If you have been wondering what are the new Disney McDonald’s Boo Buckets for Halloween, the answer arrives in just a few days. McDonald’s is bringing back its seasonal Happy Meal pails on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and this year every bucket features a Disney villain.
The lineup includes Maleficent, Cruella de Vil, Ursula, Jafar and Scar. It is the first time the Halloween tradition has been built around Disney’s most famous bad guys.
A Halloween Tradition Gets a Villainous Twist
Boo Buckets have been part of McDonald’s Halloween calendar since 1986. The plastic pails temporarily replace the standard Happy Meal box, and kids can reuse them to collect candy on Halloween night.
This year’s version keeps that formula but changes the cast. Instead of generic monsters and spooky animals, each bucket carries the face of a character from a classic Disney animated film. As per news reports, every pail comes with a lid and a sticker sheet for decorating.
Fans of the franchise have plenty to look forward to. You can read on for the full breakdown of each design, how this release compares with earlier years, and what to know before heading to the drive-thru. And if you plan to hunt for a full set, bookmark this page and check back, because we will keep it updated as more details come in.
Meet the Five Disney Villains on the Buckets
The 2026 collection features five characters, each from a different Disney film:
- Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty
- Cruella de Vil from One Hundred and One Dalmatians
- Ursula from The Little Mermaid
- Jafar from Aladdin
- Scar from The Lion King
The buckets come in a mix of colors, including red, white, orange, green and purple. McDonald’s has described the collection as offering something for every type of Disney villain fan, from flair and magic to ambition and sea-witch swagger.
That spread is deliberate. These five characters come from different decades and different kinds of stories. A parent who grew up on The Lion King and a kid who loves The Little Mermaid can each find a favorite.
When Do the Disney Boo Buckets Hit McDonald’s?
McDonald’s has said the buckets will be available starting October 20 at participating restaurants nationwide. They come with the purchase of a Happy Meal, so the standard choices apply: a burger or chicken nuggets, a side and a drink.
The promotion runs for a limited time and only while supplies last. That matters for anyone hoping to collect all five. Individual restaurants may run out at different times, and availability can vary by location.
Customers can check with their local restaurant or the McDonald’s app for details. The company has not said whether shoppers can pick a specific villain when ordering, so collectors may need some patience.
Why This Release Stands Out
Boo Buckets have changed a lot over the past few years, and the comparison helps explain why this Disney collaboration is getting so much attention.
In 2024, McDonald’s redesigned the pails around a monster face in white, orange, green and blue. Social media reaction was harsh, and some fans said the designs looked cheap and worse than earlier versions.
In 2025, the chain went back to a more familiar approach. Ghost, Pumpkin and Goblin returned, joined by new Cat and Zombie designs. Each bucket came in three expressions, creating 15 different faces to collect. That lineup arrived on October 21, 2025.
The 2026 approach is different again. Instead of one theme with several expressions, McDonald’s is offering five distinct licensed characters. That makes each bucket feel less like a generic Halloween prop and more like a collectible tied to a story people already love.
It also marks a clear break from the past two years. Gone are the generic monsters, replaced by a recognizable cast.
Why Disney Villains Make Sense for Halloween
There is a simple logic behind the pairing. Halloween is the one time of year when being the bad guy is part of the fun. Kids dress as Maleficent and Cruella every October, and Disney villains are a staple of costumes, parties and theme park events.
Putting those characters on a trick-or-treat bucket turns the container into part of the costume. A child dressed as Jafar can carry a Jafar bucket. A family going as a group of villains can match.
My read is that this is a smart move for McDonald’s. The old Boo Bucket appeal was nostalgia. The new appeal adds fandom on top of it, and that reaches a wider audience, including adults who collect Disney merchandise.
A Real-World Scenario: How Families Will Likely Use Them
Picture a typical family with two kids. One wants to be Ursula for a school party and the other is planning a trick-or-treat route around the neighborhood. A Happy Meal gets dinner done on a busy weeknight, and the bucket then doubles as a candy pail.
Because the buckets are reusable, they also have a second life after Halloween. McDonald’s has pitched earlier Boo Buckets as décor and storage, and some fans repurpose them as planters or toy bins. Disney-themed pails could stay on a shelf long after the holiday ends.
That reuse value is a big part of why people line up for them each year.
How the Disney Boo Buckets Fit the Wider Halloween Food Scene
McDonald’s is not the only chain chasing Halloween spirit this year. As per news reports, Tim Hortons has glow-in-the-dark Halloween buckets and a set of 12 kids’ meal collectibles, made up of six core characters and six variants.
Where Tim Hortons leans on variety, McDonald’s is leaning on brand power. A Disney villain on a pail is an instantly recognizable hook, and it gives the Happy Meal a reason to stand out in a crowded seasonal market.
Tips for Collectors Hoping to Catch All Five
Because the promotion runs only while supplies last, a little planning goes a long way.
- Go early. The first days of a limited promotion are usually the best time to find a full selection.
- Check the app. Availability can differ by restaurant, so confirm before making the trip.
- Ask politely. McDonald’s has not said whether you can choose a design, but staff may be able to help depending on what is in stock.
- Plan around Halloween. The buckets are made for trick-or-treating, so earlier pickup leaves time to use them.
What Is Still Unknown
Some details have not been announced. McDonald’s has not said how many buckets each restaurant will receive or whether customers can request a particular villain. It has also not shared an end date beyond the “while supplies last” language.
Earlier online chatter suggested the villain lineup might be limited to certain regions. The latest reports from major outlets point to a nationwide release at participating U.S. restaurants, starting October 20.
A Disney Connection Beyond the Happy Meal
The villain theme arrives at an interesting moment for Disney fans. The same five characters are tied to attractions planned for Villains Land, which is under construction at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. That gives the McDonald’s collection extra buzz among theme park followers, even though the two projects are separate.
For the casual customer, though, none of that matters. The appeal is simple: a fun bucket, a meal and a favorite villain.
The Bottom Line on the 2026 Boo Buckets
McDonald’s has packed a lot into this year’s release. It combines a nearly 40-year-old Halloween tradition with some of the best-known characters in animation. The result is a collection that should appeal to kids, parents and longtime Disney fans alike.
Whether you want one for trick-or-treating, one for decoration, or all five for your shelf, October 20 is the date to mark. The buckets are limited, the villains are iconic, and the season is short.
Which villain are you hoping to take home first? Tell us in the comments, and keep checking back for the latest Halloween news.
Which Disney villain bucket is your favorite? Drop your pick in the comments and stay with us for more Halloween updates!