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The kids of today don’t know how much McDonald’s whimsy they’re missing. A cast of vibrant characters was once inseparable from the golden arches, but even ringleader Ronald McDonald has taken a back seat in recent years.
Until now, that is. For the first time in over 20 years, the McDonald’s gang is appearing in full at a McDonald’s near you.
Ronald himself, Grimace, Hamburglar, Birdie, Mayor McCheese and the Fry Friends will all be featured in the all-new, time-limited McDonaldland Meal from 12 August 2025.
The meal, which comes with your choice of a Quarter Pounder with Cheese or a 10-piece McNuggets box, along with fries and one of six collectible gifts, features a limited edition Mt. McDonaldlake Shake. Yep, it's literally an adult Happy Meal.
Featuring imagery from the 1970 McDonaldland Specification Manual, the Mt McDonaldland Shake is sure to be a trip down memory lane for the countless McDonald’s fans who remember 20th Century visits with their parents.
The shake has bright blue ‘lava’ along with pink clouds and a series of ‘secret flavours’ that are up to you to riddle out.
McDonaldland itself was first introduced to McDonald’s stores in 1971, with the cast of McDonald’s characters bursting onto the scene alongside the fantasy land.
It became a mainstay for McDonald’s stores and marketing for over 20 years, but it and the characters began to fade into the background by the turn of the century. Nowadays, kids could be forgiven for having no idea who Ronald, Grimace or Hamburglar are, especially in this era of swanky, corporate-styled restaurants that McDonald’s franchises have become.
Now they can get the education they’ve been sorely lacking, all through the limited edition McDonaldland Meal.
“Over the past few years we’ve seen how fans flock to our characters, everyone from Grimace to the Hamburglar,” said Jennifer Healan, McDonald’s US VP of Marketing, Brand, Content and Culture. What a mouthful!
“But many, especially the new generation, don’t know that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’s an entire magical world of McDonaldland filled with characters, places and lore.
“And so, for the first time in decades we are taking fans on a trip to McDonaldland with an immersive experience that taps into the past to create the future. It’s a chance for us to give fans a new, modern way to experience this magical world.”
Head down to your local McDonald’s from 12 August to get in on the action.
Featured Image Credit: Pascal Deloche/Getty Images
Rachael Davis