CAUTION- Chuck E. Cheese has gone downhill BIG-TIME! I think the only people that don't notice how cheap and lame it is are the children who don't know any better. But don't worry, all of the prices have gone up 100% so they're making a ton of money anyhow.
Here's the facts:
1. Very few employees (though every one seemed to be a "manager", ha ha!)- you'll be lucky if you get all of the cheap (as in the cheapest you'll ever find) utensils, dollar store paper plates, etc. the first time around, but don't worry, you have to stand in line AGAIN with the people ordering food to ask for anything you need to eat your meal because they don't feel they make enough money to put out plastic forks, cups for water that cost 2 cents (very expensive) for people to take themselves. There's NO table service at all, so don't expect anyone to take anything, give you another cup, etc. or help you in -any- way. They DO have someone always there to take your child's money though, so don't worry!
2. Dirty restaurant and tables. No employees means no one to clean anything up. So bring your own towels and 409 if you don't want to contract something life-threatening. You certainly don't want to require medical attention in a place where there's no one but others' unattended children to help you.
2. No ball pit, playground structure or anything that might give your kids the least amount of exercise, just more machines to take your money, most games having no point to them or skill required at all, they're just there to exchange your money for 3 tickets which are worthless.
Also on a sad note, no more stage with animatronic Chuck E. dancing and talking to the kids. Now it's just a balcony-type seat with a half-body Chuck E. with a broken eye that doesn't open there to scare your kids. I guess all those quarters don't pay to maintain some 1980's robots anymore.
3. Salad bar- Start with a child-size dollar store plate that can barely hold salad and a cheap fork that can barely hold the food you try to pick up with it. Veggies were good, dressing was as crappy as you can find though, with the ---lowest--- quality ranch and blue cheese you'll ever find, as well as the milky, spoiled looking potato and macaroni salads, YUK! And all for only 7.99, what a deal:(
4. Pizza is okay,hasn't changed much which can be a good thing, tastes good for cafeteria style pizza, though the crust was a little burnt. If you're unlucky enough to buy the salad bar, this is your opportunity to take that cheap plate that can't hold food and try to stack a bunch of olives, green peppers, onions and any other veggies that might taste good on a pizza, then throw them on your pizza to make it taste even better! This will be your only solace during your entire time at Chuck E. Cheese, so enjoy the doctored pizza you've created, it's all you'll remember:(
5. I seriously don't know why we tolerate such greedy, low quality, insulting corporations/franchises like this, corporations that care nothing for their customers other than to empty their wallets, offering no quality whatsoever in return. I spent nearly $70 and that was with coupons, and it was the worst experience I have ever had. McDonald's at least has a playground and employees to charge you for any extra sauces, etc. that you might want.
Save your money and take your kids to a park/playground with Togo's or Subway and have a picnic instead. With all of the money you save, you can buy some great food and even toys for the kids as a bonus. read more