Join AJ, Mike, and Chris as they delve into the intriguing relationship between Disney and McDonald's in the 90s.
Early History
The connection between Disney and McDonald's traces back to WW1 in 1918 when Walt Disney and Ray Kroc, both lying about their ages, joined the American Ambulance Corps.
Ray Kroc, later the innovator behind McDonald's franchises, and Walt Disney crossed paths during their training.
First Partnerships
In the late 80s, the first Disney-McDonald's promotion was launched for the 50th anniversary of Snow White.
Subsequent collaborations included Happy Meal toys like The Disney Favorites Activity Books and Cinderella Plush ornaments.
Splash Mountain and Setbacks
A promotional agreement for Splash Mountain soured due to ride delays, leading to a rift between McDonald's and Disney.
The underperformance of Dick Tracy further strained their relationship, with Burger King eventually overtaking McDonald's in Disney promotions.
The 10 Year Deal
McDonald's launched the Disney Video Masterpiece Collection Trivia Challenge in April 1996, initiating a 10-year partnership as the exclusive sponsor for Disney films.
This deal saw tie-ins with movies like 101 Dalmatians, Hercules, Animal Kingdom, and Mulan.
End of the 10 Year Deal
The partnership ended in 2006, with Disney choosing not to renew due to McDonald's negative public image and concerns about associations with obesity.
Disney allowed McDonald's to package toys in Happy Meals again in 2018, marking a renewed partnership.
McDonald's in the Parks
McDonald's had a significant presence in Disney parks, with locations offering themed dining experiences and tie-ins with park attractions.
The Future is Back Proposal
A discovery of original letter correspondence between Disney and McDonald’s led to the revelation of a proposal for a replica McDonald's in Disneyland as part of a "Future is Back" ad campaign.
Share your memories of McDonald's and Disney collaborations!
Get in touch! Send questions and comments to ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠.
Links

Pop Culture Wonders - 1980s Disney McDonald's Toys
Kids Meal Wiki - Mickey’s Birthdayland (McDonald’s, 1989)
Yesterland - McDonald's at Walt Disney World
Mashed - McDonald's at Walt Disney World
Mouse Planet - Disney and McDonald's
The Daily Meal - History Between McDonald's and Disney
Field Museum - Sue the T-Rex
Twitter - Original Letter Correspondence
Smithsonian Mag - When Famous Architects Design McDonald's
Disney Docs - McDonald's Proposal

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