Happy Meal toys have always been more than mere plastic trinkets tossed into a red cardboard box. They're snapshots of childhood, conversation starters at collector conventions, and sometimes, the reason adults find themselves ordering kids' meals with zero shame. So when McDonald's announced a collaboration with Disney for Disneyland's 70th anniversary, featuring not 10, not 20, but 70 unique collectible toys, the internet collectively lost its mind. And honestly, the hype is completely justified.
Starting December 2, 2025, McDonald's locations across the country began rolling out these miniature Disney icons, each Happy Meal containing two toys wrapped in mystery packaging. That's right—two toys per meal, which means technically you'd need to consume 35 Happy Meals to complete the entire collection if luck is astronomically on your side. The reality, of course, is that most collectors are looking at far more chicken nuggets in their future. Running through January 12, 2026, this limited-time promotion celebrates seven decades of the original Disney theme park with palm-sized recreations of beloved characters spanning the entire Disney universe.
A Collection That Spans Generations Of Magic
The genius of this collection lies in its incredible breadth and thoughtful curation. McDonald's didn't just cherry-pick obvious favorites—though Mickey and Minnie Mouse are included in special 70th anniversary outfits. The lineup reads like a walk through Disneyland itself, featuring everyone from foundational characters like Dumbo and Maleficent to modern favorites like Tiana from the recently opened Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Anxiety from Inside Out 2. Marvel fans can hunt for Iron Man and Mr. Incredible, Star Wars enthusiasts will chase BB-8 and Darth Vader, and Pixar devotees have options from Crush to Lightning McQueen.
But here's where Disney Parks fans get genuinely excited. The collection includes actual theme park icons. There are two unique versions of Sleeping Beauty Castle, including a special golden variant. The Hatbox Ghost from the Haunted Mansion made the cut. These aren't random selections; they're deliberate nods to Disneyland's physical spaces, making them particularly special for anyone who's wandered Main Street USA. Disney bloggers immediately flagged these park-specific toys as the ones likely to vanish fastest.
The Hunt Is Half The Fun
Each toy arrives in a blue box decorated with Disneyland iconography, with all 70 characters pictured on the sides—essentially a built-in checklist for collectors. The special purple Happy Meal box features 70th anniversary designs blending holiday and Disneyland imagery. With prices ranging from $5.49 to $6.79 depending on location, completing this collection could cost at least $192 to $238, assuming impossibly perfect luck.
The McDonald s-Disney partnership has delivered memorable collections before—the Disney 100 celebration in 2023 sent collectors scrambling similarly. But 70 unique toys represent their largest single collaboration to date. Social media exploded with unboxing videos, trading groups materialized overnight, and dedicated fans are mapping which locations stock which characters. Because when childhood nostalgia collides with collectible scarcity, Happy Meal toys get treated with investment-level seriousness.
