McDonalds Monopoly 2011 Starts September 27 -- Prize List and Participating Food Items

McDonalds Monopoly 2011 hits restaurants nationwide on September 27. The long-running annual promotion, which is modeled after the popular board game of the same name, gives fast food-loving consumers a chance to bring home cool prizes, including Walmart gift cards, spa certificates and cold, hard cash.

I was pumped to see an ad pimping the promotion printed on the side of my drink cup this afternoon. Though I've never managed to walk away a big winner, I've enjoyed a smattering of food prizes over the years, and hope for bigger, better wins springs eternal. This year, I've got my eye on a Walmart gift card or two.

What to Buy

There are several ways to win big, but nearly all of them begin with the purchase of one of more specified food or beverage items from the McDonalds menu. A single game piece --which includes two game stamps-- will be awarded for consumers purchasing any or each of the following menu items, as supplies allow:

Medium Fountain Drinks Medium and Large Iced and Blended McCafe beverages; includes Smoothies and Frappes but excludes large Iced Coffee and Shakes
Hash Browns (breakfast only)
Big Macs
10-piece Chicken McNuggets
Egg McMuffin (breakfast only)
Oatmeal
Filet-O-Fish

Customers buying 20-piece Chicken McNuggets or Large French Fries will receive two game pieces, as supplies last.

What Can I Win?

Each game stamp obtained at McDonalds will yield either a collect and win property taken directly from the board game, or an instant win prize. Among the instant win prizes offered are:

Free food items, including (but not limited to) Medium French Fries, Small Frappe or Smoothie and Quarter Pounder with Cheese
$5 Walmart Gift Cards
$500 cash
A trip for 4 to the 2012 Olympic Games in London

Collect and win prizes include, among others:

A luxury family vacation to a Beaches Resort
$100,000 Cash
SL MY 12 Nissan LEAF

Online Play

To play the online version of the McDonalds Monopoly 2011 promotion, visit PlayatMCD.com and follow the simple registration instructions. Even if you played last year, you'll still need to fill out the form to re-register. After entering a game code, click to submit and play the game that follows. Game codes are available on game stamps received in-store. Alternately, you can request a free stamp by mail; check out the official rules for details and for a complete listing of all prizes available along with odds of winning.

A sampling of prizes available through the online game include:

30 MyCokeRewards points
A Snapfish 5"x7" Photo Book
$1,000 Walmart Gift Card
$10,000 Cash

Are you ready to win? Head to your local Mickey D's on September 27 to peel your first McDonalds Monopoly 2011 game stamp. You never know: You could be the next big winner. And hey, a free Smoothie wouldn't hurt anything, either.