Stress-Free? Chuck E. Cheese’s?
Yes, it’s sometimes loud. Yes, there are lots of blinking lights. And yes, many kids running around.
But it’s so stinkin’ fun!
We’re talking golden tokens and cool arcade games and ride-on amusements and a ticket blasting machine and fun pizza toppings and a friendly high-fiving mouse. There’s no way you’ll regret seeing those HUGE smiles on your kids faces.
And it doesn’t have to be stressful.
In fact, B-Inspired Mama sponsor, Chuck E. Cheese’s, wants to make your Tax Day this year just a little less stressful. By ending it on a positive note – making memories with your kids – and eating delicious thin and crispy pizza. No hot kitchen or dirty dishes required! (Learn more about the Tax Day Buy One Get One Thin & Crispy Pizza Deal below!)
Never been to Chuck E. Cheese’s before? Or had a less-than-stress-free visit last time? Let me share with you the tricks my hubs and I have discovered that make it easy peasy and fun.
9 Tricks for a Stress-Free Chuck E. Cheese’s Visit
1 – Go First Thing or During Off-Hours – We like to get to our Chuck E. Cheese’s right as they’re opening up for the day. There is usually less people, and we get our pizza order in first thing. Or we try to go between typical meal times. Or on weekdays when most kids are usually in school. Essentially any time they aren’t at their busiest works best for our sensory-sensitive kids.
2 – Go Over Rules in the Car Before Arrival – Discuss and decide on your family’s rules in the car before going in. Let the kids help decide on them to give them ownership and build responsibility. Some rules to consider:
- Stay where you can see your adult (or “buddy” if using a buddy system).
- Once your tokens are gone, they’re gone. No more will be purchased.
- Be kind and take turns with others.
- No game hogging. If someone else is waiting to play, only play once, then give them a turn.
3 – Assign an Adult to Each Little One or Set Up a Buddy System – Chuck E. Cheese’s has an awesome system to keeps kids safe. As you enter, your entire party of people get a unique hand stamp that is then checked upon exiting to ensure your kids only leave with you. This makes me feel pretty comfortable letting my older kids play, but I still like to have close one-on-one supervision of my youngest (age 4). He sometimes needs help with his tokens and with taking turns with other kids. So I like to make sure there’s an adult next to him at all times.
Older kids could try a buddy system. However you decided to manage it with your kids, plan it out in the car before arrival for a smooth start when you get there.
4 – Order Your Pizza Right Away & Play While You Wait – When you enter Chuck E. Cheese’s you’ll come right to a counter to order your game tokens and food. Make sure to check out the value deals that make it affordable to both eat and play. After you’ve ordered your food, they’ll give you a number card to put at your table so you play games while you wait. Remember that number, because they’ll even announce over the speaker system when you’re table number’s food is ready and waiting at their table.
5 – Give Each Kid Their Own Token Cup – When you purchase your tokens ask for a cup for each kid. Then split them up evenly into the cups. As I mentioned above, my kids know our rule: Once your tokens are gone, they’re gone. No more. We buy 80 total for our 3 kids, making about 26 each. That was the perfect amount for us to play while we waited for our pizza and have just about 5 left for each kiddo to use up after eating.
6 – Consider the Salad Bar for Picky Eaters – Our pickiest of picky eaters, J.C., says pizza of any kind is a no-go. We got him some fruit and veggies that we know he likes off the salad bar instead. Salad Bar for the WIN!
7 – Everyone Contributes to the Family Ticket Bank – We each contribute any tickets earned to the family ticket bank (usually mom’s pocket). Then tickets get divided up evenly among the kids for prizes. No whining about who has more tickets that way.
8 – Pick Out Prizes Yourself – Another rule we discuss ahead of time: Mama picks out the prizes. My three kids at the prize counter quickly turns into a 3-ring circus. I take them one at a time to give me a couple “suggestions.” Then their dad takes them out to the car while I pick out their prizes. No fits at the ticket counter this way, and they actually like the surprise-factor of seeing what I picked out once I get out to the car.
9 – Check the Chuck E. Cheese’s Website for Menus, Rewards Calendars, Deals & Coupons – Make sure to check out the Chuck E. Cheese’s Website when planning your trip. You can check out their new menu to plan what you’ll order. Print out reward calendars for the kids to earn free tokens. And find deals and coupons to save a little cash.
Speaking of Deals… Check out Chuck E. Cheese’s Tax Day Deal:
Since Monday’s Tax Day – which is often stressful enough, right?! – Chuck E. Cheese’s is making it easier for you to enjoy its Thin & Crispy Pizzas.
On Monday, April 18, 2016, when you purchase one of any of Chuck E. Cheese’s delicious Thin & Crispy Pizzas, you’ll get a second Thin & Crispy Pizza for FREE. It’s that easy – no partial deductions to take, no forms to fill out, no loopholes needed. The offer is valid for any of Chuck E. Cheese’s Thin & Crispy Pizzas, including the Thin & Crispy Pepperoni Pizza, which out-won Pizza Hut in a nationwide taste test last year.
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Have you and your kids been to Chuck E. Cheese’s? If so, have any tips or tricks you’d add to the list above? Join the conversation in the comments below!
More Ideas for Family Fun from B-Inspired Mama:
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Chuck E. Cheese’s. The opinions and text are all mine.
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