McDonald’s is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Happy Meal with a surprise for its patrons.
Make that a Surprise Happy Meal.
From Nov. 7 through Nov. 11, the restaurant chain will be offering the Surprise Happy Meal (while supplies last) — each featuring one of its most popular toys from among the four decades since the first meal-with-toy was launched back. That first meal was introduced as the “Circus Wagon Happy Meal” in June 1979.
The throwback lineup boasts 17 toys (plus two additional toys exclusively available in the U.S. only):
- Cowboy McNugget (McDonald’s): 1988
- Fireman McNugget (McDonald’s): 1988
- Mail Carrier McNugget (McDonald’s): 1988
- Hamburger Changeable (McDonald’s): 1989
- Grimace (McDonald’s): 1990
- Dino Happy Meal Box Changeable (McDonald’s): 1991
- McDonald’s Hot Wheels Thunderbird (Mattel): 1993
- Hamburglar (McDonald’s): 1995
- Power Rangers (Hasbro): 1995
- Space Jam Bugs Bunny (Warner Brothers): 1996
- Patti the Platypus (Ty Beanie Baby): 1997
- 101 Dalmatians – U.S. Exclusive (Disney): 1997
- Tamagotchi (Bandai): 1998
- My Little Pony (Hasbro): 1998
- Furby (Hasbro): 1999
- Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey – U.S. Exclusive (Disney): 2002
- Hello Kitty (Sanrio): 2013
The earliest versions of the Happy Meal boasted a decorative box and toys such as a spinning top and “McDonaldland” character erasers, the Chicago-based McDonald’s said via statement Thursday.
