McDonald’s is filling its cup with nostalgic this summer.
On Aug. 7, the fast-food chain debuted the Collector’s Meal, which includes six collectible cups based on its long history of cute keepsakes.
The limited-edition meal is available all day and includes one cup and the option of a Sausage McMuffin with Egg sandwich, hash brown and hot coffee during breakfast hours, or the choice of a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets or a Big Mac sandwich with fries and a soft drink for the rest of the day. (Sorry — all-day breakfast has still not returned.)
The cups spotlight classic Happy Meal toys, merch, games and cups that “unlock core memories around some of our favorite McDonald’s moments,” according to a press release, like 1998’s Cowpoke McNugget Buddy, 1993’s McDonald’s Dragster, 2000’s Hello Kitty Crew Keychain and more.
Here’s the full, six-cup lineup:
- Barbie and Hot Wheels
- Beanie Babies
- Coca-Cola
- Hello Kitty and Peanuts
- Shrek, Jurassic Park and Minions
- McDonald’s featuring former characters such as Cowpoke McNugget Buddy from 1988 and McDonald’s Dragster from 1993.
“There’s an undeniable thrill when you snag that one elusive McDonald’s collectible or the final piece to complete your collection,” said Morgan Flatley, global CMO and head of new business ventures at McDonald’s, in the release. “We’re bringing back some of our most-loved keepsakes with a twist, giving fans a memory that they can hold in their hands.”
And on Aug. 17, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. PT, the chain is throwing a pool party: the Collector’s Club Poolside Paradise at Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, California.
There, folks can enjoy limited-edition drinks, a DJ set and more. Admission is free with a Collector’s Meal cup as the ticket to enter, and folks can reserve a poolside cabana through Eventbrite.
Additionally, fans in Coney Island, New York can use their cups to unlock free rides on the Phoenix Roller Coaster on Aug. 17, starting at 12 p.m. ET, while supplies last.
My favorite memory of McDonald’s was walking to my local franchise with my grandma after school, snacking on a shared Filet-O-Fish (my grandma was an Asian immigrant, after all) while sitting in chairs shaped like Grimace and McNugget buddies. This was the ’90s, an era of unabashed PlayPlace use, Beanie Babies obsessions, and kitschy Happy Meal toys. Going to McDonald’s back then and getting a colorful Furbies or Batman cup was the ultimate thrill in my childhood. And it seems McDonald’s is once again trying to tap into this nostalgia by bringing back its beloved collector cups, which were first introduced back in the ’70s.
There are six new cups — made from plastic, not cadmium-tainted glasses — in this forthcoming collection. The designs include odes to Barbie, Hello Kitty, Beanie Babies, the Coca-Cola polar bear, Shrek, and McDonald’s mascots. There are easter eggs and time stamps throughout each cup, referencing vintage Happy Meal toys made in collaboration with these various cartoon entities. To get your hands on a randomly selected collector’s cup, you’ll have to order a collector’s meal, which comes with the option of 10-piece McNuggets or a Big Mac, fries, and a drink.
McDonald’s adult Happy Meals, made in partnership with Cactus Plant Flea Market, were hugely successful last year. And because the brand has seen a downturn in revenue this year, acknowledging the loss of value for consumers, it makes sense that the fast-food chain is doing what we asked almost exactly one year ago, and attempting to win people back by giving them what they really want: a Shrek-themed cup.
Sadly, it’s working on me. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to flounce around on horseback with Barbie, go camping with Hello Kitty, or ride in a Corvette with Bongo, the monkey Beanie Baby from 1995. When these collector meals launch on August 13, you can find me in the drive-thru.
