Lousy New Policy at Chuck E Cheese
When you've got preschoolers, you spend a lot of time at Chuck E Cheese. Michael loved the place from the first time he went, and now that Matthew is getting older, he's enjoying it too.
Greg's parents stopped by from Maryland today for a few hours, and took us to an early dinner at Chuck E Cheese. As we normally do, Greg headed to the counter to order, while the boys and I went to grab a seat.
But every single available table had a sign on it that said, "RESERVED".
I went up to an employee and asked if there were any tables that were not reserved. She told me that you have to go buy your food first, bring your receipt to her, and then she will give you a table. "First come first served." So I guess in order to make sure that everyone who parks their duff at a table has purchased food (as if buying tokens for all the games doesn't bring in revenue!), a mother with a baby, a preschooler, and a diaper bag has to wait up at the front with her husband in the line for food... which takes 10 - 15 minutes to get thru.
Oh that makes sense. Let me try to juggle 2 kids and a diaper bag, while the older kid is desperately trying to run to the games, while Greg tries to juggle ordering, paying, etc. Sure doesn't sound very kid and family friendly to me.
So after about 5 minutes of waiting, I asked to talk to the manager. I told her that if this is their new seating policy, it does not work for parents with young children. In the future, we will be going to Gattitown. (Gattitown is Chuck E Cheese's big competitor in town.)
I will say that the manager immediately apologized, and took us directly to a table. Where we sat for about 10 more minutes waiting for Greg and his dad to get through the ordering line. (No, it's not that long waiting for the food, it's that long just to order!)
Meanwhile, there were several birthday parties going on while we were there, which is typical for a Saturday. They have about 4 girls who are assigned to work the parties. One of their jobs is to be "entertainers", I guess. When Chuck E Cheese the rat comes out, they are supposed to do little line dances to the music, get the kids excited, and basically keep everything flowing.
Watching these girls was so difficult. They were up there by the stage doing their little dances with zero enthusiasm. I felt like going up to them and saying, "Can't you even pretend to crack a smile?" It was enough to convince me that we aren't having any Chuck E Cheese birthday parties!
I guess I got rather spoiled on our trip down to Disney. Disney definitely has a lock on good customer service. And their employees are always happy, smiling, and eager to entertain.
Obviously there is a big difference between the Rat and the Mouse. But perhaps that is why their mascot is just a lousy sewer rat.
(Side note to my bloggie friend who adores rats. Please do not take this as a criticism of rats. I think that rats must get their bad reputation because of good 'ol Chuck!)
Greg's parents stopped by from Maryland today for a few hours, and took us to an early dinner at Chuck E Cheese. As we normally do, Greg headed to the counter to order, while the boys and I went to grab a seat.
But every single available table had a sign on it that said, "RESERVED".
I went up to an employee and asked if there were any tables that were not reserved. She told me that you have to go buy your food first, bring your receipt to her, and then she will give you a table. "First come first served." So I guess in order to make sure that everyone who parks their duff at a table has purchased food (as if buying tokens for all the games doesn't bring in revenue!), a mother with a baby, a preschooler, and a diaper bag has to wait up at the front with her husband in the line for food... which takes 10 - 15 minutes to get thru.
Oh that makes sense. Let me try to juggle 2 kids and a diaper bag, while the older kid is desperately trying to run to the games, while Greg tries to juggle ordering, paying, etc. Sure doesn't sound very kid and family friendly to me.
So after about 5 minutes of waiting, I asked to talk to the manager. I told her that if this is their new seating policy, it does not work for parents with young children. In the future, we will be going to Gattitown. (Gattitown is Chuck E Cheese's big competitor in town.)
I will say that the manager immediately apologized, and took us directly to a table. Where we sat for about 10 more minutes waiting for Greg and his dad to get through the ordering line. (No, it's not that long waiting for the food, it's that long just to order!)
Meanwhile, there were several birthday parties going on while we were there, which is typical for a Saturday. They have about 4 girls who are assigned to work the parties. One of their jobs is to be "entertainers", I guess. When Chuck E Cheese the rat comes out, they are supposed to do little line dances to the music, get the kids excited, and basically keep everything flowing.
Watching these girls was so difficult. They were up there by the stage doing their little dances with zero enthusiasm. I felt like going up to them and saying, "Can't you even pretend to crack a smile?" It was enough to convince me that we aren't having any Chuck E Cheese birthday parties!
I guess I got rather spoiled on our trip down to Disney. Disney definitely has a lock on good customer service. And their employees are always happy, smiling, and eager to entertain.
Obviously there is a big difference between the Rat and the Mouse. But perhaps that is why their mascot is just a lousy sewer rat.
(Side note to my bloggie friend who adores rats. Please do not take this as a criticism of rats. I think that rats must get their bad reputation because of good 'ol Chuck!)
posted by Susan | 7:28 PM
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