Amazing Allysen doll -- is she cool enough to spend $100 on?

[Barb D]

This is what DD6 wants from Santa. Does anyone have her? Is she really cool enough to justify spending $100 (virtually Santa's entire Christmas budget for this child?)

"Allysen is a doll that recognizes and responds to key words and phrases with lifelike facial expressions and emotions.

She's programmed to learn child's preferences: favorite hobbies, colors, best school friends and work them into a conversation. It has a vocabulary of more than 100 words and speaks in the recorded voice of a girl. Allysen has the ability to process voice commands. The animatronics controlling her face are finely tuned to produce subtle facial expressions that are perfectly suited to her age (she's 10).

Allysen has a keen fashion sense - dressing in a trendy outfit with cute embellished jeans and a reversible vest. She also comes with cool new accessories which she recognizes, including a smoothie, magazine, hair brush, barrettes, shoes, clothing and a cell phone."

"Increasing the play possibilities, a variety of separate accessory packs enable girls to enjoy all new fun adventures with Allysen. All About Slumber Parties, All About Cheerleading, All About School and All About Dance-themed packs allow Allysen to understand and engage in a whole new play pattern. Each pack includes a new stylish outfit, smart accessories and a cartridge to load Allysen’s new vocabulary for the new play adventure. "

 

[ntburns22]

Our Santa is debating this too. But I have a feeling we may have to pass on this one, unless Auntie gets it.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

Actually sounds a little creepy to me!!...LOL!

 

[mrsv98]

Santa has already said no, well ok I did And that was before I knew it was $100! DD is 6 and I think it would be one of those cool for 15 min toys. Plus, these things NEVER work as well as they are supposed to. OTOH, DD may get an American Girl doll, same cost, way better I think.

 

[dmslush]

As the mother of a 14 year old dd who is way past the toy of the day phase, I say Santa should maybe hold off and get it when it is on sale AFTER christmas. I bought dd a ton of those 'once in a lifetime' dolls and toys that were going to be the end all of toys. Well, in a few days she was either bored with them or they were too complicated for her to have any fun with.

 

[shortbun]

no way would I spend an entire Christmas budget on one thing for a 6yo. Perhaps some of the relatives would underwrite it a bit allowing you to get several small things too. I often did this with my Goddaughters and nephews, sliced $10 or $20 off my gift budget and even once donated my whole gift to the Santa display.

 

[Tiffer]

WE bought this for DD afew years back. I think around 6. WHAT A WASTE!!! DD played with it for about 5 seconds.

No so Amazin!

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

As the mother of a 14 year old dd who is way past the toy of the day phase, I say Santa should maybe hold off and get it when it is on sale AFTER christmas. I bought dd a ton of those 'once in a lifetime' dolls and toys that were going to be the end all of toys. Well, in a few days she was either bored with them or they were too complicated for her to have any fun with.

Ya took the words right out of my mouth!

 

[disneymama73]

My girls each have Amazing Amanda which I would think is similar. They lost all the accessories within about 2 days and only played with her for a short time. Her batteries die very quickly, and the paint on her face wore off within less than a week. No one found her to be all that amazing. Definitely not worth $100.

 

[Mermaid02]

My daughter had "amazing Amy" years ago. She was a "toddler". Beware, if you lose the "peas" and Amy wants the "peas" she won't shut up about it. This doll was beyond annoying. I found "Amy" buried in my dd's closet under tons of stuff- I told my daughter that I was going to have to call Doll Protective Services on her.

 

[tae1218]

DD wanted Amazing Amanda last year for Christmas, but Santa did not bring it. DH ended up buying the doll for her on clearance after Christmas for $75. She played with the doll for a few days. Then I found it under her bed. I asked her why she put her there and she told me Amanda was annoying.

Now she is asking for Amazing Allysen for Christmas. I don't think so! I better not send my DH to the store to pick up anything right after Christmas or he will end up coming home with another annoying doll.

 

[mchames]

My daughter had "amazing Amy" years ago. She was a "toddler". Beware, if you lose the "peas" and Amy wants the "peas" she won't shut up about it. This doll was beyond annoying. I found "Amy" buried in my dd's closet under tons of stuff- I told my daughter that I was going to have to call Doll Protective Services on her.

We had Amazing Ally (the predecessor to Amazing Allysen) and Amazing Ashley, the babydoll version. Even at 3yo DD6 quickly learned how to use the off switch on Ashley because that constant whining for "cookie" was even driving her nuts. We still have it (and all of the pieces, DD6 is VERY careful with her stuff) and she pulls it out every once in awhile, but wiil quickly turn it off. She also will switch off her collection of singing Care Bears, Baby Chou Chou and the whining Rescue Pet. Boy what has Santa been thinking all these years?

Amazing Ally was just so-so. DD8 who was about 5 when she got it had tons of trouble getting the accessories to work. It was so frustrating that when she did play with it she just used it as a regular doll with the "American Girl-like" dolls from Target.

We have since graduated to the American Girl Dolls, first Hopskotch Hill (no longer available) and then the regular AG dolls. If I was going to spend $100 on a doll that's where I'd spend it.

Mary

 

[karynnix]

Amazing Amanda was a nightmare. My DD took it back to WalMart and exchanged it for a Doodle Bear and is much happier!

 

[fabshelly]

Amazing Ally was an expensive nightmare for us, as well.

Run.

 

[swanmom]

I had to laugh when I saw Mermaido2's response. My DD had an Amazing Ally and we had the same problem. Several of the 'props' were really small and got lost. This incredibly annoying doll kept saying, "I want my pack." "I want my pack." Since she was activated by nearby motion, she would suddenly blurt it out when you walked in a dark or empty room and scare the begeezus out of you! We finally turned her off but DD was nevr able to play with her because, if you made the mistake of actually turning her on, you were greeted with her scary mantra ("I NEED my pack!") It got so bad that it became a long-running family joke. We use the phrase now anytime something is repetitive and annoying.
Truly, I have enough people in my life demanding stuff they need or they can't find...........I don't need a toy badgering me, too. Couldn't wait to get the thing out of the house. I pity the poor family who bought it at the Salvation Army after we donated it!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Santa has already said no, well ok I did And that was before I knew it was $100! DD is 6 and I think it would be one of those cool for 15 min toys. Plus, these things NEVER work as well as they are supposed to. OTOH, DD may get an American Girl doll, same cost, way better I think.

YOu are so right. American Girl Dolls encourge imagination...Allyson is a robot not a doll! Getting one of these means the child is interacting in a huaman way with a machine!

 

[Barb D]

I am sooo glad I posted this question. First of all, because now I know for sure that Santa will NOT be bringing Allysen into our home. And secondly because this had me almost peeing with laughter!

"I want my pack." ... Ifyou made the mistake of actually turning her on, you were greeted with her scary mantra ("I NEED my pack!") :

We used to have an incredibly annoying monkey doll that you couldn't get to shut up. We put it in a basket, left it on a neighbor's doorstep, rang the doorbell, and ran!

 

[binny]

oh yeah been there. One of the amazing dolls. I didnt even realize what it was.

"I want a cookie" yeah well so do I girlfriend we dont always get what we want!

She is at the bbottom of the toy box here. hmmmm methinks Im about due for a toy sweep while the kids are at school!