McDonald’s Toys That Are Worth a Fortune Today
Happy Meal toys were just the best part of lunch for many kids. They were small treasures to be swapped, collected, and promptly forgotten in a toy bin. However, some of those once-free prizes now sell for serious cash. Here are McDonald’s giveaways that have turned into unexpected money-makers!
McDonald’s 110 Film Camera
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Kids thought they’d hit the jackpot when McDonald’s started giving away working cameras in the early ‘90s. It took 110 films and proudly wore the Golden Arches logo. One just brought in $2,225 online, which is a lot of Big Macs for something that once came with fries.
TY Teenie Beanie Babies
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The partnership between Ty Inc. and McDonald’s in 1997 produced miniature versions of the hugely popular Beanie Babies. Demand was so high that some locations struggled to keep them in stock. Certain sets or rare variations can fetch hundreds today, with a complete collection sometimes reaching over $800.
Furby Toy Set
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Nothing says 1999 like a Furby staring into your soul. McDonald’s shrank them into plush keychains, offered in a rainbow of colors. Single ones are only about $10, but sell them in bulk, and the price jumps—one lot of 29 keychains went for $127.50
Dukes Of Hazzard Containers
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A five-piece Dukes of Hazzard Happy Meal container set has sold for $400, not bad for what started as fast-food packaging. Back in the early ’80s, McDonald’s swapped cardboard boxes for plastic cars modeled after the General Lee and county cruisers, turning disposable wrappers into collector’s items.
Halloween Boo Buckets
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The vintage ones sell anywhere from $25 to $125, depending on condition. The McBoo, McPunk’n, and McGoblin pails were both toy and trick-or-treat buckets. They’ve been reissued over the years, but the original three-color sets are the real prize. For many, the value is equal parts collectible and pure Halloween nostalgia.
Snoopy World Tour Set
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In 1998 and 1999, McDonald’s released a globe-trotting Snoopy set with 28 figures, each in a country-themed outfit. The set captured the comic strip dog in international style from Mountie Snoopy to Kimono Snoopy. Complete collections now sell for $100 to $200, especially in unopened bags.
101 Dalmatians Collector’s Box
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When Disney’s 101 Dalmatians hit theaters in 1996, McDonald’s went all in with a set of 101 individual toys. Tracking down every figure was a challenge, which is why complete boxed runs are the ones that draw attention today. Recent sales show full sets going anywhere from $50 to $380, with unopened boxes leading the pack.
McDonald’s Magic Snack Maker
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In the early ’90s, kids could “cook” with McDonald ‘s-branded playsets like the Happy Meal Magic Snack Maker. The kits let children press pretend burgers and fries from plastic molds. Sealed examples are rare and can go for $200 or more. The Snack Maker, in particular, has sold for $270.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
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Packaged sets can sell for up to $120 today, but it all started when McDonald’s jumped on the Power Rangers craze with a set of action figures based on it. Nostalgic fans appreciate the bright costumes and their connection to a huge ’90s franchise.
McDonald’s Changeables
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In the late ’80s and early ’90s, McDonald’s slipped a twist into Happy Meals: burgers, fries, and drinks that folded out into robots and dinosaurs. A full McDino Changeables set can bring close to $100 today, the odd collision of fast food branding and prehistoric creatures still catching collector interest.
Super Mario 2017 Collection
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The Mario toys from McDonald’s 2017 promotion haven’t had long to age, yet sealed sets already resell for about $50. With Mario, Luigi, and Bowser included, the line shows how even recent tie-ins can pick up value once the promotion ends.
The Lion King II Plush Toys
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Disney’s animated blockbusters often came with McDonald’s tie-ins, and The Lion King II was no exception. The plush toys included characters from the sequel, like Simba and Nala. Full sets have sold for more than $100. While the sequel didn’t reach the original’s popularity, the toys found staying power
McDonald’s Transformers Set
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Single pieces aren’t worth much, but good-quality sets can bring $25 to $50. These “Changeables” toys from the late 1980s and early 90s were mini Transformers shaped like McDonald’s menu items. A fries box turned into a robot; an ice cream cone became a mechanical creature.
Despicable Me 3 Minions
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When Despicable Me 3 hit theaters in 2017, McDonald’s rolled out a set of 12 Happy Meal toys featuring figures with unique features, like the Banana Launcher Minion and Grooving Minion. Full sets in original packaging now resell for close to $200. Individual figures, depending on rarity, typically bring in $20 to $50.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Credit: Reddit
McDonald’s joined the Power Rangers fever in the 1990s with themed Happy Meal toys. Action figures based on the show’s colorful heroes remain popular with collectors today. Prices vary depending on condition, but complete sets can reach $120. The crossover between two cultural juggernauts of the decade drives their collectible status.