I saw Star Trek: The Motion Picture in the theater on Christmas Eve in 1979. I was a huge Star Trek fan and begged to go to McDonald's for the tie-in Happy Meal. Unfortunately, my Mom ignored my pleas and I never did get to experience the joy of that Enterprise-adorned Happy Meal. I'm sure I could find the toys on eBay but it wouldn't be the same as getting them back in 1979.
Born in 1968, I missed the entire Happy Meal experience. My early 1970’s McDonalds memories revolved around the original characters (Officer Big Mac, Mayor McCheese, the Hamburgler, etc.) that looked like characters from HR Puff N Stuff, and the running count of exactly how many billion burgers had been served.
I am a kid of the 70s and 80s for sure, so I remember the best of both worlds. I miss Mayor McCheese and the rest. That count was so silly, lol. Thank you for writing.
I was a huuuuuge Muppet Babies fan and was beside myself when the toys came out! I remember calling different locations to see which ones they had. My poor father had to visit a few restaurants to find all of them, but our quest was a success! I played with them for a long time.
I think the 1986 Stompers were my personal faves. They were so cool. Great designs. The plastic UFOs were also really cool. Loved the muppet ones also.
2:55 Fun fact #1: Those are Diener’s “Space _Creatures”_ eraser figures, which are different than their “Space _Raiders”_ line, though i think both series (and others) were licensed to McD. Fun fact #2: While the “Space Raiders” _were_ fairly generic aliens & spaceships, the “Space Creatures” figures aren’t _exactly_ generic, as each one is based (either closely or loosely) on an existing alien creature from a ’50s/’60s sci-fi movie or TV show 👽
I had one of the original space erasers, yes from McDonalds. I tried to see which classics they were modeled after...I can see some of them in there. Thank you
My favorite were the plastic, train-shaped containers (similar to the Dukes of Hazzard ones). I still miss those cookies, vanilla with a trace of lemon, never found anything even close. 😋
Didn't know about the trains. Some of these seem very obscure. My first Mcrobo figure came in a dark blue spaceship with a clear plastic dome container rather than the standard Happy meal box.
Victor, Early GenX'er here ('65), so the Happy Meal eluded me, given my age. I was more enthralled by the Krofft-inspired McDonaldland experience. I think I detect that music in your video's background. And yes, I miss Colorforms, too. Thanks for this fun episode. Enjoyed it. Will stay tuned for your next offering. Best regards, Paul
True the Gen Xperience does run the gambit of those born in our "window," so this one might be for the later ones. I myself born right in the middle. Hopefully you did enjoy something about the show as I will often go between early and late. I did love my colorforms, too. Thank you for watching, I do appreciate it
I miss those cookies. I have this specific memory of eating my cookies while playing with a yellow Tonka front-loader toy I'd gotten. Occasionally I'll find that same toy at a yard sale and I'll immediately remember the cookies. 😅
There was a restaurant not far from my house called Burger Chef that had kid's meals, my dad said they had them long before McDonald's Happy Meals, that came in cardboard trays with themes on them and the lid had the games and other activities. Sometimes the lid would be punch out collectible cards like baseball cards but one summer they had Star Wars! Burger Chef closed down in the late 70's and a McDonald's opened across the street. The last Happy Meal I got came in plastic flying saucers, there were 4 different ones in 4 colors. I was 12 going on 13 ('84) and the burgers started tasting like sh!t and that is the last time I ate at McDonald's except for the occasional order of fries with a sweet tea.
Burger Chef was the first to have kids meals, mcDonalds wanted to do it too...but just were very cautious...and weren't sold on it. They pulled the trigger in 79, and the rest was history. I'm in the McD camp...I love their burgers
Some countries have playmobil toys for happy meals currently. I still take my daughter for happy meals even though the burgers taste different, but I think nuggets are better. Toys aren't great nowadays. My daughter took a happy meal tonka bulldozer toy that I had from the early 90s that look better than most toy vehicles at stores nowadays. I think my first happy meal toy was either Oliver and company or Bambi. I had changeables and nugget buddies.
❤ I remembered collecting that Star Trek Neil we bought it right after when we saw the movie the movie wasn't that good but the toys were pretty cool that's awesome to include Animaniacs Rescue Rangers Spider-Man Batman and many more to come I still display them
McDonald's is responsible for the degradation of its brand In the UK some McDonald's are no go area's. Very unpleasant and they don't feel very safe. When I was a kid. They had playgrounds and having your birthday there was really enjoyable. The thing is, going to McDonald's was an infrequent treat. I loved those cookies too. So they don't exist anymore. Rather sad lol Great video as always 👍👍
I had the wrist wallet! How did I get to be so old? And my kids had Power Rangers from the first theatrical movie. Those were some awesome toys that required regular visits to collect. But we managed to get them all.
Although McDonalds was a treat, and we never got all of them... except when it was the drinking glasses promotion... we did make multiple visits. The years roll by. Never forget.
There were some wonderful originals, absolutely. Getting those could be a nice surprise that you could add to your toy collection at home somehow. Thanks for the watch and comment.
Interesting video. I would have thought Happy Meal were older. I never had a Happy Meal though, surprising McDonald's didn;t have a great penetration where I lived. There was one within a 20 minute radius, but at least four Burger Kings within that same radius, and probably 2 within five minutes .So Burger King was the fast food hamburger of choice. So ot was New York Yankee baseball cards, Star Wars drinking glasses and trading cards for me.
That is interesting that they didn't pack there stores in there. Perhaps BK already cornered your market. They did have some memorable toy/prizes when we were kids, but we would almost never go to BK. Yeah, they only began in 1979...it is surprising.
I liked McDs back then just like most kids. Yes, I still eat there occasionally. Is it as good as then? No. It's as close to that time as I'll ever get though.
@@GENXPERIENCE Absolutely! They made the food "healthier" by getting rid of beef tallow. Well who goes to eat fast food thinking it is "health food"? Nobody, that's who! So bring BACK the beef tallow and get all the real flavor back with it! Then, it would be just like the good days!
I saw Star Trek: The Motion Picture in the theater on Christmas Eve in 1979. I was a huge Star Trek fan and begged to go to McDonald's for the tie-in Happy Meal. Unfortunately, my Mom ignored my pleas and I never did get to experience the joy of that Enterprise-adorned Happy Meal. I'm sure I could find the toys on eBay but it wouldn't be the same as getting them back in 1979.
She never got you one. Ugh..how unfair
Born in 1968, I missed the entire Happy Meal experience. My early 1970’s McDonalds memories revolved around the original characters (Officer Big Mac, Mayor McCheese, the Hamburgler, etc.) that looked like characters from HR Puff N Stuff, and the running count of exactly how many billion burgers had been served.
I am a kid of the 70s and 80s for sure, so I remember the best of both worlds. I miss Mayor McCheese and the rest. That count was so silly, lol. Thank you for writing.
Strong finish with the Sad Ronald clip! 😆
Ha...I hoped people would like that
I was a huuuuuge Muppet Babies fan and was beside myself when the toys came out! I remember calling different locations to see which ones they had. My poor father had to visit a few restaurants to find all of them, but our quest was a success! I played with them for a long time.
You were a fan. I appreciate your dedication to the Collect them All concept. I thoroughly enjoyed muppet babies, too
Including actual Playmobil toys is really cool. It’s always cool when they had the chance to include the actual product and not a gimmick version
Good way to put it. It was true, and that was a big deal
Wow do I miss the good old days of Happy Meals in the early 80's, those were a very rare treat
They were a rare and exciting surprise. Such fun.
I think the 1986 Stompers were my personal faves. They were so cool. Great designs. The plastic UFOs were also really cool. Loved the muppet ones also.
There were definately some other random ones that were damn cool. Hard to pick, but had lots, lol. Thank you for watching.
2:55 Fun fact #1: Those are Diener’s “Space _Creatures”_ eraser figures, which are different than their “Space _Raiders”_ line, though i think both series (and others) were licensed to McD.
Fun fact #2: While the “Space Raiders” _were_ fairly generic aliens & spaceships, the “Space Creatures” figures aren’t _exactly_ generic, as each one is based (either closely or loosely) on an existing alien creature from a ’50s/’60s sci-fi movie or TV show 👽
I had one of the original space erasers, yes from McDonalds. I tried to see which classics they were modeled after...I can see some of them in there. Thank you
@@GENXPERIENCE The Neato Coolville blog did an article on them years ago that detailed what each one was based on, worth checking out sometime. 😉
I tought I recongised the Ymir and one of the Saucer men!
@@godofzombi Yup, they were one of my first “If you know, you know” experiences as a kid 😄
Great as always !! I was a Filet O Fish kid personally even when Happy Meals were new and a big deal.
Ahhhh, the tartar on filet o fish. Thanks for watching, and I remember graduating to big Mac, lol
Love their sweet iced tea ❤
#DisneyDiva ❤
Another person said that about their tea. It must be true
I still have a Star Trek happy meal box. The ring that came with it is long gone though, but I can get one off of eBay.
Now thst is very cool. Way to go preserving history
Oh snap! Thanks for the shout out!!! Let’s have this McBattle soon!
McBattle, lol. Yeah, hope you didn't mind.
My favorite were the plastic, train-shaped containers (similar to the Dukes of Hazzard ones). I still miss those cookies, vanilla with a trace of lemon, never found anything even close. 😋
No, nothing like those cookies. I'd have to look up those trains
Didn't know about the trains. Some of these seem very obscure. My first Mcrobo figure came in a dark blue spaceship with a clear plastic dome container rather than the standard Happy meal box.
🎶Old McDonald had a farm🎶 🎶E-I-E-I-Oh🎶
I was not so much of a Happy Meal for fan but I did like trying to collect the Star Trek and Star Wars Burger King glasses.
Victor,
Early GenX'er here ('65), so the Happy Meal eluded me, given my age. I was more enthralled by the Krofft-inspired McDonaldland experience. I think I detect that music in your video's background.
And yes, I miss Colorforms, too.
Thanks for this fun episode. Enjoyed it. Will stay tuned for your next offering.
Best regards,
Paul
True the Gen Xperience does run the gambit of those born in our "window," so this one might be for the later ones. I myself born right in the middle. Hopefully you did enjoy something about the show as I will often go between early and late. I did love my colorforms, too. Thank you for watching, I do appreciate it
I miss those cookies. I have this specific memory of eating my cookies while playing with a yellow Tonka front-loader toy I'd gotten. Occasionally I'll find that same toy at a yard sale and I'll immediately remember the cookies. 😅
Okay, you win most nostalgic comment. Love your story and memory. Thanks for sharing
Those Snow White toys were coinciding with the release of the movie for the first time ever on VHS.
I know, and I loved those, the witch gimmick was COOL.
There was a restaurant not far from my house called Burger Chef that had kid's meals, my dad said they had them long before McDonald's Happy Meals, that came in cardboard trays with themes on them and the lid had the games and other activities. Sometimes the lid would be punch out collectible cards like baseball cards but one summer they had Star Wars! Burger Chef closed down in the late 70's and a McDonald's opened across the street. The last Happy Meal I got came in plastic flying saucers, there were 4 different ones in 4 colors. I was 12 going on 13 ('84) and the burgers started tasting like sh!t and that is the last time I ate at McDonald's except for the occasional order of fries with a sweet tea.
Burger Chef was the first to have kids meals, mcDonalds wanted to do it too...but just were very cautious...and weren't sold on it. They pulled the trigger in 79, and the rest was history. I'm in the McD camp...I love their burgers
Yes we did very scary I miss and love the 1980s always and bunches no matter what
I remember the Dukes of Hazard Happy Meals and I grew up in Georgia.
You were one of the lucky ones. Didn't get those in WA state
The last time I went several times to Mcdonalds to get the new Happy meal toy was when they had that YU-GI-OH/Hello Kitty colab a few months ago.
At least you still go. I can't remember the last time I would go for the toy...but that was something I certainly did in the 90s and 2000s.
Love their food transformers now that was kool..
No doubt. Creative!
I remember that!
Some countries have playmobil toys for happy meals currently.
I still take my daughter for happy meals even though the burgers taste different, but I think nuggets are better. Toys aren't great nowadays.
My daughter took a happy meal tonka bulldozer toy that I had from the early 90s that look better than most toy vehicles at stores nowadays.
I think my first happy meal toy was either Oliver and company or Bambi.
I had changeables and nugget buddies.
Thank you for sharing. I love the bulldozer stories. You're right, the toys are stupid now
I remember the cookies and the posters
Those cookies were great
❤ I remembered collecting that Star Trek Neil we bought it right after when we saw the movie the movie wasn't that good but the toys were pretty cool that's awesome to include Animaniacs Rescue Rangers Spider-Man Batman and many more to come I still display them
Great memory to share, thank you. Yes, there would be so many many great ones to come in the late 8ps and 90s that are loved
McDonald's is responsible for the degradation of its brand In the UK some McDonald's are no go area's. Very unpleasant and they don't feel very safe. When I was a kid. They had playgrounds and having your birthday there was really enjoyable. The thing is, going to McDonald's was an infrequent treat. I loved those cookies too. So they don't exist anymore. Rather sad lol Great video as always 👍👍
I'm in the UK now, and a couple look stunning. It is sad they aren't a joyous visit like we used to know. A treat
@@GENXPERIENCETried out the Supermac’s there?
I had the wrist wallet! How did I get to be so old? And my kids had Power Rangers from the first theatrical movie. Those were some awesome toys that required regular visits to collect. But we managed to get them all.
Although McDonalds was a treat, and we never got all of them... except when it was the drinking glasses promotion... we did make multiple visits. The years roll by. Never forget.
Great stuff!
Glad you think so!
N they did have the best toys.
You know there was some good ones
they will start giving out glass monkeys
You won GIJOE debate….i would 100% win the McDonald’s toy wars! Bring it on!
Okay, okay, probably true
Your thumbnail had me at Nugget Mcbuddies
I knew throwing him would catch your attention
I preferred the Burger Chef fun meals, especially the Star wars meals.
Being that they came out first, I get it. They just didn't have the staying power
I have some sweet 3D printed McDonald’s buckets. And the neon vinyl sacs were sooooo gooood! Get out of here haha
I always liked the Mcdonaland character toys or original stuff like the Mcrobos better then the tie-ins.
There were some wonderful originals, absolutely. Getting those could be a nice surprise that you could add to your toy collection at home somehow. Thanks for the watch and comment.
Interesting video. I would have thought Happy Meal were older. I never had a Happy Meal though, surprising McDonald's didn;t have a great penetration where I lived. There was one within a 20 minute radius, but at least four Burger Kings within that same radius, and probably 2 within five minutes .So Burger King was the fast food hamburger of choice. So ot was New York Yankee baseball cards, Star Wars drinking glasses and trading cards for me.
That is interesting that they didn't pack there stores in there. Perhaps BK already cornered your market. They did have some memorable toy/prizes when we were kids, but we would almost never go to BK. Yeah, they only began in 1979...it is surprising.
I liked McDs back then just like most kids. Yes, I still eat there occasionally. Is it as good as then? No. It's as close to that time as I'll ever get though.
It still reminds me of good times...but nothing like it was
@@GENXPERIENCE Absolutely! They made the food "healthier" by getting rid of beef tallow. Well who goes to eat fast food thinking it is "health food"? Nobody, that's who! So bring BACK the beef tallow and get all the real flavor back with it! Then, it would be just like the good days!
Sorry it sent it four times my cell phone is crazy
I have this friend who is really bad influence and made me buy the whole lot of the McRobots at a convention where I definitely overpaid
You know I couldn't stop thinking about that while doing that part, lol. Legendary
But fan of fast food only certain things. 😮
Yes we did very scary I miss and love the 1980s always and bunches no matter what
I have some sweet 3D printed McDonald’s buckets. And the neon vinyl sacs were sooooo gooood! Get out of here haha
Lol...damn cute sacks, lol!
Yes we did very scary I miss and love the 1980s always and bunches no matter what
Yes we did very scary I miss and love the 1980s always and bunches no matter what
Yes we did very scary I miss and love the 1980s always and bunches no matter what
Thank you for watching, commenting, and YES, the 80s. Rule