The Take Along Townhouse!
Written: May 30 '02
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Pros: small, lightweight, lots of goodies, excellent price
Cons: no bathroom, but I guess if you're plastic that doesn't matter
The Bottom Line: A perfect toy. The price is right. It's portable, fun, compact, and all accessories are included.
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| ned1's Full Review: Fisher Price Loving Family Sweet Streets Townhouse... |
Wouldn't it be nice if real life were like dollhouse land life? I sure would like to get a fully furnished townhouse for only $9.99 (plus tax). Just think - no mortgage, no debt, no monthly payments to Ethan Allen and no yard work (all plants included are plastic and require nothing more than a mere dusting every now and then).
Last Sunday in my never ending quest to make sure that my home is never mistaken for a home, but rather the interior of Toys R Us, I came home with yet another toy. To be honest I didn't go out with the intention to buy a toy, it just kind of happened.
After three days of being housebound with my bored children due to pouring rain, I decided to venture across the street to my local Target. I figured despite my sweet exterior I wouldn't melt in the rain, and we were running low on some essentials - like toilet paper, laundry soap, milk, etc. Thank goodness around here when it rains for days on end there is nothing equivalent to the insane BMTP run on the market whenever the threat of snow is two days away. I knew the store would be pretty empty and I could get in and out quickly. That would leave me enough time to head over to Home Depot and get my Ark building supplies.
Venturing out in the downpour was truly the lesser of two evils as I couldn't take another minute of heavy sighs and complaints about how, "we have nothing to do." My youngest child, who is five, asked to go with me. I really didn't feel like having a sidekick to slow me down, so I tried my best to convince her she would melt in the rain. She was skeptical that she might melt, but was willing to risk it and somehow managed to charm her way into the van.
Upon arriving at Target I planned to move quickly and get only the items on my list. Claire didn't even ask to go the toy aisles, as she just had a birthday and had plenty of toys to play with. However, as I turned the corner and looked across an aisle I spied an end cap filled with the Fisher Price Loving Family Sweet Streets Townhouse. Above the display was a big sale sign. I know I should have just continued on, but the lure of the sale pulled me in.
The townhouse was on sale for approximately $9.99 - down from the usual Target price of $15.99 and the Toys r Us price of $17.99. Claire had that much allowance and has wanted this toy for a very long time. She already has the beach house, ice cream truck and some other sets and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Grand Hotel (due out this summer). This purchase was a no brainer, the price was right, and I knew she would play with it.
She beamed all the way home, and into the house. Her older brother helped her open the box and get the house out. This is the first fabulous feature of the toy; it is a folding townhouse (basically a smaller version of the folding dollhouse and townhouse Fisher Price makes). All the extras can be stored inside the folded house. There is a carry handle on top of the townhouse, so the set is completely portable.
The set up time of the toy is about two minutes (to take off all the twist ties). The house comes completely assembled with all stickers already in place (thank goodness). It also comes fully loaded (unlike the large dollhouse), which means you have no extra money to spend furnishing each room.
So just what is my daughter and I like about this toy, let me tell you.
**Size does matter**
Folded the house is about 9 inches high, 8 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. When you open the two sides up, the total width of the house increases to only 11 1/2 inches and the depth to about 8 inches. This house fit just about anywhere, on a bookcase shelf, a coffee table top, in the corner, etc. You'll never be tripping over it or trying to find somewhere to put it.
**No HOA**
The townhouse is a lovely shade of pink (reminiscent of the color many house on our street in Santa Cruz were painted in) with a blue roof. Obviously this townhouse is located in a community with no HOA or that color scheme would have never been approved.
**Details, Details, Details**
For something so tiny and cheap (even at the full price of $17.99 this is a bargain) the details and work on this house are amazing. When closed, the front of the townhouse is fully landscaped (in color); the sides are imprinted with flowers and vines in the pink color of the house.
There are two trendy spiraled/topiary evergreens on the sides of the front door; there is a small mail slot and monogramming on the front door. If only my front yard looked that good - no need for this family to sign up for HGTVs Curb Appeal.
You enter the front door and walk into two level foyer (I will pass on the Townhouse family that while a neat design element, paying to heat that space can be expensive). There is a fabulous staircase leading up to the second level and a beautiful crystal looking chandelier hangs above this space. It actually looks the entrance to our home; even the window at the stair landing is the same. Fisher Price completes the entrance with a view out the window of a sunrise/sunset.
In the conservatory there is hardwood flooring (courtesy of a sticker) and in the kitchen there is a lovely black and white (diner style) linoleum floor). There is sticker carpeting in each bedroom. Fisher Price definitely did a good job decorating this home and making it look nice.
**A picture perfect family**
The house comes with a wonderful family - mom, dad and a daughter (there can't be any more children, as there are no extra rooms in the house. They are stuck in the perpetual smile pose and are somewhat bendable and poseable. They are in need of a stylist big time - their hair and clothing leave something to be desired, and since both are attached, there isn't much you can do about it.
**Fully Furnished**
Four rooms worth of furniture come with this house. You get:
A permanently set table and three chairs for the kitchen
A piano and bench for the conservatory
A double bed for mom and dad
A single bed for the daughter
What I like about it that all the dishes and extras are attached to the table, you don't have all those small pieces that get lost, go down air vents or get stepped on at three am. In the kitchen area as well there are small pots and pans attached to the wall as well as cookbooks, utensils, etc. That way your child can pretend to use them and never lose them.
**One slight problem**
As you read my description you will notice one slight problem with this fabulous home - and probably the reason the family was able to get it for such a low price. No, it's not located next to the "L" or an airport; the problem is there is no bathroom. My five year old couldn't stop laughing when she realized there was no place for the family to shower or go potty, so we gave the family the last name of Stinky.
**A rooftop getaway"
Even though the family can't shower, they can air themselves out each night. On the top of the townhouse, in the center section, is a rooftop escape. A built in bench on each side of the roof provides ample seating for the family, and the trellis/arch in the middle doubles as the handle. (Of course if I were to get picky I would point out that there is no staircase leading up to the roof, so I do wonder just how they get up there).
**The box**
Almost as played with, as the set is the box it comes in. The box has a clear front, sides that stay closed and a handle on the top. My daughter calls it her suitcase and carries her beanies, doll blankets, toys, etc. in it. She has as much fun with it as she does with the house.
**Well constructed**
Better built than my new home, this townhouse is sturdy and lives up to my expectations of a quality Fisher Price toy. Unlike other folding houses and castles we have owned (made by Mattel for Barbie and Kelly), this house is easy to open and close, the doors stay latched and don't loosen over time (I can vouch for that because we have had the beach house for a year and it still looks box new and the doors still stay shut when closed). You can walk around with this house closed and the contents won't be all over the floor.
**Hours of imaginative play**
My daughter and 8-year-old son love this house. They named the dad "dollhouse Ben" and since Sunday he has been on many adventures in our home. They play with this set for hours on end and get so lost in the games they don't realize how loud they are getting.
For once I have nothing bad to say about a product. I love this line of toys and have since we got our first piece a year ago. It is a high quality toy at an excellent price - and if you act now, or up until Saturday, you can get it for a super price at Target.
The townhouse will keep your child occupied for hours and comes with everything you need. It is small enough to take places where you may need to sit for some time - like the DMV or a doctor's waiting room. There is no set time and the toy is easy to open and close. I also like that this toy is not advertised, so my daughter’s want of it was out of product familiarity and the look of the toy. The magic box did not tell her that she needed it.
If you have a child who likes dollhouse type toys, I would suggest you think about this next time you go out shopping.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 9.99
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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Epinions.com ID:
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Member: Nancy
Location: in the Barbie aisle
Reviews written: 894
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About Me:
Off to Basel (1/21) - in search of Swiss Miss Barbie - back (1/26)
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