The Ins, Outs and Costs of Unlimited Chuck E. Cheese Games

Being a parent is expensive. And exhausting.

You’d think taking the little ones to a pizza and games place like Chuck E. Cheese would bring some distraction-induced reprieve. But alas, they’re coming at you every five minutes for more tokens.

Not today, children.

Behold the All You Can Play game option (aka the savior of parental sanity), at participating Chuck E. Cheese locations nationwide.

How Chuck E. Cheese All You Can Play Works

For one flat fee, kiddos can play unlimited games without exception for a selected amount of time.

Currently, unlimited game time comes in 30-minute increments starting at $15 with any Chuck E. Cheese deals purchase and is good any day of the week. (Prices may vary by location.) Unlimited play comes in 30, 45, 60 and 120 minute increments.

Save even more if you go on All You Can Play Wednesday. Just mention “All You Can Play Wednesday” at checkout and you’ll get an hour for $17.99. The restaurant boasts that kids can get an average of 100 gameplays per hour during All You Can Play with 70 different games to choose from. There are usually different promotions throughout the year to save parents even more cash.

Kids can use Play Passes or Play Bands, which allow them to load time or points with a tap. Play Passes come in three tiers:

• $1 Play Pass
• $3 Play Pass with coil wristband
• $5 Rechargeable Play Band

Each tier comes with 3 Play Points or Minutes included.

Some games might still dispense paper tickets, but Chuck E. Cheese has transitioned to e-tickets that are automatically saved to Play Passes. Once kids are done playing, they can redeem their e-tickets at the counter for prizes.

Need a potty or pizza break? No problem. You get the option to pause play once during the play window. Once the time is up, you can purchase additional 30-minute windows.

Just think: Your kids might wear themselves out for less than $20. Might.

Check that All You Can Play is available at your Chuck E. Cheese location before you go.

Chuck E. Cheese and Health Precautions

Kids like to touch everything, and at a restaurant like Chuck E. Cheese those instincts run free.

To keep patrons safe, Chuck E. Cheese partnered with Ecolab Science Certified, where scientists study how to create a high level of cleanliness.  While you’ll find it at other restaurants, it is the first “kid-focused family entertainment center” to work with Ecolab and earn their Certified Seal. There are hand sanitizing stations, regular sanitizing of surfaces and touchless pay options, as well as the touchless Play Passes and bands.

For birthday parties, you can do a party in-restaurant or opt for a Party Pack at home through delivery or carryout. If you choose an at-home option, you’ll still get play points and e-tickets to use on your next visit.

If you do a traditional party at Chuck E. Cheese but want social distancing, you can book an Early Access party on Saturdays from 8-10 a.m. or Sundays from 9-11 a.m.

Chuck E. Cheese Rewards

If you find yourself frequently going to Chuck E. Cheese to keep the kids happy, check out their rewards program.

Download the restaurant’s app and scan the barcode on your receipt. You’ll earn one point for every dollar you spend. You’ll get different rewards depending on your number of points.

• For 50 points, you’ll get 15 minutes of play time, an order of Unicorn Churros, two Pepsi drinks or 500 e-tickets.
• At 100 points, you receive 30 minutes of play time, one personal 1-topping pizza or 1,000 e-tickets.
• For 200 points, you can earn 60 minutes of play time, one large 1-topping pizza or 2,000 e-tickets.

When you download the app and sign up, you’ll receive 500 free e-tickets. You’ll get a birthday surprise for your birthday and half-birthday. Refer a friend and you’ll get one free personal pizza when they sign up.

Your kid can also earn Play Points at home. The restaurant offers downloadable Kids Activities, where you can reward them with 10 Play Points for losing a tooth, completing a reading challenge and more.

Contributor Jenna Limbach writes on financial literacy and lifestyle topics for The Penny Hoarder from her home base in Utah. Stephanie Bolling is a former staff writer.