bowling with bumpers

Quiksilver620

does anyone know if a bowling alley with bumpers will just pull them down for us if I show up with DD or would I have to book a whole birthday party?

DH doesn't think that we can just walk in and use them and after looking at a few websites, I think he's right

stephnews

Some bowling alleys will have a couple lanes set up with them for open bowling times, such as Saturday afternoon, when there's likely to be lots of children. Or at other designated times. 

Or if you call ahead, they might be able to set some up for you by the time you get there. 

Wally3

Most the places around here put up the bumpers if you ask.  It is just a piece that comes up in front of the gutters - some places even have it so you can put them up and down yourselves.  You can always call and ask.

schnappycat

Ours here (Brunswick Zone) is great. You can set it up that the bumpers actually go up and down for each PERSON during a game. So I can have them for DS, but not for me on each turn. Plus, they have ramps to assist the kids to roll their bowl.

So in my experience, there is no need to call ahead or anything. They are not something manual that is installed. The choice for bumpers/no bumpers is on the electronic score display when you enter your names. 

CMDR513

Most places allow you to walk in. DS went to a party at a bowling alley. We always used to take nieces bowling, and they just put the bumpers up then.

JENandJEH

We've never had to call ahead for bumpers either.  And, like the PP who said her bowling place is able to do them up for one bowler, down for another, etc, ours is the same way.  They're usually totally computerized so all they have to do is push a button (or, our local place, it's something that you set up on screen when you're setting your game up).