The other day I saw a pair of shoes which strangely enough unlocked a childhood memory of a toy I used to play with when I was younger. I couldn't remember what they were called, but I just remembered them as 'spaghetti girls' or something along those lines, and that they had long spaghetti-like hair, and removable heads and limbs (sounds creepy). I googled it and discovered they were called 'Betty Spaghetty' dolls. I came across a Japanese McDonald's advert from 2003 with Betty Spaghetty Happy Meal toys, and it reminded me of how much I loved going to McDonald's when I was younger and the excitement I would feel when I got a Happy Meal toy. It was genius marketing from McDonald's to be honest.
I thought I'd compile a little list of some Happy Meal toys from the 2000s, some that I remember and some I don't. I was surprised by the amount of YouTube video compilations of McDonald's Happy Meal ads.
NME reported that the BTS Meal in 2021 caused a massive increase in McNugget sales. The daily average increased by 250% in the 4 weeks after the launch
McDonaldisation
The fact that 'McDonaldisation' is an actual academic term (or McWord) is wild, and shows how widespread McDonald's is. The term was coined by George Ritzer in the 1993 book The McDonaldization of Society, and describes a phenomenon where societies start to show characteristics of fast-food restaurants. It's more or less the same in every country, aside from special menu items which are only available in certain parts of the world.
I don't know how popular Happy Meal toys are nowadays, but McDonald's have developed other strategies to drive traffic (literally, drive-thru traffic) to their branches. In 2020 the Travis Scott meal (a medium Sprite, a quarter pounder with bacon and fries with BBQ sauce) had people flocking to McDonald's after a decrease in sales during the pandemic. It also became a meme. To be honest, when it comes to customers like me, McDonald's really don't need to try too hard with their marketing, I will go whenever I get the chance because I can't turn down a Big Mac and fries.
Betty Spaghetty
This is where the trip down memory lane began. No idea if these were available in the UK. The gender norms promoted in this ad are so clear to see, Betty Spaghetty was undoubtedly marketed exclusive to girls and the Transformers toys were marketed to boys, but I like the colours and the general aesthetic of the ad. It's so 2000s in the best way.
Is there a single person on planet earth who actually finds clowns funny? I've always been creeped out by them 🤡
I'm tired of people saying that they're better than McDonald's. You may have never set foot in McDonald's, but you have your own McDonald's. Maybe instead of buying a Big Mac you read Us Weekly. Hey, that's still McDonald's, it's just served a little different. Maybe your McDonald's is telling yourself that a Starbucks Frappuccino is not a milkshake, or maybe you watch Glee. It's all McDonald's. McDonald's of the soul.
- Jim Gaffigan, comedian
Hoobs
I used to watch The Hoobs a lot growing up, I vaguely remember being in London and getting a Happy Meal with one of these Hoobs toys in it.
Bratz
Pretty sure I had one of these. Iconic if you ask me. The bit at the end where Ronald McDonald is wearing Bratz shoes was unexpected, he got the passion 4 fashion memo.
The Dog
I feel like if you grew up in the 2000s you will remember these dog toys with massive disproportionate heads. It's engrained into my memory for some reason.
Writing this has made me very hungry. That's all for today, this probably wasn't the best way to spend half an hour but I love a bit of early noughties nostalgia 😆
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