**FAKE** AMERICAN GIRL DOLL? Which one?

[Kit'smommy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kit'smommy
I had a Samantha years ago from Pleasant Company. This was back when they were still made by Gotz. I notice the Gotz dolls in my Tuesday Morning all the time and they still look like the AG dolls.

I also notice the Gotz dolls in Germany in Epcot everytime I go there. Perhaps she would be good with one on from Gotz as a present later knowing that is what is sold in Epcot.

Not to hijack the thread-
The dolls in Epcot are Engel dolls. They are similar in size to the AG but are not as poseable as they are all soft body dolls. (You can find them on Ebay for good prices)

I will second the Gotz dolls. If you can find them at Tuesday morning- they make great "friends" for the AG and most of the clothes are interchangeable with the AG.

"Kit's Mommy" I love your screen name!

Thank you for correcting me. I collected Gotz dolls as a child and purchased a doll there many years ago on my first trip to Epcot and didn't realized they carry only carry Engel. Unfortunately, I don't get to look too closely anymore as Kit is usually begging me for a $50 Steiff animal and I am more focused on telling him "no" than looking at dolls. I did some research on Gotz after reading this post and it looks like the original German company went out of business back in 2004 and the dolls are now being manufactured in China.

OP - Gotz (or Goetz) makes a series of precious day dolls that are the same size as the AG and quite similar to the original AG dolls. Sometimes they can be purchased at reasonable prices on eBay if you watch for them. Jessica is adorable.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gotz-Precious-D...286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:10|39:1|240:1318

 

[julezdisney]

Last year I got my daughter a doll from Michael's Craft Store. They are the SPRINGFIELD COLLECTION dolls. It was inexpensive and she was thrilled. They sell a LOT of doll accessories there too so I got her a few outfits. Depending on how she treated it, I would decide whether to get her one for her birthday in May.

She was 4 at the time. She turned 5 in May and opened an AG doll out of the box, straight from the AG hospital! Complete with hair done and hospital gown & Get Well balloon. I'd picked up one w/a missing leg from ebay for about $15. A couple months later, I sent her off to the AG hospital for a leg replacement for about $30? and it arrived in time for her birthday! She was thrilled.

I couldn't justify spending the $$ either- but I'm glad I got her a practice one to see if she would actually play with it and want it 6 mos later.

Good luck! If you click on the link I put in you can find your nearest retailer.

 

[kwhite1022]

OP, sorry for hijacking your thread a little

I thank you all for your comments, I guess I will plan on around $200 for the doll and accessories, and then more for the trip itself. Have to say the idea of a hotel with special pkgs for this really has me excited! I do know if I let the 3 sets of grandparents, and all the Aunts and Uncles (7) know what we are doing, they will gladly give money towards something this special and unique. Ill make sure to send lots of pictures of the event through our email to our extended family, as this "trip" will be in place of a birthday party.

 

[mom2princessj]

Between $90 and $115 for a doll, depending on whether you also buy access and get a hardcover or paperback book. A meal at the cafe is in the $20-$30 range per person. Extra accessories and outfits cost anywhere between $5 and $35 - obviously there are some bigger things that cost considerably more but $20-$30 is a good average. Usually at the stores they'll have a special outfit you can purchase for $14 if you spend $30 (which you would if you bought a doll).

If you're considering staying overnight, there are some great American Girl packages at nearby hotels that include cookies and milk, a special bed and even a hotel robe for the doll that matches the one real guests use at the hotel.


I'm not sure where you're taking the train from or what month you plan to go but if you're not too far away, definitely check out the Madison Children's Museum American Girl Benefit Sale (think super walmart size warehouse packed full of new or new looking AG goodies at discount prices) in July.
Last year on Sunday (the last day of the sale) dolls still left were $35 each. I confess I really overdid it, the van was so full we had to leave a few things at my friend's house so we could get DD7's carseat back in for the drive home. Of course I'd have to deny it all though if pressed for specifics by DH...
In any case, it was an awesome girls weekend (LOL - No way would DH travel in a minivan with three females on a quest across six states just to buy doll stuff for two straight days - I think the mere suggestion gave him nightmares).
We got some awesome deals - the $325 nightstand sized chest that DD7 had been coveting was reduced to just $75 and we got Felicity's retired carriage for $80 (definitely deals that made the trip well worth it all by itself) - but we had such a terrific time and there was so much more to do than I'd expected in WI that we'll go every summer now.

I was wondering how good that sale actually was. I am really hoping to go this year but my dh may put a damper on that. He says she's got too many dolls as it is (Bitty Baby, Felicity, Mia, Nicki, and 3 JLY dolls) with Kit coming at Christmas along with Ruthie (sometime in 2009 she's in a box in the closet), another JLY, and one doll she'll never play with (Kailey girl of the year 2003-04). She loves all of her dolls. She has tea parties with them, dresses them, takes them everywhere with her. She's into different ones at different times. I don't mind how many she has...I always tell him when she's done playing with them we'll get their hair done and store them as keepsakes...he just rolls his eyes at me

OP I hope your dd loves the dolls you are getting! Congrats on getting your doll

 

[LastLookAtTheCastle]

QVC had some real American Girl stuff on there a few weeks ago? I'm not sure if they still are, but it's worth a look.

The My Disney Dolls are very cute. I'd pick that over another version.

Welcome to the cult, uh, I mean, club. My 7 year old DD LOVES her dolls.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Another idea is to let other family members know what she wants and see if they will go in on it. When my niece wanted one a few of us chipped in for one for her birthday. She was overjoyed with her AG doll, and the rest of us felt better that she was getting what she really wanted and not a bunch of toys that she probably wouldn't have paid for.

On her 7th birthday we took her to the AG store in NYC - a kind of girls day out. Her grandmother treated her to the show (which they sadly don't do anymore), I treated her to lunch at the cafe, and her mom and dad bought her choice of outfit or small accessory. It made for a really nice afternoon. We paid a little extra for the birthday package, and they supplied a cake, and sang her happy birthday. It was well worth the small added charge.

If your going to an AG store you may want to set out the parameters of what is okay to pick out ahead of time. My niece was eyeing the other kids in there buying multiple dolls and outfits, but knew ahead of time what she got to pick out. She really liked that she got to pick out her own gift.

 

[shelly3girls]

On her 7th birthday we took her to the AG store in NYC - a kind of girls day out. Her grandmother treated her to the show (which they sadly don't do anymore), I treated her to lunch at the cafe, and her mom and dad bought her choice of outfit or small accessory. It made for a really nice afternoon. We paid a little extra for the birthday package, and they supplied a cake, and sang her happy birthday. It was well worth the small added charge.

Oh no, I thought this was a wonderful show! When did they stop it?

 

[Goofy'slady]

I thought of getting my 3yr old a AG Bitty Baby but realizing that my three year old while she loves her doll babies she's still three and that means that the babies sometimes end up naked, on the floor, under the sofa cusion and with peanut butter in their hair. When my mother and I were shopping for gifts for my kids in Target we came across the Generation Dolls which we thought looked exactly like the American Girl Dolls. At the time they were like 32 bucks but we got an extra outfit for the doll for free. We got the salon chair and everything. So for about 60 bucks we got the doll which already came with two outfits, an extra one and a salon chair. My BFF (who my baby calles auntie) even got her another outfit.

Maybe when my little one gets a little older we'll look into the American Girl Dolls but for now Generation Dolls will do us fine. Especailly, since my baby doesn't know the difference between the two.

T.

 

[mom2princessj]

OP...just curious how your dd liked the dolls you ended up getting from some VERY NICE Dis'ers??? Hope she had a merry christmas. My dd loved her Kit (got her off ebay new but not in original clothes for an AWESOME price over the summer )

 

[rparmfamily]

According to USPS tracking, I can't tell if the doll got there in time. It doesn't say it was delivered. I sent her about 5 days ago, and my IL's package to KY got there, but the USPS website hasn't updated this package since yesterday morning I think. I'm shipping from HI so priority takes longer.

 

[Mickeys.friend]

Good Morning and I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas day! My daughter, Mary, LOVED her American girl doll, Kirsten!! (FROM dthogue) She arrived on Monday. I learned on YouTube how to tighten her limbs and soften her hair. I bought ribbons for her hair in WalMart and gave her socks and shoes from my AC Moore store. The doll really looked wonderful! We gave her the doll after she opened up her other gifts under the tree(mostly clothes this year...it's what she needed!) We could tell that she was slightly disappointed that there was no doll of any kind under the tree...then we pulled out Kirsten! We did it this way because I wanted her to know the doll was not from Santa, but from an online friend and I fixed her up....She was verrry happy! I think she realizes what a special gift she is, because, when she opened the box, she said.."How much did you pay for her, mommy?". In the last few weeks whan she looked at the catalogs, I had to explain that even santa could not always bring such expensive dolls for Christmas. She even slept with her last night!
As for the Madame Alexander doll (FROM rparmfamily), we showed her the picture online and explained where it was coming from and from who...It is scheduled to arrive today, and Mary has been checking outside for the mailman since 7:30 AM! The new doll and Kirsten are going to be "best friends".
Thanks again to both of you for your kind generosity. You really did "save" Christmas for my daughter!! Much love and hugs to you!!

LIZ

 

[Mickeys.friend]

The MA doll just got here! Let me just say that this is a very pretty and well made doll. The puppy is a very cute addition! Dare I say she's cuter than AG dolls! Mary is in 7th heaven!!

LIZ

 

[MaMa3Princess]

The MA doll just got here! Let me just say that this is a very pretty and well made doll. The puppy is a very cute addition! Dare I say she's cuter than AG dolls! Mary is in 7th heaven!!

LIZ

There is no place like the Disboard!!! I love stories like this one. Tell your darling daughter welcome to the club. My daughter got Josephina for Chistmas and she too slept with her last night. I am so glad that your precious DD was blessed with an AG with the help of som Dis Angels

 

[rparmfamily]

I'm glad you got her Liz! I'm sorry she didn't come before Christmas. Tell her the doll came from Hawaii, LOL!

She is very pretty doll, I did notice that the hair is sparcer but otherwise she is a pretty doll. I ended up going to Costco and getting one for my 8 yr old as a "friend" too!

 

[mom2princessj]

Good Morning and I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas day! My daughter, Mary, LOVED her American girl doll, Kirsten!! (FROM dthogue) She arrived on Monday. I learned on YouTube how to tighten her limbs and soften her hair. I bought ribbons for her hair in WalMart and gave her socks and shoes from my AC Moore store. The doll really looked wonderful! We gave her the doll after she opened up her other gifts under the tree(mostly clothes this year...it's what she needed!) We could tell that she was slightly disappointed that there was no doll of any kind under the tree...then we pulled out Kirsten! We did it this way because I wanted her to know the doll was not from Santa, but from an online friend and I fixed her up....She was verrry happy! I think she realizes what a special gift she is, because, when she opened the box, she said.."How much did you pay for her, mommy?". In the last few weeks whan she looked at the catalogs, I had to explain that even santa could not always bring such expensive dolls for Christmas. She even slept with her last night!
As for the Madame Alexander doll (FROM rparmfamily), we showed her the picture online and explained where it was coming from and from who...It is scheduled to arrive today, and Mary has been checking outside for the mailman since 7:30 AM! The new doll and Kirsten are going to be "best friends".
Thanks again to both of you for your kind generosity. You really did "save" Christmas for my daughter!! Much love and hugs to you!!

LIZ

What a great story! How wonderful that your dd loved both dolls
Can you post that link from you tube? One of my dd's dolls limbs are really really loose and could use tightening and also I need to condition Felicity's hair LOL.
I'm so glad your dd got the doll she wanted for Christmas!

 

[Handbag Lady]

Oh, wow, what a lovely ending!

Dis-ers are good people.

 

[Princess April]

OMG!!!!! I just stumbled on this thread and can I just say that my heart is full!!! DIS'ers, especially budget boarder's, are a great group of people!!!!! You are the best!!!!!

 

[IDoDis]

My DD has 11 AG dolls! I started buying them for her when she was 5 years old. She used to get one for Christmas, and one for her birthday. DD is 12 1/2 now. We are redoing her room to make it less little girl-ish and more teen-ish. All of her AG dolls are on shelves in her room. Yesterday she told me she wants to pack them up. I wanted to She also wants to get rid of all of her Build-a-Bear animals except for one.

I saved all of the doll boxes so tonight we are going to dress them in their respective clothes and box them up. I also saved all of the little accessory boxes. She has a trunk full of AG clothes and accessories.

The stuff was pricey, but I'm really going to miss it! The historical collection is very educational. All of her dolls except for two are the historical ones. We are going to save them for her own DD's to have some day in the way DISTANT future. They will be collectibles if kept nice and in their original boxes. The values will rise as AG discontinues them. Samantha is the first historical doll to be discontinued.

DD is growing up wayyyy to fast!

 

[Mickeys.friend]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L89ag9VTS1o

Fix the AG limbs

http://www.justmagicdolls.com/articles/HairCare/AdvancedHair.htm

Fix AG hair

Hope this helps!!

LIZ

 

[Mickeys.friend]

bump for those wanting the links to repair AG dolls...