If you already celebrated your child's birthday last year at Jollibee, and you're looking for other options, maybe you can consider a McDonald's birthday this year. We tried to answer some of your frequently asked questions:
How to book a party at McDonald's
Yes. You can book a McDonald's party online by visiting this page www.mccelebrations.com.ph. It will ask you to choose your date and your preferred city. From there, the page will lead you to through four easy steps.
How many is the minimum number of guests?
You need at least 30 guests to book a party. Enter that on the slot provided for and then choose your preferred branch. For the purpose of this guide, we chose October 7 for the date, Mandaluyong for the city, and Pioneer Reliance for the branch.
From there, the website will let you know the room capacity of the venue. In this case, McDonald's Pioneer Reliance branch can accommodate up to 80 people. Entertaining more? Quezon City branches have bigger venues. You can opt for the Eton Centris branch, which can accommodate up to 120 people or the Blue Ridge branch, which can accommodate up to 150 people. Most of the branches around Metro Manila can only accommodate 40 to 100 people.
What other parents are reading
What time are slots available?
The website will show you what is available. But if it is open, we recommend you take the earliest slot right after the branch opens. It will allow you enough time to decorate the place, make sure everything is in order, and make some last-minute preparations. If you cannot do an early party, you can choose the 4:00 p.m. option so that you can serve snacks instead of full meals.
What are the available food packages and party themes?
Once you've chosen the time, the website will let you decide: book the time and place or choose a meal package first. You also need a minimum of Php5,000 food bill to book a party and an additional charge of Php2,000, which will entitle you to a choice of themes: Ronald and the Gang, Happy, Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Thomas and Friends.
Here are the inclusions for McDonald's Happy Party Theme
Here are the inclusions for McDonald's Ronald and the Gang Party Theme:
You can find the rest of their party theme inclusions on their website.
The cake is optional. You can opt for an 8x12 chocolate cake, which costs PHP650 or a 12x16 (also chocolate) cake, which costs PHP1,050. You can choose from four meal sets:
You can also add snacks:
What other parents are reading
For the purpose of this guide, we chose the Happy Theme (Php2,000), the big cake (Php1,050), Food Mix 4 (Php208 each for 30 people, Php6,240 total), and no add-ons. Our total so far is Php9,290 for 30 people. That's the last step before the website asks you to log on to your McDonald’s account and pay for your birthday party package.
McDonald's party planning tips
To help you save a little bit more, we asked the help of the parents in the Smart Parenting Village who have already tried booking their parties there. Here are some of the things they shared:
Go for the Php5,000 minimum food bill
If the food packages are too expensive for you, you can simply opt for the minimum Php5,000 food bill. Moms in the Village recommend choosing 1-piece chicken with rice, sundae, and fries value meal. For 35 people, that’s only going to cost you around Php7,000.
What other parents are reading
You can set up your own theme
But you need to look for a branch that will allow it. Mommy Karen Smith, who recently shared her son's DIY baptismal party at McDonald's Commerce Alabang, said you need to secure permission from the branch before you can attach any of your own decorations to the venue.
She shared that you still need to pay for the party fee, which includes the party hats and giveaways but you can use your own decorations and theme. She also opted to have her son’s cakes and giveaways customized by her choice of online sellers.
Meanwhile, Mommy Anne Jhelyn Vergara-Amogod also opted to use her own decorations and loot bags.
Most of the parents in the Village who have already celebrated at a McDonald's branch were happy that they had the freedom to customize the party themes, cake, and giveaways. McDonald's celebrations also come with free full hosting and a McDonald's character appearance. If you wish to add more giveaways, you can request for an additional cost.
Moms in the Village also shared that the best branches are often located at malls — one, because of the available parking slots and two, because they can go to the mall after the party. You're usually allotted two hours for the party and if you're lucky that there is no event after yours, you can extend at no additional cost.
What other parents are reading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
