Disney has had a long history of partnering with Nabisco on themed products, but it’s been a while. This was likely sparked by Disney’s “Mickey Check” initiative of only partnering with foods that fit the image of a healthy diet. Oreos don’t, but the good news is that for Mickey’s 90th Anniversary, we get to live a little. It’s a time to celebrate, and calories don’t count on birthdays!!! Mickey’s 90th Anniversary Limited Edition Oreos are in stores now.
The limited edition packaging features classic Mickey pre-Fantasia. There are three limited edition cookie designs, the one on the front of the package showing Mickey’s face wearing a party hat. Another features that same hat off his head with confetti all around, some of it Mickey shaped. The third cookie says “90” on it.
The flavor is “Birthday Cake,” which isn’t new. It’s actually been around for a while and sadly, it’s one of the few Oreo flavors that I’m not a fan of. The cream is a lot sweeter than your typical Oreo. In fact, I think it’s sweeter than if they just put real cake frosting on the cookie. The cream itself is speckled with rainbow colors to look like there’s confetti in it.
When you think of Oreos and Disney, you probably think of Lindsay Lohan’s version of The Parent Trap where Annie, the British twin, confesses to eating them with peanut butter and Hallie, the American one, shares that she likes them that way too. Kids today probably don’t know that once upon a time, there were just two types of Oreos: chocolate and vanilla. You couldn’t just buy them with peanut butter cream already inside. The original Haylie Mills version of The Parent Trap featured a different Nabisco product in a similar scene at camp, with the girls enjoying Fig Newtons instead.
Disney and Nabisco actually have a long history of sponsorships and cross promotion. The short film, Mickey’s Surprise Party, was produced for the 1939 New York World’s Fair to promote Nabisco products. Minnie makes a mess in the kitchen and the day is saved by a slew of Nabisco products, including Oreos in their original packaging. The short in it’s original form was included as an Easter Egg on the first Mickey Mouse in Living Color DVD box set from Leonard Maltin’s Walt Disney Treasures series.
Nabisco also produced Mickey Mouse Cookies from the late 1930’s through the 1940’s, similar in taste, size, and packaging to Animal Crackers.
Image source: Hake’s Auctions
In the late 80’s, Oreo allowed kids to join the official fan club of The New Mickey Mouse Club (MMC) through a mail-in campaign.
Image source: HobbyDB
And perhaps the earliest partnership with Nabisco came before they shortened their name, with Mickey Mouse on packages of National Biscuit Company sliced bread. NA – National, BI – Biscuit, CO – Company… Nabisco.
Image Source: Hake’s Auctions
While the Limited Edition Mickey’s 90th Anniversary Oreos don’t fit my taste palette, I am thrilled to see Mickey Mouse returning to Nabisco packaging. I sincerely hope that this longstanding tradition continues with more cross promotions that allow us to celebrate our love of Mickey Mouse and Disney through our everyday snacking choices.