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As a kid, trips to McDonald's were seriously magical. After stuffing your face with a gloriously greasy meal of chicken nuggets and fries, you could run off some steam at the awesome PlayPlace—but the best part by far was the souvenirs you got to take home with you. Nestled inside each cheerful red and yellow Happy Meal box was a cool trinket with the power to entertain you for hours on end.
Cheeseburgers and milkshakes came and went, but Happy Meal toys remained, and every kid remembers flipping out about finding a particularly awesome plaything in their box. Kids today get a bit of a raw deal, with items like children's books and VR Happy Goggles replacing the typical figurines, so we're taking a moment to pay homage to the best McDonald's Happy Meal toys of all time.
1. Happy Meal cars
These weren't just any toy cars. Oh no, they were shaped like the beloved menu items or even the restaurant itself, each with golden arches stickers to put on yourself. Sweet!
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2. Inspector Gadget
To put together the wacky Inspector, you had to collect several body parts and gadgets, which were packaged separately. Only then could you use the Arm Squirter, Watch Belt and Siren Hat to battle Dr. Claw.
3. Mini Furbies
If you were somehow unfazed by the creepy, soulless stare of regular-size Furbies, you definitely took these tiny plastic versions with you everywhere. Sure, they weren't fuzzy and didn't talk to you, but their ears, eyes, toes and beaks moved with the push of a button!
4. Tamagotchi keychains
For kids whose parents refused to purchase a legit Tamagotchi (how cruel), this was about as close to owning the real thing as they could get. There was no digital pet to play with, but the plastic egg keychains each had a cute toy or game inside.
5. Changeables
These were basically food-themed Transformers, and they were epic. Your plastic ice cream cone or McNugget box could quickly be reconfigured to reveal a robot, dinosaur or other creature.
6. Sky Dancers
Yeah, no one really watched the animated Sky Dancers series, but these toys were mad cool. The fairy dolls clipped into a base, and when you pulled the string they'd spread their wings and launch, spinning, into the air. Many unassuming siblings got whacked in the face with these.
7. Muppet Treasure Island bath toys
When Muppet Treasure Island was released, with it came a collection of rubber toys that made bathtime way more fun. Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo and Fozzie Bear floated around in the bubbles long after the kids finished their Happy Meal.
8. Disney movie cups
Kids who fancied themselves dedicated Disney fans wanted the merch to prove it, and these collectible plastic cups were key. Why would you want to drink out of a regular cup again when you had some with images from classics like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin on the side?
9. Hello Kitty
The adorable Sanrio character has shown up in Happy Meal boxes several times, with numerous cute outfits and accessories. Some are plush, some are plastic, and a few even have cool functions like a stamp and ink pad to use for projects at home.
10. Pokéballs
Perhaps even more sought after than the collectible cards were these plastic Pokéball keychains, which opened up to reveal a tiny Pokémon figurine inside. You could only hope to get a character as cool as Pikachu, but hey, gotta catch 'em all! Who really knew how to play the card game, anyway?
11. Disney Masterpiece Collection
In this case, the packaging is just as valuable as its contents. Not only did kids freak out about the Disney action figures, featuring characters like Dumbo, Simba and various princesses, but they came inside a VHS case for the movie, too!
12. McNugget Buddies
Playing with McNugget Buddies was the next best thing to inhaling real nugs. They each had cute faces and accessories that could be added or removed like with Mr. Potato Head dolls. The Halloween editions were by far the best—who knew a mummified chicken nugget could be so lovable?
13. Mighty Ducks Pucks
When Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series came out, you could snag colorful hockey pucks with the characters on top in their full on-ice gear. The toys were plastic but sized like real pucks, adding a serious cool factor to pick-up hockey games.
14. Hot Wheels cars
These toy cars and their race tracks were already at the top of every kid's wish list, so getting one for free with lunch was like winning the lottery. The collection included tons of colors, shapes and even utility vehicles like ambulances and police cars, which meant they were definitely on the fast-track to our hearts.
15. Teenie Beanie Babies
Beanie Baby hysteria was in full force in the 90's, and we're convinced that the introduction of miniature versions of the animals must have singlehandedly spiked McDonald's sales. Your Beanie Baby collection practically determined social status, and how cute was it to see the tiny critters next to their full-size counterparts!?
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