12 Toys from Fast Food Kids’ Meals You Totally Forgot About
These 12 fast food kids’ meal toys were once everywhere, but now, they’ve almost vanished from memory.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Kids’ meal toys used to be a huge part of the fast food experience. Some were tied to big movie releases, while others became collectibles. These 12 toys were loved, traded, and lost in drawers — until now.
1. McDonald’s Changeables
Judgefloro on Wikimedia Commons
These were robot-style toys shaped like McDonald’s menu items. A burger transformed into a robot, and fries became a space vehicle. They came out in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They were part of McDonald’s take on the Transformers craze.
2. Burger King Poké Balls
Aaron Lai on Wikimedia Commons
Released during the 1999 Pokémon: The First Movie promotion, these plastic Poké Balls came with gold-plated cards. The toys were so popular that people lined up for them. However, the Poké Balls were later recalled due to a safety concern. Still, they’re remembered as one of Burger King’s biggest hits.
3. McDonald’s Fraggle Rock Figures
The Jim Henson Company on Wikimedia Commons
In 1988, McDonald’s released toys based on the Jim Henson show, Fraggle Rock. Each figure came with a little vehicle or base. The toys captured the colorful world of the show. Kids who grew up in the ’80s might still recognize the characters.
4. Taco Bell Godzilla Toys
Дейноніх on Wikimedia Commons
To promote the 1998 Godzilla movie, Taco Bell released a set of toys with pull-back and action features. The lizard-like creatures were everywhere for a while. They were meant to appeal to fans of the film and monster lovers in general. Most of them ended up in toy bins and faded from memory.
5. McDonald’s Hot Wheels and Barbie
Hans Herrington on Wikimedia Commons
These were part of McDonald’s long-running promotion that split toys by gender. Hot Wheels came with simple rolling cars, and Barbie dolls were mini plastic figures. Both brands appeared multiple times over the years. Kids often traded them at school or saved them in boxes.
6. Sonic the Hedgehog Toys from Burger King
Zeromonk on Wikimedia Commons
In the early 2000s, Burger King had a line of Sonic the Hedgehog toys. Each character came with a simple movement or effect. The toys were based on the Sonic X cartoon. They were popular for a short time but faded after the promo ended.
7. McDonald’s Muppet Babies
The Walt Disney Company on Wikimedia Commons
These toys came out in the late ’80s. Each figure featured a baby version of a Muppet character riding a wheeled vehicle. They were bright, colorful, and fit well in small hands. Muppet fans still talk about them with nostalgia.
8. Wendy’s Inspector Gadget Toys
Hullian111 on Wikimedia Commons
Wendy’s released these toys to promote the 1999 film “Inspector Gadget.” Each toy was a part of the full Inspector Gadget figure. Kids had to collect all of them to build the full character. Not everyone managed to find all the pieces.
9. McDonald’s Batman: The Animated Series Toys
PetrohsW on Wikimedia Commons
In the early 1990s, McDonald’s released toys based on Batman: The Animated Series. The toys included figures, vehicles, and gadgets. They were darker in tone compared to other toys at the time. Many fans remember them as one of the coolest fast-food toy sets.
10. Burger King The Simpsons Watches
20th Century Studios on Wikimedia Commons
Burger King offered digital watches featuring characters from The Simpsons. Each one came in a special case and had a themed strap. These were more than just toys — they felt like collectibles. They were especially popular with older kids and adults.
11. McDonald’s 101 Dalmatians Toys
NICI GmbH on Wikimedia Commons
To promote the live-action 101 Dalmatians movie in 1996, McDonald’s released 101 different dog figures. Each one had a unique pose or feature. Collecting all of them was nearly impossible. However, it was one of the most ambitious fast-food promotions ever.
12. Pizza Hut Land Before Time Puppets
Mike Mozart on Wikimedia Commons
These hand puppets were soft rubber toys shaped like characters from The Land Before Time. They came out in the late 1980s. Each puppet featured a main character like Littlefoot or Cera. They were free with kids’ meals and became a big hit at the time.