McDonald’s Happy Meal isn’t so Happy Anymore. An interesting fact from the story: McDonald’s has signed a 10 year deal with Disney that prohibits it from using toys from its competitors.

“You have to prove to me that you’re happy or you’re not getting anything. A Happy Meal is veal shank, German potato salad and a side of lime Jello.”
–David Letterman, while working the drive thru window at McDonald’s.

Happy meals have been around just about as long as I’ve been around (1976). I remember getting that cardboard box with the smaller than normal hamburger and fries. Quick and easy. Just say “Happy Meal” and you knew exactly what you were getting. Then things got complicated. “Chicken McNuggets Happy Meals.” Take away the cardboard boxes for the environmentalists’ sake. Now kids get a boring white lunch bag for their Happy Meal.
Still, over the years the Happy Meal toys got more and more sophisticated. Used to it was a boring eraser dinosaur. Now the toys are seemingly more expensive than the meal itself.
McDonald’s itself has gradually gotten worse. I only eat there when I’m in China. Otherwise I avoid the restaurant like a plaid suit. There’s this distinctive smell when you enter a McDonald’s. It pretty much stays with you the whole day.
What can McDonald’s do to become profitable? Serve better food. Plain and simple. I’d much rather get a Wendy’s Single than a Hamburger at Mickey D’s. Their Big ‘N Tasty is a slight improvement, however they’ve got a long way to go.
Chuck Ross has a website – www.chuckross.org Chuck is Lipscomb’s #1 fan. Showed up at all the basketball games. I never really understood it myself. To each his own.
The website says “Nashville’s #1 Fan.” I’d tend to argue with that. If he really was Nashville’s #1 fan, he’d be at all the games…Belmont, Trevecca, TSU, Vandy, Titans, Predators, etc… He’s Lipscomb’s #1 fan, but not Nashville’s #1 fan. I’m surprised that they are writing a book about him. Seems like there would be little interest for it outside of the Lipscomb athletic community.
Scott has posted a journal entry about his 2nd trip to try out for the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.