I know the American Girl store in LA isn't a theme park, but since this is a Disney board I figured some of you S. Calif people could help me.

My 9 yr old DD is dying to go to the Amer Girl Store but we have two other children who have no interest 7 (boy) and 4 (girl- okay,she wants to go but we'll take her when she's older and will appreciate it more). Is there anything DH can take them to do that is nearby while DD and I go to a meal, show, etc? It doesn't have to be within walking distance, but within about 30 min would be great.

Thanks for all your help. You guys always have the greatest ideas.

The Grove (where AG is located) has a dancing waters show, a Barnes and Noble and a movie theater. :)
Farmer's Market (right next to it) has tons of places to eat and some cute shops. This way you don't have to drive somewhere else.

Thanks for the tips.

Have you been to the store? If so, is it hard to get reservations?

I've been to the one in Chicago -- I know from some friends that opening day caused MEGA traffic jams around the area. It is probably good to make a reservation if you plan to eat or see the show -- I don't know how hard it is, but as soon as you know when you are going I would call. (You don't need one just to go into the store though -- but there might be some long checkout lines).

How funny. We've been to the one in Chicago too, but our daughter was too young to appreciate it at the time. It's all the rage with her friends right now so I thought we'd better make the effort - LA is much closer to us than Chicago!

Thanks for your help.

Is it true you can have tea with your doll there...and get you & your dolls hair styled the same there? I have heard other moms talk about it, but never have been. I think I drove by the one in NY, should have went inside.

Yep. That's all true. You should check out the website. It explains a lot more than that!

http://www.americangirlplace.com/agp_home.php

Super cute ;) Those dolls look like a great Xmas gift for my soon to be 4 year old!

Depending on how much time you want to spend with your older girl at the doll store, another nearby option is Hancock Park, home to the La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum. You can play in the park and see the tar pits without paying to visit the museum, and it's just a few blocks from the Grove.

http://www.tarpits.org/



And, yes, the opening of the store did cause all manner of ugly traffic jams...

Is there one in New York as well???

Yep. New York and Chicago too. Go to the link above. It will take you to the NY site also. You can also sign up for free catalog to make sure your daughter is really interested. Ours is so worn!

Super cute ;) Those dolls look like a great Xmas gift for my soon to be 4 year old!


I gave my now 5 year old the bitty twins on her fourth birthday and I'll never forget the pure joy on her face - it was the first gift that she ever really loved and was totally surprised. She still plays with them a lot. She thought of their names herself too - Jack and Carla - I have no idea where she came up with those names! She like the twins better than the bitty baby because they have hair that you can brush (only with American girl hairbrushes though - they warn you that any other brush will damage the hair....)
:)

Thanks for the tips.

Have you been to the store? If so, is it hard to get reservations?
Currently booked through July. Try for the tea service in the afternoon.

We visited last week with our 8 year old. It's an amazing store with tons of helpful help. As my wife said, never has anyone figured out a way to remove so much money from people so cleverly.

David

try build-a-bear. which is conveniently just down the block or so from american girl place in nyc. and they have their own build-a-friend spin-off too.

I am a HUGE AG fan. I was surprised to see an ag topic on the disney board. I have been to chiago (only 2 hours away) and to NY a couple years ago. I plan on going to AGPLA sometime the next coming year. make sure to take pics and post them here for us to see.
check out http://agplaythings.proboards105.com/index.cgi and also
http://www.hostboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/ubb/forum/f/2155
for american girl help.

you can also check out my website here http://homepage.mac.com/civicsista/American_Girls/Menu31.html

Tracy

There were certainly plenty of girls and moms walking around in NY with AGP bags over Memorial Day Weekend.

We visited the LA store a few weeks ago and did the cafe and theatre.:) Here's a link (http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=bd060607lp) to the photo tour--at the end of the article is a map from DL to the AG store. It's about 45 minutes to an hour's drive from the park, barring horrible traffic. Well worth the trip--we had such a great time.

We are thinking of visiting at the end of July while we are in Irvine for a soccer tournament. Is the store family friendly? I mean for boys too? It would be my family of 5. We are 2 boys (9 & 4 years old), 1 girl (3 years old) and my hubby & I. And how much time do you think I should plan on staying there? I will make reservations for lunch or dinner there ahead of time. Thanks to anyone who has gone already!

We are thinking of visiting at the end of July while we are in Irvine for a soccer tournament. Is the store family friendly? I mean for boys too?

I think it would pretty much be a snooze-fest for boys. I don't think I saw a single boy in the place when we visited. The Cafe might be alright, because the food is kid-friendly and the service is quick. Still pretty girly, though.


It would be my family of 5. We are 2 boys (9 & 4 years old), 1 girl (3 years old) and my hubby & I. And how much time do you think I should plan on staying there? I will make reservations for lunch or dinner there ahead of time. Thanks to anyone who has gone already!

Maybe the men in the family can catch a movie while the girls shop. We could have spent all day there, but it was our first visit and we wanted to see everything. We ended up spending five hours there, but we also saw the play.

We're going this Saturday. Yay. Me, DD 9, DD 4, DD's friend 9, DD's friend's Mom. What else can we do in the area? We will be in LA for 12 hours with a rental car and have no idea what to do. Our birthday party reservations are for 12:30, so our morning until about 2 is full, but we have from 2-7 to do something. A beach? Which one? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. And I'll post when we get back to let you know how everything went, hopefully with pics if I can figure out how to do that...

Thanks!

Well, you aren't exactly near the beach (unless you want to hop on the 10 and head west to Santa Monica (which based on traffic can take anywhere from 30 minutes-90 minutes). You might be better off heading to Hollywood & Highland and catching Pirates at the El Capitan (if they have tickets available) and having some ice cream at the Studio Store.

We visited the LA store a few weeks ago and did the cafe and theatre.:) Here's a link (http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=bd060607lp) to the photo tour--at the end of the article is a map from DL to the AG store. It's about 45 minutes to an hour's drive from the park, barring horrible traffic. Well worth the trip--we had such a great time.

Lisa, thank you for the great trip report. And pictures! Lovely! I was really excited for our trip, and now I'm very, very excited!!! It sounds like you had a wonderful time. Did you buy anything, or just the girls?

Quick question. What do people wear there? Anyone in capris? I swear that's all my DD (9) wears. Is it pretty nice dress or were there some casual people there?

Thanks!

Lisa, thank you for the great trip report. And pictures! Lovely! I was really excited for our trip, and now I'm very, very excited!!! It sounds like you had a wonderful time. Did you buy anything, or just the girls?

Quick question. What do people wear there? Anyone in capris? I swear that's all my DD (9) wears. Is it pretty nice dress or were there some casual people there?

Thanks!
People dress in all manner--some are in casual, some dress up a little--especially if they are going to eat in the cafe. Some dress in doll-matching outfits. And as always--some dress like slobs.

People dress in all manner--some are in casual, some dress up a little--especially if they are going to eat in the cafe. Some dress in doll-matching outfits. And as always--some dress like slobs.

Very true--we saw the whole gamut from fancy velvet dresses to shorts and jeans. And a lot of matching outfits, which were very cute.

I didn't get anything for myself--it was more fun watching the girls shop-- but we do all listen to the soundtrack to the AG Revue together. It's very good.:)

Very true--we saw the whole gamut from fancy velvet dresses to shorts and jeans. And a lot of matching outfits, which were very cute.

I didn't get anything for myself--it was more fun watching the girls shop-- but we do all listen to the soundtrack to the AG Revue together. It's very good.:)
I think the show is excellent. If one could only do a meal in the cafe or the revue, I would go with the review. My wife found herself tearing up at times and I think Addy's story is particularly moving.