It is Friday and Friday’s are for fun. I hate to interrupt the fun but today is a big day. As of today McDonalds restaurants start offering Wi-Fi for free. I have had free Wi-Fi at McDonald’s for awhile now been known to make a quick stop at a McDonald’s if I have to have internet access when I have to have it and can’t get it any other way.
Last summer when we were headed up to Duluth for a little vacation I had a real estate type emergency and I couldn’t get what I needed through my blackberry. We used the blackberry to find the closest McDonald’s and stopped there, I hopped on the internet, while my husband ordered breakfast and we were back on the road in less than a half hour.
Apparently McDonald’s is trying to become more of a destination, that is why they started offering coffee shop type coffee and now free Wi-Fi. I don’t think the coffee shops have anything to worry about. I can work anywhere but not in a McDonald’s. There is constant activity and the doors open and close every ten seconds which is hell during a Minnesota winter. There are children running around and for some reason people who eat in the restaurant tend to talk 10 decibels higher than the normal indoor voice.
Yet this is a big deal. The beginning of a new era and today is the day that it all starts. I have a friend who is pretty excited about it and has been counting the days. It will be interesting to see how it works. Will McDonald’s become a destination for some? Will they bring their laptops, or netbooks and hang out, surf the net and drink coffee? You won’t find me there unless there are no other choices. It just isn’t as fun as the local coffee shops.
Service tends to be quick in McDonalds, although this depends on the size of the queue. There tend to be a selection of the more popular burgers at all times, meanifn you should get your food instantly. If you choose a Fillet O’Fish meal, though, be prepared to wait a bit. Some restaurants will offer to bring the food over to you if you have to wait, others ill make you stay at the counter. Drive Thru tends to be quick, and Grill Parking means that those who have to wait for their meal are taken out of the Drive Thru queue, meaning you wn’t be held up. The friendliness of the staff depends largely on the store and the time of day. Late night McDonalds tends to have the best staff, as these are usually students. I won’t forget one night out, when a mate was a bit worse for wear. We went to McDonalds, and I bought my friend a cup of tea. I went the toilet and when I came back, the store was closed. I was told I couldn’t buy another cup of tea as the tills were closed, but they would make us one for free! Great service, but as I said, it depends on the store and the time of day.