and our family pass rate is $24.95 but I didn't read the terms. I know they will keep sending me emails about it so I'll see if our hours have changed this year.

I realize you are upset because this makes it hard for your family to bowl together but I don't see any reason it shouldn't be called family pass, there are many families that are able to take advantage of this promo during the hours they set.
I can understand having to limit hours, if they didn't they run the chance of losing business of pay by game customers. I appreciate that they let my kids up to age 15 bowl 2 free games a day, anything else they offer me is a bonus.

I'm sure you are right there are families that can take advantage of the new hours. I'm just not happy they cut our family (and others) out.

I can understand limiting hours to an extent too. But, that was a huge change.

Lastly, I have sung AMF's praises for their kid's bowl free program. I do appreciate it. I'm just going to miss what we used to have. I didn't consider the Family Pass a bonus per se, because we did pay for it and we would purchase meals and snacks while we were there too. It is a nice discounted program, just not enough time allotted for us to utilize it now.

Not the worst thing in the world. Just a disappointment.

 

[EMode]

I'm sure you are right there are families that can take advantage of the new hours. I'm just not happy they cut our family (and others) out.

I can understand limiting hours to an extent too. But, that was a huge change.

Lastly, I have sung AMF's praises for their kid's bowl free program. I do appreciate it. I'm just going to miss what we used to have. I didn't consider the Family Pass a bonus per se, because we did pay for it and we would purchase meals and snacks while we were there too. It is a nice discounted program, just not enough time allotted for us to utilize it now.

Not the worst thing in the world. Just a disappointment.

I know, and I think it stinks for the families it effects. Maybe between all the complaints and the families not signing up for the pass they will change it back for next year, or maybe even later this summer.

Our local bowling alleys are part of the kidsbowlfree program (not the AMF one) and it looks like we are allowed to bowl during all open hours. Have you checked to see if any of your alleys participate in that program, maybe there will be some that are close to you.

 

[julieanddanny]

It seems as there are two different programs possibly?

http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/

Gives your kids two free games a day and the family pass through them is $25. and they keep sending out emails to get it 10% off. For Mass none of the AMF lanes are listed as participating in this program. Maybe it's different in different states? There aren't really any participating centers that are that close to me. But I clicked on 5 or6 different ones and they did all have different hours posted.

OP maybe this program is participating at a local place for you?

Yes, this is the program we use. The family pass is still $25 and our hours are open to close M-T and until 5 friday, and until 2 on weekends...

 

[OceanAnnie]

It seems as there are two different programs possibly?

http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/

Gives your kids two free games a day and the family pass through them is $25. and they keep sending out emails to get it 10% off. For Mass none of the AMF lanes are listed as participating in this program. Maybe it's different in different states? There aren't really any participating centers that are that close to me. But I clicked on 5 or6 different ones and they did all have different hours posted.

OP maybe this program is participating at a local place for you?

Wow. That's interesting! I didn't know other centers do the kidsbowlfree program too!

It looks like a good program but there aren't any centers near us.

Don't get me wrong. I do still like AMF. We have been bowling with them for years. They have great people working there. They know us and we look forward to seeing them.

This is the only time I haven't been happy with an AMF policy change. But that's the way it goes.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I know, and I think it stinks for the families it effects. Maybe between all the complaints and the families not signing up for the pass they will change it back for next year, or maybe even later this summer.

Our local bowling alleys are part of the kidsbowlfree program (not the AMF one) and it looks like we are allowed to bowl during all open hours. Have you checked to see if any of your alleys participate in that program, maybe there will be some that are close to you.

I'm holding out hope they will add some hours. That would be so nice.

Now that I see other centers have the same kind of program, I will look into it and see. I hadn't thought of that before I posted.

Thanks for letting me vent everyone.

Maybe I'll find something else after all. Thanks for the suggestions to all.

 

[FoundMyPrince]

Do you have to pay for anything else after you pay the $25 family rate? Like shoe rental for each person?

 

[Hannathy]

Ours has never had a family pass. You could buy an extra person- adult for $20 per adult. So if both parents wanted it then it would be $40

 

[scrapquitler]

So unhappy about the changes in the Family Pass (Add on to the Kids Bowl Free Summer Program) this year. In the past we could go as a family up until 8 p.m. and I think until 6 p.m. on the weekends.

I'm not complaining about the price going up. Everything is going up. But come on! They originally planned to have this years Family Pass hours up until 5 p.m. on weekdays. Where is family time in that? So they have recently changed it for the hours to be until 6 p.m. because of complaints. But really that's not much. It takes people time to get home from work and change. How could they not think of that?

They cut weekend hours completely! No family time there. Ugh.

The price went up but there is less value for what is purchased. So frustrating.

So we didn't sign up for the Family Pass this year. I also wrote a letter telling how unhappy we are with the changes.

I *know* they aren't obligated to keep the program as it was. But IMO they should keep some semblance of hours in keeping with the name of the program.

Anyone else unhappy with the changes?

It sounds more like a thing for keeping kids busy during the day.

Honestly, I'd like to see my bowling alley offer ANY time when we could actually go and bowl as a family. We have tried numerous times to take our kids bowling, and inevitably, they tell us that they don't have any lanes free (all different times of the day or night, weekends and weekdays)...our two different local bowling alleys do so many birthday parties and bowling leagues that it is virtually impossible to just go for a casual game or two. So if your local alley offers any times for walk ins, they are better than ours.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Do you have to pay for anything else after you pay the $25 family rate? Like shoe rental for each person?

You do have to pay for shoe rental.

Ours has never had a family pass. You could buy an extra person- adult for $20 per adult. So if both parents wanted it then it would be $40

That is expensive.

It sounds more like a thing for keeping kids busy during the day.

Honestly, I'd like to see my bowling alley offer ANY time when we could actually go and bowl as a family. We have tried numerous times to take our kids bowling, and inevitably, they tell us that they don't have any lanes free (all different times of the day or night, weekends and weekdays)...our two different local bowling alleys do so many birthday parties and bowling leagues that it is virtually impossible to just go for a casual game or two. So if your local alley offers any times for walk ins, they are better than ours.

It does now. You're right.

The 39.99 rate for the Family Pass was for 4 people. Even with the increase in $10 this year, I didn't think it was bad at all for 4 people to bowl all summer for $40.

Bowling is so expensive now! It can easily cost our family $50 to bowl without the summer program/discounts. Even with the discounts they run, it's still around $40 for our family, 2 games each. So we look forward to the summer program!

We have been lucky we haven't had any difficulty finding open lanes.

 

[EMode]

Do you have to pay for anything else after you pay the $25 family rate? Like shoe rental for each person?

Yes I have to pay for shoe rental, and also for the kids that are signed up to bowl free.
I'm not sure if the individual bowling alleys decide that so you would have to check the terms for the ones in your area.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

I've never been able to make this program work for my family on a tight summer budget. With 3 kids and I'd have to pay for shoe rental for the kids plus my bowling cost, and the fact that the bowling alley only offered the lanes during meal times when I know my kids would want something from the snack bar...

 

[poober25]

I have 7 or 8 different bowling alleys I can choose from in my area. They all have different alleys, different start and end times, etc. Several years ago, I bought some "bowlling shoes" on ebay that strap over your regular shoes. I have never had an alley that did not allow us to use those, so no shoe rental. DH and I have shoes, but we use the covers more often than not. I think our Family Pass rate is now $29.95, but I'm not sure. I sometimes sign up for more than one bowling alley. I did contact Kids Bowl Free years ago on that, and they said it was fine, but you have to use different email addresses for each place. We will likely sign up w/ 3 different centers this year, and prob. not buy a family pass. This will be the last year DS qualifies, so we'll have to buy family passes next year. We've only ever bought a family pass for one center, but it tends to be a different center each year. Also, our favorite, but farthest away, center gives the kids 4 tokens for the arcade each time we play. Oh, and to clarify, we don't go to 2 or 3 different centers a day, it just depends on where we are and what else is going on.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I have 7 or 8 different bowling alleys I can choose from in my area. They all have different alleys, different start and end times, etc. Several years ago, I bought some "bowlling shoes" on ebay that strap over your regular shoes. I have never had an alley that did not allow us to use those, so no shoe rental. DH and I have shoes, but we use the covers more often than not. I think our Family Pass rate is now $29.95, but I'm not sure. I sometimes sign up for more than one bowling alley. I did contact Kids Bowl Free years ago on that, and they said it was fine, but you have to use different email addresses for each place. We will likely sign up w/ 3 different centers this year, and prob. not buy a family pass. This will be the last year DS qualifies, so we'll have to buy family passes next year. We've only ever bought a family pass for one center, but it tends to be a different center each year. Also, our favorite, but farthest away, center gives the kids 4 tokens for the arcade each time we play. Oh, and to clarify, we don't go to 2 or 3 different centers a day, it just depends on where we are and what else is going on.

Are you using AMF for the family pass? We were able to go to different bowling alleys using the one family pass. I asked if we could use it while on vacation in another city and was told yes. Never had a problem. Same for the Kids Bowl Free. It's in the system and is recognized, anywhere. At least that's what I was told. If it is AMF you are using I'd look into that.

We have bowling shoes from ebay too. It made going for the kids truly free because after a time, the shoes paid for themselves.