McDonald’s Channels Positivity in a Return to McDonaldland

Over the past few years, McDonald’s has been testing a nostalgia play—sneaking the Hamburglar back into ads, letting the Grimace Shake go gloriously viral, and generally dusting off its pre-2000s identity. Those toe-dips set the stage. Now the brand is diving in with a campaign that fully embraces that era.

Born in the 1970s, McDonaldland was a candy-colored world where whimsical characters roamed burger-lined landscapes alongside Ronald McDonald. It was kid-centric, joyful, and everywhere. By the 2000s, most of those characters had retreated from mainstream advertising, living on mainly in PlayPlace lore.

In 2025, McDonaldland is officially back. The revival spans a new hero spot, Fortnite tie-ins, apparel drops, and a special meal—each designed to bottle that ‘70s energy. It bridges generations, rekindles happy-meal magic, and reminds everyone why the Golden Arches shine. McDonaldland is back—and yes, we’re lovin’ it.