Can Kids Still Have Birthday Parties At McDonald's?

When you think of a birthday party at a restaurant as an adult, you envision going somewhere nice with your family or friends. The wildest thing to happen might be the servers gathering around you to sing "Happy Birthday," depending on which restaurant you're at. When you're a little kid, however, birthday parties usually happen at a very particular restaurant — a place where the Grimace or a Minion hand-delivers a birthday cake to your table right after you and your cousins get done throwing each other around the sprawling PlayPlace.

As a little kid, you were probably excited to go to the local McDonald's for your birthday. For you, it was a special treat, getting to run around the giant PlayPlace jungle gym, eat McNuggets, and open birthday gifts. What wasn't there to like? Sadly, times have changed. 

The COVID-19 pandemic response meant that dining rooms, and by extension the famous PlayPlaces, were closed down, stopping the famous birthday tradition in its tracks. It's not as if PlayPlaces have had a reputation for being squeaky clean either, with reports of hypodermic needles among other things being found in the vicinity of these child-friendly play areas.

But do children still long for the days of a McDonald's birthday party, or have those parties become an unfortunate relic of the past?

While the COVID-19 response and growing health concerns have impacted the fast food industry, McDonald's still markets itself as a premier place for a birthday party. On its website, the company proudly discusses the benefits and perks that come with hosting a birthday party, such as the low cost, providing free decorations, and the overall ease compared to throwing a party in your own home.

"Fun for kids and stress-free for you, we've got parties down to a science," boasts the company. "For Happy Meals, cake, decorations and party favors, just talk to your local McDonald's manager." The company also notes that a party can be held inside or outside of the restaurant, depending on the location.

If you think that this birthday policy is something that McDonald's simply forgot to update following COVID-19 measures, McDonald's is also appealing to parents who want to have a Golden Arch-themed party at home. An online hub directs parents to a wealth of downloadable content, ranging from virtual backgrounds, coloring sheets, games, make-at-home decorations, and other printable activities. 

It's clear that McDonald's, despite the pandemic's effects on the industry, has no plans to abandon the idea of being a cheap and popular birthday spot for kids and their families. Although there is money to be made in the birthday business, does the public really want to return to the "old days' of McDonald's PlayPlace birthdays?

It's obvious that the McDonald's of yesteryear differs from the McDonald's today. There's no more McDonaldland or Ronald McDonald, for example. As reported by Twisted, people who had parties at McDonald's in the 1990s attest to those periods of time being the golden age of McDonald's parties– a time when kids could yell, run around, and gorge themselves on Happy Meals and ice cream. Some believe that, nowadays, such a party atmosphere can't happen.

But this isn't to say that McDonald's birthday parties wouldn't appeal to families of today. The cost of a party at McDonald's is relatively cheap, especially compared to other family-friendly venues. For example, the cost of a McDonald's birthday party in Texas could cost anywhere between $55 to $85 (plus tax), depending on which party package you order. This would mean that, for only $100 dollars or so, a family will be provided with food, decorations, gifts, and a cake. A cost-efficient party is certainly appealing, especially in these uncertain economic times.

While some may argue that McDonald's may not be a "classy" place to have a party, what's most important is that the recipient of the party — the birthday boy or girl — has a good time.