I have to admit it. I absolutely cannot stand Hannah Montana. I don’t hate her in the sense that I want her to die, but I seriously wouldn’t mind her disappearing from show business and never coming back. Maybe it’s because there are thousands of deranged soccer mom’s that have decided she is a good role model. Maybe it’s because she couldn’t find a tune if someone hit her over the head with one.
Either way I am seriously not a big fan of Billy Ray’s daughter or her show. However, my friend’s daughters love the show and Hannah, much like most little girls do these days. So, I put aside all my distaste for the show and what I think of it, to spend a day playing around with Hannah and her friends, in doll form.
The good thing for me is that I don’t have to enjoy them. This is about the kids and the kids found them to be quite fun. I always found more excitement in Barbies, as opposed to similar knock off girlie action figure dolls, but these dolls are meant to be a hit because they look just like the people that play the parts in the Hannah Montana series. These dolls are certain to be one of the hottest toys of the summer thanks to the clever design skills and the fun, summer theme.
Positives & Negatives:
Positives
Looks just like Oliver
Realistic
Inspires Creative Play
Durable
One of a Set, So Multiple Additions are Available
Comes with Accessories
Well Made
Lots of Detail
Negatives
Has Small Parts, so may not be good for Younger Children
Pricing & Availability:
I am guessing that most stores that sell toys will have this and the other Hannah Montana dolls in stock this summer. You should be able to find it at most offline retailers for a variety of prices. You can also find it online at a number of stores including Amazon. At Amazon, you can pick the Oliver doll up for $11.94. Your order will be eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping if you have an order of $25 or more, so if you were planning to purchase more than one of these dolls that may be the way to go!
Requirements & Instructions:
Considering this is a doll, as a parent your part in this will be minimal. All you will need to do is take Oliver out of the box and hand them to your child. There are some small accessories, but nothing that your child shouldn’t have a problem understanding how to use.
If you want to add to the fun you can always purchase Rico’s Surf Shop, which gives your child an excellent, show-similar setting for play time. Otherwise, all you need to work this particular toy is a good dose of imagination! The girls loved Rico’s and they had their dolls purchase plenty of fries and smoothies!
Durability:
I don’t recommend popping the heads off the dolls or trying to decapitate them for any reason. However, if you do (or if your daughter has a big brother) it’s nice to know that the head will go right back on. This doll is durable enough to take a fair beating and look fine, if that should happen. The clothing is made well on Oliver and should be hard for a child to rip or ruin unless that is their intent and they do whatever they have to so that happens. Otherwise, you should get your money’s worth here and a lot more when it comes to durability.
Ease of Use:
Again, as a doll, this only requires your child’s imagination. I am imagining there are other clothing sets for these dolls or there will be in the future. This means your child can change the doll’s clothes and create play in different settings. The attention to detail should be greatly appreciated as this doll resembles Oliver down to the littlest detail. This should help inspire your child’s Hannah Montana play quite a bit and make it easy for them to find plenty of ways to play with this and the other dolls in this series.
Fun Factor & Overall Appeal:
Oliver comes dressed in a maroon Polo shirt and camo cargo shorts. He’s also wearing a pair of dark, matching sandals. Also included are a small bottle of (play) suntan lotion, a boogie board, and two Hannah Montana stickers. It’s important to note that the lotion is incredibly small, so if you have smaller children playing with this you may want to remove it from the box before giving the doll to them.
Thanks to the summertime theme kids will enjoy playing with these at family barbecues, the beach, and around the pool. The Oliver doll is recommended for ages six and up, which is age appropriate for toys with such small accessories. The girls adored Oliver and Hannah, the two of the dolls in the set that they were able to play with when I visited them. The other dolls in the set include Lilly and Miley.
The girls spent hours switching back and forth between the two dolls I brought. One minute one was Oliver and the other was a spunky, more entertaining, Hannah, and then they would switch so the other could have her Hannah time. It was fun to watch them enjoy themselves.
Bottom Line:
While I may not enjoy Hannah Montana, the girls I let play with these dolls certainly do! The Oliver doll was a hit! I do not recommend buying this doll unless your child is the recommended age or older. There are small pieces that are easy to swallow and younger children won’t realize that until it’s too late. Oliver and the other Hannah Montana dolls should be suitable for kids age six and older, until about the pre-teen years when doll use seems to taper off. That being said, fans of the show will love these dolls no matter how old they are. This is sure to be one of the hottest toys this summer!
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Technorati Tags: Oliver, Summertime Series, Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus, Doll, Surf Shop, Disney Channel, Toy, Children
Written by Ashtyn Evans - Visit Website
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Ashtyn lives in her home state of Michigan with her life partner, Dominick, her 14 year old son, and her baby, the Shih-Tzu, Oliver Twist. Ashtyn is in college, going for a degree in Psychology. She plans to get her Ph.D and work as a therapist in the field of human sexuality. Ashtyn is an experienced and talented chef. She also excels at writing and has worked as a professional writer for the past five years. Ashtyn enjoys spending time with her son and four year old nephew, watching movies, listening to music, and writing works of fiction.
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