McDonald's New Collectible Cups Are Nothing Like Its Quirky Vintage Glasses

There is one thing McDonald's does better than any other fast-food chain — and no, it's not fries. The Golden Arches have preying on patrons' nostalgia down to a science. From embracing retro McNugget Buddies in adult happy meals to unveiling throwback Boo Buckets, Mickey D's knows exactly how to draw you into the drive thru. The latest endeavor comes via something that's been around for generations: themed collectible cups.

Starting Aug. 13, 2024 for a limited time only, McDonald's is offering six different collectible cups with the purchase of "The Collector's Meal." Meals are available all day, including a sausage McMuffin, hash brown, and hot coffee, and cup during breakfast hours, or the choice between a 10-piece chicken McNuggets or a Big Mac with fries and a soft drink. 

First released in the '70s, McDonald's has offered several iterations of glasses over the years, and this new round is decidedly different. While the vintage versions were made of glass, the new collection is made of plastic. The prints are a bit busier than the old-school varieties, featuring collages of fan-favorite characters and toys of Happy Meals past. The new options include: 

• Barbie & Hot Wheels
• Coca-Cola
• Hello Kitty & Peanuts
• Shrek, Jurassic Park, & Minions
• McDonald's: The Grimace Glass, Boo Buckets, & Funny Fry Friends

McDonald's unleashed glass Garfield mugs in 1987 with adorable comics printed on the glass. The glasses were available in a set of four and you can find them on the shelves of just about any antique store these days, although they did spark controversy for supposedly containing lead.

Who else remembers Captain Crook? He was around Mickey D's from 1971 until 1984 as the predecessor to future thief of burgers, the Hamburglar. For his own thieving, Crook focused on hoarding all the Filet-O-Fishes he could get his hand and hook on. He was also on one of the vintage collectible glasses at the Golden Arches, along with Officer Big Mac and Ronald McDonald. 

Hailing from 2001, these McDonald's glasses commemorated all the Disney characters that shaped the brand leading up to the turn of the century. Different from the 2023 celebration that marked 100 years of the Disney company, the '01 100 Years of Magic pinpointed Walt Disney's would've-been 100th birthday.

The Disney glasses of 2000 all showcased Mickey Mouse, but the shape of the glass was more raved-about than the design they showcased. These glasses were square instead of the classic round shape, making them all the more special.

We can't look at Kermit the same since the memes of him sipping tea first emerged, but we're still filled with nostalgia looking at the 1981 Muppets glasses from Mickey D's.

Charlie Brown tapped into the same comic vibes as the Garfield mugs, and getting your hands on all four was like finding the Peanuts comic strip in the Sunday paper. 

Promoting the new "Batman Forever," McDonald's unveiled the Batman Forever glass mugs in 1995. These bad boys were perfect for putting in the freezer for a frosted mug-backed beverage.

The Flinstones mug and the Batman Forever Mug had similar vibes, but the Flinstones version really leaned into the theme with a bone handle and a revamped Golden Arches logo with "RocDonald's" on the logo.