McDonald's — Review by Daym Drops
Guam, United States — Fast Food
The reviewer criticizes McDonald's for their Stranger Things Happy Meal promotion, arguing they lazily only branded the box without creating any new menu items to match the theme. The review takes a negative turn when a fruit fly is discovered in the meal, though the reviewer acknowledges this can happen in any restaurant. Overall, the reviewer finds the execution disappointing compared to how Burger King handled their Mandalorian promotion.
What was great: McDonald's fries are tasty and golden, the toy treasure chest with lock/unlock feature was a nice touch
What could improve: Lazy branding execution with no new food items to match Stranger Things theme, tiny portion of fries in Happy Meal, found a fruit fly in the food box, cheeseburger is generic with nothing special about it
The Dishes
The Stranger Things Happy Meal came with a standard cheeseburger, a tiny portion of fries that the reviewer counted as only seven pieces, and some apple slices. The cheeseburger was criticized as nothing more than a basic McDonald's cheeseburger with no special preparation or unique elements to tie into the Stranger Things theme. The reviewer expressed frustration that the burger didn't have any special twist, suggesting it should have been a 'Down Under burger' with a more creative construction similar to a Big Mac. The fries, while noted as tasty and golden, came in an absurdly small quantity that barely filled a box the size of an eyeball.
The Experience
The review took a concerning turn when a fruit fly was discovered inside the meal box during the filming. The reviewer and their companion debated whether finding an insect in fast food is acceptable, with the reviewer arguing that while fruit flies exist everywhere, physically seeing one in your food makes it significantly worse. The discovery became the focal point of the latter half of the review, overshadowing the meal itself. The review was done in Guam, where the reviewer appears to be a well-known personality.
Value and Pricing
The pricing wasn't explicitly mentioned, but the reviewer implied poor value by criticizing the tiny fry portion and lack of premium or special items in the Happy Meal, especially given McDonald's financial status as a major corporation.
Notable Moments
This is lazy. If I just want the box, I just go in and buy the box. I want the whole meal.
McDonald's, you make too much money as a company to be this lazy.
McDonald's got fruit flies in the food.
The reviewer repeatedly contrasted McDonald's approach unfavorably with Burger King's Mandalorian promotion, which included branded boxes, collectible cups, different character-themed foods with complementary spices, and overall creative execution.
The Verdict
This review is a scathing critique of McDonald's laziness in their promotional partnerships. The reviewer feels that McDonald's relies too heavily on branding partnerships without delivering new or exciting food products to match the theme. The discovery of a fruit fly sealed the negative experience. The review suggests that while some imperfections exist in all kitchens, physically encountering a pest in your meal significantly damages the dining experience and is unacceptable even for fast food establishments.