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Small Town Daddy has been after me to share our trip to the city for Joanna’s birthday. I haven’t been able to get over the trauma of it, but since he hated yesterday’s post (he said it sounded like a paid post, even though (sigh) no one paid me to write it, I just really like MaryJanice Davidson). Anyway, I have moved far enough past Joanna’s birthday that I can write about it without gritting my teeth or smashing on the keyboard (OK, there may be some tooth gritting). If you have a little girl, you are probably familiar with American Girl. They are the extremely overpriced dolls that every little girl must have. Both of my girls were introduced to American Girl by the bad influences they met in kindergarten. For Libby’s 6th birthday, we took her to the American Girl Place Cafe in NY. We decided to do the same thing for Joanna’s 6th birthday. So we packed up everyone and off we went. We met up with Frank’s sister and her husband who live in Manhattan. We went to brunch with them (at Sarabeth’s, I highly recommend it). After brunch, we decided to walk around (what else do you do in Manhattan). We were right across the street from FAO Schwarz so we had to go there (of course). I tried to convince the girls that it was a toy museum where you could look at all the pretty toys but take nothing home. The rest of the adults refused to back me up on this. After spending more time in FAO Schwarz than anyone should have to, we continued down 5th Avenue, checking out stores that would be of interest to the kids. That’s right I had to walk right by Bergdorf Goodman, not to mention all the stylish boutiques that sell grown up clothes (sigh). We eventually made it to the American Girl Cafe. I haven’t been there since Libby turned 6 (3 1/2 years ago). There is a reason for that. First of all, economy or not, the place was jammed. Wall to wall little girls. I like little girls as much as the next person, but only in small doses. The set up they have for getting into the cafe is very poorly planned. First you have to check in to get your table assignment. So you already know where you are sitting. After checking in, you go and wait in line to get into the cafe. The line blocks off a large part of the store, but since it is on the same floor as the Bitty Babies, nobody cares. Not sure why people wanted to rush to be the first into the cafe. You got to sit in the same place no matter where you were in line. I made Frank (Small Town Daddy) and my brother-in-law wait in line. We finally got into the cafe. One of the things that American Girl Place prides itself on is its personal shopper arrangements. You can order a doll and have it meet you at the cafe. I didn’t do this with Libby since she already had a doll by the time we made it to the cafe, so I was excited to do it with Joanna. I arranged for her to get Emily, which is the doll she had picked out after painstaking analysis of the catalog. I even called to confirm the day before, just to make sure everything was set. So we got to the cafe and there was no doll. We got to our table and there was no doll. We sat at our table and there was no doll. Joanna was “feeling sad” that she was the only child in the entire cafe without a doll and tried to wedge her stuffed animal into the special doll chair so she wouldn’t be the only one without a friend. I went to the front desk to find out what happened with the doll. They said they would check on it. Twenty minutes later, I went back to check again (how long can it take to make a phone call). Apparently, no one had bothered to make a phone call. When they finally lowered themselves to make the call, it turned out that my shopper was out to dinner (at 4:00 in the afternoon?). Only the shopper you actually spoke with can bring the doll to the cafe. Although, they did had no problem finding the credit card slip they had charged about 20 seconds after I called to order the doll a month in advance. Some woman crabbily hunted down another Emily (not sure what happened to the one they claimed was waiting for us, but she made it clear that it was all my fault). Joanna finally got her doll more than halfway through tea. I didn’t actually get to try much of the tea, but don’t worry, they charged me for it anyway. As far as I can tell, I didn’t miss anything by not eating. The food was so horrible, even Small Town Daddy wouldn’t eat it (and he will eat anything that doesn’t contain a vegetable). Thankfully, this is the last trip I will ever make to the American Girl Place in Manhattan. I have heard the one in Boston is not as bad, so if we want to go back, maybe we will try there. The first time I went (for a birthday party), it really wasn’t bad. Apparently, someone has gotten greedy and the experience has gone downhill since then (prices have risen dramatically while food costs have plummeted). It has lost the charm that it had the first (and even second) time we went. The food is on a slippery slope that may eventually lead to a visit by the health department. If you have a young lady in the family, I highly recommend you eat elsewhere and stop by the store (after) if you must.
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Posted on 21:23, January 30th, 2009 by 
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So far the Princess Nagger hasn’t been ‘introduced’ to the American Girl dolls…yet! That sucks that the doll you had pre-ordered wasn’t there waiting patiently…Joanna was probably bothered by it ten times more than you were – I know my Little Princess would have been. Glad Joanna at least had a good time overall – that’s the most important thing of all.
Wow! That sounds really unpleasant. I’ve never been to one of their stores. Our oldest daughter has a Kristen doll, she got it a long time ago before they were taken over by Mattel and it was so commercialized. If I go, maybe I’ll try the one in Boston. Hope she had a good time anyway
Did you go to their website and tell them about the horrific experience you had and how disappointed your daughter was? Sometimes what was once someone’s great little idea grows too big, too fast, too out of control, etc. Even if they just send you an e-mail that apologizes in any way, you can share it with your daughter and turn it into a lesson about empowerment and being heard. I am so sorry your daughter had to experience that on her birthday celebration.
P.S. I loved your blog yesterday. Something amazing came out of it but it would take up way too much of you and your reader’s time (and space) to tell you the whole story. Tell small town daddy not to be so critical.
You’ve been awarded the “You’ve Been Tagged Award.” Stop by my site to pick up your award!
Oh my, not a good experience. My sister’s daughters love these dolls… They are very expensive, though–so I’m hoping that Katie won’t go down that path–maybe the cousins can pass theirs down to her
So sorry that Joanna’s b-day event wasn’t what she deserved…
Anne: We now have the American Girl cafe at the MOA so despite your outrage in seeing Camp Snoopy turn into Nicolodian (Sp) Universe (I think that changed from the generic since you were last here) I do not think the AG cafe there is as crowded. My Mom and I were at the MOA yesterday.
Aslynn also chose Emily last summer and Amy brought it to her when she traveled there. What fun to be six!!!
Wow. We don’t have one of those in our immediate vicinity and gratefully both my girls are too old to appreciate American Girl. You’re experience sounds a lot frustrating. What a shame that the service and food was so shoddy. Hopefully your daughter walked out with a smile on her face.
Our family is full of little boys so there haven’t been any forays into the American Girl world. I can see now that that’s a good thing!
It’s always a bummer when an absolutely-should-be-perfect event turns out badly. Particularly when it comes to our kids.
dropping by on a blessed sunny sunday!
gagay
What a disappointment!
All I can say is I am glad The girl is a
Canadian Girl! LoL
OMG that is simply insane!! Sorry that it was such a crazy experience
Hey- I’m passing on the Life is Grand Award to you.
All you need to do is list 5 reasons why life is grand and pass it on
You can pick it up at http://iamharriet.blogspot.com/2009/02/life-is-grand.html
OMG I went there with a friend on the first of January I felt the same way. We had checked in to the cafe, they make you way in a line to then wait in another line. The food just was NOT good at all. I got the same thing I did the year before and it was different. The waitress can only do so much. Put I feel the same way. Then to find the retired one of there most popular dolls ever. And I had two heart broken little girls. Maybe we will have to go to Boston next time…
You’ve been tagged by me–see blog for details! Please don’t feel obligated to play if you don’t do tags on your blog–Ciao for now!
We had my daughter’s 6th birthday party at the American Girl Place in Chicago. It was a much better experience than what you had, although, it too was very crowded. Sorry to hear it’s gone downhill.
Lately husband & I have been talking a lot about whether the economy doing badly will increase competition among businesses and they’ll have to remember what customer service is. It seems like everywhere we go is like this – no one cares, not one little bit.
My daughter has 3 dolls. We live close to the store in Massachusetts, but after hearing it costs $450.00 for 8 people to have a party their (they don’t just have the tea party their)we won’t be doing that. We may just visit the store part of it maybe over Feb. vacation. Sorry about your experience. For the prices you pay you think they would treat you a little better.
Wow, what a terrible experience. I had no idea you could do all that for a kids birthday party. Your poor little girl must of felt awful. At least she finally got her dolly. I’ll make sure that if I’m visiting NY not to stop there with my little girl. Thanks for the tip. Thanks for stopping by.
That stinks! I went to the American Girls store in Chicago and liked it, however I didn’t go for tea. There’s one where I live in Calif. and I’ve been meaning to go there with my daughter. I’ll be sure to check up on them if I place a doll order. Thanks!
Oh, the American Girl conspiracy. I tried my hardest to keep my girls away from this, but alas, their grandmother wasn’t on the same page. We took them to the lunch at the AGD in Chicago. It was an OK experience, but you are right, the food was awful. Luckily though, they served mimosas, which helped get me through the entire experience! LOL!
No American Girls here, we’ve got all boys, thank goodness.
Wow. Thank you for taking that bullet for me, so I don’t ever ever ever have to.I thought Build-a-Bear was bad enough, and that the American Girl catalog got me in enough trouble, but there’s an experience combining those PLUS chuck e cheese?
That makes me want to cry.
My daughter got the Doll of the Year last year, because it had her name, and Nana is a sucker. When *I* was a kid, I just got the catalog to flip through til the pages were frazzled.
I bet your daughter still loved it, happy birthday to her!
Sorry, re-read “Both of my girls were introduced to American Girl by the bad influences they met in kindergarten.” and shot my cocoa out through my nose.
Thankfully for me, it went cold ages ago.
Oh man that’s funny. My daughter’s “BFF!!!” has THREE fully decked out AG dolls. One that was made to look like her, the pretty little native american girl, and the 1940s one (molly? forgive me, I know not what I speak of). That’s a hard act to follow.
I WILL speak for their Care and Keeping of You book, it’s probably the least nauseating book on the topic. Really nicely balanced, since eventually we all end up in the market for that sort of book *stifles the tears*