For lots of people, going to McDonald’s isn’t just about the affordable food. It’s also about nostalgia.
If you were a kid during the 1990s and early 2000s, you may have fond memories of collecting keepsakes like Hello Kitty key chains or tiny Shrek toys. Now, McDonald’s wants to lure you back into its restaurants by offering six Collector’s Edition cups designed with images of that iconic merch. The only catch? You need to buy a Collector’s Meal to get one.
For some people, this promotion is serious business. Collectors are already buying and selling McDonald’s vintage posters, key chains, action figures, glasses, trading cards and more on sites like eBay and a Facebook page devoted to McDonald’s merch. With this promotion, the company is producing more limited-edition merchandise.
McDonald’s Collectors Cup Details
“These new collectible cups commemorate some of our most unforgettable designs and global collaborations over the years, allowing longtime fans to relive treasured moments and helping a new generation make their own lasting memories,” Morgan Flatley, the company’s Global Chief Marketing Officer, said in a statement.
Did you notice that part about a “new generation”? McDonald’s is clearly striving to capitalize on the social media frenzy that followed some of its recent stabs at marketing nostalgia. The company claims it was pleasantly shocked a few years ago when it released its Grimace Shake (named for Ronald McDonald’s 1970s-era pal), and Gen Z responded on TikTok with the horror-themed Grimace Shake trend. Not surprisingly, one of the Collector’s Edition cups features Grimace.
What Are the Six Collectible Cups at McDonald’s?
Depending on where you get your cup, it is either made of embossed glass or tritan plastic. The six options feature designs from the following iconic promotions:
McDonald’s Characters
This cup features Grimace prominently, and for good reason. After he became a TikTok sensation in 2023, Grimace’s merch has gone way up in value.
Coca-Cola
McDonald’s and Coke have been teaming up for decades. The most recent collaboration is a commercial that’s a spoof on a heist movie starring the Hamburglar. This cup features Coke’s iconic polar bear.
Hello Kitty and Peanuts
McDonald’s has offered Hello Kitty merch several times in Happy Meals. This cup commemorates Sanrio’s kawaii kitten, from the keychain released in 2000. The cup designs also nod to the Snoopy from McDonald’s 1980s “Camp Snoopy Collection.”
Beanie Babies
McDonald’s offered Teenie Beanies (mini Beanie Babies) in Happy Meals in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Barbie and Hot Wheels
In the early 1990s, McDonald’s Happy Meals came with a mini Barbie or Hot Wheels car.
Shrek, Minions and Jurassic Park
McDonald’s had some wildly popular Happy Meal toys featuring “Shrek Forever After” in 2010 and the “Despicable Me” Minions in 2015. In the 1990s, McDonald’s released six “Jurassic Park” collectible cups, and customers could “Dino-size” their meal.
What McDonald’s Order Comes With a Collectors Cup?
The price of the Collector’s Meal varies by location. You can buy one right now, throughout the day (in the restaurant, at the drive-thru or online), but keep in mind there’s a breakfast version and an afternoon/evening version.
- The breakfast version is a “Sausage McMuffin with Egg sandwich,” hash browns and hot coffee.
- The afternoon/evening version is a choice of a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets combo meal or a Big Mac combo meal.
How Long Are McDonald’s Collectors Cups Available?
Don’t be surprised if you see people waiting in line at your local Mickey D’s to snag these cups. McDonald’s hasn’t disclosed how brief this limited-time promotion will be — just that it won’t last forever. And now that you know how valuable Happy Meal keepsakes can be, you may want to start paying attention to the next one that pops up!
The post Don’t Miss Out on McDonald’s ‘New’ Collectible Cups appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
