OT-Have you ever done a Chuck-E-Cheese Birthday Party?

[ampooh]

I used coupons for pizza /drinks at a friends party. I didn't at mine but wish I had.

Doing it yourself will really depend on how many kids and adults you paln to have and when. Weekends are going to be awful and you may not get lucky enough to have space. We went on Good Friday and there was a line to be seated. I'd hate that to happen to you with planning a self party.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

We had my son's 4th birthday and my daughter's 3rd birthday parties at CEC. My children love going there -- they don't really care if they are "with" their friends - just that their friends are there. I love the fact that I really don't have to do anything but enjoy my kids' parties. My kids are free to run and play there -- I don't try to stay with them -- they can't get out the door and it's all families there -- people without children generally would not go to that type of place.
When we started planning for my son's 6th birthday party which is this weekend, I really thought he might want to go back to CEC. He picked the YMCA instead. He had gone to a party there and had a blast. We reserved a party room and the kids will have use of the soft play room, climbing room and game room. I have to provide the set-up, food/drinks, and clean up and it's still costs almost as much as CEC.

I understand what you are saying, but in the CEC by our house many parents have remarked at how easy it is to pull a child into the bathrooms. Just because they are families doesn't mean they are nice people. Not flaming, but wanted to point out that it isn't as secure as people think and many people work there.


Anyway- in regards to the party itself, the kids enjoy CEC but they would enjoy going any afternoon with just their parents. I wouldn't waste the money on a party where we wouldn't even be with their friends except for the 2 chaotic minutes of pizza and cake. They do not open gifts at our CEC either. They put them in a bag and give them to the parents to take out. I have to say that most parents here groan when they get the CEC invite. Not because we don't want our kids to have fun, but because it is more like drop your gift off and then run around the place with your Mom or Dad and not even see the birthday child. It doesn't feel like a special celebration, more like a gift collection. I don't mind the gift giving at all, I just like to see the kids actually interact. My ds who is going to be 5 did not want his party there because he didn't want a bunch of strangers at his party. He wanted to be with just his friends. To each their own, but in my opinion it is a waste of money. You can take your child there without anyone else and have just as great a time. Good luck!

 

[goofiecrazy]

Hi everyone I am the bday party coordinator at my Chuck E. Cheeses here in Delaware and for as long as I have been doing parties we have had the good, bad and ugly and very ugly there.From evreything running on time to party people wanting to fight my girls hosting your party.We charge 13.99 per kid for the basic package and that gets you 2 pieces of pizza,cake 20 tokens per kid and the table set up for u for 90 mins.If u want to come during the week then u can get umlimited time Mon-Thrus and 28 tokens per kid.They will give 20 xtra tokens for bringing ur own cake in but if u take the tokens we will not supply the cake.The only food allowed is cake,cupcakes and ice cream. U can select a booth or empty table to set up ur own walk in party buy u can not use cups that might go with ur theme or other cups.Managers will take the cups away from you.We have had walk in parties bring their own pizza in before plus wings and other things like 2 litter sodas.Its crazy what they will try to bring in.The earlier u get a time for a party on the weekend the less crowded it will be.We stop hosting parties after a 2:00 p.m. in the winter on weekends cause of the business we have waiting to get in.The company runs everything on a time frame so that ur party experience is fun and to make sure ur family has a great time. We are there to make it easy for u to have a good time with the kids and not to have the hassle of having it at the house.