Before iPads were a thing, kids from the ’90s looked forward to opening fast food meal boxes. These boxes contain toys that defined childhood. From cartoon-themed toys to mini collectible sets, the ‘90s delivered some of the most iconic fast food toys ever. Let’s rewind the clock and revisit 15 of the most legendary fast food toys that totally ruled the decade.
15. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Back when Disney’s Beauty and the Beast was in theatres, Burger King’s Kids Club collaborated with Disney for character figurines. These characters feature Belle, Beast, Chip, and Cogsworth. Each figurine features a movable part like Chip that you can spin around, and Belle with a movable waist and arms so she can dance and pull poses.
14. Scooby-Doo (1996)
Another Burger King Kids Club find is their 1996 Scooby-Doo line. Do you remember what made them cool? They were these interactive figurines that created different scenes from the cartoon itself! You can collect all five figurines of Poseable Scooby-Doo, Racing Coffin, Scared Scooby and Shaggy, Scurrying Scooby-Doo, and The Mystery Machine.
13. McDino Changeables (1991)
McDonald’s took on the popularity of Transformers and transforming toys that were a hit in the ‘80s and early ‘90s. They created the McDino changeables with a model of McDonald’s food that turned into dinosaurs. One toy you might remember from this line is McDonald’s Hotcake Box that transforms into a pterodactyl dinosaur.
12. Happy Birthday Happy Meal (1994)
There was a Happy Meal line in McDonald’s back in 1994 that featured different characters. From this line alone, there are 15 options to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Happy Meal’s introduction. Some characters included are Barbie, Tonka, Hot Wheels, 101 Dalmatians, Peanuts, The Little Mermaid, Tiny Toon Adventures, and Ronald McDonald. What’s cool about them is that they can all be connected together to create a toy train.
11. Disneyland Adventures (1995)
McDonald’s teamed up with Disneyland to create eight cars inspired by the park’s attractions. How cool is that? Each toy has a ViewMaster-esque feature where you can look at an image of a specific ride at Disneyland. Some rides include Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, Splash Mountain, Jungle Cruise, and more!
10. Rugrats (1998)
The list wouldn’t be complete without Nickelodeon’s iconic Rugrats show! In 1998, Rugrats had its movie promotion and Burger King partnered up with them to release Rugrat-themed toys. It features 12 toy figurines of different characters, plus watch options that were sold for $1.99 when you purchase a Kids Club or Value Meal. What’s great about this is that 5 cents from each watch sold will go to the American Red Cross and United Way to aid victims of Hurricane Georges and Mitch.
9. Michael Jordan Fitness Fun (1991)
In 1991, McDonald’s wanted to make fitness a part of every kid’s life, which is why they created the perfect Happy Meal for it. In collaboration with Michael Jordan, the chain created eight different fitness tools that come with a card with Jordan’s perspective on challenges. Some of the tools include a Basketball, a Jump Rope, a Stopwatch, and more.
8. Pokémon (1999)
You can’t spell ‘90s without Pokémon! They were one of the popular shows among kids, so it seems fitting that Burger King collaborates with them to create a line of toys. What’s cool about this line is that they released 59 toys that feature key rings, squirters, launchers, talking plush, and many more inside a pokeball container. Each container also has one of the 151 trading cards included.
7. Teenie Beanie Babies (1997)
Beanie Babies have been a staple in the ’90s, and chances are you might have one as a kid! In 1997, McDonald’s offered these plush animals, renamed as “Teenie Beanie Babies,” included in their Happy Meal packs. To say the least, the Teenie Beanie Babies were well-received, resulting in long drive-thru lines. McDonald’s even implemented rules that only allow one toy per customer.
6. Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection (1996-1998)
From 1996-1998, McDonald’s ran the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection in their Happy Meals. It features a replica of Disney VHS tapes along with a mini doll of characters that go along with it. Through the years, different characters were added, and by 1998, the replica VHS tapes became a stand for the mini dolls.
5. Mini Furbies (1999)
If you’re a ‘90s kid, chances are you know about the mini McFurby plastic toys in your McDonald’s Happy Meal. There are eight series available, with each series containing 10 collectibles. Each contains a different combination of colors with a few strands of hair and really huge eyes that creeped out some of us when we were little.
4. Godzilla (1998)
To promote the 1998 film Godzilla, Taco Bell released Godzilla-themed merchandise to be distributed with their kiddie meal. This ranges from collectible cups with a decoder that can help you win free movie tickets. Of course, there are also toys which are figurines of Baby Godzilla Wobbler, Jet Shooter, Water Tank, and more.
3. 101 Dalmatians (1996)
As part of the promotion for the 1996 film 101 Dalmatians, McDonald’s released 101 different figurines of dalmatians. Their names weren’t identifiable as they’re only known based on what they’re doing or what they are wearing. Some notable toys that you probably had in your toy chest were Mitten in Mouth, In a Teapot, and Wrapped in a Gold Ribbon.
2. Batman Returns (1992)
One of the many iconic Batman Happy Meal toys is the Batman Returns. Why? It has a Batmobile that looks like the real thing! One exciting feature of this toy is the action figure, wherein the front and middle section of the car is detached from the rear fins. With one push of the button, it will replay the scene in the film wherein the Batmobile will lessen its size to push through the alley.
1. Tamagotchi Toyz (1998)
Believe it or not, McDonald’s released a Tamagotchi Happy Meal in 1998 when the Tamagotchi craze was hitting among kids. Yup, Tamagotchi was pretty much the smartphones and iPads of kids back then. In case you don’t know what a Tamagotchi is, it’s like a pet that you need to wake up, feed, clean up, and play with. If you don’t do these things correctly or disappear entirely for a long time, then your Tamagotchi will die temporarily. They came in less-than-fancy packages, but it does the trick!