The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network From Boo Buckets to Big Macs: Inside Disney’s Golden Era with McDonald’s (Ep. 69)
Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey are joined by former Disney Imagineer Jim Shull to unwrap the fascinating (and sometimes funny) story of Disney’s long-running partnership with McDonald’s. From the birth of the Happy Meal to fry carts in Frontierland, this episode explores how two of the world’s biggest brands became the ultimate marketing duo - and what really ended their 10-year deal.
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The surprising Star Trek connection that inspired Disney’s early talks with McDonald’s
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How Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg turned burgers and fries into box office gold
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The untold story of the McDonald’s-themed Splash Mountain that almost happened
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Why the partnership ended amid public pressure over kids’ meals and health
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The legacy of Disney Happy Meal toys—and how the relationship quietly returned today
Whether you remember Boo Buckets, fry carts, or those elusive Happy Meal collectibles, this supersized episode proves that food and nostalgia are a marketing match made in Disney heaven.
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