WTF Happened to McDonalds Milkshakes?

It's gotten worse. Even still, it is my favorite post-long run snack.

I prefer the McDonald's locations at over 8000' elevation - Woodland Park, CO comes to mind. Also, Silverthorne, CO. I think that's the highest McDonald's.

What is your favorite elevation level for McDonald's?

I have had at least one a year for two decades plus. It's the same shake. You even still get that chocovanstraw flavor overtone regardless of what flavor you order.

Now they put whipped cream on it (good) and a cherry (gross). That's all that is different as far as I can tell and since I have, for better or worse, more data points than you, I'm right.

wrong rememberer wrote:

I have had at least one a year for two decades plus. It's the same shake. You even still get that chocovanstraw flavor overtone regardless of what flavor you order.

Now they put whipped cream on it (good) and a cherry (gross). That's all that is different as far as I can tell and since I have, for better or worse, more data points than you, I'm right.

No it is not the same shake. They use reduced fat ice cream now. They did not used to do that. The original shakes were whole milk and hard ice cream.

Over the years they have lost the granular gritty shake and become a smoothie.

Some things are better before they were watered down.

You think the shakes have affected their stock value?

Which, by the way, is up over the last one month, 3 months, 1 year, 5 years and all time.

So how is their stock in the tank?

I just remember when they started having shamrock shakes in March and I thought to myself NOTHING is naturally that color green. It was upsetting.

I don't go to McD's anymore. Last thing I used to go for were the fried mozzarella sticks which, you know, were not health food.

Star wrote:

You think the shakes have affected their stock value?

Which, by the way, is up over the last one month, 3 months, 1 year, 5 years and all time.

It's way up because they brought back "hot mustard" sauce. You know, for the McNuggets. If they are good enough for Mr. Bolt, they are good enough for me.

Go home and make your own damn Milkshakes people! McDonalds peddles hormone-ridden animal products.

The place has really gone downhill since the Colonel died.

Even though I know its far from healthy, I have to revisit my youth and have a cheeseburger, fries, and a vanilla shake once every 6 months. Those of you under 40 won't understand.

No it is not the same shake. They use reduced fat ice cream now. They did not used to do that. The original shakes were whole milk and hard ice cream.

Over the years they have lost the granular gritty shake and become a smoothie.

Some things are better before they were watered down.

I wasn't around back in the 50s, so I can't speak about the original McDonald's milkshakes, but as long as I've been sampling and avoiding them--since the late 70s--they've had no ice cream whatever. They've been filled with thickeners, so that their viscosity remains more or less constant, whether they're fresh and icy or warmer and "melted." They've always been a joke to anybody who knows what an actual milkshake or malted is supposed to be. Sounds as though they're more of a joke now.

Someone once told me they weren't really milkshakes but were comprised of....ground-up ligaments. Holy cow, as it were.

bladerunner wrote:

Even though I know its far from healthy, I have to revisit my youth and have a cheeseburger, fries, and a vanilla shake once every 6 months. Those of you under 40 won't understand.

Same here, only the shake is chocolate.

Last time I did it the nice girl that took my order asked if I wanted whip and cherry, I said no and that was it.

Guess the OP had more difficulty.

There is a reason they cannot legally call them milkshakes.

Chocolate McCafé Shake (Small):

CHOCOLATE SHAKE SYRUP, VANILLA REDUCED FAT ICE CREAM, MARASCHINO CHERRY, WHIPPED CREAM

Is the McRib back in season yet? Mmmmmmmmm

All you have to do is watch them make it. It's nothing like it was in the 80s/90s. Maybe it's better, maybe it's worse, but it's not the same.

It used to come in a drink cup. It used to come from one of three handles on the shake machine: Vannilla, Chocolate, or Strawberry. Now it is just vanilla and they throw in a syrup for Strawberry or Chocolate.

It now comes in a "parfait cup" with whipped cream and a cherry, like a sundae. I suppose you can ask for it in a drink cup without whipped cream and a cherry, but you know how special requests go at McDonalds... You'll either break their brain or they'll just tell you they cannot do it. That is beside the point, anyway, as the milkshake has changed dramatically.

The company is hurting very badly. They are on life support regardless of stock indicators. Just open a Wall Street Journal. The all-day breakfast signals the beginning of the end. It'll spark a bit of an upward trend for a bit, but by year's end they'll need another boost. We'll see.

Maybe the answer is a "Heritage Menu" of the original basics made in the old school manner.

McMac wrote:

The place has really gone downhill since the Colonel died.

Heyohhh!

Man if you want a shake go to Hagen Daaz or Baskin Robbins.

The real travesty is that they no longer have the Jalapeno Double on the $2 menu. I guess it's back to Jack in the Box for the 2 for .99 tacos.

When I'm hungry and McDonalds is in sight, I always see myself badly wanting to eat it.

Then I go and buy it and eat it and enjoy eating it. Then a few minutes later I feel bad and burping that thing they call hamburger for hours (literally). And I regret and think with myself why the heck didn't I just have a normal meal. Almost same price, healthier and doesn't make me feel bad and burping.

Then a few days later, if I encounter myself in the same sitation (hungry; McDonalds is an option), I see myself badly wanting to eat it again (despite being 100% aware of the outcome).

I think I was just born stupid.