McDonald’s: Why My Kids Are Lovin’ It!
If someone asked me what restaurant my boys liked best, I wouldn’t hesitate to answer. Every time we drive past a McDonald’s, my minivan fills with shouts of excitement as they see the golden arches and recognize instantly their favorite place to stop. It’s no surprise to me why they love McDonald’s, but let me show you a look at a McDonald’s visit from their perspective so you can see why it’s their favorite place to visit.
When we arrive, we start in a short line and I ask the boys what they would like to eat – naming all their favorite choices: hamburger, Chicken McNuggets, or cheeseburger… but I am already cut-off with my boys calling out their preference before I can finish. Next, they get to pick their drink from choices including fat free chocolate milk, low fat white milk, apple juice, or a small kid’s refillable soda cup. They love the freedom to make their own choices and get the meal they’ll happily eat. Their Happy Meal also comes with a kids sized fries and apple slices.
Now, it’s time to make our way into the PlayPlace where they often make a new friend and have a great time playing while waiting for lunch. The boys usually meander down from the slides about 10 minutes later ready for food to fill those grumbling bellies. They excitedly reaching into their Happy Meal and usually grab the toy first. This month’s toys featured Skylander’s and My Little Pony’s.
The Skylander’s were a bit hit, my 5 year old had seen Skylander’s on the poster a week before this visit when we had stopped through the drive-thru for breakfast and had been asking to go back ever since. The toys didn’t disappoint. Even though they weren’t made for the portal from the Skylander’s games, the toys were true to the characters and they loved lighting up the fire bomb fist and creating their own table top adventures.
Both boys dug into their meals; the apple slices always seem to be their favorite. After a while eating, it was back to the PlayPlace to play. I didn’t mind, I was happily connected to McDonald’s free Wi-Fi and was playing around on my tablet while the boys enjoyed the toys and their meal, heading back and forth between the two every couple of minutes.
When their meal was finished and the clock started to creep towards an hour of playtime, it was now time to finish up our visit. On special occasions and when my boys are here for a special treat, we will often get them a vanilla cone after their meal. When the miniature kiddie cones are available (the couple of bites and it is gone sized treat), they always get to have one but not all McDonald’s locations have these mini cones.
At the end of the visit, they have not only eaten lunch but got to play, exercise, make new friends, enjoy a new toy, and even get a treat! Best of all, when we are ready to head home they are now wiggle-free and we usually enjoy a nice, calm afternoon. Of course, they end the trip asking when we can come back!
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by McDonald’s via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of McDonald’s.
For some reason, our 2 1/2 year old calls McDonalds “Cuck Cuck”…we aren’t sure if he is saying “coke” since I order a coke the rare occasion we go but he knows when we turn down the road that leads to McDonalds even though we are 5 miles away! He says “cuck cuck where are you?” all the way there! It’s pretty hard not to treat him to something 🙂
That play area is such a great way to fit fitness into a day. I used to meet friends there for salads for lunch and let the kids play!
Looks like the people at your mcdonalds can actually fix an ice cream cone. We will go get the kids icecream at our local one and it looks like a softball sitting precariously on top of the cone. Anything is good in moderation and according to my toddler it’s not icecream unless it’s a mc donald’s dipped cone mess and all they love them.
This stuff amazing for summer !
My kids go nuts for McDonald’s as well. I think that is a right of passage for little ones. I do like their ice cream cones!
What kid doesn’t love to see those arches. It’s like their programmed. LOL
It’s been a while since we’ve had a trip to McDonalds. We usually stop there when we go on long roadtrips.
The ice cream looks yummy! I haven’t had one of those in a long time!
I love McDonald’s, in fact, I had a happy meal the other day. It is a fun and tasty treat every once in a while.
I haven’t had McDonalds in a long time. My kids would love the Happy meals
We try not to eat there a lot, but our kids love it! I like that you can choose apple slices and yogurt in the meals as well.
We love stopping by McDonalds for a quick bite. The hubs and I get a chicken wrap to split and the Great Dane gets a McNugget and an Ice Cream cone lol.
There is nothing wrong with McDonald’s in moderation! We have it twice per month here..well at least the kids do.
That vanilla ice cream cone looks delicious. I could go for one right now.
When my 3 older kids were little, I used to take them to McD’s once a week to play in the play area. Back then they didn’t have healthy choices like they do now.
My kids are big McDonald’s fans too. They love the nuggets, and I think they have the best soft serve ice cream in town!
i stopped eating there when i stopped working there. i know the inside story!! wendy’s ftw!!
we haven’t been to mcdonalds in many years. I like how yours still has the classic happy meal box.
My kids love the Happy meals,the Mcdonalds near us does not have a play area I think the one further away does but we have not been for a long time.
I’m a huge fan of play structures! Gotta get those wiggles out!
Those play structures can really come in handy on hyper energy days. I didn’t know those mini cones even existed!
Our kids love McDonalds. I love when they have the classic cardboard containers for the Happy Meals!
the kids sure look happy! We don’t ever eat at McDonald’s but I know most kids love it
McDonald’s isn’t my first choice, but my kids love it. I do appreciate the fun playplace and that we can just grab an ice cream cone or a drink and let them play away for a bit.
Love McDonald’s. We make cheeseburgers and go get McDonald’s french fries.
We haven’t eaten at McDonalds in a long time. The play place was always a hit, though!
My daughter gets all excited whenever we get close to those golden arches, too! She loves her chicken nuggets, apples and Hi-C. 🙂
I don’t eat at McDonald’s. But my grandkids love their food so I will take them there sometimes.
McDonald’s is a treat for all of us. And I collect the Happy Meal toys! Me, not my son!
Mitch
McD’s is Daveys favorite restaurant! He loves the chicken nuggets!
We love their 50 cent ice cream cones! They make a nice summer treat. I just can’t get myself to eat much else there.
Looks like the boys had a lot of fun. Play areas are a great way to expend some energy.
I actually miss McDonalds! My daughter has to eat gluten-free, so we are having to skip out on the nuggets:(
The McDonald’s playground by my house is one of my kids’ favorite places to go. I like that I can get some work done on the free wifi while I am there!
We used to go to McDonald’s when we lived in another state because it had a huge play area. Ours here doesn’t have one (boo). We DO have 49 cent ice cream cones, or 99cent dipped cones. And we utilize that…oh yes, we do. 🙂
I like the play areas there. Souns like they really enjoy it.
I used to love “macs” when I was little, but in light of the changing ingredients, we are visiting some other restaurants. No doubt that it’s an American icon and it’s changing, too.
The McDonald’s in our town doesn’t have a playground, but there is one about 20 minutes from us and we take the boys there as a treat sometimes.
We love Mcdonald’s.. I don’t care what anyone says… order the right thing and it’s all good! I love the new play places where they are play floors and no slides!
McDonald’s soft serve ice cream cones are my absolute favorite. Especially now that they’ve added the dipped option, I probably get one once a week!
My son loves the ice cream cones at McDonald’s. We introduced him to the cones last summer. 🙂
That ice cream cone looks absolutely delicious. I need to go get one NOW!