McDonald’s Brings Back Boo Buckets with Disney Villains for Spooky Season
McDonald’s is bringing back its seasonal Boo Buckets, and this year the fast-food chain is leaning fully into its villain era. The reusable trick-or-treat pails, which replace standard Happy Meal boxes for a limited time, feature five Disney Villains and are arriving at participating restaurants starting October 20, just in time for Halloween.
Each bucket comes with a villain-inspired lid and stickers featuring iconic character details that longtime fans are likely to recognize, according to McDonald’s. The collectibles are available while supplies last and are intended to double as pails for trick-or-treating.
This Year’s Villain Collection: Jafar, Ursula, Scar, Cruella, and Maleficent
Several iconic Disney Villains are featured on this year’s wicked collectibles. The lineup includes Jafar from Aladdin in red, Ursula from The Little Mermaid in purple, Scar from The Lion King in orange, Cruella from 101 Dalmatians in white, and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty in green.
The designs mark a departure from more traditional Halloween imagery, which has already sparked discussion among customers on social media.
From 1986 to Today: The History of McDonald’s Boo Buckets
McDonald’s first debuted the Boo Buckets back in 1986, and they quickly grew into a fan favorite and Halloween staple. The chain stopped making the buckets in 2016 but brought them back in 2022 in response to customer demand and nostalgia among fans who grew up with them in the 1980s and 1990s.
The 2022 collection featured three classic designs inspired by the original releases: an orange jack-o’-lantern bucket, a green goblin bucket with a witch’s hat and hair, and a white ghost bucket. This year’s villain-themed lineup represents a notable shift away from that classic Halloween aesthetic.
Divided Fans: Villain Designs Versus Classic Halloween Buckets
Reaction to the new buckets has been mixed. Some fans are disappointed that the collection lacks a traditional Halloween theme. “Nothing remotely Halloween about these,” one Instagram user commented on a McDonald’s post promoting the buckets.
Other fans want McDonald’s to bring back the original Halloween buckets. “I just wanted the boo glowing buckets from back in the day… But noooooo you get villains… ,” another user wrote.
A common complaint among nostalgic customers is the request for the original snap-on lids to return. “Love these, but can y’all put the lids back on!! ” one fan commented. Another wrote, “All we wanted were lids… no one asked for this.”
At the same time, devoted McDonald’s fans have embraced the new direction. “These are SO COOL ” one Instagram user commented. Another shared that Ursula is a top choice because purple is a favorite color, with Scar as a close second. One user joked that “Jafar really was serving eyebrows from day one, arches on point.”
Availability and How to Get a Boo Bucket
Fans can get their claws on the Boo Buckets starting Tuesday, October 20. They are available for a limited time at participating McDonald’s restaurants while supplies last. Because the buckets replace the usual Happy Meal boxes, interested customers should plan to visit early, as seasonal collectibles often sell out quickly.
McDonald’s decision to pair Boo Buckets with Disney Villains reflects a broader push toward character-driven collectibles, but it has also reignited debate among longtime fans about what the Halloween pails should represent. Whether the villain theme becomes a new tradition or a one-season experiment, the buckets are once again giving customers a reason to visit McDonald’s during spooky season—and potentially adding a few colorful pails to Halloween night.
Entertainment, Food, News, Shopping, Internet, Leisure, McDonald’s, Disney, Boo Buckets, Halloween, Happy Meal, Disney Villains, Nostalgia, Fast Food, Collectibles, Trick-or-Treating, Social Media Reaction, Mixed Reviews, Limited-Time Offer
