McDonalds 2011 Halloween Pails Are Back!

I apologize for not revealing this information sooner. I was waiting to find the green pail so I could photograph and include both, but alas, it has so far escaped me and we're entering "Halloweekend."

McDonalds has put out --quietly-- their 2011 Halloween Pails! 
When I say "quietly" I mean, there's no web presence like last year, no TV commercials and no advertising for them of any kind. 
If I weren't a Halloween Addict bent on finding them this year, I would have no idea they exist.

Which is a shame because I think they got them right this year. 
This year's buckets come in two styles:  orange with a black handle and a light yellow-green.  Or green-yellow.  I'm trying to remember the difference from my Crayola box from years ago.  I think it was "Spring Green." 
ANYWAY, a green with a purple handle.

Like last year, the handles double as "masks" (hold 'em up to your face--poof-- a mask).  There's only one style of handle this year:  a cat.  Think WB's Sylvester by way of Animaniacs.  The cat handle DOES come in two colors though: black and purple. Get both and you can mix and match.

The buckets come with GLOW-IN-THE-DARK stickers (which instantly makes them awesome) that you can stick on the outside of the pail like a plastic jack o' lantern.  Nice!

On the other side of the sticker sheet (which also fits on top like a lid) there are login instructions for getting a free "virtual treat." 
Problem is:  the "Haunted Hideout" is nowhere to be found on the HappyMeal.com site.  It's like they ran out of time and realized they really just wanted to push Puss 'n Boots and Monopoly instead... which is probably what happened.

I REALLY like the color-schemes of the classic black/orange and purple/green. 
It lends a classiness to the buckets that makes them more timeless.
The simple jack o' lantern sticker decorating is great too.  

Though I didn't purchase the Mr. Potato Head versions last year, it now makes me want to acquire some on eBay so I can take the white skull handle and put it on my orange bucket and put the pumpkin handle on the new plain green bucket. 
I'll let you know if they fit (my theory is that they should just snap in place).

On a side note, I never realized how small the buckets are.  They're certainly not "too small" just smaller than I thought.  They're actually the perfect size for tykes to use as candy trick-or-treat buckets this Halloween.  At only about $2 bucks and change for the bucket sans Happy Meal food (which is how I bought mine) it's not a bad deal. 

PROS:  The buckets have done away with Mr. Potato Head (as I hoped for last year... which means they may be reading).
The classic colors and pumpkin decorating are classy.

CONS:  The GITD stickers don't glow very brightly. 
Only one mask/handle design this year (a cat).
No on-line or media support.
Though two McDonalds near me had both buckets in the display case, they only had the orange buckets in-house.

Time's a runnin' out, so get out there and buy these versions to show your support not only for the classic style of 2011's treat pails, but also to show Uncle McD that we still love the Halloween pails!