To give all the children a happy meal at ds's 5th party?

[Hangingwiththeraisingirls]

27 children coming. We are on holiday until the day before and will be back late (bad planning on my part).

Wibu to take orders when the children arrive and go and get them all a happy meal and then they can have some birthday cake. Dh says parents will judge me. However I say it will probably be no less healthy than normal type party food and it won't be any more expensive and the kids will love it. The McDonald's is only over the road and I wouldn't then give a load of biscuits and sweets. Just the happy meal and the birthday cake.

Would you judge me?

We did think about pizza but thought they might prefer the happy meal?

I don't think it will cost much more than doing it myself.

The drinks are included in the happy meal, so you would end up paying twice. I'd just give the water/fruit shoot option when taking orders.

It's less well done and more bad planning!!

I was quite blasé at the time, less so now!

The only thing to check would be if any of the kids are veggie? Not sure they do a veggie happy meal but they do apparently sell the toys separately if you need to improvise.

Water, juice or fruit shoot I think I will say.

Milkshake? Or no?

I'm 99% none are veggie.

Just thought pizza might be easier but not all children like it!

I wouldn't judge you, but I think the logistics of getting orders from 27 kids, having to wait a while for it all to be put together, getting it back in time before it's cold and kind of yucky, will be more of a faff than you think. Plus some kids might have allergies/not eat meat.

Why not order pizza in? Less chance for people to be judgy and you can get different kinds, you don't have to go anywhere to sort it.

You can get paper plates and napkins before your trip, not much mess. Perhaps in the morning pick up some pre-cut fruit or veg to serve on the side.

Large dominos or pizza hut pizzas for £11 for 2 (with voucher) delivered hot to the hall - job done. Hot and cheaper than McD's.

No to milkshake I think it gets complicated with the choices of flavours plus if mcdonalds runs out (as our always seem to) you might have chaos on your hands!

My other plan was to order 15 of nuggets and 15 of fish fingers and then just give them out.

They'd probably eat the fries anyway and the nuggets and fish fingers seem the most popular choices. Then I wouldn't have to take any orders!

sorry x-post

I think most of the kids I know would prefer pizza to happy meal, but perhaps you could sound out some of your friends now?

I just think pizza would be easier for you

Yes that's great, don't happy meals come with drinks, mabey a fruit shoot instead of a fizzy drink

Remember as well you will have to open the happy meal boxes to find out what is in each one. If it was just ten children I would say fine but 27 sounds a nightmare, I would be going with pizza!

I wouldn't get all snooty about it but I get there are plenty who would, for some reason. I bet my DC would have loved to go to a party with McD's food

I went to a party where the hosts did that - and tbh it wasn't great. It looked a lot of work to get all the orders of the kids, then go and get the food - then distribute them correctly. The dad and mum of the family were run a bit ragged - and the kids ended up spending longer sitting down then they would have liked. The food was also a bit like warm.

Why not pre-order a party sandwich platter from a supermarket and supplement with crisps and sausage rolls?

Kids really aren't at parties for a square meal.

DD went to a party where they did this. I thought it was a brilliant idea!!

If you definitely want fast food - why not ask your local chip shop if they will deliver? Order it like 10 large chips/60 chicken nuggets/ 30 fish goujons etc and then dump it on the table for self-service?

My only issue would be DS doesn't like mcdonalds, but I know he is very much in the minority of children in that case and certainly wouldn't judge - I would just tell DS to eat his chips while I enjoyed the nuggets

Mine have both been to parties where they've done this. I tend to just order pizza in, that's even easier as they bring it to the door!

Cheeseburger, burger, fish finger or nuggets.
Chips, carrot sticks or fruit bag.
Drink - milkshakes, water, tropicana, fruitshoots, fizzy stuff.
Toy.
In a box.
All for £2.39.

Do have a back up plan just in case there are children with allergies who cannot eat the food. Or for the rare children that do not like mcdonalds (yes they really do exist)

DS would be delighted - McDonalds is his favourite , I wouldn't be at all judgy, I'm not entirely sure why McDs is deemed to be any worse than a chip shop takeaway and asking the parents on the way in is the way to go.

Have you got a Subway nearby? They do massive sandwich platters to order and they're gorge, veggie and meat options. No boxes to open and won't go cold, and pretty healthy.

Just thought I'd fling that in the mix!

My ds's friend had this for his party. Dad went and collected it all. We had costco pizza, while a friend got dominio's to deliver/ With the Mcd's dad got fruitshoots and water with them all.