Happy Meal toys have long been a favorite among collectors, and McDonald’s is leaning into that nostalgia again with a new Collector’s Meal.
Beginning next Wednesday, for a limited time, the Collector’s Meal will come with one of six collectible cups inspired by previously released toys and popular brands. The lineup of cups includes:
- Barbie and Hot Wheels
- Beanie Babies
- Coca-Cola
- Hello Kitty and Peanuts
- "Shrek," "Jurassic Park" and "Minions"
- McDonald’s
"There's an undeniable thrill when you snag that one elusive McDonald's collectible or the final piece to complete your collection. We're bringing back some of our most-loved keepsakes with a twist, giving fans a memory that they can hold in their hands," Morgan Flatley, global chief marketing officer at McDonald's, said in a statement. "These new collectible cups commemorate some of our most unforgettable designs and global collaborations over the years."
The meal will be served all day with a Sausage McMuffin, hash brown and coffee available during breakfast and either a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets or Big Mac sandwich with fries and a soft drink available the rest of the day.
Events in Los Angeles and New York will be held Aug. 17 to promote the new meal with access to limited-edition drinks inspired by the cups.
The new Collector’s Meal continues the chain’s tradition of creating collectibles for both children and adults. While items like the Cowpoke McNugget Buddy from 1988 and the Hello Kitty Crew Keychain from 2000 are inspirations for the new lineup of cups, a number of other collectibles have maintained popularity over the decades.
The chain has collaborated with popular brands such as Beanie Babies, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Pokémon and "Star Wars." Completing full sets of toys from "The Dukes of Hazzard" or "Power Rangers" can cost hundreds.
Though not a collectible in the traditional sense, McDonald’s Monopoly has been one of the chain’s most popular promotions since its debut in 1987, with customers collecting tokens through menu purchases to redeem for cash prizes.
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct.