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There’s no denying that the best part of a Happy Meal is the toy. But the cherry on top is when you get Disney McDonald’s toys. The surprise of waiting to see which one you get with your meal makes these small treasures so fun to collect!
In this post, we’re listing every Disney McDonald’s Happy Meal toy since the The Fox and the Hound in 1981 all the way through to today.
And we can’t talk Happy Meal toys without talking collectibility. If you’ve ever wondered what the most popular or most rare Disney McDonald’s toys are, make your guesses now. Let’s see if you were able to come up with the answers at the end of this post!
Looking for more? If you want more photos and details on Disney Happy Meal toys, check out our posts by decade:
- All 1980s Disney McDonald’s toys
- All 1990s Disney McDonald’s Toys
- All 2000s Disney McDonald’s Toys
- All 2010s Disney McDonald’s Toys
- All 2020s Disney McDonald’s Toys
Interested in the latest release? Check out the most recent set of Disney Happy Meal toys for a close-up look at the Disney collectibles available at McDonald’s.
Now, let’s jump into all the fun surrounding Disney McDonald’s Happy Meal toys!
The History of the Happy Meal
Happy Meal toys have had a sizable impact on pop culture and the toy industry, but you might argue its greatest impact has been on our childhoods. But where did this story begin?
In the 1970s, Yolanda Fernández de Cofiño and her husband owned a McDonald’s restaurant in Guatemala. Yolanda noted during her time at McDonald’s franchisee training—at the aptly named Hamburger University—that portion sizes for children were too large.
This led to her creation of what was essentially a kid’s menu that featured smaller portion sizes for smaller appetites. Yolanda called it Menú Ronald.
McDonald’s executives took note of her new idea and she was encouraged to present it at McDonald’s franchisee convention. This menu idea was later given legs when McDonald’s put it in the hands of Bob Bernstein, a marketing and communications expert.
Bob was inspired by the breakfast cereal boxes that his son would read over and over at breakfast. He concluded that kids needed a meal that differentiated their meal from their parents.
One aspect of this was the packaging, which is how the we have the design of the McDonald’s Happy Meal lunchbox.
Another aspect, was the toy.
Including a surprise toy in every neatly packaged box might as well have been giving kids a taste of Christmas or their birthday at an otherwise uneventful meal.
The Happy Meal has been a success since its introduction in 1979 with McDonald’s toys being collected today by the young and young-at-heart.
List of Disney McDonald’s Toys
The first Happy Meals toys were simple items like a McDoodle stencil or a spinning top. In December 1979 came the first promotional toy, promoting the new Star Trek movie. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that Disney McDonald’s toys made their debut.
Let’s take a look at them in order by decade.
1980s Happy Meal Toys
Below is a list of all the Disney McDonald’s Happy Meals toys from 1981-1989.
If you are looking for more information about each set of toys—like featured characters, television commercials, in-store displays, etc—check out our detailed post on Disney McDonald’s toys from the 1980s.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Release Date: July 1987
Disney Favorites Activity Books
Release Date: November 1987
Cinderella Plush Ornaments
Release Date: November 1987
DuckTales
Release Date: February 1988
Bambi
Release Date: July 1988
Oliver & Company
Release Date: December 1988
Oliver & Company Plush Ornaments
Release Date: December 1988
Walt Disney World Mickey’s Birthdayland
Release Date: March 1989
Chip ‘N Dale Rescue Rangers
Release Date: October 1989
The Little Mermaid
Release Date: December 1989
1990s Happy Meal Toys
Below is a list of all the Disney McDonald’s Happy Meals toys from 1990-1999.
If you are looking for more information about each set of toys—like featured characters, television commercials, in-store displays, etc—check out our detailed post on Disney McDonald’s toys from the 1990s.
The Jungle Book
Release Date: July 1990
TaleSpin
Release Date: November 1990
The Rescuers Down Under
Release Date: December 1990
101 Dalmatians
Release Date: July 1991
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Release Date: August 1993
Aladdin
Release Date: 1993
Dinosaurs
Release Date: 1993
Mickey & Friends EPCOT Adventures
Release Date: 1994
Spider-Man
Release Date: May 1995
Disneyland Adventures
Release Date: June 1995
Muppet Treasure Island
Release Date: March 1996
Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection
Release Date: April 1996
Marvel Super Heroes
Release Date: June 1996
Aladdin and the King of Thieves
Release Date: August 1996
101 Dalmatians
Release Date: November 1996
101 Dalmatians Snow Domes
Release Date: November 1996
Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series
Release Date: February 1997
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Release Date: March 1997
Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection
Release Date: May 1997
Hercules
Release Date: June 1997
Walt Disney’s Masterpiece Sleeping Beauty
Release Date: September 1997
Walt Disney’s Masterpiece The Jungle Book
Release Date: October 1997
The Little Mermaid
Release Date: November 1997
101 Dalmatians: The Series
Release Date: December 1997
Hercules
Release Date: January 1998
Hercules Plates
Release Date: January 1998
Walt Disney’s Masterpiece Peter Pan
Release Date: February 1998
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Release Date: April 1998
Mulan
Release Date: June 1998
Disney Video Favorites
Release Date: September 1998
The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride
Release Date: October 1998
A Bug’s Life
Release Date: November 1998
Recess
Release Date: December 1998
Walt Disney’s Masterpiece Mulan
Release Date: January 1999
Winnie the Pooh: Sing a Song with Pooh Bear
Release Date: February 1999
Walt Disney Pictures Presents Tarzan
Release Date: June 1999
Inspector Gadget
Release Date: July 1999
Doug’s 1st Movie
Release Date: September 1999
Toy Story 2
Release Date: November 1999
Toy Story 2 Candy Dispensers
Release Date: November 1999
2000s Happy Meal Toys
Below is a list of all the Disney McDonald’s Happy Meals toys from 2000-2009.
For more information about each set of toys—like featured characters, photos, television commercials, in-store displays, etc—check out our detailed post on Disney McDonald’s toys from the 2000s.
Tarzan
Release Date: January 2000
An Extremely Goofy Movie
Release Date: March 2000
Walt Disney Pictures Presents Dinosaur
Release Date: May 2000
The Tigger Movie
Release Date: August 2000
Disney Video Showcase Collection
Release Date: November 2000
102 Dalmatians
Release Date: November 2000
The Emperor’s New Groove
Release Date: December 2000
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
Release Date: January 2001
House of Mouse
Release Date: February 2001
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Release Date: June 2001
The Book of Pooh
Release Date: July 2001
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Release Date: September 2001
Monsters, Inc.
Release Date: November 2001
Return to Never Land
Release Date: February 2002
100 Years of Magic Walt Disney World
Release Date: March 2022
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Release Date: May 2022
Lilo & Stitch
Release Date: June 2002
The Country Bears
Release Date: July 2002
Beauty and the Beast
Release Date: September 2002
Radio Disney Presents Mighty Music CD
Release Date: September 2002
Treasure Planet
Release Date: November 2002
Walt Disney Pictures Presents The Jungle Book 2
Release Date: February 2003
Inspector Gadget 2
Release Date: March 2003
Finding Nemo
Release Date: May 2003
Kim Possible: A Stitch in Time
Release Date: September 2003
Brother Bear
Release Date: October 2003
The Haunted Mansion
Release Date: November 2003
Disney Princess
Release Date: December 2003
Lilo & Stitch: The Series
Release Date: January 2004
The Lion King 1½
Release Date: February 2004
ESPN 25 Years
Release Date: April 2004
Walt Disney Pictures Presents Aladdin Special Edition
Release Date: October 2004
The Incredibles
Release Date: November 2004
Lizzie McGuire
Release Date: December 2004
Dave the Barbarian
Release Date: December 2004
That’s So Raven
Release Date: February 2005
Disney Presents Pixar Pals
Release Date: March 2005
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Happiest Celebration on Earth
Release Date: September 2005
Chicken Little
Release Date: October 2005
W.I.T.C.H.
Release Date: November 2005
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Release Date: December 2005
The Wild
Release Date: April 2006
Cars
Release Date: June 2006
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Release Date: July 2006
The Little Mermaid
Release Date: September 2006
Walt Disney World Princess
Release Date: March 2008
Pirates of the Caribbean
Release Date: March 2008
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Release Date: August 2008
The Spectacular Spider-Man
Release Date: February 2009
Avatar
Release Date: December 2009
2010s Happy Meal Toys
Below is a list of all the Disney McDonald’s Happy Meals toys from 2010-2019.
For more information about each set of toys—like featured characters, photos, television commercials, in-store displays, etc—check out our detailed post on Disney McDonald’s toys from the 2010s.
Star Wars
Release Date: 2010
Marvel Heroes
Release Date: July 2010
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Release Date: September 2010
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Release Date: July 2011
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
Release Date: February 2012
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Release Date: April 2014
National Geographic Kids Weird But True!
Release Date: April 2018
Incredibles 2
Release Date: June 2018
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Release Date: November 2018
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Release Date: December 2018
Muppet Babies
Release Date: 2018
Avengers: Endgame
Release Date: April 2019
Toy Story 4
Release Date: June 2019
The Lion King
Release Date: July 2019
Frozen II
Release Date: November 2019
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Release Date: December 2019
2020s Happy Meal Toys
Below is a list of all the Disney McDonald’s Happy Meals toys from 2020 to today.
For more information about each set of toys—like featured characters, photos, television commercials, in-store displays, etc—check out our detailed post on Disney McDonald’s toys from the 2020s.
Onward
Release Date: February 2020
Disney / Pixar Celebration
Release Date: July 2020
Marvel Super Heroes
Release Date: October 2020
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Release Date: November 2020
Soul
Release Date: December 2020
Raya and the Last Dragon
Release Date: March 2021
Disney Princess
Release Date: April 2021
Star Wars
Release Date: April 2021
Luca
Release Date: June 2021
Ron’s Gone Wrong
Release Date: August 2021
Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary
Release Date: September 2021
Marvel Studios Eternals
Release Date: October 2021
Encanto
Release Date: November 2021
Stitch
Release Date: February 2022
Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Mickey & Minnie Runaway Railway
Release Date: May 2022
Lightyear
Release Date: June 2022
Thor: Love and Thunder
Release Date: July 2022
Cars on the Road
Release Date: September 2022
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Release Date: December 2022
Walt Disney World Mickey and Friends
Release Date: January 2023
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Release Date: April 2023
For more photos and info on this set, check out the full Happy Meal Guardians of the Galaxy 3 post.
The Little Mermaid (Live Action)
Release Date: May 2023
For more photos and info on this set, check out the full The Little Mermaid Happy Meal toys post.
Elemental
Release Date: June 2023
For more photos and info on this set, check out the full Elemental Happy Meal toys post.
The Marvels
Release Date: July 2023
For more photos and info on this set, check out The Marvels Happy Meal toys post.
Disney100
Release Date: October 2023
For more photos and info on this set, check out the Disney100 Happy Meal toys post.
Most Valuable Disney McDonald’s Toys
McDonald’s Happy Meal toys have been collected and sold at shocking prices. Here are just a few of the Disney toys that are going for a pretty penny:
Currently, there’s a listing on eBay for the complete set of 100 Years of Disney Magic Happy Meal toys from 2002. Asking price? $9999.99! (Hats off to that 99 cents working overtime to keep the price humble.) All toys are sealed and come with acrylic cases, making it a real treat for the serious collector.
A set of101 Dalmatians Happy Meal toys from 1996 sold on eBay for just under $400. The listing included all 101 figurines in their carrying case and a certificate of authenticity. The set even came in the original shipping box from McDonald’s. Definitely a unique find!
A complete set of Toy Story 2 Happy Meal toys sold for over $500 on eBay. Released in 1999, this would have been the first of only two Toy Story Happy Meal sets, the other being Toy Story 4 released in 2019.
Rare Disney McDonald’s Toys
Many of the most rare Disney McDonald’s toys will be the variants of the more widely distributed toys
For example, The Little Mermaid happy meal toys released in 1997 contains eight different toys in the set. However, McDonald’s also produced a smaller number of these toys that were golden colored. Every 1 in 10 toys was a chance at a golden toy, so finding one in your Happy Meal box would’ve been a real treat!
Some of these early Disney McDonald’s toys remains elusive. If you ever spot them, then you’ve uncovered a real piece of Disney history!
Final Thoughts
When it comes to nostalgia, both Disney and Happy Meal toys share that attribute. The collectible nature of the toys make them fun to hang on to, sell, or trade.
We hope this list has brought back fond memories of your childhood or sends you on on the chase to find your next addition to your collection.
