McDonald’s Archivist Details How Collector’s Meal Celebrates Decades of Brands

McDonald's Archivist Details How Collector's Meal Celebrates Decades of Brands

As a child of the ’90s, this nostalgic wave from McDonald’s has me reminiscing about a time when the hunt for Teenie Beanie Babies was as exhilarating as chasing after Michael Jordan’s playoff tickets! I remember the thrill of those late-night runs to McDonald’s with my sister, desperately hoping to add a new plushie to our collection.


McDonald’s has brought back some nostalgia! This week, they introduced the Collector’s Meal, a special offer available for a limited time. It includes the classic McDonald’s Happy Meal along with a collector’s cup designed after iconic memorabilia from times gone by.

In an interview at their New York City branch on 8th Avenue, McDonald’s Corporation archivist Mike Bullington expressed his desire to let fans take a peek into the company’s history by showcasing various brands from different decades – the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s. These fascinating relics, kept in our archives, are what we’ve chosen to exhibit as part of the Collector’s Meal.

McDonald's Archivist Details How Collector's Meal Celebrates Decades of Brands

In these archived items, the Collector’s Meal cups are where they find expression, as Bullington and the McDonald’s team draw inspiration from well-known brands such as Barbie, Hot Wheels, Beanie Babies, Coca-Cola, Hello Kitty, Peanuts, Shrek, Jurassic Park, Minions, and even their own brand.

According to Bullington, more than 53 items and artifacts can be found within the cups. After examining their popularity over an extended duration, both our marketing team and the social media team selected our most sought-after collectibles.

McDonald's Archivist Details How Collector's Meal Celebrates Decades of Brands

In simple terms, Bullington stated that we cater to our audience’s preferences and popular trends, making them crucial components. You can expect to see more of this and other elements in the future. Notice how they have developed over time, and they will keep on developing further.

1. At the pinnacle of the list resides Beanie Babies. This famous plush toy was redesigned into a miniature version called “teenie” and included in McDonald’s Happy Meals back in 1997.

“The demand for Teenie Beanie Babies was so high that McDonald’s even advertised them as being harder to obtain than Chicago Bulls playoff tickets, according to Bullington. He recalled taking his young daughters to restaurants in an attempt to collect these toys, and it was quite a challenge, but he eventually managed to secure a few of them. In that moment, he felt incredibly proud as a father.”

Collecting Beanie Babies is only one out of the six unique sets of toys that consumers might aim to gather, hinting that completing this whole set could prove challenging.

As a dedicated collector with years of experience under my belt, I’ve learned that patience and perseverance often pay off in spades. So, when Bullington announced that there are six unique cups available, hidden within blue plastic bags at McDonald’s, my heart skipped a beat. This is the kind of challenge that I can’t resist!

The Collector’s Meal is available at McDonald’s now.

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2024-08-14 00:11