McDonald's unveils new adult Happy Meal with McDonaldland twist
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McDonald's is launching the McDonaldland Meal on Aug. 12, which comes with a collectible tin and features a berry-flavored blue shake. Photo: Courtesy of McDonald's
McDonald's is reuniting its McDonaldland gang — including Grimace, Birdie and the Hamburglar — for a new nostalgia-fueled meal.
Why it matters: On the heels of the Snack Wrap's return, the fast-food giant is reviving its golden-era mascots to spark buzz and boost sales.
The big picture: McDonald's special meals in the past, including collaborations with celebrities, have driven sales, created demand and led to nationwide ingredient shortages.
- The first adult Happy Meals, released in October 2022, started selling out immediately, and the meals' Cactus Plant Flea Market toys quickly landed on eBay and online marketplaces.
- Last summer, McDonald's had its Collector Meal, which came with a collectible cup.
McDonald's McDonaldland Meal release date
Zoom in: The new McDonaldland meal launched Tuesday, after being announced last week.
- It includes choice of a Quarter Pounder with Cheese or a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, fries and the new Mt. McDonaldland Shake.
McDonald's adult Happy Meal price
Between the lines: The price for the limited-time meal is determined by each individual restaurant and may vary by location, McDonald's told Axios.
- Axios found a range of prices using the McDonald's mobile app, with the McNuggets meal costing $17.79 in San Diego, $14.39 at an Atlanta location and $13.99 in a Miami restaurant.
Mt. McDonaldland Shake is next Grimace Shake
The intrigue: The Mt. McDonaldland Shake is inspired by a volcano from McDonald's fictional world, the company said.
- The shake includes soft serve and berry flavors, plus has a "vibrant blue color with pink whipped cream."
- It sounds similar to the purple Grimace Shake released in June 2023 as part of the Grimace Birthday Meal.
- The McDonald's app shows the shake is available separately. A medium cost $3.19 in New Orleans, $4.19 in Chicago and $5.35 in San Francisco.
Kelly's taste test: Axios got an early sip of the new milkshake and found the shake tasted like the chain's vanilla variety with a berry flavor. The pink whipped cream tasted like cotton candy; I'd opt to leave it off in the future.
- Less than 2% or less of the syrup in the shake is from blackberry juice concentrate with other juice concentrates and raspberry juice concentrate, according to the nutrition info.
- There are 650 calories in the medium shake, which is the same as the calories in a medium chocolate shake.
McDonaldland collectible tins, limited merch
State of play: Each meal includes one of six collectible tins, each themed to a different character from the McDonaldland gang.
- The tins also are "packed with character-inspired postcards, stickers, and other nostalgic goodies," McDonald's says.
- There is also limited-edition merchandise from a collaboration with Pacsun on Aug. 12, and another with Away starting Aug. 18.
Editor's note: This story was updated with additional information throughout including pricing and a taste test of the new shake.
