The moment McDonald’s announced their collaboration with global sensation BTS, ARMY immediately took to Twitter to ask the most important question: Will they come with photo cards? After that, the platform was filled with jokes about fans preserving their BTS meal packaging.
… Until, eventually, they weren’t jokes anymore. On 26 May 2021, McDonald’s started rolling out BTS meals in select countries, complete with pretty purple packaging — and fans couldn’t bear to part with it. Since then, we’ve seen countless photos of fans washing, drying, and displaying their BTS meal paper bags, nuggets containers, paper cups, and sauce packets. Our takeaway? No one is quite as creative as the BTS ARMY, that’s for sure!
While some might call them silly, we can’t help but applaud their innovative ideas. When it comes to anything BTS-related, you can always count on the fans to celebrate them in the best way they possibly can. From simply displaying their meal packaging to transforming various pieces into accessories, we gathered some of the most creative ways that fans have preserved and displayed their BTS meal packaging. Feel free to take notes!
Also read: 13 Relatable & Emotional Stages of Joining the BTS ARMY
How to preserve your BTS meal packaging, according to ARMYs all over the world
1. Turn your BTS meal packaging into a phone case
The real bts meal 🤤❤️ pic.twitter.com/gn3V8hzP1v
— Kim Aisha ⁷ 🦋 (@itzmeaisha_) May 31, 2021
This ARMY made use of a clear phone case, the BTS meal paper cup, and her very own V photo card!
@awdwulan love it! its the ✨purple✨ for me 😍 #btsmeal #mcdonalds #case #iphone #diy #army
Similarly, another fan made her own with the McNuggets packaging. She even presents various design options!
2. Laminate it so it lasts forever
When you own a laminator to cement your moment with BTS permanently 🤷♀️ #BTSMeal pic.twitter.com/oesByHpoHZ
— Froggy Otaku (@FroggyOtaku) May 31, 2021
Can’t trust a printing company to laminate it for you? (We feel you — the packaging is way too precious.) Shop for your own laminator here.
3. Incorporate them into your decor
So what did i do with the bts meal packaging? 🤭 pic.twitter.com/zUegkfRLfQ
— XiePurpleYou⁷ 💜 (@xiepurpleyou) May 31, 2021
If you’ve also gotten into redecorating your space during the pandemic, then your room is probably filled with cute trinkets and decor. This ARMY transformed her cup into a pen holder, while the paper bag and nuggets container were cleaned and displayed on a metal rack. They make cute purple accents, right?
4. Put everything together and frame it
@aynartshop BTS meal finally here💜 #bts #btsmeal #mcdonalds #fyp #foryoupage #namjoon #seokjin #yoongi #jimin #hoseok #jungkook #taehyung
Just grab a nice frame, and voila! Art.
5. Place it all in an acetate box
@albertoberto96 It’s a part of BTS Merchandise too💜. It’s Precious. Exactly. #fyp #btsxmcdonalds #btsxarmy #btsmeal #btsfanboy
Don’t want to flatten the packaging? Take notes from this fan, who decided to display his in a clear acetate box (just like they do with cake displays). Purchase your own here.
Also read: Heads Up, ARMY: This Local Bakery Makes BTS Cakes & Cupcakes!
6. Turn it into hanging organiser
made a hanging organizer for my stationery from the #BTSMeal packaging and an old wall calendar 😀 pic.twitter.com/DHDA7dwArq
— rin⁷ ⛱ (@ktaebwi_613) May 27, 2021
This ARMY combined her old wall calendar and BTS meal packaging in order to create a hanging organiser. Talk about resourcefulness!
7. Make keychains out of your sauce packets
@tashjanncreations I couldn’t stop myself from saving this moment 🥰💜🥰#btsxmcdonalds #bts #btsmeal #btsaustralia #btsarmy 
This fan laminated the labeling on her cajun and sweet chili sauce packets, then attached keyrings to them. And just like that, you have your very own BTS meal keychains! Get your own keyring here.
8. Make your own BTS meal tumbler
@najwazul92 I saw an army posted this on #twitter 😍 So, I got to do my own 😉💜 #smoothlikebutter🧈 #BTS_BUTTER #방탄소년단 #btsmeal #customizedtumbler #starbucks
Now, here’s a great way to make your BTS meal cup last forever! This fan has inspired many to preserve their BTS packaging by way of creating their own tumblers. In a video, she showed how she made use of a customisable tumbler that comes with a space for photo inserts. Instead of a photo, she placed her McDonald’s cup, which she cut to make sure it would fit accordingly. You can buy your own cutsomisable tumbler here.
Also read: This ‘Study With BTS’ Video Is All the Motivation We Need to Get Through the Work Week
9. Create a BTS meal mood lamp
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This ARMY took things a step further — she created a mood lamp out of her cup by placing a LED light inside it!
10. Simply display it
dan bermula lah pergaduhan antara bts coke and bts meals 😂 serabut aku nk display kt aner🤔 #BTSMeal #BTSxMcD pic.twitter.com/wF1VUwEsmf
— fzhshfr (@monoldr) May 26, 2021
… Along with all your other BTS merch and packaging, of course! If you’re an ARMY, then you’re already familiar with the group’s collaborations with brands like Chilsung Cider, Lemona, and Babinski (that’s the brand of the BTS coffee that you see pretty much everywhere; I was today years old when I learned this). The bottles are just other BTS-themed merchandise that fans can’t bear to throw away — and TBH, I can relate.
Also read: Loved BTS In The Soop? You Can Actually Book the Lakeside Property on Airbnb
While we impatiently await for the BTS meal to make it to Philippine shores, it certainly can’t hurt to take inspiration from our fellow ARMYs across the globe. We can’t wait to see how creative Pinoy fans will get with their own BTS meal packaging!
