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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be irritated that McDonald's have brought back plastic toys.

85 replies

IrritatedEarthling · 07/04/2025 15:20

I've looked on their website and they say they mix "fossil fuel materials" with used cooking oil to make durable toys that your kids can pass down to their kids.

This Minecraft toy is identical in style to the toys they used to make and I cannot see us keeping it safe for the day I become a grandmother.

My kids actually requested a book, but that request is universally ignored in all McDonald's. Why?!

In france they give you a beautiful hardback book, really nice quality.

Other moans while I'm here: why do they universally ignore my request for the grilled chicken wrap. The receipt says grilled, the box says grilled. The chicken inside however is fried.

Why do they make the tea ten minutes before the rest of the meal, so that the tea is stewed.

Why Why Why!

OP posts:
Wildywondrous · 07/04/2025 16:35

I'm glad they're back, the books and paper toys go in the bin without being looked at, dd was delighted to have a proper toy again.

Our dog gets the soft toys.

TheJollyMoose · 07/04/2025 16:34

Oh this is fantastic news. Hope the plastic toys are here to stay.

What a load of nonsense that cardboard crap was.

ChopstickNovice · 07/04/2025 16:32

The paper/card ones were awful, bits kept falling off or they were easily crushed. DS plays with McD toys at my parents house that I got as a kid!

Moveoverdarlin · 07/04/2025 16:28

I’m delighted. We went there today and my DD got a proper plastic toy and was elated. My DS has stopped buying Happy Meals as the toys were so rubbish, he saw her toy and wanted one. And wants to revert to happy meals if they are doing proper toys again.

The card board toys go straight in the bin whilst we are in still in McDonald’s neither child is interested in them. 2 hours later my DD is still playing with the plastic Minecraft toy.

GroovyChick87 · 07/04/2025 16:26

The books are crap and end up in the bin. I don't mind the plastic toys as long as it's the plastic that's slightly better quality and therefore less likely to be thrown away. My kids are past getting happy meals now though, it's not enough food for them.

DoubleShotEspresso · 07/04/2025 16:23

I think it’s brilliant-the paper toys were/are totally crap.
At least these have some longevity and entertainment value.
I am no fan of MacDonalds, but cannot get worked up about this.

Bizjustgotreal · 07/04/2025 16:22

Our family has McDonald's toys from the 80's still.

I'm delighted that they are bringing toys back. The paper ones have been dire. I've enjoyed the teddy ones. The books haven't been worth the paper they're printed on.

UndermyShoeJoe · 07/04/2025 15:52

Yes! They live in our camping games box

TheNightingalesStarling · 07/04/2025 15:52

Novel twist on French kids being better... they get a nice book with their Nuggets...

You can just buy the food without the toy if they are that terrible.

ScaryM0nster · 07/04/2025 15:51

The mini dobble packs were great.

UndermyShoeJoe · 07/04/2025 15:50

Oooo and the cola glasses my mum still has some knocking around in the cupboards collecting all the colours.

Hoplolly · 07/04/2025 15:49

The Minecraft toys are great. The paper/cardboard shit and books they produce are absolute crap and have always gone straight in the bin.

I still have some of the Happy Meals toys I got as a kid. People collect them.

HarryVanderspeigle · 07/04/2025 15:49

We also have never had a book when requested, but the kids only started to say that after the toys turned shit. At least a minecraft plastic figure can go on ebay as a collectable. No one wants a poorly put together masked singer plus decoration with leaking stuffing. Not recyclable either.

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 07/04/2025 15:48

IrritatedEarthling · 07/04/2025 15:20

I've looked on their website and they say they mix "fossil fuel materials" with used cooking oil to make durable toys that your kids can pass down to their kids.

This Minecraft toy is identical in style to the toys they used to make and I cannot see us keeping it safe for the day I become a grandmother.

My kids actually requested a book, but that request is universally ignored in all McDonald's. Why?!

In france they give you a beautiful hardback book, really nice quality.

Other moans while I'm here: why do they universally ignore my request for the grilled chicken wrap. The receipt says grilled, the box says grilled. The chicken inside however is fried.

Why do they make the tea ten minutes before the rest of the meal, so that the tea is stewed.

Why Why Why!

Perhaps....avoid McDonalds?

LlynTegid · 07/04/2025 15:48

Please as others have suggested, boycott them.

Snorlaxo · 07/04/2025 15:47

Minecraft is one of those brands that will be well played with or sold online for a good price. If you posted the unwanted toys for free on a local selling site, I bet you’d get lots of offers.

maryberryslayers · 07/04/2025 15:44

I'm delighted! The paper 'toys' are crap and go straight in the bin without being played with most of the time.

I disagree with not being sustainable, I had a basket full of McDonalds toys that were played with for my entire childhood and by numerous cousins after that.

Perhaps kids are asking for McDonalds less since they made the change as the toys are so unappealing, particularly for younger ones that can't read yet.

Motherknowsrest · 07/04/2025 15:41

Actually, I still have a McDonald's toy from the Paralympics and it sits on my desk. It's Mandeville in a racing wheelchair, I'm quite fond of it. It's never been played with though.

Original poster
IrritatedEarthling · 07/04/2025 15:39

They are though. They love a nugget.

OP posts:
ThejoyofNC · 07/04/2025 15:37

I don't think your very sophisticated kids who would much prefer a book over a toy are the target audience for happy meals tbh.

UndermyShoeJoe · 07/04/2025 15:34

Greensaysgo · 07/04/2025 15:32

We still have some McDonald's toys from the early 00s (think Pokemon etc) ... The problem is surely that the majority of toys aren't brands that appeal. Minecraft has been around for 20 years and I can imagine people will collect the toys, just like they did the ty toys, Pokemon etc. Some of the McDonald's toys are absolutely rubbish. They just need decent brand partners to make them genuinely appealing to kids, so they want to hang on to them. A surprise ball with a figurine inside is about £6, but a happy meal with a free one .. brilliant!!!

We are only missing one adult toy 😅

Greensaysgo · 07/04/2025 15:32

We still have some McDonald's toys from the early 00s (think Pokemon etc) ... The problem is surely that the majority of toys aren't brands that appeal. Minecraft has been around for 20 years and I can imagine people will collect the toys, just like they did the ty toys, Pokemon etc. Some of the McDonald's toys are absolutely rubbish. They just need decent brand partners to make them genuinely appealing to kids, so they want to hang on to them. A surprise ball with a figurine inside is about £6, but a happy meal with a free one .. brilliant!!!

UndermyShoeJoe · 07/04/2025 15:31

IrritatedEarthling · 07/04/2025 15:30

They stopped toys in cereal because it promoted unhealthy eating. Supposedly. So how come mcdonalds can still do it?

But yes, I agree with you. Just a bit nonplussed that mcdonalds was touting it's green credentials and now has done a bit of a u turn. Quite a few companies are doing green u turns at the moment.

Edited
Show quote history

I have no idea but I’m also the generation who still haven’t forgiven Jamie Oliver for fucking us over with no more turkey twizzlers at school so I’m not going to be on your side here 😅

I did think they had made some big thing before about never plastic toys again but I must of mis remembered. We always get the bad ones normally. No unhappy meals for young blud, no cookie ones for squid games.

Original poster
IrritatedEarthling · 07/04/2025 15:30

UndermyShoeJoe · 07/04/2025 15:27

I missed the plastic toys, the toys in cereal, pogs in crisps. You know the little joys as a child.

Only thing that made me and my siblings want to bother with breakfast was the race to be the one who one the toy.

Also collecting the wombles and ty babies at mc Donald’s ahh the olden days.

They stopped toys in cereal because it promoted unhealthy eating. Supposedly. So how come mcdonalds can still do it?

But yes, I agree with you. Just a bit nonplussed that mcdonalds was touting it's green credentials and now has done a bit of a u turn. Quite a few companies are doing green u turns at the moment.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 07/04/2025 15:29

I still have the Beanie Babies from the 90s (obviously not plastic).
They are almost a 30 year old bunch now.
Toys are meant to last.