Fast food toys, the small plastic or soft toys that come with a children’s meal at fast food restaurants, are wildly popular with collectors around the world. It is claimed that they are the most collectible toys in the world. McDonald’s, KFC and other global fast food chains all offer promotional toys. These toys are usually based on characters from films, like those in Batman and Toy Story or cartoon characters, such as Winnie-the-Pooh and Snoopy.
Where did the idea of offering toys with meals come from? Not surprisingly, McDonald’s was the first fast food chain to offer toys. Their Happy Meal, introduced in 1978, was the first fast food promotion aimed at children.