Pokémon fans are going wild for McDonald’s new happy meal, while Taco Bell will have you sipping on sunshine!
Two of the biggest fast food chains in the country just dropped new releases that will keep fans talking for weeks. McDonald’s isn’t just making waves for its value meals, but also for its newest happy meal collab with Pokémon. That’s right, you better prepare to catch ’em all. Meanwhile, over at Taco Bell, the fan-favorite Baja Blast is getting an upgrade in more ways than one. Coming to a Taco Bell near you are four new MTN Dew Baja Blast beverages! If you’re as excited as I am, let’s dive right in!
McDonald’s
On January 21, 2025, McDonald’s shared the good news: the limited-time Pokémon Happy Meal will be available nationwide until late February! If you’re an avid fan of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), then this new happy meal will take your game experience to the next level. The Pokémon Happy Meal can be ordered via the McDonald’s app, but what exactly can you get out of it?
Pokémon Happy Meal Inclusions
Upon getting the limited-time happy meal, you’ll receive a Pokémon TCG booster pack containing four Pokémon TCG cards. According to McDonald’s, there are 15 available Pokémon TCG cards, so it would be fun to get them all and build or expand your current collection. Of course, there are other surprises from McDonald’s and Pokémon. Also included in the Pokémon Happy Meal are the following:
- Pokémon poster + sticker sheet to decorate it (or any place you want the stickers on!)
- FREE in-game bonus in the Pokémon TCG Pocket app
- The happy meal box itself, with four different designs inspired by Roaring Moon, Pikachu with Dragonite, Charizard, and Rayquaza
As for the FREE in-game bonus, you’ll get a one-time code that will unlock 24-pack hour glasses and 12 wonder hourglasses, which you can use to unlock two digital booster packs. The Wonder Pick feature will also allow you to select one randomized digital card.
Lure Up at McDonald’s Near You
In addition to getting new cards from the happy meal, Pokémon Go players can drop by sponsored Pokéstops or Gyms at all McDonald’s locations nationwide. This activation began last December, turning McDonald’s into a fun place for Pokémon GO raids and other exclusive events. Of course, the amazing part is it would be easy to refuel with your favorite McDonald’s items while catching rare Pokémon!
To help you boost your XP, McDonald’s announced the specific weeks when you can join five-star raids or encounter Lure Modules that will attract more Pokémon to the area. Save these dates before you head over to a McDonald’s Gym:
- January 20 to 26
- February 10 to 16
- March 10 to 16
This isn’t the first time that McDonald’s and Pokémon are teaming up to make fans extra happy. The two iconic brands had a collaboration in 2021 to celebrate Pokémon’s 25th anniversary. And if we go further back in time, they first collaborated in 1999 to celebrate the Pokémon craze and the release of the first Pokémon movie. Last year, McDonald’s also engaged with other anime fandoms by dropping the Special Grade Garlic in collaboration with anime series “Jujutsu Kaisen” and by turning the chain into “WcDonald’s,” which is how McDonald’s is featured in manga and anime shows (yup, that upside-down golden arches).
Taco Bell
Meanwhile, at Taco Bell, there are new beverages that are making online buzz. The thing they have in common? They feature the timeless Mountain Dew Baja Blast! In the past few years, the chain has been synonymous to Baja Blast, which is a perfect match to the Mexican-inspired eats, according to many fans. This time, though, Taco Bell is changing the game with Dirty Mountain Dew Baja Blast Dream beverages, and you got two options:
- Dirty MTN Dew Baja Blast Dream – This features Baja Blast’s tropical lime flavor, mixed in with sweet vanilla creme.
- Dirty MTN Dew Baja Blast Dream (Zero Sugar) – This version has the same ingredients, minus the added sugar.
These drinks are available in small, medium, and large sizes, with the corresponding prices: $3.19, $3.29, and $3.49. Still, prices may vary by location. And if you want to get any of the dirty drinks at a cheaper price, that’s possible, too! Here’s the trick: drop by during Taco Bell’s Happier Hour, which is 2PM to 5PM every day at participating locations, and get each new dirty drink for just $1!
But that’s not all—because Taco Bell also launched two new freezes, and again, featuring the iconic Baja Blast. These include MTN Dew Baja Blast Dream Freeze and MTN Dew Baja Blast Strawberry Dream Freeze. Both use the MTN Dew Baja Blast slushy drink version with vanilla creme, but the latter has an additional swirl of Wild Strawberry Freeze.
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More Exciting Fast Food Releases
Now, let’s build up the excitement with other fast food releases that are equally irresistible. Just a little warning, these are new sweet treats that you can get to celebrate Valentine’s Day early with your loved ones. Nothing beats sweets during the season of love!
- Burger King’s Cini Minis – While this is still a test item in Florida, we’re hoping it would be available nationwide soon. The Cini Minis first appeared on BK menu in 1990, featuring soft, buttery doughs that are rolled with cinnamon sugar and served with vanilla icing dip.
- Carvel’s Biscoff Cookie Treats – Biscoff fans are smitten by the latest desserts from Carvel. Taste the delectable cookie butter and the satisfying crunch in Carvel’s soft serve, sundae dasher, shake, ice cream pop, and more. Expect Biscoff in many delicious forms!
- Dairy Queen’s Red Velvet Cake Blizzard – Red velvet, a flavor that speaks so well of romance, is back at Dairy Queen. It’s also the chain’s Blizzard of the Month for February, making it a perfect choice for Valentine’s Day. Enjoy DQ’s soft serve, now with red velvet cake pieces and cream cheese icing.
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From The Club
McDonald’s and Taco Bell really know how to make their fans happy. I must say that McDonald’s is getting better at courting anime fandoms, too, and there’s so much to unpack from the Pokémon Happy Meal. The Pokéstops and in-game rewards all add up to the fun! And of course, how can I forget the new Baja Blast beverages from Taco Bell? As someone who loves summery drinks, I’m down to try both the dirty drinks and the freezes!