r/interestingasfuck 12d ago

/r/all McDonald's in the 80s compared to today

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u/-paperbrain- 12d ago

To be fair, when it looked like that, people criticized them for using all that stuff to get children hooked on junk food. It was seen as exploitation of the vulnerable.

Now that they ditched it all and the advertising and spaces aren't targeting kids so much people say. they miss the warmth and whimsy.

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u/Disastrous_Meat_ 11d ago

Also probably easier to clean then the old way. The McDonald’s play place  stank still haunts me from childhood sometimes 

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u/happypolychaetes 11d ago

I distinctly remember that dirty plastic smell, lol. Can't even describe it but it's distinctive.

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u/Kappist 11d ago

It was the smell of horribly stinky feet and sweaty socks that really stuck with me. I can still smell it when I think about it

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u/GalaxyGoddess27 10d ago

Dont forget the kid piss…I didn’t realize I could smell memories 🥹

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u/DrZomboo 10d ago

Don't forget the smell of greasy fingers everywhere

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u/Subject_00001 8d ago

Not to mention sweaty feet and stinky socks!

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u/-LuciditySam- 11d ago

Mine smelled like balls during the summer.

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u/CyberPunkDeathKnight 11d ago

I wonder if there's a candle with that smell🤔

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u/clarehehee 10d ago

we can only hope

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u/lazergoblin 11d ago

I played in the play area exactly 1 time back in the day. I shit you not I still have nightmares about how unsettling it was. The smell, the lighting, the claustrophobia, the lack of personal space. It's gross and I'm kinda glad they removed them tbh.

There are better places to have your kid play than at a fast food burger place

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u/Known_Needleworker67 11d ago

Where are you that they removed them? Mine still has the play place, but they changed everything else to the more modernized look.

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u/tingdemsweet 11d ago

The McDonald’s near you still has it, but most don’t anymore, especially the newer or renovated ones, aside from the odd one or two. There’s only one McDonald’s in my city that still has the PlayPlace. All the others removed theirs.

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u/Ankhmorpork-PostMan 10d ago

All corporate stores removed theirs. Franchisee’s are allowed to keep or build new maintained ones. They don’t make the same ones anymore, so each one is bespoke if a new franchisee wants to go with one, from what I understand.

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u/Shadowkinesis9 10d ago

Mine has two PlayPlace locations within 3 miles of each other lol

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u/Low_Turn_4568 11d ago

I haven't seen a play place in yeeeaaars

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u/TerroristBurger 11d ago

I didn't go in them much but the last time I did I remember some random child bit me and i tried to run to the slide to get away from the kid and there deadass was a shit at the top of the slide... I found another way out and proceeded to run into the glass panel fence things that were around it and knocked myself out. Then I remember waking up crying in the car with a massive egg on my head. It took me years before I went to maccas again, and never went in a play place EVER.

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u/OkPizza9268 11d ago

Man, I used to love the play place when I was little, although I did get bit by a random kid in there once. I think he said he was pretending to be a hamster?

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u/PIKLIKR 7d ago

You must be fun at parties👍

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u/Noshamina 11d ago

You were alone in that sentiment, also you are making that up to try and seem cool and it is lame, and No there aren’t better places for kids to play

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u/suoretaw 11d ago

You’re joking right?

Especially about

No there aren’t better places for kids to play

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u/naenref76 11d ago

They cleaned it? Are you sure

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u/matttheepitaph 11d ago

My dad worked on public health for tat food. My kids are never allowed in a ball pit.

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u/StangOverload 9d ago

God the vomit smell.