McDonaldland was the fictional world created for McDonald's character-based branding in the 1970s.
The campaign presented McDonald's as an imaginative place populated by branded characters and locations. Ronald McDonald appeared within this setting alongside figures such as the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Mayor McCheese. The characters were used in television commercials, restaurant promotions, and children-focused merchandise.
McDonaldland was not the name of a physical theme park or a separate restaurant chain. It was an advertising universe designed to give McDonald's a consistent story world and make the brand more appealing to children and families. Many of its characters were later reduced or retired as the company's marketing strategy changed.
The term is sometimes confused with individual character names. McDonaldland refers to the overall fictional setting, while Ronald McDonald and the Hamburglar are inhabitants or figures associated with it.