• by Teresa Buyikian , August 12, 2024

They were everywhere. As a kid growing up in the 1970/80s, you would be hard-pressed to find any home without some sort of McDonald’s glassware.

Be it the 1981 Great Muppet Caper-themed set, a 1977 Action Series Grimace glass or the 1984 Olympic-themed coffee mugs, collectible cups were a McDonald’s promo mainstay for decades. An eBay search for “McDonald’s Cup” has over 29,000 listings, from the 1950’s through early 2000s when the cups faded from the chain’s marketing menu.

And as they say, what goes around comes around.

This week McDonald’s announced the return of the fan favorite with the new Collector's Meal, which features six collectible cups, “that allow our fans to create new memories inspired by past, iconic collectibles,” per the brand’s release.

Beginning Aug. 13, customers can purchase the meal with one accompanying cup, which is available all day with a choice of a Sausage McMuffin with Egg sandwich, hash brown and hot coffee during breakfast hours, or a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets or a Big Mac sandwich with fries and a soft drink throughout the rest of the day.

The promo designs rely heavily on fans’ love of nostalgia. The limited time six-cup lineup includes a Barbie & Hot Wheels inspired design, an homage to the classic Beanie Babies, a modern Coca-Cola theme, a Hello Kitty and Peanuts collaboration, a Shrek, Jurassic Park and Minions combo and lastly a tribute to classic McDonald’s characters and promotions with Grimace, Boo Buckets and Furry Fry Friends. 

"We're bringing back some of our most-loved keepsakes with a twist, giving fans a memory that they can hold in their hands," said Morgan Flatley, global CMO and head of new business ventures at McDonald's in the announcement. "These new collectible cups commemorate some of our most unforgettable designs and global collaborations over the years."

The classic collectible has been brought into modern times with a printed-on code, which upon scanning takes the customer to McDonald’s augmented reality experience on Snapchat.

The brand is promoting the cups online as well as in real life with two experiential fan events. The first, the Collector’s Club Poolside Paradise at the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles on August 17, will feature a beachside pool party with drinks inspired by the Collector's Meal cups. The cup is valid as the ticket to enter.  Customers can also reserve a spot through Eventbrite.

Also on August 17, New Yorkers can attend an event at Coney Island. The cups unlock a free ride on the Phoenix Roller Coaster, located in Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.

Complete sets of the new 2024 cups are already available on eBay, beginning at $59.99.