The Golden Arches have officially come down at one Disney theme park.
A Partnership With Deep Roots
The relationship between McDonald's and The Walt Disney Company goes back decades. What started as Happy Meal toy collaborations in the 1980s eventually grew into a physical presence inside the Disney parks themselves.
Throughout the 1990s, McDonald's kiosks popped up at Disneyland Park, Magic Kingdom Park, and EPCOT, while a full-service fast-food restaurant operated in what is now Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort. The brand even landed a sponsorship deal for the DINOSAUR ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
That relationship quietly unraveled in the early 2000s, when Disney declined to renew its domestic contract with the chain, citing a push toward healthier food options for children. The kiosks, the restaurant, and the DINOSAUR sponsorship all disappeared from U.S. Disney properties. Today, the only McDonald's on Walt Disney World Resort grounds is a standalone location near the All-Star Resort hotels.
France Was Different
Across the Atlantic, McDonald's held its ground at Disneyland Paris Resort far longer. The brand opened its first French restaurant in 1972 and grew into a dominant fast food presence in the country; France eventually became McDonald's second-largest global market. A McDonald's debuted in the Disney Village lifestyle complex in the 1990s and served Disney Park guests there for nearly three decades.
Last year, Disneyland Paris Resort announced that the original Golden Arches era was coming to an end. The original Disney Village McDonald's continued operating while a newer, modernized location was built nearby, before finally closing its doors on February 16, 2026.
X (formerly Twitter) user @cave0fwonders captured the moment the Golden Arches were physically removed from the building, posting photos and video that quickly spread among fans:
✨ 🚧 A page is turning … ✨ [Translated from French]
#disneylandparis @McDonaldsFrance
✨ 🚧 Une page se tourne … ✨#disneylandparis @McDonaldsFrance pic.twitter.com/Xl8ajfRai4
— 🧞♂️ Cave 0f Wonders (@Cave0fWonders) March 12, 2026
New McDonald's New Open
The transition was seamless by design. The replacement McDonald's opened at a new location near Lake Disney on February 17 — the same day the original closed — featuring exclusive Disneyland Paris Resort merchandise and what the company describes as “an innovative architecture designed exclusively for Disneyland Paris.”
Where is your favorite cheap eat at the Disney parks? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments!
