TEENIE BEANIE BONANZA: MCDONALD'S INTRODUCES 12 NEW COLLECTIBLES THAT GO ON SALE FRIDAY NATIONWIDE

They're back.

McDonald's brings back its most successful Happy Meal promotion in the company's history this week.

A dozen Ty Teenie Beanie Babies -- miniature replicas of the full-sized stuffed animals -- will be available beginning Friday. For the first time ever, a special edition of four Ty Teenie Beanie Babies International Bears will also be offered in early June.

The local McDonald's office -- which oversees stores in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Sikeston, and Charleston -- is bracing for the storm. Last year, the restaurants were so crowded that police had to be called on several occasions to direct traffic. The crowd was so thick in the lobby of the Jackson restaurant at one point, it had to be cleared as a fire hazard.

Jerry Davis, owner of the local franchises, says they're ready for Round Three. "We expect to do better than last year," he said.

This year, some rules have changed.

The first four toys will be sold in order beginning Friday: Freckles the Leopard, Antsy the Anteater, Smoochy the Frog, and Spunky the Cocker Spaniel. Even if all the toys are sold in a single day, the next group of four won't be available until May 24: Rocket the Blue Jay, Iggy the Iguana, Strut the Rooster, and Nuts the Squirrel. The last installment of the dozen will go on sale May 28: Claude the Crab, Stretchy the Ostrich, Nook the Husky, and Chip the Cat.

A fact that may make the teenies more collectible is that all their full-size counterparts are retired except for Rocket the Blue Jay.

Lynn Petzoldt, district supervisor for McDonald's, said the aim is to stretch out the promotion at least two weeks. In the past two years, some stores have sold out in just a few days.

"Every McDonald's is holding to this schedule," he said.

The local franchise office is also working to equalize the quantity of teenies in each store so that customers won't have to drive from store to store to get a different style.

"Our stores will run out within an hour of each other," said Petzoldt.

Two years ago, Shannon Davis said McDonald's was "blind-sided" by the craze.

"Last year we were prepared, but it was even more intense," he said.

McDonald's has even more teenies on hand this year for sale.

The local franchise has also been busy preparing new staff members for the crush. Shannon Davis said everyone worked last year, which is close to 300 employees in Cape, Jackson, Charleston and Sikeston.

As a bonus, this year crew members who work the entire promotion will receive a specially-tagged teenie Glory bear.

The teenies will be available free in a Happy Meal. To prevent customers from throwing away uneaten kid's meals, the restaurants are also offering teenies with any food item. The limit is 10 per visit -- each sold with a food item.

"We don't mind selling the product," said Petzoldt. "We just don't want to see it go in the trash can."

New this year is four International Teenie Beanie Bears. That promotion will begin June 4, when Britannia and Glory will be available for sale. On June 9, the stores will sell Erin and Maple. These bears are available for $2.49 with food purchase, and won't be in the Happy Meals. A portion of these proceeds will go to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The local McDonald's also hopes to be better prepared for cruising customers. Large signs will be posted in the windows and on the drive-through screens as to what teenie is currently available.

The stores will have voice mail through Southwestern Bell this year to answer calls. Last year's crush of calls blew up several answering machines.

"We're as ready as we'll ever be," said Jerry Davis.