Computer games in kid's meals

Most kids do like computer games. Both of my neices were very excited
to receive these in their kid's meals and they're 4 and 6. Maybe you
shouldn't rely on the fast food industry to please your kids. If you
need toys to keep them entertainined then here's an idea, take some.
Otherwise, stop at McDonald's and get them one of those shitty toys
that entertain children for all of 2 minutes. I really can't see any
kid's meal toy being a good babysitter like you'd like it to be, or
maybe you'd like Wendy's to include someone to watch your kids for the
rest of the drive with the meal? If you're so unable to keep your kids
entertained the proper way, i.e. playing games, talking, singing, then
don't be so cheep and get a DVD player set of headrests. They're about
$130, it isn't going to break your bank.

Yes, I will admit that asking for 4 free kids meals may have been over
the top but that's exactly what it would have taken to get me to buy
kids meals there again, back then. I am since over it. I still stand
by my letter, however, that if the menu says the kids meal comes with
a toy, it should not be a computer disc. That is not a toy. To those
of you meanies who think I complained about a free toy - guess again.
I can't believe so many out there think anything that is "included" is
ever free. To the Wendy's employee who was all offended; I didn't
complain about the employees. Of course they have no say in this. I
was complaining to corporate; the ones who do made the decision to
replace actual toys with computer games.

I work at a wendys in michigan, the only toys that me have are the
toys the company sends us. it is also not the cashier's responsibility
to entertain your kids on a road trip.

What I would have done in your situation was, if the kids did not want
the toys that came with the Kids Meals, I would ask to exchange the
toy for a small-size Frosty; though I know for a fact that this works
at Chick Fil A (substitute the toy with a small IceDream cup), I am
not sure if this works at Wendys.

I'm sorry you didn't see the computer games on the menu before you
ordered it...

It's a free toy that will fall apart in 24 hours!!!!!!!

Maybe what Wendy's could start handing out is what has always worked
well for my wife and I on long trips - duct tape

OK - before anyone gets upset at my attempted humor - it just a
stretch to underline the ridiculousness of the letter writters request
for Wendy's to take care of their kids on a trip

instead of bribing your children to behave on a trip with a crummy
toy, why not try having them bring a book or a notepad they can draw
in or something CONSTRUCTIVE to do?

The cheap-o "toys" are far from entertaining even when they AREN'T
computer related. (And yes, I agree they are a waste of hard drive
space, but again, THEY'RE FREE WITH THE MEAL!!!)

At least Wendy's is trying to encourage kids to be computer literate
by giving them something to do on their PC's

Wasn't there a letter recently from a lady who ranted at McDonald's
because her grandchildren didn't get the SPECIFIC toys they wanted?

I swear, some people have some very screwed up priorities!

kids meal toys never please anyone. And this IS 2006...i dont think
they'll give you 4 free meals cause you didn't like the toy.. tough
luck.. deal with it

Several people have commented about the toy being free.

It's not.

Wendy's isn't giving away these things at a loss or out of the
goodness of their hearts. You are paying for the toy when you buy the
kids meal.

That said, it's a package deal. If you don't like the toy, don't buy
the meal.

Or, just grit your teeth and realize that, yes, you're paying for a
toy that your kid isn't going to use. Big whoop.

This is akin to the request for waffles at Chili's. When you eat
there, it's a package deal. The deal doesn't include waffles. And
eating at Wendy's last week doesn't include (ah hem) "real toys."

Anyone smell a "Dora" in this one?

In any case... nothing is ever free. In the end, you're paying for
it.

But, just because you're paying for it doesn't mean that you can
demand that "it" be exactly what you and your kids want. It's Mexican
food, not waffles. It's DVD games, not car toys.

I just don't understand this entitlement attitude some americans have.
It's FREE. You cannot complain about something that is FREE.

I understand the disappointment of the computer games as opposed to
"real toys".... kind of like a kid getting ALL clothes and no toys
for Christmas.....

HOWEVER, The computer game, or toy, etc come FREE with the kids meal,
if there was nothing wrong with the meal itself why would you be
entitled to 4 free kids meals????

You want free food because your kids got a free computer game? Yea if
I were Wendy's I'd just laugh at you and send you MORE of those free
computer games. At least you'd be getting something free.

"Because the kid's meal purchase was such a disappointment it would be
awesome to get four free kid's meals, when Wendy's receives some real
toys for them."


ummm..did the kids not like the way the toys tasted?

to offer your kids some kind of distraction. I totally understand
where you are coming from, but you should pack a "diaper bag" of toys
to distract them instead.

These toys are always pot luck but they do usually have signs all over
the place displaying what they are promoting. I don't think it is
Wendy's fault or problem that the toys were not adequate enough for
your children. You cannot rely on a fast food place to supply you
with the latest and the greatest toys without knowing what they have
for the current week.

Am I the only one who doesn't buy their kids the Kid's Meals??

I had the same experience at Wendy's earlier this week! I don't like
the DVD game as a kid's meal "toy" (haha, hey PFB posters, anyone want
to start up the debate about DVD's being classified as "games" or
"toys"? LOL) Yes, I pack things to take with me in the car to amuse
my 3-year-old, but my kids have always loved opening up their kids'
meal to see what kind of toy they get. And yes, they enjoy playing
with the toys then and there after they finish eating, not waiting
until they get home.

However, requesting free meals is over the top - so you got s sucky
toy, as did my daughter when we went there last Tuesday - it happens.
Sometimes my kids hate the "regular" toys fast food places hand out
too. And for the record - Wendy's almost always has boring toys. I
used to work there, even before I had kids, and I thought how pathetic
their kids' meal must seem to people who bought them!

What about the kids who enjoy getting a DVD or computer game? Did you
ever think of that? Not every kid is going to be pleased with every
toy. My two older boys (4 and 8) enjoy getting media games. They don't
always like some of the other cheesy prizes that Wendy's gives out,
but they DO enjoy getting a Kids' Meal as a treat, regardles of what
comes in it. And if they aren't interested in the prize, they usually
give it to a friend or the playroom at the gym. But they eat their
lunch, thank me for taking them to Wendy's, and we get on with our
lives.
I think it would be awesome for you to teach your kids how to be more
greatful. And if you can't, maybe you should ask Wendy's what the
prize is before you buy a Kids' Meal so that they aren't disappointed
and we don't have to read another letter like this one.

How do you know the content of the Goosebumps games? You didn't play
them, did you? Seeing how they're DVD's, you COULD put them in a
computer... but I'd think you'd have discovered that they were DVDs
and not computer games when you tried them.

Or did you not try them, relying on tiny pictures somewhere on what
might be in the game. Taken out of context?

But then again, if I were in your place, I wouldn't have bothered to
PLAY the games that I'd already decided weren't for my kids.

My kiddies survived on PB&J, brought appropriate toys, books, crayons
etc. from home. We played traveling type games, took goofy pictures of
each other with the camera and we TALKED, sang and DID NOT have any
type of DVD player in the car. I took that fun time to tell them about
the places we were passing through, giving them facts etc. 1 in
college and 1 in high school, they still remember Gilroy CA (garlic
cap. of CA) and I see the 1 in college is doing little fun games like
that w/ her friends when they travel. Old fashioned? Yes. Nightmarish?
No. :O)

Next time bring a gameboy, a pack of cards and some books. That is
what we do when we go on long trips. But for those that say that the
discs were free they actually were not free. You only get them if you
order a happy meal, and if you just want the toy seperately you can
get that but at a cost lower than a happy meal. Still though you
should not demand free food because you and your children did not like
the toy, if everyone did that than Wendy's, Mcdonalds, Burger King ect
would be giving away tons of free meals, especially to people like
Tabitha who would take advantage of this just to get a free meal and
say they did not like the toys when they actually did.

Wendy's is not a toy store.

So... let me just try to wrap my head around this one. You got free
toys with your kids' meals. The kids couldn't use/play with them
immediately. So you complain and try to get free food?

There's only one word to describe people like you:

Goobersmoocher.

You're seriously demanding free kids meals because the toy inside your
kids meals was a COMPUTER GAME!? Geez, if nothing else you can use the
discs for drink coasters.

Just be happy your kids had something to eat during the journey. A lot
of people went hungry this Thanksgiving.

What a nice lessone you're teaching your children. If they don't like
something they get for free to complain and ask for more free stuff on
top of it!

BTW..not everyone that is eating at Wendy's is on a road trip. Pack
some toys and games for your kids to occupy their time with.

You had me right up to "gimme free food".
Your letter was great, UNTIL you blew it out of the water with that
free food.

As a parent I understand the concept of buying myself a little piece
and quiet by stopping for dinner at a restaurant with Happy Meals.
Yes, I hope my kids get a toy they can play with and that will keep
them busy for a little bit, but I am always taking the chance that
they won't. Lately, many of the toys have been so cheap and
uninteresting anyway that I sometimes wish they wouldn't give out toys
at all.

One of the most popular items purchased last Christmas season were
personal DVD players for family trips no doubt. Maybe Wendy's thought
that with everyone on trips over Thanksgiving the DVD would appeal to
many of them. I don't see any problem with that. And has been
pointed out, it's free.

You should be embarrassed for using your kids in such a shameful
manner; to get free food. It's your job not a fast food restaurant's
to keep your kids entertained on a trip.

It's as senseless as if I were to go to Wenddy's and demand free food
because they didn't have any cat toys for my cat. And it takes about
as much nerve.

Well your letter was well written except for the last part where you
asked to get four free kids meals when Wendy's recieved some "real"
toys. Wendy's is not always going to have the feature toy that you or
your child like. They don't always cater to the needs of one person.
As a parent you should teach your children to be greatful for that
they have. There are children out there that don't have the
opportunity to go on vacation, or who don't have the opportunity to go
out and get a meal at Wendy's because their parent's cannot afford to
buy from outside. You are fortunate enough to be able to take your
children on vacation and to buy them special treats and you have the
nerve to ask for freebies just because you did not get what you
wanted. Also when traveling it is your job as a parent to bring
things for your children to play with so they don't get bored.

Also

Generally speaking, when travelling with children, the entertainment
of the children is generally up to the adults. Age appropriate items
should be taken along for just that purpose. Coloring Books, Mad Libs,
pocket games etc. And not left to the whim of fast food children's
meals with promotional "value added" items (Not always toys).
Perhaps stop somewhere to stretch your feet, give the kids a dollar or
two each and let them buy toys at the dollar store as a reward for
being good despite a lack of planning on the adult's part.

Anyway, writing a "Gee I'm disappointed....it would be awesome for
four free meals" letter is just setting a bad example, especially at
Thanksgiving. As kids we were taught to say "Thank You" no matter what
we got or if we liked it or not. But I have a feeling the issue isn't
with your kids.

So much for giving thanks.

Generally a free gift is accepted graciously. Getting a free toy that
doesn't meet your standards does not warrant one free meal let alone
four, in my opinion.

And you just happened to miss all the signs and displays advertising
the toy?

Sure.

Ack! I missed the four free meals request.

This is a joke, right?

Next time, bring some toys WITH you.

Give me a break. You're lucky to have gotten anything, for one thing,
and a computer game is not a cheap plastic toy.

What greed. You actually drove back to exchange FREE games?

Unbelievable.

I took a look at Wendy's web site.

It's not a computer game, but a DVD game. It can be played on any DVD
player. No need to waste hard drive space, if you have a DVD player/

You are correct, of course, that unless you have a DVD player in the
car, it can't be played right then-and-then.

What I've found is that the toys in fast food kids meals tend to be
aimed at a specific audience. Many items seem to appeal best to
children age 3-6. Looking at some of the Wendy's games shows this...
Clifford, I-Spy, and Maya&Miguel are all for pre-schoolers to
kingergarten. Goosebumps, yes, the appeal here is for 3rd to 5th
graders. Some parents may find Goosebumps inappropriate for kids of
this age and a good parent would make the right choices about their
kids. However, Goosebumps is popular with kids around 8-10.

Sometimes, my preschooler gets toys that aren't right for him.
Sometimes he scores (especially if it's a matchbox car).

Here's how I deal with it. Your results may vary.

"John, we can stop at Wendy's. But I don't know what the toy is. Are
you going to complain if you don't like the toy?" John replies "No,
Dad."

When we get there, I look at the signs or display to see what the toy
is.

"John, it's a DVD. We don't have a player in the car, so you'll have
to wait until we get home to play it."

When we open the box/bag, "John, it looks like it's about monsters.
You don't like monsters, so we'll put this away until they are less
scary to you."

If John throws a tantrum, we remind him that getting a toy is a a
treat. If he's going to act this way, we just won't get the kids
meals.

Yes, my kid throws tantrums. But, as a parent, it's my job to remind
him that his ability to get a treat like a kids meal toy is linked to
his behavior.

Of course, we go to fast food, maybe, once a month. Usually while on
the road.

By the way, fast food places usually DO have an "under 3 toy." Your
child may not care for that, either, but it may be an option.

But, no, Kim, this is not a "pick whatever toy you want." As long as
there have been these "happy meals," it's always been "you get what we
throw in your bag." Rarely do they give you options of a toy your
particular child might like.

Lastly, you blew what little credibility you had with that last line.
Free kids meals?!? Surely, this letter is a joke. Right? No one
would actually ask for free meals because, gasp, their kid got a DVD?

Kim... just so that you know, Charlotte's Web is their next promotion.
Of course, I'm waiting to see you write a letter to Wendy's saying
that you deserve free meals because your kid is Kosher and doesn't
like toys that look like pigs.