McDonald’s Boo Buckets are back with a new look: Disney Villain Designs and Fan Reactions…
Halloween has a new look at the Golden Arches. McDonald’s Boo Buckets returned on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, and this year the pails feature famous Disney villains rather than the pumpkins, ghosts, and goblins many fans grew up with. They replace the usual Happy Meal box at participating restaurants and are available for a limited time while supplies last. Because collectibles like these tend to sell through quickly, it’s worth checking with your local restaurant before making a special trip.
Meet the 2026 Disney Villain Boo Buckets
Five buckets make up this year’s collection, each in a colour linked to its character. McDonald’s says every bucket comes with a villain-inspired lid and stickers showing details that devoted Disney fans will recognise. Here’s the full lineup:
| Villain | Disney Film | Bucket Colour |
|---|---|---|
| Jafar | Aladdin | Red |
| Ursula | The Little Mermaid | Purple |
| Scar | The Lion King | Orange |
| Cruella | 101 Dalmatians | White |
| Maleficent | Sleeping Beauty | Green |
The colour choices do some clever work. Orange and green echo the traditional Halloween palette, while purple, red, and white give the set a more theatrical feel. Collectors will likely want all five, which makes the Happy Meal a bit of a treasure hunt.
A Short History of the Boo Bucket
The Boo Bucket is not new. McDonald’s first released them in 1986, and they quickly became a Halloween tradition for kids collecting candy. The chain stopped making them in 2016, then brought them back in 2022 after sustained demand from fans who remembered them from the 1980s and 1990s. That revival featured three designs based on the originals: an orange jack-o’-lantern, a green goblin with a witch’s hat and hair, and a white ghost. This year’s villain theme is the biggest departure from those roots since the comeback.
Why Nostalgic Fans Have Mixed Feelings
Reaction to the new design has been split, and much of the debate is happening in comments under McDonald’s own promotional posts. The main points of disagreement:
- Not very “Halloween”: Some fans feel villains are a spooky-adjacent theme but not a traditional Halloween one, and they miss the pumpkin and ghost styles.
- The missing lid: A recurring request is for the snap-on lids to return. For many people, the lid was part of what made the original buckets feel right.
- The glow factor: Others remember the glow-in-the-dark buckets of earlier years and were hoping for a repeat.
- The fans who love it: Plenty of people are enthusiastic. Some already have a favourite character, and others are simply pleased to see the buckets back at all.
The split shows how much emotional weight a simple Happy Meal toy can carry. A product people have known for decades is hard to change without someone noticing.
Tips for Getting a Boo Bucket
If you want one, a little planning helps:
- Go early in the promotion, since supplies are limited.
- Ask whether your local restaurant can choose which design you get, as this may vary by location.
- Consider the bucket’s second life as a trick-or-treat pail, a toy organiser, or a Halloween decoration.
- Treat it as a Happy Meal item, because the buckets replace the standard box and come with the meal.
FAQs
When did McDonald’s Boo Buckets return in 2026?
They became available on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, at participating US restaurants while supplies last.
Which Disney villains are on the 2026 Boo Buckets?
The collection features Jafar, Ursula, Scar, Cruella, and Maleficent, each in a different colour.
Do the new buckets come with lids?
McDonald’s says each bucket includes a villain-inspired lid and stickers. Some fans have said they miss the older snap-on style.
Are these the original Boo Buckets?
No. The Boo Bucket debuted in 1986, was retired in 2016, and returned in 2022 with three classic designs. This year’s Disney villain set is a new take on the tradition.
