McDonald's gave its fictional fantasy setting the name McDonaldland.
McDonaldland was introduced in 1971 as a setting for television commercials, promotions, and other advertising aimed largely at children. The world contained colorful characters and locations connected to McDonald's products and restaurant imagery.
Characters associated with McDonaldland included Ronald McDonald, Mayor McCheese, Grimace, Birdie the Early Bird, and the Hamburglar. The setting helped turn separate advertising figures into a recognizable shared brand universe.
McDonaldland is distinct from the PlayPlace, which is a physical restaurant play area. It is also not the name of a McDonald's theme park; the term refers to the fictional advertising world and its characters.