The infamous Queen Elsa Dress: still driving parents MAD!!!!!

[Magpie]

I know. What is up with this generation of parents? Why do we have so much guilt (I'm including myself in there, not because I buy Elsa dresses, but other things I've bought/done in the past)? Why can't we say "no"? My mom said "no" to us all the time, and without any guilt whatsoever (that I could detect at least).

I was a kid during the whole "Cabbage Patch" craze of the 80's. I saw parents pulling each other's hair over an ugly squishy-faced doll, and screaming into news cameras that their children's faith in Santa would be destroyed if they didn't get EVERY stupid item on their list.

And I remember thinking, "Wow, people really need to chill out." And when I grew up, I had no trouble at all saying no to my kids.

It's not this generation of parents who have a problem. Materialism/consumerism is inherent to human nature. Our species likes to collect things, whether it's pretty shells or limited edition Barbie dolls. Ancient peoples valued gold for no other reason than it's pretty and scarce and useless for anything other than making flimsy jewelry. And ultimately, "I've got something you don't and this makes me feel good!" translates very easily into, "I got my child what they asked for and this makes me a good provider/parent! Yay, me!"

There will always be parents like this, who go to extremes to indulge their children, as long as the human race continues.

 

[jimandami]

I can't believe that I lucked out and got one back in January, when ONE just happened to come in stock at our local store.

Any word on the Anna coronation dress? That is a beautiful dress and it would be nice to have one.

The deluxe version is beautiful (got lucky with one for DD5) but was recalled and they haven't said if they are going to release another one or not. There was a version of the coronation dress at the parks when we were there in March but it wasn't anywhere near as pretty as the previous dress.

 

[glassslippergirl]

There's a woman in my area making a fortune sewing knock off dresses. Seriously! How much will these girls' prom dresses cost when the time comes?

 

[mefordis]

I was a kid during the whole "Cabbage Patch" craze of the 80's. I saw parents pulling each other's hair over an ugly squishy-faced doll, and screaming into news cameras that their children's faith in Santa would be destroyed if they didn't get EVERY stupid item on their list.

And I remember thinking, "Wow, people really need to chill out." And when I grew up, I had no trouble at all saying no to my kids.

It's not this generation of parents who have a problem. Materialism/consumerism is inherent to human nature. Our species likes to collect things, whether it's pretty shells or limited edition Barbie dolls. Ancient peoples valued gold for no other reason than it's pretty and scarce and useless for anything other than making flimsy jewelry. And ultimately, "I've got something you don't and this makes me feel good!" translates very easily into, "I got my child what they asked for and this makes me a good provider/parent! Yay, me!"

There will always be parents like this, who go to extremes to indulge their children, as long as the human race continues.

I remember that craze. My mom didn't buy into it, but she did have a lady at church make her a few dolls for her to give to us one Christmas.

I think people have more money now and there are more things to buy. So that is why it is more rampant, along the lines of what you state above.

 

[MuddyTires]

For what it is worth, I think the movie is awful. My 21 year old DD, who is studying animation and has good friends who study at CalArts (where all the famous animators went), all hate the film.

lol, yeah, I don't think 21 year old college students were the target audience.

 

[adrienne21snow]

I just got back from Disney World. The only frozen dresses I saw were in size xxs at the Norway shop in Epcot. There were a handfull of both Anna and Elsa dresses available on Easter Sunday and zero available the following day. Castle Couture in Magic Kingdom had nothing but Anna tiaras on the 22nd. There were several tees and sweatshirts featuring the girls and a glut of Olaf wear and pins though.

 

[surferdave]

Did the Frozen section look like this?

 

[WishingMom]

Did the Frozen section look like this?

Funny!

 

[GeneralTso]

There is a poster on these boards--I can't remember her name, but she is an incredible seamstress. She has reproduced every, single princess dress I think. I truly can't wait to see what she comes up with for her daughter with Anna or Elsa.

I feel like we've watched her little girl grow up. I think she's a tween now. Adorable little girl and growing up to be stunning. I love that she's still so into Disney and lets her mom make the costumes for her.

THAT woman can make a mint if she decided to. I'm in awe of her.

 

[Caribbeanprincess]

Oh man, this sure is crazy. I am a cosplayer and dressing up as Elsa for a convention in May, luckily I have a wonderful seamstress doing the dress for me and it shouldn't cost me more than $70. I'm sure parents could do the same and get the gown for their little princesses for much cheaper. $1,000 is just crazy!

 

[Stinkerbe11]

My DD (7) would like to have an Elsa dress, but I showed her the prices on ebay and the feeding frenzy online She thinks the whole thing is just silly and accepts that she won't get one anytime soon.

I think it's a good teachable moment to say sorry sweetie, you can't have this, instead of stalking the store or paying an ebay seller an exorbitant amount of money. I don't like to disappoint my kids either, but this is a good lesson to learn and so far DD has handled it really well.

 

[TJA]

Does anyone know if the dresses have been available at WDW within the past day or so? I'm guessing No!

There were TONS of them in Norway/Epcot last week, I should've taken a picture. We went there 3x hoping to find a pin or Olaf plush (no luck with either....). Our last day there, the Elsa dresses had pretty much cleared out and only one wall had a few racks of them and they all looked to be small sizes.

 

[brownierose]

I will admit that I am searching for an elsa dress for dd5 but I refuse to pay the prices on eBay. Dd5 understands that I am trying.

 

[Bluegrrl]

Seriously, it's not a hard dress to make - it's seems to be the easiest of all four dresses. The fabric is that filmy satin sparkly costume stuff or the bridal stuff, and you just have to have an eye for patterns that you can modify, like this one: http://www.simplicity.com/p-9579-misses-costumes.aspx
Then you just accentuate with glitter paint and stuff if you want to make it more sparkly. The lighter and softer the fabric is, the better, since her dress is so flowy. Disney's little girl dresses always strike me as chintzy and stiff. I would rather make my own and do it better. Plus, for a little girl you could make it with growth tucks and such so that the dress would grow with her.

Personally, I think the wig would be the big investment since Elsa's hair is white and long. But I think wigs are for adults - as a kid you could never get me into one!

 

[famy27]

Did the Frozen section look like this?

Big pre-summer blowout?

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

Did the Frozen section look like this?

Ha ha!!!!!! That's what it really looks like for real.

I just updated the OP with a story from the New York Post. These cute little girls flew all the way from Scotland to New York to find Frozen items and they came up empty handed.

Megan (left) and Lauren McDougal came all the way from Scotland hoping to buy a coveted Elsa dress and Elsa doll at the Disney Store in Times Square — but the picked-over options were not to their liking.
Photo: Anne Wermiel

How can parents say no to these cute adorable faces? I wonder if some parents even try to say no. I believe for some it is a personal conquest. If the parents just say no upfront......the kid will be disappointed sure but fine eventually. Remove that expectation.....in cases like this it's probably best to surprise the kid once you finally get something. A good solution to this madness is to allow people to preorder the dresses and dolls....Disney.

 

[monique5]

Did the Frozen section look like this?

ROTFL!

 

[luv2sleep]

Its things like that that make me really happy I have boys Good luck on the hunt everyone!

Yup me too. Although there's no way in heck I'd be stressing over a dress. No way, no how. She'd just have to get over it. This is nuts!

 

[kitayama]

Sorry, did not read all replies so this may gave been mentioned earlier. Just go on etsy and buy a handmade one (for those of us who can not use a sewing machine.)

 

[Ravenne]

Or you can learn how to make one on your own. This 16 yr old even posted a tutorial of sorts: http://doxiequeen1.wordpress.com/2014/02/11/elsa-the-snow-queen-photos/

If a 16 yr old can do it, easy peasy, right?