The fries were delicious. The bubbles on the drink lid were fun to push down. But in the end, McDonald's Happy Meals were all about the toys.
Most weeks, the toys were kind of disappointing — nothing more than little plastic action figures that occasionally made an appearance at your Barbie dream house, but mostly stayed in the junk drawer.
See also: 12 Tasty Reasons You Need to Visit an International McDonald's
Then magically, the ads showed real toys that lit up and changed color and made noise, and you quickly convinced your parents you were in desperate need of chicken nuggets.
They're just some boring plastic fast food ... or are they?
To kids without a GameBoy, this was fate's way of circumventing a no-video-games rule. For lucky kids with handheld systems, it was a game that could be left at the bottom of a backpack, because if it got crushed, it got crushed.
Just when you were standing on the edge of being too old for bath toys, Happy Meals let you stay a little longer.
Something about the giant head and tiny body made it superior to all other tiny plushes.
Because all the cool kids on the block had the McDonald's buckets.
The best toys are always versatile.
You were forced to eat dozens of single cheeseburgers until you got your favorite Disney movie in miniature
Including stiff but elaborately dressed party Barbies, as well as the kimono- and clog-wearing international Barbies.
Enough power to fly through the air, but not enough heft to maim your little sister.
These pint-sized Beanie Babies were twice as adorable, and made adult collectors twice as crazy.
A simpler time, before the bronies got a hold of them.
They lacked the creepy voice, but kept the unnerving eyes.
There were just so many buttons to push and things to yank.
Otherwise known as your parents' least-favorite toy.
Yes, Polly couldn't do much besides admire her Christmas tree, but you could fit the entire scene in your pocket.
Image: Flickr, puuikibeach