McDonaldland was the official name of McDonald's fictional setting for its advertising characters.
McDonaldland appeared in McDonald's advertising beginning in 1971. It was presented as a colorful fantasy world populated by characters connected with the restaurant's products and branding. Ronald McDonald served as its best-known resident, alongside figures such as Mayor McCheese, Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Birdie.
The setting helped McDonald's turn separate mascots into a recognizable story world. That approach was especially effective in television commercials aimed at children, because the characters could interact in recurring locations and situations rather than appearing only in isolated product advertisements.
McDonaldland is sometimes confused with PlayPlace, which is the name associated with McDonald's children's playground areas. The fictional world was an advertising concept, while PlayPlace referred to a physical restaurant feature. McDonaldland's characters later became closely linked with the company's broader family branding.