List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $69.99
Today's Bonus: 30% Off
Before you read this, take in mind that I'm approaching this from an adult doll/toy-collector perpective. I'm 35 and have loved and worked for the Disney Company for many years. I have now purchased all 5 dolls, some of the outfits, the canopy bed and 3 wardrobes (which were FREE with purchase at Toys R Us). First of all, don't expect Robert Tonner quality. These are high-end play dolls. I am very picky about my hair and facial paint, so it took a while to find the "perfect" dolls. While the actual doll itself is of superior quality, the gowns they come in are just "okay" and even though the attention to detail is beautiful, they are inconsistently made. The hair is going to be diffrent on every doll, too, because they are all hand-rooted. Most little girls (and some little boys!), won't mind this...they're not picky about those little things.
Here are some tips when you decide to buy your Princess and Me doll:
* I've found that the dolls' hair is of superior quality. It's hand rooted with the highest quality kanekelon hair, so BUY YOUR CHILDREN *WIRE BRUSHES* for hair play. This will keep the hair super soft and shiny, and not cause it to frizz. I use a pet brush that has the metal bristles on one side and the brush bristles ont he other. Here's a doll brush here on Amazon that is perfect:
http://www.amazon.com/Doll-Hairbrush-inch-American-Carpatina/dp/B000H45NLU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1289231100&sr=8-2
* The Macor glass eyes are unusually expensive and of utmost beauty, but they will scratch if subjected to anything sharp.
* Belle's "Winter Gown" is the most beautifully crafted gown in the whole line. All of the seams are finished, the trim goes all around the neckline, waist and hem. The skirt is very full and is just beautiful on the doll. The gowns that the dolls come in take "short cuts", as in, only the front of the gown is embellished or printed and the back is plain satin. You can't go wrong with Belle's "Winter Gown" ensemble. Although still very beautiful, I suspect that most of the value of the doll is in the doll itself and not the gowns they come home in.
* The ballet outfits and nightgown sets are really cute and they aren't done justice in the packaging. The quality is very nice.
* The canopy bed, although very beautiful and in keeping with the theme, has a cardboard "mattress". For little ones, this will eventually wear out if they continuously put their Princess to bed and will have to be replaced. The wardrobes are well made, but just like the bed, they have a carboard backing. It seems fairly sturdy.
All in all, as a doll collector, this is a superior line of collector-quality dolls that you or your child will treasure. Ariel has always been my favorite Princess, (she's the reason I work for Disney!), and she happens to be my favorite Princess and Me doll. Her face sculpt, eyes and hair are just *STRIKING*. Your child will love to carry her Princess everywhere and show her off. I read where one parent's child carried her Ariel doll into Walt Disney World and guests kept stopping her to ask where she got it.
Depending on how this product line does, (Tiana is the hardest to find right now), I can see many products to come. More gowns themed to each Princess, more dolls, etc. I know Rapunzel is coming soon, but I would love to see Snow White and Jasmine.
For $50, this is an exceptional price.
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I read several reviews of this doll on another website and I was surprised that everyone gave it five stars. My daughter received this doll last night for her birthday and she was thrilled! But, as her mom, I wish it was a lot more durable--especially for the price.This morning she woke up after the doll had only been taken out of the package and laid on her bed (she didn't snuggle with it even) and one of the earrings was missing. I looked everywhere to no avail. The doll doesn't come with much except what the doll is wearing. It is fastened into the box with those plastic ties that go through socks, but you can't completely get them out of the doll's head. Nail Clippers will get you the closest to the sharp ends to cut them without cutting the doll's hair. If your daughter really wants this doll and loses the earrings (which will likely happen quickly), a possible solution are small jewel stickers. They don't stick for long, but you could use a hot glue gun or a bit of glue to stick them on the dolls ears. They look fine. My daughter was satisfied with this fix. I'm also not sure about how well the hair is going to do over time. It feels like it's going to get tangled very easily.
The doll will fit into other 18" doll clothes (like the My Generation or American Girl), but this dolls shoulders are narrower since it is an all plastic doll so the clothes will fit differently and hang very loosely.
If you can, I would steer your daughter to either the My Generation Dolls, the BFC Ink Dolls, or another more durable doll. Even Barbies are a lot more durable.
