As kids, nothing could turn a frown upside down quite like a Happy Meal from McDonald’s. Now adults can experience that same joy again with the McDonald’s Happy Meal for adults.
One McDonald’s customer, a TikToker named Madz (@lifeby.madz), sent TikTok into a frenzy when she shared what the limited-edition Happy Meal looked like. The now-deleted video garnered over 3.5 million views.
What is the McDonald’s adult Happy Meal?
McDonald’s partnered with the clothing brand, Cactus Plant Flea Market, to bring customers the limited edition Cactus Plant Flea Market Box. The Cactus Plant Flea Market Box 10-piece Chicken McNuggets Meal contains a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, drink, and fries. The Cactus Plant Flea Market Box Big Mac Combo Meal comes with a Big Mac, drink, and fries. Each option comes with a Cactus Plant Flea Market toy that has distorted faces. Some of these toys have since ended up on eBay for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The meal has been dubbed “the adult happy meal,” possibly because of a tweet from McDonald’s before they announced the menu item. On Sept. 23, McDonald’s tweeted, “Remember u are never too old for a happy meal.”
McDonald’s provided more details on the launch in a press release.
“Everyone remembers their first Happy Meal® as a kid… and the can’t-sit-still feeling as you dug in to see what was inside,” the statement read. That little red box could turn a regular Tuesday into the best. day. ever. And now, we’re reimagining that experience in a whole new way – this time, for adults.
Introducing: the Cactus Plant Flea Market Box, a first-of-its-kind collaboration made exclusively for McDonald’s fans by one of the most important brands in culture. It all starts with the box, which has been totally redesigned in Cactus Plant Flea Market’s signature style alongside McD’s iconic Golden Arches. The box will be available in-restaurant, in the drive-thru, by delivery, or on the McDonald’s App starting Oct. 3, while supplies last.”
How much does the McDonald’s adult Happy Meal cost?
The average cost of the Happy Meal for adults is between $9 and $13, according to All Recipes. The exact number depends on the state. In New York, for example, it cost $12.89 in 2022, which is $2.60 more than the large Big Mac meal. CNBC wrote that the cardboard box and toy increased the price.
Reaction to the McDonald’s adult Happy Meal
Madz says she was able to enjoy the new Happy Meal before it was officially released.
“Comes out 10/3 but the employees gave it to us early bc we asked nicely,” Madz wrote in her video’s caption.
Viewers had mixed reactions to the now-deleted video. Some gushed about the “adult option” while others questioned the meal’s packaging.
“Ok. It’s official, none of us wanted to grow up. Bc I literally cannot wait to try this!” one viewer commented on the video.
Some users said they wish the meal came in a pumpkin-themed box.
“I just want the Halloween buckets,” one user said.
“WHY ISNT IT IN A PUMPKIN BUCKET,” another user wrote.
Others said they weren’t familiar with Cactus Plant Flea Market and speculated that no one will recognize the toys that come with the meal.
Cactus Plant Flea Market is a fashion label crafting original streetwear with signature dye treatments and lettering, according to a page on the McDonald’s website explaining their collaboration with the company. Some pieces are hand-embroidered, and a select few feature the character of Cactus Buddy, included in the set of four coveted collectibles.
“Nothing like kids who have no idea who these characters actually are,” one user commented on the TikTok.
“[Their] reasoning for these were nostalgia but most people have no idea who Cactus Plant Flea Market are. I’ll wait til 10/18 for the real nostalgia,” a second user said.
A third wrote, “I know nothing of Cactusfleamarket, I would rather have the CARS toy.”
Other TikTok creators shared videos of themselves unboxing the Happy Meals. TikTok user @foodwanderer was happy to try the Big Mac version, but did express that she wished the toys were from the ’90s.
@foodwanderer McDonald’s Adult Happy Meal @McDonald’s #adulthappymeal #mcdonalds #fastfood #newfastfood #limitedtime #90s #nostalgia #foodwanderer #foodreview ♬ mario sound – mandycap
The Daily Dot reached out to @lifeby.madz via comment and to McDonald’s via email.
