McDonald's used the name McDonaldland for its fictional restaurant world created for children's advertising.
McDonaldland debuted in the early 1970s as a colorful setting populated by characters such as Ronald McDonald, Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Mayor McCheese. The world gave McDonald's a way to connect menu items and promotions with an ongoing fantasy story.
The name is sometimes confused with the names of individual characters or with the restaurant's real-world locations. McDonaldland referred to the entire fictional setting, not just Ronald McDonald or a specific playground.
The campaign became an important part of McDonald's family branding. Its characters appeared in television commercials, in-store materials, and promotional products, helping the company create a recognizable entertainment universe around its food and restaurants.