McDonald's Play Set - JCPenney Christmas Catalog - 2002

 

    When the McDonald's toy revolution (OK, maybe "revolution" is too strong of a word) started, I was mostly past toy age. My sister was able to get in on it a little. I specifically remember a Christmas where she got the drive-thru outfit and the drink/ice cream dispenser for playing McDonald's. When I got a little older, I caved and bought some McDonald's toys for myself because I loved them so much. Besides, I had fond memories of playing McDonald's as a kid (without the aid of officially licensed McDonald's products.) As I discovered not too long ago, kids still have this strange fascination with playing "drive-thru". It's just one of those things you do. The McDonald's playsets got more and more elaborate and detailed, making pop culture freaks like me squeal with delight. What a difference a few years make.
     Seeing this in the 2002 catalog made me realize I didn't recall seeing any in this year's. I checked and, sure enough, no more McDonald's toys. My heart broke a little. Nowadays, the idea of seeing Ronald McDonald eat a hamburger in front of a group of kids has been placed in the same realm as seeing Fred Flintsone light up a Winston. Playsets like these are now viewed as glorifying junk food and promoting obesity. Yeah, like how all the times I played "hospital" as a kid made me think that getting surgery is a gas. Anyway, if this was how the Mickey D's toys were going to go out, at least they did it with a bang. It even comes with its own tiny deep fryer. How cute is that! My favorite part is all the replica product packaging. After all, you can't feel like a participating McDonald's restaurant if you're serving your drinks in Dixie cups. Ah, 2002...so close, yet so far away.