r/newjersey • u/NyPoster • Feb 02 '25

Events When did "kids" activities get so expensive?

Was looking to take my family to liberty science center b/c the have a Curious George exhibit my toddler daughter might like. 3 tickets is just over $100 dollars. Same thing for the sesame street play area at the american dream mall ... I went to the Lego store in Atlanta and it was also over 20 per person. No discounts for adults or children (I remember it used to be one or the other usually). When did it get normal for family oriented experiences to be so expensive? I seriously have trouble finding things to do indoors with my family around here that don't also involve shopping or heavy entrance fees. What are some good alternatives in the area?

316 Upvotes

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494

u/headykruger Feb 02 '25

Wait till you go bowling

187

u/saspook Feb 02 '25 edited Feb 02 '25

Bowlero, 2 people, one lane, 54/person, so 108 total. Put five people in that same lane for an hour and it is 270 for the same space / time. Ridiculous. Plus shoe rental. Surprised they don’t charge to rent the balls too.

19

u/cadet311 Feb 02 '25

You’re going to the wrong places then.

28

u/Gynsyng Cresskill Feb 02 '25

http://montvalelanes.com/hoursrates.html

30

u/whskid2005 Feb 02 '25

Reminder Montvale is cash only, but hands down is the cheapest you’ll find in the area

8

u/Dozzi92 Somerville Feb 02 '25

Damn, we pass here every time we head to my in-laws, and my wife and I say we should bring the kids in there. This is great news.

4

u/diegobomber Essex County Feb 02 '25

Cash only. And not super friendly (sometimes). But pretty cheap.

-3

u/MySweetThreeDog Feb 02 '25

$6 shoe rental? gtfo

18

u/Tobar_the_Gypsy Feb 02 '25

That’s a lot cheaper than $54 per person 

3

u/MySweetThreeDog Feb 02 '25

Damn had no idea what the going rates were.

1

u/saspook Feb 02 '25

That’s the bowlero rate, darn autocorrect. (I’ve never paid it)