Birthday party---Budget and Chuck E Cheese

Last time I was at Chuck E Cheese the only difference I noticed between the party and regular patrons was that party had a meet and greet with Chuck E and a special section to sit. However, Chuck E walked around the place and my daughter got to go say Hi. I agree with LuckyMama, just go and pay out of pocket with coupons that are always available online.

Ive done a party there....but didnt do a "party". Its cheaper to just buy drinks, pizza and tokens (there are coupons online) and bring your own cake.

My suggestion is to NOT go through their party planner. Just invite the kids there-have it first thing so you can get there when doors open to secure tables. Let the birthday child sit with the five kids and then adults can sit together around that table. Get coupons for the pizzas that come with coins and you will be able to walk out of there for a lot less $$.

I did this when my kids were really young...they never knew the difference. Esp since your party is so small. A bigger group would need the party room.

The parents don't have to pay so don't do the drop off thing . Nobody wants to leave their 5 year old at a party .It is assumed that it is only for the child on the invitation so you don't have to put that on the invite. If someone brings a sibling they can play but won't be a part of the pizza/pop thing .You don't have to provide food and drinks for the parents . Half the time they won't eat/drink when you've ordered extra for that purpose. Have fun and Happy Birthday to your daughter !

Amen, that place is pricey! I would just tell the birthday hostess at the beginning that you are paying for X and if anyone else requests everything she needs to direct them to the front or take their payment directly. The hostesses are used to this. They serve up the drinks individually and the pizza and tokens individually so once you tell her it should be ok. On the invite I would address them very specifically to the child being invited and if possible have the 5 kids meet you at home and then you take the kids to CEC. that way no extras. Good luck!

You can certainly have 5 children in your home. Cupcakes and simple games - cheap and friendly and personal.

Or, if you are determined to have it at Chuck E. Cheese, you address the invitation TO THE CHILD and say "drop off at 1 PM, pick up at 3 PM". When the child is dropped off, you say, "Thanks so much for bringing her. We'll see you at 3!" Have a party table set for 6 kids - your daughter and the 5 guests. I'd be shocked if parents didn't figure it out. You do not have to specify that others are NOT invited - you simply invite those who are. If they make assumptions, they are wrong. Don't explain, don't elaborate, don't un-invite - just say "I'm so happy to have a small party so the kids can really interact and enjoy themselves." Resist, resist, resist the pressure to have a party of 20 kids! It's unnecessary, hectic, over-stimulating, expensive, and pointless. Your child will enjoy herself so much more if she only has a few kids. We always followed the "year rule" - if you're 5, you invite 5 kids. If you're 7, you invite 7. By 9, they want to go to the movies and you go back to inviting 3 kids who will fit in your car.

If anyone says "where's the chair for my 3 year old?" just act dumbfounded and say, "I don't understand." Pause. Pause again. Say, "Oh my, did you think this was a party for a bigger age group? I thought we were clear in inviting just kids in my daughter's class. I think it's so much more fun that way, don't you? Go enjoy yourselves and we'll see you in a few hours."

I've always seen parents write "Parents and siblings are welcome to stay, but I can only afford the invitee". Seems to work I think with places like that most parents assume that if they stay they have to pay.

Parents don't expect to be fed at kids parties. When they are, it's a nice surprise.

Chuck E Cheese is over priced but if you're ok with it the way you avoid a problem with uninvited siblings is by clearly stating on invitation that "additional children attending with invited guest will be charged $12.99" or "parents will be responsible for additional children attending with invited guest at a cost of $12.99".

My daughter has gone to a couple of parties at Chuck E Cheese. Usually I end up staying, but kind of off to the side (since my daughter doesn't really want me to leave yet). For one party I brought my younger daughter and paid for her tokens. The birthday host did include my youngest in cake though, but I didn't think this was expected. Another party I went to the parents had pizza for any adults who stayed, but most adults didn't really want it anyways so I don't think most adults really expect to be fed.

As others have mentioned, you can have your own party there. You just don't get a party planner or special time with Chuck E Cheese. It can definitely be cheaper.

You can spell it out on the invitation about siblings or you can just have 6 cups of tokens available for the birthday guests. Most parents will get the hint and I don't think most would be offended.

I don't love having parties at my house either (we live in a condo), but I did have my daughter's 4th b-day party there. She invited 4 friends and we served cake/ice cream, gold fish, grapes, and pirate booty (request of my daughter) with juice boxes. So it is possible to have a few extra kids running around your house and keep the budget pretty small. You can plan a few organized activities (mainly things to do if the kids get out of hand or start fighting) but mostly they love to get together and play at that age. Keep it 2 hours or less though.

Good luck!

Do you need to have parents there for any reason? If you are only having 5 children I don't think you will need any extra supervision. I would just word the invitation "drop off".

Lisa* By the age of four and five most kids and parents are used to "drop off". They are being dropped off at pre-school or kidergarten. Everybody leaves a five year old at a party here!

I think chuck e is a good deal.. pizza pop and tokens for 1299 per kid..

our place did 5 kids per pizza.. so that is 2 slices per kid so there was extra pizza.. we bought one extra pizza for adults and we ate what the kids didnt ..

Hey -
I have read a lot of responses and I thought I would just chime in. I have a 5 year old and I would not drop her off at a party - especially not at Chuck E Cheese -it's quite chaotic there. But, with that said, I would not expect you to pay for my other child or for me. So, I personally don't think you need to worry about that.

I highly recommend that you do not use the coordinator either. There are sometimes coupons for 100 tokens on juice boxes at Walmart. You might want to check that.

Good luck,
L.

Do you have a Gattiland anywhere near??

I have received invitations that say "pizza and drinks provided for kids" - this way the parents knew they would need to purchase their own drink or snack. I wouldn't drop off at CEC, and my son is 7!

I love their pizza but would eat my kid's or buy some if I was there and there wasn't any for adults. A lot of people are on a budget nowadays so I think most people would understand. We just did my daughters birthday there, with herself and four other kids, plus pizza and two adult sodas it was $113. That also included an 8 inch cake and each kid got a souvenir cup as their party gift. I made sure to word the invitation "we are excited to celebrate ____'s birthday with (the three kids names) so it was clear that siblings weren't invited. It helps to tell parents with other kids that they are welcome to drop off and come back.