Chuck E. Cheese

[Anonymous]

My kindergartner has recently learned about Chuck E. Cheese and is begging to go. How clean/crowded are the Alexandria and fairfax locations?

I’m delivering a baby in the coming few weeks, so am trying to balance giving the older kids some fun with trying to stay away from unnecessary germs. I’m guessing that Chuck E. Cheese is definitely just chock full of germs kids this week, but figured I’d get some dcum advice.

[Anonymous]

It's an enclosed space that'll be packed with kids on a cold holiday week. If you're concerned about germs, I'd stay away.

[Anonymous]

If you are going, I'd go right when it opens.

[Anonymous]

No worse than school.

The games are button pushing or ball throwing. No more communal ball pit or indoor slide/climbing tubes.

[Anonymous]

Heads up that the one in Alexandria sometimes smells like weed. I’ve been to many birthday parties there. Just because of how crowded it gets, you can tell when people have been smoking that day. Haven’t been to the Fairfax location.

[Anonymous]

If you’re in Alexandria, go to Doyle’s Outpost. So much cleaner than Chuck E Cheese. The food is actually decent too and there is laser tag which is a big hit with my kindergartener. Also, it’s rarely crowded.

[Anonymous]

We go right after school on weekdays. Very few people there. This week may be different since everyone is off school.

Do NOT go on the weekends. That's when people have bithday parties and it's guaranteed to be packed.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not since you are pregnant. Chuck E Cheese is the worst in terms of germs. Set up a playdate with a friend at a house instead.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't go, given your situation. Your kids will survive being told no, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Heads up that the one in Alexandria sometimes smells like weed. I’ve been to many birthday parties there. Just because of how crowded it gets, you can tell when people have been smoking that day. Haven’t been to the Fairfax location.

Is there any particular part of it that smells like weed, and would it be enough to get a nice contact high? Asking for a friend.

[Anonymous]

Please don’t go. It’s so not worth the risk. It is probably not more of a risk than sending your kids to school and having them bring those germs home. However, I’d say school is a necessity risk and Chuck E Sleeze is not.

[Anonymous]

Go to Dave and Busters instead. Cleaner, bigger and not crowded early in the day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are going, I'd go right when it opens.

Yup, it's dead first thing when it opens.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been to both many times but have not gone now in about 7 years or so. I would go immediately when they open or immediately after school. Yes, there are germs but not any more than school or if they go to a birthday at any other venue. My kids loved Chuck E Cheese when they were little so sometimes we would go for an early lunch or dinner to meet up with others for a playdate.

[Anonymous]

After the first bday party our child was invited to there, I told my DH, "never again." If any of our kids are invited, either he had to take them, or they weren't going. I think he took our oldest DC to one before coming to the same conclusion. We both thought they were germs and gross, and that was BEFORE covid (and the flu and RSV).

Couldn't get me anywhere near one of those places today.