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Who doesn’t have great memories with McDonald’s? Certainly, there is that great food that has become your favorite for growing up loving the McDonald’s happy meals.

Over the years, there have been a lot of changes and improvements that happened. I bet it is even harder to recall all the changes that took place in this fast-food chain because of so many things.

But, one thing is for sure, many people have that wonderful and unforgettable memory from eating at McDonald’s. Their play area and their collectibles are the children of the 90’s favorite, and even the new generation loves them.

Check out these 50 old photos of McDonald’s, which may just send you in a nostalgia spiral.

1. The Bear Necessities.

Many of the happy meal collectibles are still around to buy. This set of bears is on eBay. Who knew that what used to come for free in a box of fries would someday be worth something?

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eBay Source: eBay

2. You were a part of the crew

Whoever painted this mural wisely added some normal human kids in there with the McDonald’s crew. It made you feel like you were welcomed and a part of the gang. I’d be much more inclined to buy a burger from my friends than from complete strangers.

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McDonald's Back In The Day Had More Charm

Bjcistok Source: Bjcistok

3. Food chairs.

Nothing says McDonald’s in the ’90s like sitting on a burger while you knock back some fries. You can see that some chairs are regular and meant for the adults to sit at. This was one of many of McDonald’s ploys to get kids excited about eating here.

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Those Food-Shaped Chairs From The Mcdonalds Kids Playrooms In The Mid 90s

sammyaxelrod Source: sammyaxelrod

4. Super Mario happy meals.

The Mario game even looks pixelated on the cardboard box. This is a great example of how far McDonald’s (and videogames) have come since the ’80s. Nothing like using an old Nintendo controller with greasy fry-fingers.

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Super Mario Bros. 3 McDonald's Happy Meal

CJK610 Source: CJK610

5. Dinosaur hand-puppets.

Remember these? You had to keep going back to try and get all the different types of dinos. But somehow, you always seemed to get the same one as last time.

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McDonald's Dinosaur Hand Puppets

PMMEYOURVAGINAHOLE Source: PMMEYOURVAGINAHOLE

6. Playtime and mealtime.

As a parent, the two most time-consuming tasks are feeding and entertaining your kid. So why not take them to a place that allows you to do both at the same time? Well played, ’80s McDonalds, you got that one right.

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McDonald's Playground

SirCheeseAlot Source: SirCheeseAlot

7. Spooky gift certificates.

I remember getting one of these in my candy bag one year while I was trick-or-treating. I was bummed at first, thinking it was just a piece of paper. But when I opened it up, my smile returned.

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Mcdonalds Gift Certificates. They Were The Golden Tickets Of Trick Or Treating

WorstNameEver242 Source: WorstNameEver242

8. Mickey Mouse cups.

McDonald’s was smart to partner with some of the big-name entertainment companies for kids. If you were a fan of Mickey Mouse and saw that Ronald Mcdonald was too, then you would surely ask mom for a happy meal for dinner.

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Mcdonalds 2000 Glasses

Mercury90210 Source: Mercury90210

9. Ronald at Walmart.

It seems like the guys at McDonald’s tried to put old Ronald anywhere they could back then. It makes sense though. You can’t help but crave a Big Mac when you see that freaky clown.

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Does Anybody Remember When Walmart Had Mcdonald’s And The Ronald Mcdonald Bench?

monster_bear Source: monster_bear

10. McDonald’s play toys.

Once again we see Mickey D’s teaming up with an entertainment juggernaut: Fisher-Price. Kids in the ’80s and ’90s never got those golden arches out of their minds. It was always time for McDonald’s.

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Fisher Price Mcdonald’s Play Toys

Jaimass Source: Jaimass

11. Transformer toys.

It seems like the toys have gotten worse since the ’80s. They really used to put in effort in order to give you something you’d enjoy. I’m not sure what comes in the happy meals today, but I can guarantee they aren’t as cool as these transformers.

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Mcdonald’s Happy-Meal Transformers. When Mcdonald’s Was Considered A Treat. Thanks Mom!

reddit.com Source: reddit.com

12. Birthdays with Ronald.

Nothing says 1989 like a birthday party at McDonald’s. They had the playpen, the ice cream, and even the entertainers. Something tells me a McDonald’s birthday nowadays wouldn’t be quite as fun.

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Birthday Parties At Mcdonald’s

Karakurizer Source: Karakurizer

13. Hercules plates.

Hercules aired in 1997 and McDonald’s was all over it. They jumped on the Disney hype and made collectible plates for you to get at the store. I like the Zeus plate the best.

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90s Mcdonalds Plates

Closetbigfoot Source: Closetbigfoot

14. Mickey D ashtrays.

Remember the good old days when you could eat non-nutritious food and smoke cigarettes at the same time? Things sure have changed since the ’80s. I doubt McDonald’s wants to be known for supporting smoking these days.

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These Old Amber Glass Ashtrays That Everyone Had (Including McDonald's!)

shanster925 Source: shanster925

15. Disney movie characters.

As a kid, I was hooked on Disney movies. So when I found out that they were giving the action figures away in happy meals, I had to get one. McDonald’s sure had their child-marketing on point back then.

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Did Any One Else Collect The “Disney Video Masterpiece” Toys From Mcdonald’s ?

trvl_3r87 Source: trvl_3r87

16. Bugs Bunny racecars.

McDonald’s was good about offering toys with multiple options. That way, you couldn’t just get one happy meal and be satisfied. You had to keep buying meals until you had all the characters.

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Tiny Toons Flip Cars - McDonald's Toys

PotatoQuie Source: PotatoQuie

17. Ronald hand-puppet.

Back in the ’80s and ’90s, there weren’t all of these high-tech toys that kids have now. You used to have to use your imagination a lot more. This hand-puppet was able to provide entertainment for hours on end.

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Ronald Mcdonald Hand Puppet From '76

pokey420 Source: pokey420

18. The big twist cone.

I have to admit, this one was hard to say no to. It was incredibly cheap, very delicious, and always hit the spot. I can remember a few hot days at the drive-thru with my family in the ’90s.

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Mcdonald’s Twist Cones

unknown Source: unknown

19. McSalad shakers.

I believe this was McDonald’s first attempt at putting something healthy on the menu. Unfortunately, when you added up all the calories from the dressing and the toppings, it really wasn’t healthy at all. Good try Ronald.

swiggle1 dot pattern2 The Mcsalad Shaker From Mcdonalds

KookStats Source: KookStats

20. Prison burger.

The irony here is that back then, eating McDonald’s as often as people did was a sort of prison sentence. There wasn’t the same nutritional information available back then as there is now. So we ate the burgers willingly, without realizing the harm that we were causing our bodies.

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Back In The Day McDonald's Playground

demerit5 Source: demerit5

21. Dollar Big Macs.

Something that surprised me the last time I stopped at a Mcdonald’s was how expensive the food is. I remember these prices here. I think now it’s almost $10 for a Big Mac meal.

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McDonald's Drive Thru Menu In The 80s

buoyak Source: buoyak

22. The golden arch water dispenser.

McDonald’s found a way to put their name on the most essential thing that we put into our bodies–water. It seems like back then, you couldn’t go anywhere or eat/drink anything without thinking of or seeing those golden arches somewhere.

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Sometimes You'd Get It At School Events Or Sports Games, Delivered In This Big Yellow Cooler

worthpoint Source: worthpoint

23. Teenie Beanie Babies.

I remember this one hooking my sisters. They collected the regular size Beanie Babies but when they heard that McDonald’s had some tiny ones, they begged our parents for a happy meal. I think my parents still have that little flamingo laying somewhere around their house.

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McDonald's Teenie Beanie Babies

angelsgirl2002 Source: angelsgirl2002

24. Spooky nuggets.

These monster nuggets were iconic back in the ’80s and ’90s around Halloween time. They got us kids ready for our favorite holiday while reminding us where we could get our favorite meal. There was always a hidden agenda with these toys.

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These Mcdonalds Halloween Chicken Nugget Toys

PeaceFrog229 Source: PeaceFrog229

25. Placemat games.

As a parent, getting your kids to sit still when you are out to eat is exhausting. But not with these nifty placemat game cards. When parents needed to get their kids fed but didn’t want to deal with the fussing, they knew where to take them.

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This Mcdonalds Tray Liner From The 1990s

Timzor Source: Timzor

26. Play Tower

I remember spending way too much time on these. It was the perfect way to burn off all the calories a had just eaten. And the perfect way to get me to want to come back.

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Our Mcdonalds Hasn’t Changed Since I Was Little

whistle_tips Source: whistle_tips

27. Batman cups.

One of the biggest movies in the ’90s was Batman. We loved watching as kids and somehow McDonald’s knew that. Once they offered Batman cups, we couldn’t help but ask our parents to take us on a trip to the drive-thru.

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These Batman Forever Cups From Mcdonalds

throwd_away8675309 Source: throwd_away8675309

28. Styrofoam packaging.

You don’t really see styrofoam packaging anymore. Which is a good thing I supposed. We’ve come a long way since the ’80s in terms of recycling and single-use packing, but we still have a long way to go.

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Styrofoam McDonald's Containers

molrobocop Source: molrobocop

29. Garfield cups.

I think this really hits the nostalgia nail on the head for some of you older viewers. I was too young to appreciate Garfield but I bet he was a very important part of many of your Sunday mornings when you were a kid.

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McDonald's Garfield Mugs

NoTalentAssClown34 Source: NoTalentAssClown34

30. Sitting with Ronald.

By building a bench with a lifesize Ronald McDonald statue on it, McDonald’s was able to make you feel like you were a part of the family. You could get yourself a burger and then sit down and enjoy it with the guy who presumably helped make it. This inclusive atmosphere was one of the main factors in Mickey D’s success in the ’90s.

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Ronald Mcdonald Bench That Was Popular Around McDonald's Establishments Until Sometime Around The Early 2000s

endlesswaveofwhat Source: endlesswaveofwhat

31. McDonald’s cookies.

Since the girl scouts were having so much success with their sales, McDonald’s figured that they’d hop on the bandwagon. There’s nothing like finishing up an unhealthy meal with an unhealthy dessert. It really rounds out the entire experience.

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These Cookies From McDonald's!!!

Costner_Facts Source: Costner_Facts

32. Party time!

In the ’80s and ’90s, Mcdonald’s put a lot of effort into being the place to be for kids and their friends. No matter the event whether birthday, last day of school, or just winning your soccer team’s championship game, Mickey D’s always put a smile on kid’s faces.

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McDonald's Birthday Parties... Complete With Ash Trays On The Tables For A Good Smoke After A Happy Meal

MikeTScott Source: MikeTScott

33. Halloween happy meal.

There was nothing better than getting to celebrate Halloween more than once. And when I got my happy meal in one of these spooky containers, it felt like Halloween came early. I even got the save it and use it as a candy basket.

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t4yurie Source: t4yurie

34. Always the same floor.

No matter what city or state you were in, showing up a McDonald’s always felt like home. I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that they built every single one of them the same way, even down to the floor tiles. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re still using this same floor setup today.

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The Floor Of Every 90s McDonald's

moonshoot3r Source: moonshoot3r

35. Coffee spoon anyone?

In the ’80s and ’90s, McDonald’s really didn’t spare any expense. Every single item you used in that store had its logo on it. It’s a good way to get their brand stuck in your head.

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I See Your McDonald's Ashtray And Raise You My McDonald's Coke Spoons, Er, Coffee Stirrers

reddit.com Source: reddit.com

36. Hamburger chairs.

These chairs really take me back. I remember spinning in circles on them while I ate one chicken nugget at a time. This might be one that McDonald’s should bring back.

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McDonald's Burger Seats

Bright_as_yellow Source: Bright_as_yellow

37. Every McDonald’s used to have a play area.

This is something that you don’t see as much anymore. But back in the ’80s and ’90s, it was hard to find a Mickey D’s that didn’t sport a jungle gym play area out front. It’s probably for the best.

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Who Remembers When McDonald's Playland Looked Like This? Memories...

sugarcane Source: sugarcane

38. Apple pie for dessert.

Ok, I’ve got to admit, these things were good. I mean really good. If McDonald’s still had their apple pies on the menu I’d be stopping by much more often.

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Mcdonalds Fried Apple Pies With The Bubbly, Crispy Outside

lady_jane Source: lady_jane

39. More transformers.

Once again, I think that these transformer toys from the ’80s were the coolest toys that ever came in a happy meal. They were something you could take home and play with again and again. And no doubt you wanted to try and get every single one if you could.

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McDonald's Toys From 1987

unknown Source: unknown

40. Baby chairs.

No child was too young for McDonald’s to market to. The sooner they could get you hooked on their food the better. This highchair from the ’90s says it all.

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reddit.com Source: reddit.com

Check Out This Awesome McDonald's High Chair I Got At The Flea Market Today

41. Ron’s gang.

Ronald Mcdonald used to roll with a pretty tight crew. Over the years though, it seems like members of his gang kind of just disappeared. And now, in 2020, I’m pretty sure it’s just lonely old Ronald left.

When Ronald Mcdonald Had His Own “Gang” Of Fast Food Fanatics

42. The classic breakfast.

The one thing that Mickey D’s always got right was their breakfast. Even today, their breakfast meals hold up. It’s not uncommon to catch me at the drive-thru around 10;30 on a Sunday morning.

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