McDonald’s U.S. launch of ‘Stranger Things’ Happy Meal is finally here
McDonald’s Stranger Things Happy Meal is here, but fans in the United States had to wait longer than in several other countries to get it.
While the new Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Happy Meal began launching internationally starting April 28, the promotion did not arrive in the United States until May 5, placing the U.S. in a later rollout wave behind markets including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and parts of Europe and Asia.
U.S. fans had to wait until May 5
The delayed timing likely comes as McDonald’s finishes its current Mario-themed Happy Meal promotion in the United States, while competitor Burger King appears positioned to launch The Mandalorian kids’ meal toys ahead of Netflix’s Upside Down-inspired campaign.
Courtesy of McDonald’s
Initial release timeline:
- April 28: Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Peru, Slovenia
- April 29: Uruguay, Belgium
- April 30: Venezuela, Singapore, Chile, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine
- May 1: Norway, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Taiwan
- May 1 – May 28: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
- May 5: United States, Puerto Rico, Spain, France, Caribbean Islands (Aruba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, St. Maarten, Trinidad, and the Bahamas), Costa Rica
Beyond the Happy Meal toys themselves, the promotion also includes retro 1985-inspired packaging, collectible character cards, and a digital interactive experience accessed by scanning a QR code, allowing fans to continue the “Stranger Things: Tales From ’85” story with themed games and surprises outside the restaurant.
Courtesy of McDonald’s, modified by Dani Meyering for a closer look at the toys.
From left to right, the figures shown appear to be:
- Lucas Sinclair
- Mike Wheeler
- Eleven
- Dustin Henderson
- Max Mayfield
- Will Byers
In the photo below, you can see the Max and Lucas toys side by side.
Courtesy of McDonald’s
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Burger King enters with The Mandalorian toys first
That gap may also have created an opening for competitor Burger King to move first with a The Mandalorian kids meal toy promotion, meaning families could see Disney’s galaxy far, far away hit restaurants before Netflix’s Upside Down arrives at McDonald’s.
Instead of a straightforward toy launch, the May rollout is shaping into a broader spring battle between major entertainment brands—Nintendo, Star Wars, and Stranger Things—all competing for family attention through kids’ meal collectibles.
And let’s not forget about “Toy Story 5” and all the merchandise it has coming out during the same timeframe! But thankfully, that franchise has a younger demographic than these thrilling stories.
Before Eleven reaches Happy Meals in the U.S., Mario and The Mandalorian may get the first bite of the season.
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