American Girl dolls -- bound to happen...

[kiki02]

8 year old jumped on the bandwagon. sigh.

so.... clueless. too late to order on website... are they in any stores?

any advice? DAMN they're $$$$$ ))


happy holidays to you all and thanks for the great advie.

 

[RitaE]

What do you mean it is too late to order on the website? Is she asking for McKenna specifically?

 

[kjpotter]

They have a limited number of stores. You can look online and see the stores listed.

If you are not near a store, you can still buy online but you might need to pay for rush shipping.

 

[tiawolfe]

My dds, 8 and 6, also jumped on the bandwagon this year!

I did spring for the real dolls, and ordered them through the AG website. I bought clothes from Joann's and Michaels. The outfits are only $10 there, and I used coupons. Walmart has a cute canopy bed for under $25, and target has some cute furniture and accessory sets.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[brookmey]

My 8 year old just got into AG this year, too. A store opened near us and I think that's what did it.

I think the best tip I've received from the DIS is about a doll bed. If you live near an Ikea, they sell wooden beds that fit AG dolls. You can paint the frame and decorate it in any way. If you have 2, you can also make bunk beds. They're about $25 and they come with bedding.

DD got a bed a few years ago, but I bought her another one for her new doll. Our Christmas break project is to paint and decorate the beds, then have DH make them into bunk beds.

You can also find clothes on Ebay, new and used, cheaper than straight from AG.

 

[figment41]

Its not too late to order online today is the last day to order online. Unless you are looking for something that is specific and is backordered.

Target carries quite a few compatible items but not the dolls. the actual Dolls and accessories are only available through the website americangirl.com or in american girl brick and mortar stores. There are lists of things on ebay some of them may have been purchased from the outlets or outlet sales and then they will have some sort of tiny X on them where you can not see it easily. A lot of people have luck finding sets on craigslist too.

Good Luck

 

[ceecee]

Ebay has quite a few as well. Certainly you should be able to receive by Christmas. Check Ebay for clothes as well. The AG quality is so superior to the Our Generation Target sells. AG has sales as well, I got quite a few outfits at really good prices. I purchased beds, tents and things like that at Target but as far as the dolls and clothes I stuck with the authentic AG.

 

[Megkel]

Yay! This is such a fun bandwagon to be on!

My daughter is turning 7 this February and has received an American Doll every year on her birthday. It started out with the Bitty babies and since grown to the doll of the year every year. A lot of people think I'm crazy when I say she started when she was 2 but how many people can say their daughter still has and plays with the gifts she was given at 2? Now that she is older she has gotten them for Christmas, this year she will be getting Caroline and Marie-Grace. However my mother-in-law bought Caroline and I only bought Marie-Grace because of the great deal.

Personally I see it as an investment. I would spend $100 on her birthday regardless, and this way she isn't getting a bunch of junk I will trip over, step on, and eventually throw away. I know I will never throw the dolls out, I will pack them away when she is to old and save them for her daughters.

There are SO many dolls to choose from there is something for everyone it seems. My daughter seems to enjoy the ones who look the most similar to her and those who have the same interests as her. She is still a bit to young to really grasp the historical stories, but maybe your daughter would be learning about a specific time period this year in school.

Good luck it's tons of fun and addicting fast! Hope you are able to purchase a doll in time for Christmas!

 

[kiki02]

My dds, 8 and 6, also jumped on the bandwagon this year!

I did spring for the real dolls, and ordered them through the AG website. I bought clothes from Joann's and Michaels. The outfits are only $10 there, and I used coupons. Walmart has a cute canopy bed for under $25, and target has some cute furniture and accessory sets.

Good luck and have fun!

you don't mean that Walmart has the AG bed do you? my walmart doesn't .

 

[sookie]

Maybe look at the bitty twins or bitty baby - if she wants McKenna a lot of her stuff is on backorder, but the historical dolls are OK. Or you could do the dolls that look like your DD.

 

[Samar]

McKenna is sold out.

Check Craigslist. I have found an EEUC Emily for $60 and an EEUC Kirsten for $80. I found an EEUC Sonali on Ebay for a reasonable price. Perfect for storing away for my girls' collection instead of $105 per doll.

 

[tikistitch]

Oh man, if you had known she wanted one about a week ago, the stores/online had a good sale of the Marie Grace and Cecile dolls. They were $50 each! They might still be on sale, but I think they went back up to about $128.

 

[Samar]

Oh man, if you had known she wanted one about a week ago, the stores/online had a good sale of the Marie Grace and Cecile dolls. They were $50 each! They might still be on sale, but I think they went back up to about $128.

They're not on sale anymore but the dolls alone are $105 with their book and I think $124 with accessories. Still waiting for my sale dolls, got the canopy bed yesterday

 

[daisyduck123]

you don't mean that Walmart has the AG bed do you? my walmart doesn't .

No, not authentic American Girl dolls or furniture. You won't find those in any Walmart.

 

[apnep]

My DD11 got one last year for XMAS. I made her wait a whole year to see if her desire to have one would go away. It didn't. So I got it and she LOVES it. I'm with you, it's expensive but she'll always have it and she takes such wondeful care of the doll. I think I'm going to make the doll's bed for her for Christmas. Easy peasy. She's got the Josefina doll.

By the way, I'd check Craigslist. There are SOOO many people selling dolls and accessories you can probably get one on the cheap for your daughter.

Good luck.

 

[Gorechick]

My DD will be getting her first, Marie Grace for Xmas. I've been telling her forever that she wouldn't get one because they are too expensive then I saw the deal they offered last week and jumped on it. She is going to be so surprised. Her 2 big gifts are a Barbie dreamhouse (which I got 50% off) and American Girl. She has no idea.

 

[kamik86]

Just to give you an idea if these dolls are worth it. I'm the girl that never liked Barbies. I played with legos and lincoln logs and hot wheels. When I got to go to McDonalds or Burger King I asked for the boys toys.

So the year I wanted an American Girl Doll my parents debated if they should get it for me for a while. But I asked for months, from my birthday till Christmas and my parents had the policy that if it wasn't unreasonable I would get the number 1 item on my christmas list and then the rest was up to them and would be a surprise. Kirsten (historical doll that is now retired) was my number 1 item.

I loved that doll. I played with her hard. She went to school with me many times and played with the otther dolls my friend had. She was carried everywhere. Had her hair styled again and again.

Mom made me clothes for her. Dad made me a replica of her bed and trunk that I still have. There is not a single other thing my Dad has made me that means as much.

A few weeks ago I bought a house and my Dad was surprised to see that bed and case still in my apartment and moving to the new place... My doll is currently in the doll hospital Now that I have enough space to display her she is getting her hair fixed (new head) so that her hair will be manageable again and then she is going on display at my new house. Besides her hair being a bit frizzy from breaking with all the play she is still in excellant condition even after all I did to her all those years.

 

[jmac323]

kamik86- great story and is the reason I have spent the money on dolls for DD.

My oldest (6 1/2) has a bitty baby (she still argues over this baby with her little sister) and last Christmas she got Kanani. She loves Kanani, actually both girls love her and argue over her too. This year my youngest (2 1/2) is getting a bitty baby and my oldest is getting an AG doll like her. I also bought McKenna but I will either put her up for her birhtday next year or my original thought was to sell her to make up the cost of the other dolls. I go back and forth on that one. They love them so much.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

you don't mean that Walmart has the AG bed do you? my walmart doesn't .

All authentic American Girl dolls, clothes and accessories are only sold at American Girls stores or their website. There are only a few actual stores in the US. Atlanta, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas, New York, Denver, Seattle, Houston, St. Louis, Kansas City, Washington, D.C.

You can find resale stuff on ebay and craigslist.

Walmart, Target, AC Moore and Michael's sells 18 inch dolls and accessories but they are not authentic AG.

DD has 2 AG dolls, Elizabeth (historical) and Mia (doll of the year 2008)

If your DD wants a doll, I would suggest doing the My American Girl. You can choose hair color, eye color and skin color. Or get a historical doll.