I’ve always loved going to Chuck E. Cheese — it’s a place where my kids and I have a blast while it brings back wonderful childhood memories for me. We try to take the kids there about once a month.
Recently, during one of our visits, I saw a great offer for a two-month pass for around $65. The pass gives us 40 points of play each day, which works out to about 30–40 minutes — the usual time we spend there anyway. Although I had some doubts about how this would turn out, I didn’t overthink it and just bought the pass.
That didn’t last long…
First, my kid asked for a jump pass, which costs an extra $15 per visit and is not included in the play pass. Then came the food requests — and food at Chuck E. Cheese is far from cheap. Then came the toy requests, which you can buy either with tickets earned through playing or with cash.
It quickly became clear that the two-month pass was just the hook to get us through the door — once inside, kids naturally ask for more. So far, we’ve paid extra for jump passes (twice), bought food (twice), and we’ll probably be buying toys soon too.
The Lesson Here
While it’s absolutely fine to treat your kids and take them to places they enjoy, these trips can break your budget — not just once or twice, but repeatedly, especially when tied to a long-term pass.
I’ve explained to my older child that while it’s okay to eat there occasionally, we can’t buy food every single visit. Paying close to $30 for a medium pizza is not something you want to do often. My son, on the other hand, wouldn’t mind buying it every time we go — but that would easily add up to $100 or more per week. That’s not just going over budget; that’s destroying it.
Of course, I love seeing my kids have fun — playing games, collecting tickets, meeting Chuck E. himself, and dancing. But if we don’t stick to our plan of only using the play pass, costs can spiral out of control fast.
Kids don’t fully understand budgeting. They just know what they want in the moment. So it’s a constant balancing act. One rule we’ve set is that if they want to go to Chuck E. Cheese, they need to eat at home first and not ask for food there. Sometimes, we even agree to buy food from outside — where we can feed the whole family for far less than $30.
In the end, the experience can still be magical — but a little budget planning goes a long way in keeping it fun and affordable. While we have to be mindful of our budgets, some things can be priceless, including the look of extreme joy on my toddle’s face when he sees the Chucky mascot come out to dance and play with kids.