McDonald’s Is Bringing Back Its Spooky-Season Favorite Item for a Limited Time
McDonald’s is bringing back a familiar Halloween tradition just in time for spooky season. Beginning Oct. 20, participating U.S. restaurants will offer Disney Villains Boo Buckets with eligible Happy Meals for a limited time.
This year’s collection gives the familiar Halloween containers a Disney twist, with five designs inspired by Jafar, Ursula, Scar, Cruella, and Maleficent. Each bucket comes with a villain-inspired lid and a sheet of character-themed stickers, giving customers something to take home after the meal.
The promotion is available only while supplies last, and McDonald’s has not announced a fixed end date. That means customers looking for a particular character should check with their selected restaurant before making a trip.
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Five Disney Villains Are Coming to the Boo Buckets
The 2026 Boo Bucket collection features five Disney villain designs. Jafar, Ursula, Scar, Cruella, and Maleficent each get their own themed version.
The buckets are designed as part of the Happy Meal promotion rather than as a separate menu item. Each includes a lid inspired by its character, plus a sheet of matching stickers.
The character lineup gives the returning Halloween promotion a different look this year. However, McDonald’s has not promised that every participating restaurant will receive all five designs.
The Buckets Replace the Regular Happy Meal Box
For the limited promotion, the Boo Bucket takes the place of the standard Happy Meal box.
Customers can receive a bucket when ordering an eligible Happy Meal at a participating restaurant. The available meal choices include a hamburger, a four-piece Chicken McNuggets meal, or a six-piece Chicken McNuggets meal.
The Happy Meals also come with fries, apple slices, and a drink. The food itself is part of the regular eligible Happy Meal options, while the bucket provides the Halloween-themed collectible element.
The Promotion Starts Oct. 20
The Disney Villains Boo Buckets arrive at participating U.S. McDonald’s restaurants on Oct. 20.
The timing puts the promotion firmly in the Halloween season, but customers should not assume the buckets will remain available through Oct. 31. McDonald’s has only said the promotion will continue while supplies last and has not announced a specific ending date.
That makes availability an important part of the promotion. A restaurant may run out of a particular character before the promotion ends, and the available design can differ from one location to another.
Not Every Restaurant Will Have Every Character
Anyone hoping to collect a specific villain should keep the participating-location limitation in mind.
McDonald’s has not promised that every restaurant will receive all five designs. The promotion is also limited to participating restaurants, so the collection will not necessarily be available at every McDonald’s.
The simplest way to check is through the McDonald’s app or by contacting the restaurant before visiting. That can also help customers confirm which Boo Bucket designs are available at that location.
Prices Can Vary
There is no single nationwide price for the promotion.
Happy Meal and Boo Bucket pricing can vary by restaurant and market. Customers should therefore check the price at their selected McDonald’s rather than relying on a price from another location.
The same local variation applies to the bucket designs. One restaurant may have a different character available from another participating restaurant, depending on its inventory.
A Halloween Return With a Disney Twist
The return of the Boo Buckets gives McDonald’s customers another seasonal collectible to look for during the Halloween period.
This year, the focus is squarely on Disney villains. Jafar, Ursula, Scar, Cruella, and Maleficent provide the five character themes, with each bucket featuring a matching lid and sticker sheet.
The buckets also change the familiar Happy Meal presentation for the promotion. Instead of receiving the standard box, customers ordering an eligible Happy Meal can receive the limited-time bucket while supplies last.
For families and collectors, the biggest consideration may simply be timing. The promotion begins Oct. 20, but there is no fixed end date, and individual restaurants may have different designs available.
So if one particular villain is the reason for the visit, checking the McDonald’s app or contacting the restaurant first is the safest way to know what is available before heading out.
