The 25 Years of Happiness Celebration Continues at McDonald's(R), Happy Meals Feature Family Favorites; Perennial Favorites, Pol
19 Agosto 2004 - 12:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
The 25 Years of Happiness Celebration Continues at McDonald's(R),
Happy Meals Feature Family Favorites; Perennial Favorites, Polly
Pocket!(TM) and Hot Wheels(R) Cars and Hello Kitty(R) and G.I. JOE
to Be Featured in McDonald's Fall Line Up OAK BROOK, Ill., Aug. 19
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The 25 Years of Happiness Happy Birthday
Happy Meal(R) celebration continues at McDonald's with the return
of classic kid favorites. As the Happy Meal celebrates its 25th
birthday, iconic characters are making a return to the popular
children's meal. Beginning this fall, McDonald's will offer two
double features that will delight kids and bring fun memories to
mom and dad. From August 20 through September 16, Happy Meal guests
will receive one of eight Polly Pocket!(TM) toys with Polly and her
friends enjoying a camping trip, or one of eight Hot Wheels(R) cars
inspired by the tuner car trend featuring a special light-up
element. From September 17 through October 14, Happy Meals will
have Hasbro's G.I. JOE brand marching into McDonald's for its 40th
anniversary with eight action-packed toys based on the new G.I. JOE
VALOR VS. VENOM story, teamed with a commemorative line of eight
Hello Kitty(R) premiums purring with excitement as the cutest kitty
on the planet celebrates her 30th anniversary. These much-loved
Happy Meal toys will be featured at participating McDonald's
nationwide during the specified four-week program or while supplies
last. According to toy and children's lifestyle expert Chris Byrne,
also known as The Toy Guy(TM), "These classic brands capitalize on
the current cultural trend that has caused a boom in so-called
'retro' toys while offering today's children rich, imaginative and
exciting play experiences that are relevant to their lives." "Our
Happy Meal events continue to provide fun and enjoyment for kids of
all ages and this fall it's all about cool, classic toys delivered
in a modern theme," said Kent Voetberg, McDonald's director of
family marketing. "We always look to delight our family guests with
great service, great food and fun toys and this time we plan to
bring back a bit of nostalgia and memories for moms and dads and
updated toys for kids." Polly Pocket!(TM) & Hot Wheels(R) cars
- Friday, August 20 to Thursday, September 16 Polly Pocket!(TM) is
joined by friends Shani(TM), Lila(R), Rick and Lea(TM) as the 3.5"
figures (the same size as found at retail) enjoy an action-filled
camping trip. Each of the figures comes with a vehicle or camping
accessory that includes a glow-in-the-dark feature. There's a cool
personal watercraft, a sailboard and a four-wheeler as well as a
tent that rolls into a bag, a sleeping bag that converts to a
backpack, a hammock, a picnic table and a cooler-to-campfire
accessory. Polly Pocket!(TM) promises hours of playtime fun for
young girls. Always a popular Happy Meal favorite over the years,
Hot Wheels(R) cars have gotten hotter than ever. Inspired by the
tuner car trend, each of the eight die-cast cars is designed to
reflect one of six body styles. There's the Lotus Elise roadster,
the Hardnoze(TM) 2 Cool(TM) hot rod, Fatbax(TM) Silhouette(R) -- a
hot racer, 'Tooned(TM) Mercy Breaker(TM), Blings(TM)
Hyperliner(TM), Crooze(TM) Ooz Coupe(TM), Swoopy Do(TM) sports car,
and the classic Rapid Transit(TM). And new for 2004, these special
designs each feature a light-up element to brighten the faces of
boys from 4 to 94. G.I. JOE and Hello Kitty - Friday, September 17
- Thursday, October 14 Hasbro's G.I. JOE brand has delivered hours
of endless backyard adventures for boys for the past 40 years. And
now, they're coming to McDonald's Happy Meals. Based on the new
G.I. JOE VALOR VS. VENOM story soon to be released on DVD and VHS,
these exciting G.I. JOE toys are built for action-packed fun.
Featuring four action figures, each with detachable backpacks
offering a unique function, and four functioning vehicles designed
to make the characters invincible, the G.I. JOE Happy Meal is sure
to be a hit. There's the brave and daring DUKE who comes with a
backpack launcher or off-road vehicle, the evil COBRA COMMANDER --
equipped with a Backpack Disc Launcher or propeller launching
helicopter, the powerful ninja SNAKE EYES -- with a super-sleek,
push-along motorcycle or Compass Communicator, and the maniacal DR.
MINDBENDER -- a threat to all with his Venomizing ATV or Venom
Water Squirter. Hello Kitty the purr-fectly precious feline
celebrates 30 years of fun and friendship with a commemorative line
of Hello Kitty Happy Meal premiums featuring some of the most
popular retail product since Sanrio introduced the line in 1974.
Coming to warm the hearts of young girls will be Ring Around the
Kitty, Amazing Hoop Kitty, Kitty Toaster, Ballerina Kitty, Cool
Kitty, Hello Kitty Calendar, and Pedal Pusher Kitty with Pencil.
They're so cute and memorable; customers will be waiting to pounce
on them as soon as they are introduced. In addition to featuring
playtime fun, McDonald's Happy Meals will also be featuring Happy
Meal Choices. Young guests now have the opportunity to enjoy
additional food choices with their Happy Meals including Apple
Dippers (fresh, peeled apple slices) served with low fat caramel
dipping sauce, and new beverage choices including 100% pure Minute
Maid apple juice and low fat white and chocolate Milk Jugs, served
in child friendly containers. McDonald's McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) is
the world's leading food service retailer with more than 30,000
McDonald's restaurants serving 46 million customers each day in
more than 100 countries. More than 80 percent of McDonald's
restaurants around the world are owned and operated by independent,
local businessmen and women. Please visit our website at
http://www.mcdonalds.com/ to learn more about the Company. Mattel,
Inc. Mattel, Inc., (NYSE: MAT; http://www.mattel.com/ ) is the
worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys
and family products, including Barbie(R), the most popular fashion
doll ever created. Leading the toy and game market, the Mattel
family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Hot Wheels(R),
Matchbox(R), American Girl(R), and Tyco(R) R/C, as well as
Fisher-Price(R) brands ( http://www.fisher-price.com/ ), including
Little People(R), Rescue Heroes(R), Power Wheels(R) and a wide
array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. With worldwide
headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 25,000
people in 36 countries and sells products in more than 150 nations
throughout the world. The Mattel vision is to be the world's
premier toy brands -- today and tomorrow. Hasbro, Inc. Hasbro
(NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure
time entertainment products and services, including the design,
manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from
traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its
PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and
WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest
quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world. SANRIO
SANRIO develops, distributes and licenses a unique collection of
over 12,000 gift, stationery and fashion accessory items for women
of all ages. Hello Kitty is the company's flagship brand. SANRIO
was founded in 1960 based on the concept that a small gift can
bring a big smile to a child of any age. Today there are over 300
SANRIO boutiques throughout the Western Hemisphere with 120 in the
United States. In addition, SANRIO character products are sold in
over 10,000 U.S. locations including department, specialty stores
and national chain store.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990916/MCDLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: McDonald's Corporation
CONTACT: Laura Dihel of JSH&A Public Relations,
+1-630-932-9347, for McDonald's; Shannelle Armstrong of McDonald's,
+1-630-623-5508 Web site: http://www.mcdonalds.com/
http://www.mattel.com/ http://www.fisher-price.com/
Copyright