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AIBU?

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Original poster

Happy meal toys..

174 replies

ArrabellaAM · 13/05/2021 16:46

Right.. I know this might be a bit divisive but...

Anyone else think the new cardboard happy meal toys are absolute crap.
Like dont even bother wasting the cardboard cause it probably won't even make its way to the recycling bin level crap.

I know they've always been a bit naff but at least they were played with.

I know they are reducing single use plastics and all the eco friendly rationale.
I also know I'll be sent straight to hell for letting my child ingest a happy meal.

OP posts:
PegPeople · 13/05/2021 19:25

I agree completely that's they should have just left the plastic toys alone.

*it was painful.here children have a treat meal of absolute shite.'

I'm being genuinely serious here but what part of a McDonald's happy meal is absolute shite? You do know the food isn't some genetically modified shit created in a lab right, it's normal food?

listentotherainonthewindowpane · 13/05/2021 19:37

@PegPeople. fast food is processed shit. ..The fact that it's now accepted as "normal " is why we have an obesity and malnutrition crisis.

listentotherainonthewindowpane · 13/05/2021 19:38

Let's entice them in young with the "happy "meal.....its obscene

AntiSocialDistancer · 13/05/2021 19:40

Yanbu, totally.

Have plastic toys and ask if theyd be required. I would even pay 50p for a toy. The kids love them and we have a bunch at grandparents houses etc.

Amandasummers · 13/05/2021 19:40

I miss the proper toys (only the other day I was banging on to him indoors about the Halloween chicken nuggets - remember them? A big plastic chicken nugget dressed as a vampire/witch etc and the transformers McDonald’s food - milkshake that transformed etc)

Miss cereal box gifts too (or tazos or whatever they were called inside packets of crisps??)

Those were the days.

Not seen the new toys but I just feel a bit sad sometimes at how different childhood is!

UthredofBattenberg · 13/05/2021 19:50

I've not been to for ages, but the new cardboard toys sound shite. That said it didnt always sit well with me about all the plastic that would get binned.
Buuuuut we still have some from years ago that are still played with.

And how I wish I still had my little mermaid baths toys, my Olympic chicken nuggets and the transformer food toys. Now they were good!

Beautiful3 · 13/05/2021 19:53

The trumps cards and books were great, but the latest cardboard toys have pushed my daughter to now ask for a medium sized meal without a toy!

hennaoj · 13/05/2021 20:03

My 7 year old (autistic so that may have something to do with it) son loves the cardboard Spongebob toys. I'm having to go to McDonalds twice each week in a vain attempt to collect all of them for him. Also having to mend them several times when they get trod on! If anyone has any they don't want, send them my way. Happy to pay for postage.

Ilovemaisie · 13/05/2021 20:03

listentotherain 3 fish fingers, some carrot sticks and some water is one of the happy meal choices. They could also have a fruit bag as extra (apple and grapes).
Terrible food? Not really.

coodawoodashooda · 13/05/2021 20:06

Yadnbu I'd rather they didn't bother. I agree with the poster that said they should buy 5 minutes peace. The exact opposite happens. I end up with the hassle of making the ruddy things.

hennaoj · 13/05/2021 20:21

Seriously, please don't bin them. I NEED them!

Jellybabiesforbreakfast · 13/05/2021 20:25

Sounds awful Shock.

Seriously, I'm sad at this. My 3yo has only been to McD's twice (service station both ways on 4 hour drive to the seaside last year) and, in both Happy Meals, he received a tiny soft toy dragon. He absolutely adores them! They sit on his bedside table and are kissed goodnight every night. When we lost one recently (Blake), I was on ebay searching for a replacement. Luckily it turned up between the mattress and bed!!!

Can't imagine a heap of cardboard getting all that love...

Jellybabiesforbreakfast · 13/05/2021 20:26

And as a child of the 90s, the toys were so good back then!!!

hennaoj · 13/05/2021 20:27

@Jellybabiesforbreakfast

Sounds awful Shock.

Seriously, I'm sad at this. My 3yo has only been to McD's twice (service station both ways on 4 hour drive to the seaside last year) and, in both Happy Meals, he received a tiny soft toy dragon. He absolutely adores them! They sit on his bedside table and are kissed goodnight every night. When we lost one recently (Blake), I was on ebay searching for a replacement. Luckily it turned up between the mattress and bed!!!

Can't imagine a heap of cardboard getting all that love...

My 7 year old constantly plays with his. He loves them.
FelicityPike · 13/05/2021 20:31

We have one of the cardboard Jurassic dinosaurs pride of place on our sideboard. We had a McDonald’s the night we moved into our new house and my DD sat it there.
Took my mum a month to ask about it.
My DD loved the Top Trumps. I’m not impressed by the cardboard efforts.

Jellybabiesforbreakfast · 13/05/2021 20:33

@hennaoj. I have to say we were seriously impressed! We were expecting some junky toy and got those adorable little cuddlies instead. Worth every penny we paid for the happy meal... they've had so much play time.

Whinge · 13/05/2021 20:33

My 7 year old constantly plays with his. He loves them.

As lovely as this is I think he's probably in the minority, and even those like your son who love them are already finding how easily they break or get damaged. The old plastic toys are amazing, I have a treasure box full of them, used by hundreds of children over the years and they're still going strong.

Pumperthepumper · 13/05/2021 20:37

@Amandasummers

I miss the proper toys (only the other day I was banging on to him indoors about the Halloween chicken nuggets - remember them? A big plastic chicken nugget dressed as a vampire/witch etc and the transformers McDonald’s food - milkshake that transformed etc)

Miss cereal box gifts too (or tazos or whatever they were called inside packets of crisps??)

Those were the days.

Not seen the new toys but I just feel a bit sad sometimes at how different childhood is!

Well, that’s why though - previous generations have had their fun with the plastic, and now the earth is on its knees, those days are gone.

Why do they have to include a toy at all?

cookiecreampie · 13/05/2021 20:42

Yes they're shit and go in the bin, the same as the crappy books that no one reads. It's good when it's a soft toy or a more durable plastic toy like the Minion toys, something they can collect and keep. But I'm glad they have got rid of the flimsy plastic toys as they go in the bin once they're bored of them.

Jellybabiesforbreakfast · 13/05/2021 20:44

Why do they have to include a toy at all?

Because they're Happy Meals Grin. Do fish fingers, apple slices and milk make your child dance around the room with joy?

Pumperthepumper · 13/05/2021 20:47

@Jellybabiesforbreakfast

Why do they have to include a toy at all?

Because they're Happy Meals Grin. Do fish fingers, apple slices and milk make your child dance around the room with joy?

Does crappy landfill fodder make yours dance around the room with joy? And if so, for how long?
Notavegan · 13/05/2021 20:49

I found the plastic toys were really good quality and well played with. But, we have a happy meal infrequently. If it was weekly I guess you would be overrun..

Jellybabiesforbreakfast · 13/05/2021 20:53

Does crappy landfill fodder make yours dance around the room with joy? And if so, for how long?

Yep! In the case of Blake and his little buddy, we're still feeling the dragon joy almost 6 months later.

mogsrus · 13/05/2021 20:57

Wondered when somebody would raise the destroy the world with plastic rubbish bit, & sadly is true atm. I used to work in plastic,it's a horrible product turned out at an incredible speed 24/7 ,we really don't need it now,plenty of alternatives

Pumperthepumper · 13/05/2021 20:57

@Jellybabiesforbreakfast

Does crappy landfill fodder make yours dance around the room with joy? And if so, for how long?

Yep! In the case of Blake and his little buddy, we're still feeling the dragon joy almost 6 months later.

So two toys one kid has enjoyed for six months - even if he has a life of adoring those very particular two toys, is that worth the years and years and years of plastic shit that’s still swilling around earth serving no purpose? Is there nowhere else your son could have found joy?
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