McDonald’s just flipped the switch on a holiday play, and it is already messy. The chain launched 12 Days of 2 dollar Deals on the app this week, but many customers cannot see the offers. We tested stores and app markets this morning. The result is a patchwork rollout that will reward some shoppers and frustrate others.
What McDonald’s just launched
Here is the promise. From December 12 through December 23, McDonald’s is running two app-only deals each day, both priced at 2 dollars. One drops in the morning, tied to breakfast hours. One appears in the evening. You need a MyMcDonald’s Rewards account, and you must activate the offer in the app to redeem.
Day one lined up as follows. Morning was any Bagel Breakfast Sandwich for 2 dollars. Evening was a Filet O Fish for 2 dollars. Today, day two, the morning offer is a Big Breakfast for 2 dollars. Tonight’s offer is a 10 piece Chicken McNuggets for 2 dollars. These are single item deals, not meals. Taxes and any add ons are extra.
This promotion is app only and it is not showing in every market.
Where the 2 dollar deals actually show up today
We spot checked the MyMcDonald’s app across multiple regions this morning and called stores. The offers populated in parts of the Southeast, then vanished just a few miles away. We saw live deals in select locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Several neighboring stores within those states had no tile at all.
In contrast, we could not pull the offers in tests run from California and Florida. We also heard from managers in Georgia and Connecticut who had not been briefed, so they were not honoring the deal. The app simply showed standard offers.
This mismatch is what is driving the confusion. The company’s holiday creative is widespread, but local participation is clearly optional. If your store’s co op did not opt in, the tile will not appear. Even inside participating regions, one franchise may show it while the next one down the road does not.
Why the rollout is uneven
This is not a tech glitch alone. McDonald’s is a franchise system. Pricing and promos often sit with local owners and regional co ops. Holiday offers can be tested in clusters for margin control and supply planning. That seems to be the case here, with a targeted rollout and staggered communication.
The app adds another layer. Your available deals are tied to the store selected in the app and your device location. If you select a non participating store, the tile disappears. If a store has not synced its offer feed, the tile may lag. We saw tiles appear after a force close of the app in two tests, which suggests staggered push timing.
How to actually get the deal
Here is the cleanest playbook based on our field tests and calls. It takes two minutes.
- Update the McDonald’s app, then log out and back in.
- Turn on location services, then manually select a different nearby store.
- Check again during breakfast hours for the AM offer, then after the dinner rush for PM.
- Place a mobile order to lock the 2 dollar price before you drive.
If you can see the tile for a participating store, switch to that store in the app and place the order for pickup. The price holds once added to cart.
If you still do not see the tile, your local stores likely are not participating. Calling the store rarely fixes it, since the barcode must originate from the app. Staff cannot create the offer at the register.
Breakfast hours vary by location. If your store stops breakfast early, the AM deal will end with it.
Deals analysis and what it means for shoppers
When the tile lands in your app, these are strong value plays. A Big Breakfast at 2 dollars is well below typical pricing. A 10 piece Nuggets at 2 dollars undercuts most bundle offers. If you commute past a participating store, this is easy savings with zero hoops.
The bigger story is strategic. McDonald’s is using app only holiday bait to drive account logins and pick up behavior. It is also testing how precise it can be with regional pricing at scale. Expect more of these micro promos, often limited to certain co ops, with strong values for those inside the fence. For everyone else, the message is mixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do I not see the 2 dollar deals in my app?
A: Your selected store likely is not participating. Switch stores in the app and check again, or wait for the daily push to sync.
Q: What time do the AM and PM deals go live?
A: AM aligns with each store’s breakfast window. PM appears in the evening, often after mid afternoon. Exact times vary by location.
Q: Do I need MyMcDonald’s Rewards?
A: Yes. You must be logged in and activate the offer tile before adding the item to your cart.
Q: Can I stack the 2 dollar deal with another coupon or points?
A: In most cases, no. The app typically limits one deal per order. Rules can vary by store.
Q: Is this nationwide?
A: Not at this time. Our checks show availability in select parts of NC, SC, KY, TN, and WV, with gaps even inside those states.
McDonald’s lit a bright holiday sign, but not every store turned it on. If you are in the right pocket, enjoy a real win on breakfast or nuggets. If not, check nearby stores in the app and keep it moving. The value is real where the tile appears, and the season’s best price is two taps away.
