'I visited the Disneyland of McDonald's

The Mirror writer Ariane took a trip to the UK's biggest McDonald's Drive-Thru to see why people travel from across the country to order there - and thought both the food and service were better than usual

McDonald's fans have been flocking across the country to experience the fast-food chain's biggest Drive-Thru in the UK, with some visitors on TikTok going so far as to call it the "Disneyland of all McDonald's".

The huge 24-hour fast food restaurant is located in Formby, Merseyside, and is becoming a bit of a tourist attraction - with people travelling from further afield just to see it.

With all the chatter online about how remarkable it is, I decided to take a trip there to see what it's really like and while I haven't been to Disneyland, it is still going to have to be pretty spectacular to blow me away.

Located off the Formby bypass outside Liverpool, it's not actually located particularly close to the motorway, but that doesn't stop people of all ages from popping by. With 279 seats inside and a huge car park, it's the perfect place to bring the whole family.

Driving up to the building, the first thing that struck me was how many people were sitting in the carpark, in their cars, eating their meals. Considering how big it is, I wondered why they weren't eating indoors. However, I did see that they had "click and serve" parking spots, which means you can order food from the McDonald's app and have it delivered straight to your car - which I can definitely see the allure of for ease.

Outside of the restaurant, there is plenty of outdoor seating too in the form of picnic-style benches, which are decorated with outdoor bunting, made up of a mixture of real and fake flowers, giving the area a really nice feel to it. The building itself looks like a huge barn and boasts two floors.

When I walk inside, I'm definitely taken aback at the size of everything. Although there are many seats, there's also a lot of free area, making it feel nice and roomy. Inside the building, located across the two floors, there are mobile phone charging points, free-to-use tablets for children, a soft play area, and a space for just arts and crafts, along with a barista coffee area.

My favourite part of the restaurant was no doubt the small details and touches. It opened in 2019, so everything still looks super modern, and it makes me think of a classic American diner. There are lots of different types of seating areas - small tables, high chairs and even two-person booths with a privacy screen - perfect for date night.

There's also a lot more decoration than I've previously seen at a McDonald's - graphics and signs on the wall saying things like 'Crispy Fries' and 'Delicious', flowers and other small but significant touches. The colour scheme is black and white with a dash of yellow, which gives it a slightly sophisticated feel.

It's incredibly clean, but with only three toilets downstairs - one for women, one for men, and one disabled toilet, I felt it was slightly lacking. There are three smart screens to order from (but you can order from both sides), or you could go and speak to an actual staff member if you wish.

On a Wednesday dinner time I expected it to be full, but apart from a few families with children, there aren't many people inside. Unfortunately, I also realised that the upstairs was closed, which one of the McDonald's staff told me is because they only open it at weekends.

After looking at reviews online I realised this is a problem a few people have encountered, as they had travelled from afar with excited children just to find it's not open - so definitely don't travel from further afield hoping to use the soft play area on a weekday. Without being able to see the soft play area I don't think I can comment on whether it is in fact the "Disneyland of all McDonald's," so I guess I'll have to return another time to determine that one.

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Despite not being able to see the upstairs, I remained optimistic and decided to jump back in my car and try the drive-thru. There I was pleasantly surprised, as I was greeted with incredible customer service - a far cry away from my local in London, I have to say. The member of staff serving me is incredibly jolly, and as we're up north he obviously calls me "love" and wishes me a "nice day".

With a smile on my face, I decide to go to the outdoor area to eat my food - and this is where things get even better. The signs on the wall weren't lying. I don't know if it's because I'm in a good mood and feeling optimistic, but they were the crispiest fries I've ever had from a McDonald's and the Quarter Pounder I ordered was seasoned to perfection. And as a side note, I also tried the Chocolate Pie, which blew me away.

So, if you're looking for a McDonald's with a unique building, friendly service and top-notch food, I would highly recommend giving it a go - and bringing the whole family along for a weekend treat.

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