Behind the Scenes at McDonald's: A Family Fun Day at Little Manager Camp

Having always seen various experience camps held by McDonald's and convenience stores in Taiwan while living in the US, I was thrilled to find out that the "Little Manager Camp" was being held while we were in Taiwan. I decided to bring Lele to this parent-child event. This activity is designed for children over 3 years old and under 120 cm tall, giving them the opportunity to wear a McDonald's employee uniform and experience the daily tasks of a staff member, adding a lot of fun and learning opportunities.

In the "Little Manager Camp," there are two job roles to experience: "Little Manager" and "Little Hospitality Ambassador." When registering, you can see which position is available at the chosen McDonald's location. The Little Manager is responsible for making fries and drinks, while the Little Hospitality Ambassador has special activities like making ice cream and folding balloons. However, the McDonald's near us only offered the Little Manager position.

Each session accommodates a maximum of 10 children, and the spots fill up instantly when registration opens. I was on the waiting list for two days, and just two days before the registration deadline, I finally received a call confirming our spot. We were so excited! On the day of the event, we arrived at the designated McDonald's 30 minutes early to check in and get Lele dressed in the special McDonald's uniform. The McDonald's staff led the children in a hand-washing dance, teaching them basic hygiene habits.

Lele first experienced making fries. To make it more fun, each task involved rolling a small dice. For making fries, there were two outcomes: "Not Ready" and "Perfect Fries." If the dice landed on "Not Ready," Lele had to roll again until it showed "Perfect Fries." Then, he could take the salt shaker, shake it three times, and use the scooper to fill the fries box. The fries looked very realistic, and the scooper was just like the one used in real McDonald's kitchens, providing a very immersive experience. Next, Lele made drinks. He rolled the dice and got honey lemon tea. Lele used a small scoop to put ice cubes into the cup. The fake ice cubes were very realistic, making the whole process more fun.

After everyone took turns experiencing the tasks, the children learned how to greet and serve customers under the guidance of the McDonald's staff. The menu items were pre-selected during registration, and the customers were their parents. After taking the order and paying the remaining fee of $699, we waited for the food to be prepared. Once the food was ready, the McDonald's staff guided Lele to deliver the food to our table, saying politely, "Your food is ready. Enjoy your meal!" Then, Lele enjoyed his Happy Meal.

The final part was receiving their salary (a gift). This time, the gift was the highly popular "Mini Manager Playset" that caused a sensation when released in Japan. The playset comes with 8 pieces. It was this playset that motivated me to register Lele for the camp. After receiving the gift and a certificate, the children clocked out and took a group photo to conclude the 2-hour Little Manager Camp.

Registration and Fees

1. Reservation: First, go to the McDonald’s Fun Camp reservation website and choose the desired restaurant session.

2. Fill in Information: Enter personal details on the website, including name and contact information.

3. Confirmation: After receiving a text message confirming successful registration, go to the designated restaurant within 5 days to pay the 200 TWD registration deposit.

4. Payment: The total cost is 899 TWD, which includes the 200 TWD deposit and a 699 TWD balance, to be paid when ordering the meal on the day of the event.

5. Includes: The fee covers a Happy Meal and a small gift pack with a certificate.

On the day of the event, just bring your child; no additional items are needed. Although this year's Little Manager Camp registration has ended, if you missed out, you can still get a Little Manager Playset by ordering online through McDonald's Delivery. Starting from July 10, for every order over 399 TWD, you will receive a random Little Manager Playset. These toys are very cute, perfect for collecting or for children to play with in role-playing games.

The "Little Manager Camp" is a great parent-child activity, allowing children to learn service procedures and experience the fun of working while enjoying quality time with their parents. If your child is curious about working at McDonald's, keep an eye out for the registration dates during summer and winter breaks. Join this fun activity and let your children have an unforgettable experience.