American Girl dolls - did your DD get bored with it quickly?

[TheLittleRoo]

I am planning to get my DD6 an American Girl doll this weekend, but hesitant only because she never seems to play with dolls much, and it's so expensive!

My DH suggested a girls trip to NYC to get her first doll, and I have an overnight trip on hold for this weekend... about $400 including the doll. Her birthday isn't until January, so I can't really hold out for that or Christmas...

My frugal side thinks I ought to get her one on Ebay first and see how much she plays with it. But that might not be fair b/c the excitement and appeal of a brand new doll at the AG store in NYC would carry the doll appeal much further and longer than a used one in the mail, kwim?

DH can only cover for me with the other two kids if we go this weekend. Otherwise, it might be September before we could go again with all our vacation schedules this summer to see his family then mine, plus his work travel.

What would you do? What has your experience with your DD been; how long did she play with her new doll before getting bored with it? I also thought about doing just a day trip up and back to NYC from DC. That would save $200 on the hotel cost.

Thanks for any input!

 

[An_Island_Girl]

What a great surprise for your DD!!! I am guilty of buying American Girl dolls for all of the little ones in our family. It seems like all of my nieces play with them untill they are about 10. Some a little later, but by then most of them have moved on.

We went to the Chicago AG store with our DD4 and she is offically an American girl addict! Yes, I definately think that the magic of an AG trip is well worth it for her very first AG doll.

 

[descovy]

6 might be a little too young to "get" American Girl. I have 2 girls, age 6, 8. My oldest got her american girl doll "Julie" at Christmas, 2 months shy of 8. Then for her 8th Birthday, we went to the store in Dallas where she had a great time!

The books are geared towards 8+. My DD and friends who have the dolls don't fully "play" with them, which is a good thing. Mine at least, knows how special it is. She enjoys trading outfits with friends and doing hair. Julie's hair is really long and came with a hairstyle CD at Christmas. And she loves the books. Her and friends trade books and can even get some from the school library.

My DD6 is interested, but can't read the books, even though she finished Kinder as a vey good reader. I think she looks forward to the day she is old enough for American Girl. I can tell that she would be "harder" on an American Girl right now than DD8... probably lose her clothes too like all her other naked dolls

 

[DebMcDonald]

I don't remember when my oldest got her AG doll, but my middle DD got her's for x-mas and she was 6.5 and she was not a doll kind of girl and she loves her. She doesn't play with it alot, but she definitely loves her, she sort of goes through spurts. We just got back from AG in NYC on Memorial Day weekend and we had a great time. I think taking her there and not having a doll would be a disappointment and I think it would really be a great experience to get her doll there with mom vs. x-mas or something like that.

 

[JandJ]

My oldest niece played with her 3 AG dolls until she was about 10. She understood the value of the dolls though, and knew they were extra-special and kept them in pristine condition, so when her younger sister came along she passed them on and they've gotten a second life! My youngest niece is 8 now and she has the AG doll beds set up in her room, but she really prefers Barbies and Bratz dolls.

I think a trip like that to get an AG doll would be such fun time! Will your DD understand how special the doll is and not draw on her or cut her hair like some girls do to their "regular" dolls (I know I did that and my youngest niece does too!)? I also think maybe a day trip would be better to save $200 but I'm pretty cheap Good luck with your decision!

 

[An_Island_Girl]

As long as you are not buying a doll as invstment you will be fine.
Friends of ours make sure that thier girls only "play nice" with thier dolls, or they take them away. How ridiculous! They wouldn't dream of buying the kids a trampoline and saying don't jump too high you might break it.
Dolls are meant to be played with and are a wonderful role play outlet for children. Although our DD4 doesn't "get" the historical significance yet, nor read the books, they are the dolls that she always goes to first for an impromtu tea party, or a stoll on the beach. We feed our dolls, put make-up on them, etc. Sure they look like they have been played with... because we do! She loves to dress up to match her dolls, bring them shopping with us etc.

We started buying them for her when she was 2, and have never looked back. Sure they may have to go to the AG hospital for new hair, or loose limbs, but for the amout of play-time they have provided already they are worth thier weight in gold at our house.

 

[TheLittleRoo]

I planned to take her first thing after checking into the hotel, around 4:00, to the AG store in NYC to shop and pick out her own choice of doll. We'll have a mani/pedi session and then dinner, and then a pajama party for the three of us in our hotel room.

The next day, we'll go back to the AG Cafe and have lunch with the doll, and then take the chartered bus back to DC. I would never take her there unless I planned to buy her a doll. Oh, the gnashing of teeth and wailing that would entail!!

I'm afraid that getting her a used doll first would also take the bloom off the rose for the big surprise doll from the AG store. Maybe not, but that's my fear.

There's a chartered bus that runs back and forth from DC to NY for $35 roundtrip. I wonder if I should just go on the 7:45am bus to NY with her, spend the afternoon in the store picking out her doll, and then come home. That would cut out $200 for the hotel, but sadly, $50 for the lunch or tea in the Cafe that we cannot get into for this Saturday. Would it be terrible to miss that part? Maybe still get the mani/pedi instead?

Thanks for any help on making this even a little more budget.

 

[LisaInNc]

I took my DD to the AG store in NYC last summer she was 6 she picked out her doll and it's been a constant companion ever since. She had not really played with dolls all that much beofre but there was something about the AG she picked that really made it special.

We are planing another trip this July.

 

[momto2girls]

Oh my gosh, my girls LOVE their AG dolls. I have a just-turned 5 year old and a 7.5 year old. They love the dolls. They love the stories. The whole thing is just a huge hit around here.

Between the two of them, we now have 7 AG dolls (actually including Bitty Baby and the Bitty Twins, we have 10 ).

Your daughter will love it! Have a great trip!

 

[DebMcDonald]

I planned to take her first thing after checking into the hotel, around 4:00, to the AG store in NYC to shop and pick out her own choice of doll. We'll have a mani/pedi session and then dinner, and then a pajama party for the three of us in our hotel room.

The next day, we'll go back to the AG Cafe and have lunch with the doll, and then take the chartered bus back to DC. I would never take her there unless I planned to buy her a doll. Oh, the gnashing of teeth and wailing that would entail!!

I'm afraid that getting her a used doll first would also take the bloom off the rose for the big surprise doll from the AG store. Maybe not, but that's my fear.

There's a chartered bus that runs back and forth from DC to NY for $35 roundtrip. I wonder if I should just go on the 7:45am bus to NY with her, spend the afternoon in the store picking out her doll, and then come home. That would cut out $200 for the hotel, but sadly, $50 for the lunch or tea in the Cafe that we cannot get into for this Saturday. Would it be terrible to miss that part? Maybe still get the mani/pedi instead?

Thanks for any help on making this even a little more budget.

I think you won't be missing anything missing out on the lunch. We just did the breakfast and I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I left a little disappointed and with a little less money in my wallet. You know when you book a character dinner at disney the experience is just wonderful, well I found the breakfast just a breakfast with a doll sitting in a high chair beside my DD's. Yes, I guess they had fun, but I don't think it was worth it for me. I'd rather spend that $50 on letting her pick out something for her doll. My daughter bought the bathtub that she hasn't stopped talking about since, but they really never mentioned that breakfast again. JMO

 

[HunnyPots]

Honestly? If she does not seem interested and hardly pays with dolls now, I would not do it. I'd find something she is interested in and go that direction. Some girls just don't do the whole doll thing; mine was one of them! She loved the American Girl series of books but a doll would have been just something to sit on the shelf.

 

[TheLittleRoo]

I think you won't be missing anything missing out on the lunch. We just did the breakfast and I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I left a little disappointed and with a little less money in my wallet. You know when you book a character dinner at disney the experience is just wonderful, well I found the breakfast just a breakfast with a doll sitting in a high chair beside my DD's. Yes, I guess they had fun, but I don't think it was worth it for me. I'd rather spend that $50 on letting her pick out something for her doll. My daughter bought the bathtub that she hasn't stopped talking about since, but they really never mentioned that breakfast again. JMO

Deb, bless you for this insight! I know what you mean about the character meals at WDW and to hear this comparison clinches the deal. I would agree that my DD would much rather have the $50 for an outfit or accessory peice for her doll than on a lunch. We can do a highchair in any restaurant. Well, maybe

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

My DDs 9 and 7 loved their dolls .. for about a month. Now they just sit there collecting dust. I would rather have spent the money on other things. I think they wanted them because of peer pressure. Just my insight!

 

[SLP_PoohBear]

I am planning to get my DD6 an American Girl doll this weekend, but hesitant only because she never seems to play with dolls much, and it's so expensive!

My DH suggested a girls trip to NYC to get her first doll, and I have an overnight trip on hold for this weekend... about $400 including the doll. Her birthday isn't until January, so I can't really hold out for that or Christmas...

My frugal side thinks I ought to get her one on Ebay first and see how much she plays with it. But that might not be fair b/c the excitement and appeal of a brand new doll at the AG store in NYC would carry the doll appeal much further and longer than a used one in the mail, kwim?

DH can only cover for me with the other two kids if we go this weekend. Otherwise, it might be September before we could go again with all our vacation schedules this summer to see his family then mine, plus his work travel.

What would you do? What has your experience with your DD been; how long did she play with her new doll before getting bored with it? I also thought about doing just a day trip up and back to NYC from DC. That would save $200 on the hotel cost.

Thanks for any input!

I don't have a Dkids yet, but to give you some info I was never into playing with regular dolls either, just mostly Barbie. Well, my parents bought me an AG doll for christmas, and 15 years later at the age of 24 I still have her. I have Samantha, and this was back when the only dolls/characters were Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly, and you had to order them through a catalogue. So you can see how far AG has come, but the dolls are still beautiful and definately a great keepsake. Even though my frugal Mom couldn't believe she just spent $60 for a doll I wasn't forced to keep her in the box, they bought it for me to play with; and I knew how special this doll was compared to the others I owned. I was the type of kid who would have her Barbie's thrown all over the room when playing, outfits and shoes strewn everywhere. But with the AG doll it was different, without being told I always put her outfits nicely back on the hanger and in the garment bag and shoes in the boxes. Now that I've stopped playing with dolls, all of my barbies are in boxes in my parents basement, but Samantha is on a stand in my old bedroom waiting for the day I can hand her down to my DD (hopefully). I say go for it! If AG store had been around when I was younger I would have died! The excitement inside that place is contageous. Since it is not something you go to all of the time I'm sure your DD will realize how special the experiance and her doll is. When she gets older and doesn't play with dolls anymore if the AG doll has seen better days, there is a AG doll hospital that you can send it to where they can restore it back to practically new and your DD can have it as a keepsake.

 

[Bevin]

Wow, I think you will be making wonderful memories for your daughter. A special day spent alone with mom, going into this great doll store. Your daughter will remember this long after the doll is gone. I say this trip is well worth the money.

 

[momof1princess]

my DD is 10 (11 in september) and JUST started playing with regular dolls (by regular dolls, i mean anything that's not a barbie-more of a "baby doll" type doll) last year. she got 2 AG dolls for christmas (julie and ivy) and she looooooves them. she had her first sleepover at my grandmother's house this past sunday night and HAD to take julie AND julie's pajamas with her, lol. she doesn't know it yet, but she's getting samantha and nellie for her birthday, hehe. i'll see how she responds to samantha and nellie before i buy any more. she's going into middle school this fall and might outgrow them, i don't know.

 

[bnorm27]

My DW and I recently had this debate. We were taking our DD's (6 & 4) to NYC for the day. The original plan was the AG store, and let them pick out a doll. However, I read that most of the dolls are recommended for kids 8 and up. I think the little babies are for 4 and up or 6 and up. So we avoided AG store, and went to FAO Schwarz instead. WOW! What a great store, and they had more dolls then I had ever seen! My oldest DD opted to design her own Barbie (not cheap), but loved that her Barbie was special, and that she made it. My younger DD just picked out a regular doll, and we let her get a baby swing for it too. Definitely cheaper then AG.

It was my first time to FAO, and I recommend it highly. We got there for the opening ceremony, and we stayed to watch some folks dance on the big piano (from the movie BIG with Tom Hanks).

We visited some of the Enchanted locations and the zoo in Central park, and then spent some time at the Museum of Natural History.

 

[IDoDis]

We started buying AG dolls for DD when she was five. She got approx. two dolls a year. She got her last doll when she was 11. I also took her and her cousin to AG place in Los Angeles when she was 10. We had lunch in the cafe and shopped till we dropped! We stuck with the historic figures and their BFF's because there was so much to learn. The only AG dolls of the year she has are Marisol & Julie

Her first doll was Samantha. I had to help her get the clothes on and off, and she didn't play with Samantha too much, but still loved her and took very good care of her. The following year when she was six, she was able to read the books, so she read the whole Samantha collection in like two weeks! Once she had more than one doll, she had more fun because the dolls could share clothes, have tea parties, and go on adventures together. I think having more than one doll with extra clothes & accessories helps.

DD is 12 now and has no interest in playing with her dolls. She has all of them (I think she has 11 or 12 dolls) on display on shelves in her bedroom. She hasn't played with them in about a year. I wanted so much to buy her Mia, the doll of the year this year because DD is a figure skater and so is Mia, but I couldn't justify the $$ since she probably wouldn't play with her. Instead, I bought her the two books and the skating outfit w/ skates for her b-day (which was in April. The skating outfit is still sitting in the box).

It was fun while it lasted! I recommend you start the collection early so your DD will have more time to enjoy them. My DD said she may still want to collect the dolls even though she doesn't play with them, but she'll have to do that on her own dime.

 

[janloz]

I planned to take her first thing after checking into the hotel, around 4:00, to the AG store in NYC to shop and pick out her own choice of doll. We'll have a mani/pedi session and then dinner, and then a pajama party for the three of us in our hotel room.

The next day, we'll go back to the AG Cafe and have lunch with the doll, and then take the chartered bus back to DC. I would never take her there unless I planned to buy her a doll. Oh, the gnashing of teeth and wailing that would entail!!

I'm afraid that getting her a used doll first would also take the bloom off the rose for the big surprise doll from the AG store. Maybe not, but that's my fear.

There's a chartered bus that runs back and forth from DC to NY for $35 roundtrip. I wonder if I should just go on the 7:45am bus to NY with her, spend the afternoon in the store picking out her doll, and then come home. That would cut out $200 for the hotel, but sadly, $50 for the lunch or tea in the Cafe that we cannot get into for this Saturday. Would it be terrible to miss that part? Maybe still get the mani/pedi instead?

Thanks for any help on making this even a little more budget.

I took my DD to AG in NYC for 7th Bday in Feb. with my mom, MIL and SIL (boys went to ESPN zone), and had a wonderful time. One thing I would strongly suggest is calling and arranging a personal shopper. Wait, before you panic, it is a FREE (yes, FREE) service they offer. We worked with Miss Robyn and would never go there without using her especially on the weekend. The PS have a seperate waiting area on the main floor where families meet and she treated my DD like a princess. She only works with 1 or 2 families at a time so not rushed. She explained the doll choices to us, where everything was in the store and most important how to care for the doll. She then took us to pick out the doll (she got the just like me one) then we went back to her office area and took her out of the box so DD could carry her around. Then turned us loose on the store. We wandered around getting clothes, etc and Robyn would just "show up" about every 15 min to check on us, answer questions and take the items we wanted back to her office to hold for us, no walking around with armloads of stuff. Suburb service. We did do the lunch, very nice. Then finished shopping and met Robyn back at her office area where they have their own check out area, NO WAITING IN THE REGULAR LINES TO CHECK OUT! I asked if she could add a "tip" to the bill and she said no, they weren't allowed to accept them. I would guess they get a commission on items sold. There was no pressure to purchase other items, she actually told us not to buy some PJ since they were getting alot of returns on items. When we returned home, we realized some of the matching clothes DD had purchased were too big so I called Robyn and she arranged for exchange (I strongly suggest trying on before leaving, sizing run big). It made my DD feel so special and didn't cost any extra. If interested, send me PM and I will give you her phone. (sorry for long post)

 

[Dancemom03]

I don't think she's too young at all. DD7 has had AG for several years and enjoys them more than most other toys. They're so much easier for little fingers to dress than barbie and bratz that we don't even buy smaller dolls anymore.
DD7 especially enjoys taking the used dolls I find which have silver eye or bad hair and checking them into the doll hospital in AGPNY. The ladies manning the "hospital nurses desk" are dressed in nurses uniforms and wrap the dolls in blankets at admittance. Later they are mailed back home in a box looking nearly new, dressed in hospital gown with a balloon and good health certificate. Too cute! - AND it doesn't cost anything if the doll is admitted for a defect, even if it's one that comes after years of playtimes.

I second the idea of a personal shopper. It's terrific to have the lounge to organize your thoughts while shopping or take a break. Girls usually leave with a matching doll sized shopping bag and a few other goodies when using a PS too. If you want them to honor a sale price from the web or catalog be sure to print a copy to take along. Sale items are not always on sale in the stores. Oh, and be sure to ask about the special with purchase, normally if you spend $20 or so you can purchase another designated outfit at a discount.

There's an abundance of terrific mother-daughter opportunities in NY. I'd be more likely to skip the lunch and keep the hotel. That'd give you time for a carriage ride in the park with your new doll, a stop at FAO, build a bear, toys r us, even a date with princesses at the disney store.
You could put your names into the lottery for $25 wicked tickets before the show at the gershwin. You can take the doll to eat in a chair with table settings for cheap at the build a bear store. They have a cafe in the lower level complete with chairs, place settings, cups, plates ect meant for bears but suitable for dolls and free last time we were there.

Does that bus stop near Balto to pick up? DD7 & I would love to go along too!
Not sure if you were aware of it but the AG stage shows like the Revue and Bitty bear shows will close their curtains forever in September. Lunch we can live without, but I am planning to take DD7 to the Circle of Friends/Revue before it's over so she can remember that piece of AG history.
DD18 did the Felicity tour in Williamsburg in first grade even though she was too young to read the books by herself. Not only did that weekend encourage an interest in history, it motivated her to read more and faster. She often says how sad it is that her sister can't go and have a tea lesson with Miss Manderly too but I secretly suspect it's because she'd like to do it again...