16 Fast Food Collectibles from the ’90s That Are Gone
This list brings back 16 fast food collectibles from the ’90s that once thrilled kids and collectors but have now disappeared.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Fast food chains in the ’90s went all out when it came to limited-time collectibles, and kids could not wait to get their hands on them. Today, they are rare finds tucked away in boxes or traded among nostalgic collectors online. Here’s a look back at some of the most memorable fast food collectibles that have vanished over the years.
1. Ninja Turtles Pizza Hut Puppets
Viacom International Inc. on Wikimedia Commons
These flexible hand puppets came inside a personal pan pizza box and made Pizza Hut feel like part of the sewer squad. Kids turned their hands into their favorite turtle while eating cheesy slices. They disappeared as quickly as they came, but they still pop up in vintage toy hauls.
2. McDonald’s Changeables
Jonathan McIntosh on Wikimedia Commons
These toys looked like burgers and fries but transformed into little robots, tapping into every kid’s Transformer obsession. They were simple, blocky, and oddly charming. Once Happy Meal staples, they’re now collector’s items for those who love ’90s toy crossovers.
3. McDonald’s Halloween Pails
Farhan Ahmad Tajuddin on Wikimedia Commons
Every October, kids traded paper bags for these hard plastic pumpkin, ghost, or witch buckets. They doubled as trick-or-treat containers and quirky toy storage. Over time, they vanished from seasonal menus, but memories of carrying them door-to-door still stick.
4. Burger King’s Pokémon Gold Cards
Romer Jed Medina from Newark, NJ, United States on Pexels
These shiny, gold-plated Pokémon cards came in plastic Poké Balls and felt like treasure to every ’90s kid. Burger King even included certificates of authenticity. Though they were wildly popular, they also sparked controversy and disappeared shortly after.
5. Ronald McDonald Figurine Sets
Chainwit. on Wikimedia Commons
McDonald and characters like Grimace and Hamburglar were everywhere, especially in these colorful collectible figurine sets. They stood on little bases and had cartoonish charm. Over time, the cast faded from campaigns, and so did the toys.
6. Space Jam Tie-In Toys
Warner Bros. Pictures on Wikimedia Commons
When Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny teamed up, every fast food chain wanted in. McDonald’s launched basketball-themed toys that let kids dunk with Looney Tunes. As Space Jam fever faded, these toys became a fun relic of the crossover craze.
7. Dino Changeables
Cup of Couple on Wikimedia Commons
This McDonald’s spin on the Changeables line featured transforming dinosaurs instead of robots. Kids loved turning fries into triceratops. They disappeared along with the rest of the Changeables but stayed in the minds of those who loved the weird mix.
8. Snoopy World Tour Figures
todd.vision on Wikimedia Commons
Snoopy traveled the globe in this charming McDonald’s series, where each figure wore an outfit from a different country. Kids tried to collect them all to “complete the tour.” They were a hit with Peanuts fans, but few survived beyond the decade.
9. Toy Story Happy Meal Toys
-wuppertaler on Wikimedia Commons
Buzz and Woody made their first Happy Meal appearance in tiny, poseable forms. Released during the original film’s premiere, they were instant collectibles. Now, they’re harder to find than Lotso’s kindness.
10. Sonic the Hedgehog Meal Toys
FreeMediaKid! on Wikimedia Commons
Fast food joined forces with SEGA, offering tiny versions of Sonic and Tails racing on wheels. They zipped across floors just like in the games. While they were fast, their time on menus was short.
11. Mini Furby Toys
Gbarbarov on Wikimedia Commons
Long before TikTok trends, mini Furbies in fast food meals created a weird, chirpy frenzy. They blinked or bobbled, mimicking their big toy versions. These odd collectibles were once must-haves, now they feel more like tiny nightmares.
12. Muppet Babies in Cars
The Walt Disney Company on Wikimedia Commons
These toys featured Kermit, Piggy, and friends in wheeled vehicles that zoomed when pulled back. They were colorful and full of personality. They rolled away quietly as the Muppets faded from fast food promos.
13. Build-A-Gadget Toy Set
aka Tman from Guelph………Ontario, CANADA on Wikimedia Commons
McDonald’s made you work for this one by spreading parts of Inspector Gadget across multiple meals. Only after collecting each piece could you snap him together. It was a toy and a mission, which made it unforgettable.
14. Disney Masterpiece Collection Toys
Disney Enterprises, Inc. on Wikimedia Commons
To promote Disney’s VHS re-releases, McDonald’s launched mini toys for classics like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. They tied into the clamshell boxes everyone had at home. They vanished once DVDs took over.
15. Teenie Beanie Babies
daryl_mitchell from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on Wikimedia Commons
McDonald’s sparked Beanie Baby mania with its pint-sized “Teenie Beanies.” People lined up just for a chance to snag one. The craze was intense, but it cooled off just as quickly as it caught fire.