LPWire: DIS Pics The Haunted Mansion Brings Big Screen Fun To McDonald's(R) Happy Meals

From The Disney Theme Parks To Neighborhood McDonald's, Residents Of The Haunted Mansion Are Popping Up In McDonald's Happy Meals

Walt Disney Pictures and McDonald's have teamed up to deliver the fun family event of The Haunted Mansion movie to kids of all ages in McDonald's Happy Meals. The newest McDonald's Happy Meal ®, launching Wednesday, November 26 at participating restaurants, will feature six different action-packed toys from the movie The Haunted Mansion. Drawing inspiration from the Disney theme park attraction of the same name, this holiday film and Happy Meal event offers ghostly antics for the entire family and brings the funny magic of the theme park to neighborhoods nationwide.

Ranging from a surprised-filled singing ghost to a haunted mirror, each McDonald's The Haunted Mansion Happy Meal toy features a variety of optical illusions and funny pranks based on haunting events in the movie. The Happy Meal toys include: Ramsley's Trunk, Zombie Surprise, Madame Leota, Singing Bust, Gracey's Camera and Mortifying Mirror.

"McDonald's is thrilled to partner with Walt Disney Pictures and bring the fun of The Haunted Mansion theme park ride and the new live action movie to life for kids and collectors," said Karlin Linhardt, senior director kids and family marketing. "Our funny, surprised-filled toys capture the imagination and creativity of the original theme park and are designed to enhance the imagination of kids of all ages."

The McDonald's The Haunted Mansion Happy Meal will run from November 26, 2003 - December 18, 2003 at participating McDonald's restaurants nationwide, while supplies last.

The Happy Meal event will be supported by national television and print advertising developed by Leo Burnett Co. and Hispanic television advertising by dRM DDB.

The upcoming holiday season is also a perfect time to stop by McDonald's restaurants for gift certificates, great for stocking stuffers or any festive occasion. Books of five coupons are available for purchase for five dollars, while supplies last.

McDonald's is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 restaurants serving nearly 46 million people in 100 countries each day. Approximately 80 percent of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and women.

Walt Disney Pictures' The Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion comes alive like never before with incredible visual and special effects in this all-new, fun-filled comedy adventure. Shrouded in fog and mystery, the mansion was once a stately antebellum palace that hosted New Orleans' wealthiest. Now it's the creepy and crumbling home to a love struck 19th century gentleman, 999 ghosts, and a hilarious and hair-raising battle for "home rule."

Realtor Jim Evers (EDDIE MURPHY) and his wife and business partner Sara get a call late one night from mansion owner Edward Gracey, who is looking to sell his property. Smelling the biggest deal of their career, Jim, Sara and their two children pay a visit to the mansion, located on a remote bayou.

A torrential thunderstorm of mysterious origin strands the Evers family in the old mansion with the brooding, eccentric Gracey, his mysterious butler Ramsley, and a variety of residents both seen and unseen. At first, Jim scoffs at Gracey's stories about ghosts and hauntings, until he unearths the mystery of the mansion and finds that his wife Sara has unexpected connections to its haunted past.

The Haunted Mansion is directed by Rob Minkoff ("The Lion King," "Stuart Little") and features stunning special effects and make-up design by six-time Academy Award ® winner Rick Baker ("An American Werewolf in London." "Men in Black," "The Nutty Professor," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"), visual effects by Sony Pictures Imageworks, Inc., and sets by Oscar ® - winning production designer John Myhre ("Elizabeth," "X-Men," "Chicago").