Burger King starts Halloween off with a spooky surprise
Burger King is entering Halloween in style with a brand-new series of children’s meal toys that could put some serious pressure on McDonald’s. The fast food giant teamed up with the iconic Scooby-Doo franchise to release six spooky collectible toys, each with a fantastic Halloween twist.
The toys were first teased by Burger King’s hit snack influencer Markie Devo, who teased fans with the news and labeled the toys as a possible “Halloween 2025 kids’ meal champion.” Burger King has now officially made the announcement, which has created a buzz among families and collectors alike.
A Scooby-Doo takeover
Starting September 16, some Burger King restaurants nationwide will give away one toy with every King Jr. Meal while supplies last. Every toy has a popular Scooby-Doo character—Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, Fred, and Elwood Crane (a.k.a. the Headless Horseman).
But the ultimate Halloween surprise? Each figure has a removable spooky mask that can be swapped and shared across all six figures. From a mummy mask for Scooby to Frankenstein’s mask for Fred, the set adds an entertaining, interactive touch that’s perfect for children—or for retro-minded adults who came of age with the crime-solving group.
Fans are howling with anticipation
The news of the toys went viral after Devo posted them, garnering over 9,000 likes and plenty of eager comments from fans. One of them swooned, “Scooby has been my favorite cartoon growing up and now I need them all.”
Another commenter called on Burger King to make a better toy effort: “Finally a toy worthy of buying a kid’s meal for. @burgerking you did it right!”
Fans of Halloween also chimed in, calling the alliance “jumping up for joy” worthy.
What about McDonald’s?
Burger King, of course, isn’t the fast-food name to terrorize the holiday. Rival McDonald’s is bringing back its classic Boo Buckets—a Halloween staple that first hit shelves back in 1986. The pumpkin-, ghost-, and goblin-shaped buckets were an instant hit before they were dropped in 2016.
McDonald’s revived the buckets in 2022 with fresh designs, and they sold out fast. Although the company hasn’t released an official 2025 launch date, last year they landed in restaurants on or about October 15 and survived through Halloween.
Along with the buckets, McDonald’s is also launching holiday menu items, including the return of pumpkin spice lattes and a peanut butter crunch McFlurry.
A battle of frightening specials
With each chain going all-out, it’s going to be a spooktacular Halloween for fast food fans. Burger King’s Scooby-Doo toys bring collectible fun and nostalgic interactivity, while McDonald’s depends on the popularized tradition of Boo Buckets and treats.
For parents, it’s likely not an either-or situation—many will be collecting both. And actually, that’s the whole idea of Halloween: to have a good time, enjoy treats, and receive just the right amount of fright.
Limited-time fun
As with most holiday promotions, these toys won’t be here forever. Customers can obtain them by purchasing a King Jr. Meal, but availability will most likely depend on the region. Burger King has suggested phoning ahead to determine if your restaurant has the toys in hand.
The toys should fly off the shelves quickly, especially among collectors and Scooby-Doo fans who prefer having the complete set of six.
A ghostly triumph for Burger King?
Whether Burger King’s Scooby-Doo promotion “wins” Halloween is arguable, but the hype is not. With fun packaging, a nostalgic tie-in, and perfect timing ahead of October, the chain has been able to generate some buzz and get kids and their parents in the door.
And for collectors, the only real mystery is how fast they can acquire them all before supplies run out—because, as with a Scooby snack, these spooky toys won’t last long.
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