McDonald's New Collector's Meal Includes a Seriously Nostalgic Keepsake

It's safe to say that everyone reading this has owned at least one McDonald's collectible in their lifetime. Whether it's a water glass printed with Mayor McCheese or a Moana Happy Meal toy, diners from every era of the fast food chain's history have a trinket or two that connects them to the McDonald's brand. This month, McDonald's is leaning into that forever fandom by releasing the new Collector's Meal, featuring six different collectible cups to "inspire a new generation of fans." 

The promotion, which begins August 13 and runs for a limited time, pairs a series of combo meals with one of the six cups, each featuring imagery of iconic McDonald's collectibles throughout history. Here's what's on them:

• Beanie Babies 
• Barbie & Hot Wheels
• Hello Kitty & Peanuts 
• Shrek, Jurassic Park & Minions
• Coca-Cola Logo
• McDonald's Logo

If it feels a bit meta to feature both Coca-Cola and McDonald's on McDonald's soft drink cups, it actually makes sense when you consider just how strong the brand identities are for each. McDonald's has long maintained a stable of trademarked characters (think Ronald McDonald, Birdie, Grimace, Hamburglar, Mayor McCheese, and Officer Big Mac) who have become famous figures in their own rights. 

As for Coca-Cola, the two companies inked a deal in 1955 and helped each other expand into global brands, enjoying what the New York Times has dubbed a "unique, symbiotic relationship," making it a no-brainer to make them a part of this nostalgic campaign.

The rest of the cups represent the most popular collectibles distributed by McDonald's over the years. Teenie Beanies, first released as a Happy Meal toy in 1997, were in such high demand that customers would form lines out the door to receive them. A few years earlier, the dual releases of original Barbie figurines and Hot Wheels cars were so successful that McDonald's re-released them several times over the next few years. Many of these collectibles now fetch impressive sums on the secondary market. 

The new McDonald's Collector's Meal is unique in that it's available at any time of day — breakfast, too. Depending on when they visit, customers can nab a collectible cup with the purchase of either a combo meal that includes a Sausage Egg McMuffin, Hash Brown, and coffee (breakfast hours) or a combo meal with a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets or Big Mac with fries and a drink. 

As McDonald’s continues to experiment with promotions like celebrity meals, the $5 value meal, and large-format burgers, the Collector’s Meal is another entry point into the American consciousness —one that irresistibly lights up our nostalgia centers and reminds us that this brand has been with us for nearly seven decades. Plus, it allows millennials to regale Gen Z with tales of how wild those Beanie Babies days were.