2014 Rapunzel Disney Store Doll Review

Hey everyone!  Here's the 2014 Rapunzel Disney Doll review I've been promising.  I'd really just like to take a couple of minutes to thank all fourteen of my wonderful followers, and even those who don't follow my blog, but still read posts - you guys are AMAZING, and thank you so much for following me and for sticking with me.  I know I've been terrible for posting lately, so thank you so much. 
Onto the post!
This, as afore-posted, is the front of their boxes. 

And this is the back of Rapunzel's box. 

When I got her out of the box (which was fairly easy.  There were two of those pesky plastic tag things in her dress that left holes, though, which I wasn't exactly pleased about.) 
Under her skirt is an INSANE amount of tissue paper, and it's even wrapped around her legs!  Not sure why she was so wrapped up with the tissue paper this year, seeing as her dress, though glittery, does not shed.  (Which is AMAZING.) 

Here's the beauty herself! 

Front of her dress.  This is the most accurate dress they've made since the original 2010 release, which I was excited about. 

This is blurry, which I didn't notice until just now...sorry!  This kinda shows how full her skirt is, and that the pattern goes the whole way around her skirt.

At first, I was pretty hesitant to buy her -- I mean, to me, she looked a lot like the 2013 release, and I didn't want a duplicate, but on the other hand, I didn't want to break my pattern (I have the 2010, 2011, Wedding 2012, 2013, and now 2014...Only missing a few).  I'm glad I got her, though!  When I first saw her in the box, I thought I probably wouldn't like her, because her eyes are HUGE.  Slightly bigger than the 2013 release's.  Her lips are also a vibrant pink, which I wasn't a fan of.  Buuuut she grew on me, and I love those big eyes!  She's similar to 2013 Rapunzel, but different at the same time. 
Her hair is so silky soft, and a beautiful color.  It goes just barely to her ankles, but it's a lot thinner this year than in previous years.  I'm not meaning that the rooting is poor or patchy or anything, that's fine -- she just has less dense hair.  I don't know how to explain it...
Anyway, like my 2014 Ariel, her hips were really stiff.  Luckily, I was able to work them until they were fine.  And there were no knees harmed in the making of this post.  :D

She has freckles, too! They're bolder once more, but I love 'em anyway.  Also:  her eyes look bluish in this picture, but they're deep emerald greenish in real life.

The gel holding her hair up in her trademark "swoop", as Glen Keane calls it, was almost nonexistent, (which was odd - I got one doll that was gelled wayy too much, and one that wasn't gelled enough!)  so I did the same thing I did with Ariel:  I spritzed her with the fabric softener and water solution and got the gel out.  Her hair falls like this now, and if you position it a certain way, she looks like she has a completely different personality - she goes from bubbly and perky to shy and quiet.  I like it, actually!  It gives her a different air.  

Overall, I give her a 5/5.  While she's not 101% movie accurate (eyes are too dark, lips and freckles too bold), she's still beautiful and nicely made. She's fun to photograph as well!  I need to make a comparison post for her and her predecessor, and I feel a photoshoot coming on.  Anyway, I'd definitely recommend her! 
Anyone planning on getting her?  Anyone have her already? 

2014 Ariel Disney Store Doll Review

Hey, guys!
So today, I've got the 2014 Ariel Disney Doll review up, finally.  Yikes...thanks for waiting patiently! 

So this is the front of the Ariel box (and Rapunzel's). 

My Ariel's box was dented in pretty badly, but luckily nothing happened to her nose or face!

Back of the box.

And the beautiful lady herself!  She's relatively easy to get out of the packaging, which was epic. 

The only thing I didn't like was how gelled her hair was.  It was INSANE.  I could hardly even move it, and it was starting to get really messy by the time I got her into a couple of poses.  Luckily, I spritzed her with some fabric softener/water solution and rubbed it gently through the crusty parts of her hair, and she ended up with almost no gel, but her hair still stays in place.  Her hair was incredibly soft once I got all the nasties out :P 

Her beautiful face - she's very accurate to the movie version of Ariel, in my opinion. 

Her tail is glittery, but it's made out of some fabric that doesn't shed glitter.  It's amazing.  The top and the fins are made out of some really thin fabric - almost puts me in the mind of tulle, but it isn't.  Her tail has elastic at the top, so it's okay to get off -- kinda hard, but doable. 

Her top has clear, rubbery elastic straps, and has a bow-like (or should I say shell?) attachment sewn to the center.  Behind that is just a plain bra, basically.  It has Velcro in the back.  I could see how this would be very, very easily broken, just because of those pesky straps.  I remember breaking many, many of those as a child - anyone else have that problem, or was it just me? 

She has the regular, click-knees, which...

Broke.  Her hips were very, very stiff, but I flexed them a coupla times and they were fine.  When I tried to bend her knees, her one leg broke.  See that second bump that shouldn't be there? That's what happens when they break.  Plus, you can bend them wayyy further than you should be able to.  [And no, I'm not an old wrinkly person.  My hands are just in bad shape because I never use lotion...]

This is her other, unbroken knee, just for comparison. 

She's really fun to take pictures of!

Overall, I would give her 4.5/5 stars.  She's beautiful, and her articulation is the same as the other dolls with similar articulation (2010-11, 2013-14 Rapunzels, Belle, etc.)  She's movie accurate and just very fun.  I docked half of a point, however, for the crummy gel, weak knee joint, and her really stiff hips (though they loosened up a bit with some work.)  It might just be my doll, though.  Otherwise, I would definitely recommend her!  She's my first Ariel, so I can't really compare her to other versions, though.  Anyone planning on getting her?  Does anyone have her already? 

Quick Update and Disney Store news

Hey, everyone!
So this week has been, once more, insane.  Horses.  *facepalm* Just...horses.  If any of you own horses or know people who own horses, you know they are the most maddening, frustrating creatures on earth, and I quite frankly have no idea why I like them so much, but I do.  xD 
PLUS, computer issues.  My computer randomly decided to just STOP working...temporarily.  I know I could use my tablet, but I prefer an actual keyboard as opposed to a touch screen for when I'm typing.  I don't know what was going on with my laptop, but it lost its own IP address, we got that fixed, and then it just QUIT and wouldn't turn on for like three days.  It's working fine now, knock on wood.  I have no idea what's going on with it...
ANYWAY, I also need to let you guys know that I won't be able to be posting from July 14th to July 28th.  I'll let you all know what I did after I come back!
I'm hoping to have the Belle and Beast doll reviews up sometime soon here, if I can get my wild equines settled down and my computer convinced to stay working =D 

While I'm at it, Stitch Kingdom's website posted some exciting news -- designs for new Frozen toddler dolls, an ice-skating set with Anna and Elsa, the new Singing Doll designs, and the new Designer Collection couple sets (Tiana & Naveen, Pocahontas & John, Mulan & Shang, Cinderella & Prince Charming, and Aurora & Philip this year) will be coming out soon!!!!  (Except for the Frozen dolls--they're set to be released this FALL...)
They all look so pretty!  Mulan and Shang for the Designer Collection look a little off, but my favorite from this year is probably Aurora.  What about you guys?  Anyone planning on purchasing any of the new releases, LE dolls or not? 
You can click HERE to see pictures, and the article posted.

Disney Store updates

Hey everyone!!

Today, the Disney Store finally came out with some of their 2014 Classic Doll collection!!
The face molds and paint, etc. look to be exactly the same, but the outfits are different for the princesses.  Plus, Mother Gothel has a glittery dress.  Didn't think she'd be much of one for glitter, but hey.


(From Disneystore.com)
Merida also has a new outfit -- she has less glitter, but her dress has a neat, glittery little pattern along the bottom.  It's really nice! 

(Disneystore.com)

Rapunzel's got an AWESOME dress this year -- it's as close to the movie dress as they've gotten since the original 2010 doll came out!  Also, I'm not sure if maybe it's just me, but her face looks different.  Almost rounder, maybe?  Or her lips have softer coloring?  I'm not sure.  Your thoughts?

(Disneystore.com)

Belle has a really pretty dress, as well:

(Disneystore.com)
I didn't really notice much difference with the Ariel, Mulan, or Pocahontas, but Cinderella has a beautiful dress this time as well:

(Disneystore.com)

What are your thoughts on the new 2014 redesigns? 
I'm DEFINITELY going to get Rapunzel (who knew, right?? :P) and hopefully Belle as well.  Any of you guys planning on getting any of them?   
I'm excited to see if they made any changes to their articulation -- hopefully changes for the better!! 

You can see all of them (Including the old models, though -- those ones are easy to find, because they are on the 2 for $10 sale) HERE. 

Surprisingly, the Frozen dolls have not been added to the "Classic" collection yet -- I'll be interested to see if they redesign them, and what they will look like if they do.  As usual, the Frozen merchandise is completely and utterly out of stock. 

While I'm at it, there's a 40% off sale going on for a lot of items -- so you'll want to check that out as well! (:

I'll talk to you guys later!! (: