In November 2019, McDonald’s celebrated 40 years of Happy Meals with a limited-edition Surprise Happy Meal, reviving beloved toys from the past four decades. Available for just a few days in over 90 countries, the nostalgic promotion sparked viral excitement as fans of all ages revisited iconic toys like the Cowboy McNugget, Hamburger Changeable, and Tamagotchi.

The program required a rapid redesign of our classic toys to meet modern safety standards—accomplished in half the usual development timeline. Its success underscored the timeless appeal of Happy Meal toys, making the 40th anniversary a standout moment in McDonald’s history by bridging generations through play.