10 Fast Food Toys from the Past That Are Worth a Small Fortune
Some fast-food toys from the past have skyrocketed in value, turning childhood nostalgia into collectibles worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars!
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
What was previously merely a cool little bonus in a Happy Meal or Kids’ Meal has recently evolved into a sneaky gold mine for collectors. Some old fast food toys, such as Pokémon gold cards, Beanie Babies, and McDonald’s Halloween McNuggets, have become hotter commodities, selling for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Whether because they are no longer available, fill an aching void from people’s childhoods, or simply have ultra-cute designs, these little pieces of plastic treasure show that cherishing childhood memories can quite literally pay off!
1. McFurbys (1999, McDonald’s)
Image from Official Furby Wiki - Fandom
No one foresaw that McDonald’s’ deal with Tiger Electronics to put out small versions of the popular toy Furby would turn them into collector’s treasure. Some editions, particularly the international ones, which are only in limited release, can be sold for more than $100 each in their original packaging. An entire collection of 80 from around the world can sell for several thousand dollars!
2. Pokémon 23K Gold-Plated Cards (1999, Burger King)
Image from eBay.ph
Burger King’s Pokémon mania spawned these gold-plated cards in Poké Balls, initially sold with a meal for a few dollars extra. Now, sealed copies of these items, especially the rare Mewtwo or Pikachu ones, can fetch more than $300 per copy. A complete, unopened set has even sold for $1,000+ on online auction sites.
3. Inspector Gadget (1995, McDonald’s)
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This set of toys was special in that every meal included a different part of Inspector Gadget, and you needed to collect all of them to build him. Getting a completely built-up figure today with all the right parts is difficult, and collectors are willing to pay up to $500 for a complete figure. Loose but complete figures still sell for $100-$200.
4. Halloween McNugget Buddies (1980s-1990s, McDonald’s)
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These cute, interchangeable Halloween McNugget characters were a huge success during the late ’80s and early ’90s. A complete sealed set could fetch over $200 to $300, depending on the series and condition. The most difficult-to-find ones, such as the ghost or witch McNugget, could fetch over $50 each.
5. Fraggle Rock Toys (1988, McDonald’s)
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These poseable, colorful toys were released based on Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock, albeit in small numbers. Since they were only available for a short while, a mint-condition full set can command more than $300. Even stand-alone figures such as Gobo or Red can sell for $50-$100 per figure.
6. Beanie Babies (1997, McDonald’s–Teenie Beanies Collection)
Image from eBay
McDonald’s first Teenie Beanies collection hit the market when Beanie Babies were at the height of their popularity. There was such a demand that the stores sold out quickly. Some special variations, such as Peanut the Royal Blue Elephant, may be worth more than $500 if they remain in mint condition. A complete set from early production runs will sell for $1,000+ if in sealed packaging.
7. Disney’s 100 Years of Magic (2002, McDonald’s)
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McDonald’s marked Disney’s 100th anniversary with a huge set of 100 various toys, including characters from classics, such as The Lion King and Aladdin. If you were able to collect and preserve an entire set in mint condition, it might be worth $1,500 or more. Even single rare figures can fetch $50-$100.
8. Star Wars Clone Wars Happy Meal Toys (2008, Burger King)
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This collection of Star Wars action figures was released amidst the frenzy of The Clone Wars animated show. Some of these figures, especially the limited edition ones such as Holographic Yoda, have reached prices of $100+ per figure. A complete sealed set has sold for over $500 on collector forums.
9. LEGO Bionicle Toys (2001, McDonald’s)
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McDonald’s had a short-term partnership with LEGO to produce small Bionicle characters in Happy Meals, and collectors now highly value them. Hard-to-find characters such as Toa Tahu or Toa Kopaka can cost $100 a piece if still in their packaging, and an entire sealed set can cost up to $800 or more.
10. Underwater Monsters (1979, Burger King)
Image from eBay
These creepy, glowing-in-the-dark sea creature figurines were distributed in a small Burger King promotion, so they are extremely desirable among vintage toy collectors. An individual figure in mint condition sells for $100+, and a complete set with original packaging sold for more than $1,000. Because of their limited availability, they are among the most valuable fast-food collectibles of all time.