It might not serve the healthiest food, but McDonald's is a nostalgic favorite for millions of people. There's just something about the combination of comforting, consistent fast food and childhood memories that makes McDonald's resonate in a unique way.
Now, the fast food giant is leaning into that nostalgia with a new lineup of their iconic Happy Meals. The twist? These Happy Meals aren't for kids.
With tens of thousands of locations worldwide, it's safe to say that the golden arches aren't going anywhere. But recent market trends have shown a bit of a slump for McDonald's.
First developed in the mid '70s, Happy Meals provide kid-sized portions of McDonald's meals, along with a toy, in a fun cardboard box. They've always been targeted at kids, which explains why so many people feel so nostalgic when they see those red boxes with the golden arches on top.
For the first time, McDonald's will offer Happy Meals aimed at adults starting on October 3rd. These larger boxes include more food — either a Big Mac or 10 pieces of chicken McNuggets, along with fries, a drink, and a surprise.
They're detailed, but kind of weird, versions of McDonald's mascots Grimace, Hamburglar, and Birdie, along with a new one called Cactus Buddy. All of the toys feature four eyes, making them unique in the world of Happy Meal toys.
What's Cactus Plant Flea Market, you ask? It's a streetwear brand that's grown steadily in popularity ever since Kanye West was photographed wearing one of their skull caps all the way back in 2016.
There doesn't seem to be a natural connection between the brand and McDonald's, other than corporate opportunism.
"We're taking one of the most nostalgic McDonald's experiences and literally repackaging it in a new way that's hyper-relevant for our adult fans," said McDonald's USA Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Tariq Hassan in a release.
"I can't wait to give fans a unique piece of art and culture as we dive headfirst into the dynamic world of Cactus Plant Flea Market together next week," Hassan continued. "With menu favorites like the Big Mac and McNuggets at the center of this collab, this is another way we're reigniting a new generation's love for our food and the brand"
While the prospect of getting a full McDonald's meal in a Happy Meal box is intriguing, millennials on Twitter mostly pointed out that they want to see the old toys, not the new four-eyed ones.
It'll be interesting to see if this initiative catches on or if it flops. Do you think you'll get an adult Happy Meal? Why or why not? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments.
