- McDonaldland, a mythical land featured in commercials in the 1970s, inspired the new meal.
- The McDonaldland meal features an entree choice, fries and a "surprise flavor" milkshake.
- KFC and Taco Bell have also announced additions to their menus this week.
McDonald’s is leaning into nostalgia with its latest menu addition, the McDonaldland meal which launched on Tuesday.
According to People, McDonaldland is the restaurant chain’s mythical land where characters such as Ronald McDonald, Grimace, Birdie and Hamburglar live. It was introduced in the early 1970s in commercials and now it is returning in the new meal.
The meal includes a choice of classic entrees including Chicken McNuggets or the Quarter Pounder, fries and a blue and pink milkshake in a “surprise flavor,” per Scripps News. The colorful milkshake is themed after the pink clouds and blue lava of the mystical Mt. McDonaldland volcano.
Each McDonaldland meal will also include collectible tins containing stickers and postcards themed after characters like Ronald McDonald and Mayor McCheese, “because no trip is complete without a souvenir,” per a press release.
There are six unique tins that fans can collect.
The chain is also launching collaborations with PacSun and Away, which include clothing and accessories that will feature the characters, according to Scripps News.
These McDonaldland characters have been featured in everything from movies and board games to the playgrounds inside the restaurants.
This isn’t the first time this year the fast food chain has tapped into nostalgia, in July it brought the fan-favorite Snack Wraps back to the menu, per People. The Snack Wraps, available in two flavors: Ranch and Spicy, first hit menus in the U.S. in 2006 and were officially discontinued in 2016.
McDonald’s not the only fast-food chain making menu changes
Taco Bell introduces a new Baja Blast flavor
On Tuesday, Taco Bell announced Baja Midnight, its first expansion to the Mountain Dew Baja Blast line in 20 years with a new permanent flavor, per USA Today.
The new drink was first teased in March at Live Más Live and has been described as an “unexpected purple twist” on the original turquoise tropical lime flavor.
Baja Midnight will launch permanently at Taco Bells nationwide on Aug. 14.
KFC brings back two fan-favorite menu items
Like McDonald’s, KFC is relying on nostalgia and is bringing back two popular menu items. On Monday, the fast-food chain announced the return of its popular Potato Wedges and Hot & Spicy Wings to restaurants nationwide, per ABC News.
KFC’s Potato Wedges were first introduced in the mid-1990s and were a fan favorite until they were controversially discontinued in 2020. Five years later, they are making a comeback.
The Hot & Spicy Wings are returning after being off the menu for nearly two years. Both of the items will be available while supplies last, according to ABC News.