Like every little girl in Canada and the US, my daughter is obsessed with everything Frozen. We watched the movie in theatres in November and ever since then my kids have been singing the songs, acting out scenes of the movie and wanting the merchandise.
I had seen Frozen dolls and toys back in November when the movie was in theatres but didn’t think anything of it. It wasn’t until March when my daughter announced that all she wanted for her birthday way “everything Frozen” that I started paying attention.
Ok, no problem, I thought. I’d seen stuff around. I’d get her a few things. Wrong. I started shopping and couldn’t find a thing. I didn’t panic at first, I went from store to store. I had a good 4 weeks to find something.
After about two weeks I posted a message on my Facebook wall. Had anyone seen any Frozen toys around? Messages started pouring in.
Nope.
Everything was sold out.
Everywhere.
Let it go.
I had friends from other cities offering to look for me and mail me toys. I had friends traveling to Disneyland and New York city looking for Frozen toys for me. No one could find anything. Apparently there is a Frozen toy shortage.
I didn’t give up but I had warned my daughter that mommy couldn’t find any Frozen merchandise and she would probably have to wait until Frozen toys started coming out again in stores.
I kept looking with no luck. Then out of the blue (three days before her birthday) I spotted a Frozen helium balloon at a local dollar store with BOTH Elsa and Anna on it. I was so excited, I wanted to cry. I had SOMETHING in my hands from the movie. I couldn’t believe it.
I posted a picture of my score on my Facebook page and Instagram. I got tons of likes. Then a friend pipped up and told me she had just seen an Elsa doll at a local store – hours ago. NO WAY. After almost a month of looking could it be possible that I could get my hands on this doll? I rushed to the store and – SCORE – I got the last doll on the shelf. What an accomplishment. I felt great. Again, I posted on Facebook and got more likes and more comments.
This search for Frozen toys made me think of the shortage of Cabbage Patch Kids in the 80’s. Frozen toys are impossible to find. It makes me wonder, did Disney not think Frozen would be a hit? Did they not think little girls everywhere would want to play with the dolls, the clothes, the figurines? Was this a total fail on the part of Disney?
As I post this I bet the store shelves are being stocked with new Frozen merchandise. I have to admit it was fun to look for “anything Frozen”. It was humbling to see all my friends and family helping me along the process. I feel so grateful to have had people looking for me everywhere.
My little girl was so happy when she opened her Elsa doll on her birthday morning. The smile on her face was worth all the looking around.
Have you been searching for Frozen merchandise? Had any luck? I’d love to hear your story!
Same here! We are ALL about “Frozen” and we went to THE Disney store in Chicago… nothing but a t-shirt to buy. There was a giant stuffed Olaf however to get a photo with. 🙂
I hope they get more stuff soon! We now need an Anna doll 😉
I can totally relate to your Frozen story.Back in December my family travelled to disneyland. This would be the first trip for the kids and they were excited. They hadn’t seen the frozen movie at this point. While disneyland my sister contacted me and told me her daugter had just seen the movie and loved it and could I bring back an elsa doll. I had no idea who Elsa was but figured we are in disneyland, its a disney movie , how hard can it be. Let me tell you even back in dec it was next to impossible!! I finally found a little stand in the California adventure park that had the elsa dolls. I bought one( Littel did I know the mistake I made). Over the xmas break my girls finally watched the movie. They loved it and danced and sang around the house. And one day started asking for the Elsa doll. I knew it would be hard to find but thought surely I can find one somewhere. In March I went to both disney stores in Vancouver while on vacation, nothing! I called every single store I could think of while I was on the mainland, nothing! By then I had everyone searching and looking. The prices on EBAY are ridiculaous by the way!! Once home my mom contated me that she had not only found one but two!! Phew. She bought two that day (one for each girl). I honestly cannot believe how hard it is to find this toy!!!! Her birthday is coming up and of course she wants a frozen themed birthday so I am going to have to get creative.
It’s so crazy that even Disneyland doesn’t have the merchandise! So great that your mom found the dolls! I’m sure your girls will LOVE them. I was sooooo happy when I found my DDs Elsa doll!