McDonaldland was the fictional advertising world created for McDonald's characters such as Mayor McCheese.
The concept placed McDonald's menu items and recurring mascots in a colorful fantasy setting. Characters including Mayor McCheese, Officer Big Mac, Grimace, and the Hamburglar appeared in television commercials and promotional material connected with this world.
McDonaldland helped McDonald's build a distinctive children's marketing universe rather than advertising only individual menu products. The setting gave the characters shared locations, relationships, and storylines, making them easier for young audiences to recognize across multiple commercials.
The term is sometimes confused with later McDonald's brand initiatives, including McWorld, a name used in other promotional contexts. McDonaldland specifically refers to the fictional setting associated with the classic character cast and its early-1970s advertising style.