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Original poster

McDonald's birthday parties in the 90s.

147 replies

Justgivemethebrie · 04/10/2021 16:58

Help settle a disagreement (lighthearted one!) with my mum.
We were discussing birthday parties of old and I said how fun the parties at McDonald's were as you got a tour around the kitchen and in the big fridge.
She was convinced this wasn't a thing but my memory is saying otherwise.
So Mumsnet, does anyone remember McDonald's birthday parties of yore? Was there indeed a visit to see the fryers and fridge?!

OP posts:
IdLoveToButCantBeArsed · 04/10/2021 17:54

I got to do the tour! Was early 80s not 90s, but I remember feeling very special because the birthday child could only choose one other child to do the tour with, and she chose meeee Grin

MalfunctioningRobot · 04/10/2021 17:55

Yes! I had a birthday party in McDonald’s in the 90s and they definitely took us for a tour of the kitchen. I don’t think they took everyone from the party, there were maybe 5 of us out of the group who went on the tour.

IdLoveToButCantBeArsed · 04/10/2021 17:55

Ha xpost with @LillyLeaf!

Mammyloveswine · 04/10/2021 17:58

Oooh I don't remember a tour of the kitchen but do remember wearing a paper crown and thinking it was the best party ever!

byvirtue · 04/10/2021 17:59

Early 90s loved the kitchen tours! We had a big boat where the parties took place.

Couchbettato · 04/10/2021 18:01

I miss McDonald's soft play

mumonthehill · 04/10/2021 18:01

In the 80’s and definitely got a tour of the kitchens, they also sold root beer which I thought was amazing!

HipHopBanzai · 04/10/2021 18:04

Yep, there was definitely a tour of the kitchen. I remember the desperation to be the person the birthday child picked to take with them!

WheelieBinPrincess · 04/10/2021 18:04

Yes that happened.

On my fourth birthday I got a tour of the kitchens! Just a member of staff carrying me round in there. It was to cheer me up because i’d fallen off the big train thing that the kids sat at, with little tables in carriages. I remember seeing the burgers cook on the grill, and a big container of gherkins.

Apple1971 · 04/10/2021 18:08

@MintyGreenDream

Wimpy parties were better than McDonalds. Shouting Mr Wiiiiiiiimpy at the top of your lungs then a person came out of a store room dressed in a mucky Mr Wimpy costume.
I worked at wimpy when I was in the 6th form and had to wear that costume!!

Our manager used to make us go into the town centre to hand leaflets out in it - and someone would always push you over - and you couldn’t get up because it was a big round costume with big white foam hands and massive red shoes

Still traumatised 🤣🤣

onemouseplace · 04/10/2021 18:17

@Fizbosshoes

I remember macdonalds parties in the 80s. (They were basically the only "outside the house" parties anyone had) We definitely went in the kitchen and the freezer. Someone dressed up as Ronald macdinald and you got shit cake.
These are my exact memories of 80s McDonalds parties as well.
MindatWork · 04/10/2021 18:18

We had a tour of our local McDonald’s kitchen for a Brownies outing in the 90s Grin.

Also had and attended McDonald’s parties - the kids area at our one had tables shaped like big flowers and the seats were little red and white mushrooms. There was a throne for the birthday boy/girl. I was gutted when they ripped it all out to renovate it in the early 2000s.

Simpler times!

MagicMatilda · 04/10/2021 18:20

Yes!!! McDonald’s parties were the best. I had mine there and remember you could pick one friend to do the kitchen tour with you. Was epic Grin

mummydoris2006 · 04/10/2021 18:20

Definitely a thing in Lincolnshire in the 90's. The birthday child got to choose one person to go on the tour with them and then the cake that was served was the best ever 😋. Thanks OP you've just made me remember some lively memories of my childhood 😊

mummydoris2006 · 04/10/2021 18:20

*lovely not lively!

Quirrelsotherface · 04/10/2021 18:21

I went to a few, would have been late eighties and yes, the kitchen tour and birthday cake Grin
Ours had a train with tables and you sat in there for parties with the long sailor type hats. Mac D's parties rocked

lilacdinosaur · 04/10/2021 18:22

I don't remember this at a McDonald's party. I went to a party at pizza express through and got a kitchen tour of the big fridges etc

BusySittingDown · 04/10/2021 18:22

I remember McDonalds parties vividly but no tour of kitchen or fridge. It must have been about 1988/89 though because it was when I would have been in reception.

FrozenoutofCostco · 04/10/2021 18:28

I was born in 84 and never ever got invited to a McDs party :(

Scandicc · 04/10/2021 18:30

Yes! In Norway we did this and we got to make our own ice creams. This was obviously back in the days before food safety and broken machines….

PasstheBucket89 · 04/10/2021 18:32

Yeah i had one mid 90s

FakeFruitShoot · 04/10/2021 18:33

I remember the parties but not the tour.

There was a song about Tommy Jet Plane?

MintyGreenDream · 04/10/2021 18:34

@Apple1971 bless you!!!

Snoods · 04/10/2021 18:35

I had a McDonald’s party but didn’t go in the kitchen. But we did have a school trip to one and went round the kitchen then.

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 04/10/2021 18:36

90s parties were all burger king at my school. Everyone seemed to have their birthday there.