Has anyone had a birthday party at McDonalds?

[cornetjo]

I have just seen that our local McDonalds do childrens parties, and provide 2 "entertainers" to keep them amused for 1.5 hours, plus food at £4.99 per head, which seems quite reasonable. Has anyone had their little one's party at McDonalds, and would you recommend it?

A woman round here did that last year. Nobody came. Not one kid.

People don't still take their dc to McDonalds do they?
I don't think the food is very healthy and there isn't much space to play.
How about in a leisure centre instead?

I have had two parties at McDonald's (2 out of 32 that is so I'm not ashamed)

The children all had a great time and it was all very no effort and easy but it did feel like a bit of a non event.

Don't rely on their cake though...

Children eat rubbish at parties anyway, what's the big.

I havent had one,but dds have been to one and seemed to really enjoy themselves [came home starving though].

heh. spect wrong site to ask.

Unless, wait, have maccy Ds opened an organic, free-range, fresh food, paying good wages to workers who are free to join unions, not destroying the environment in south america and by extension the planet and and and branch?

no?

Ah well, their parties are probably pretty dire with crap food. IMO obviously.

Having said that -- how old is your dc? Why not do it at home and have a traditional party with games and prizes and dressing up races and stuff? Have had many, many of those and they are just so much better. (but more work obviously)

I don't see how a McDonalds Happy meal is any worse that half the crap that is put out at most parties

Cheaper to do it at home. I'd say. More work but better and cheaper.

lol slur. I was trying to be more subtle, why did I bother?

Lomond, I guess it is the power of your consumer pound.
Personally, I wouldn't support them due to most of the reasons mentioned by slur, but also their crass and cynical marketing that targets children.

Low grade meat is a bit shite. cakes and chocs aren't.

Anyway, you can choose not put out shit food at a party. or at least chuck in the odd bit of non crap like brown bread sarnies and strawberries or homemade pizza.

The other thing to bear in mind is that if some children go to macD's all the time, it won't feel very party-ish. I'm definitely not trying to put you off, especially if it's what your dc wants.

To answer your question (rather than to query your choice) yes I have had a party there. It was dd choice, it was her birthday. It was hassle free, which meant that we could watch her enjoy her party instead of being totally frazzled.
Yes they eat rubbish. But they do have proper party games, and occupy the children at all times. My dd got her face painted as part of the package, although the other dc didn't.
We took our own cake - not sure that was part of it anyway.
This was nearly 3 years ago though. I suppose in the end it depends upon how enthusiastic the 2 entertainers are, as to how good the party goes.
At the end of the day, my dd thoroughly enjoyed herself, she could have more of her friends than she could have at home, and it was a huge treat for her as we don't usually do Mcdonalds as a rule.

Hope that helps. Would also like to add well done on being brave enough to venture the question on here.

oh and we have a different room in ours, to all the other diners, so that the children were completely separate.

well said marymoocow!

DS2 went to a party at McD's - they had quite a big room and games organised by the 2 McD's people. DS2 was offered a veggie burger, fries, fruit and water - hardly the devil's food is it?

I'm not a big McD's fan myself but, for a party, I fail to see how it can be worse than anywhere else TBH

I wouldn't want have a party at McDonalds but the food is not that bad, and 100% better than what our leisure centre serves at parties.

I personally don't like burgers and nuggets etc so we rarely go to McD's but the food is nutrionally okay much better than costa or starbucks.

Perhaps it depends on the mcdonalds.

My dd was once invited to a party at a McDonalds on a bus outside the restauarant it was absolute hell on earth, and dd could not wait for me to take her home. Our Mc Donalds are pretty grim and tbh I would never book a party there.

I thought McDonalds parties had died of a death, have not seen an invite to one for ages.

You could do your own party for that money and it would be much nicer.

twinset's right -- the mcd's itself is really important
if it's got a good play/outside area they'll enjoy themselves
one of ours had a pool with carp and they could run around in the garden

it were right fancy

lol at the right fancy mcdonalds!

Certinly no posh fish in our mcdonalds.

I had no idea MDs did parties. My children would love it, as would their friends. A party is a treat, as is MDs, however we feel about it, so I wouldn't rule it out, depending on the MDs itself, play area, location etc.

DD has been to one. It was pretty hideous. Very very hot play area which was also pretty crap (ie small).

In other words not up to the standard of other soft play parties (which in any case I'm not mad about in some respects)

Wouldn't be my choice.

lol at mrsruffallo btw - you are kidding no?