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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed., December 16, 2009
Durability:2.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: KidKraft Annabelle Dollhouse (Toy)
I bought this KidKraft dollhouse based upon reviews of the other KidKraft dollhouses (the Annabelle had no reviews then) and because we own the KidKraft Bright & Bold kitchen play set, which my daughters really enjoy and I find to be well-made and sturdy. I bought this particular dollhouse because it had an elevator and a set of stairs, and all 3 floor have "realistic" access (not like the Savannah dollhouse which has no stairway access to the 3rd floor or attic).
That said, I am really disappointed with the quality of this house, particularly in comparison to the kitchen set. The two side wall are made of MDF and the pitched-roof and elevator sidewalls are also thick MDF. The floors and the back wall are all flimsy, cardboard-y type material (super-thin MDF?) that has a sheet of "wallpaper" on them to represent the inside scenes. The floor "boards" have wood runners on the side edges to allow for the back "boards" to be slid in (and to give the dollhouse a more finished look from the front). I will say that the design and materials used for the pitch-roof are excellent. Real wood support pieces, and just an overall nice looking effect. I truly wish KidKraft would have put as much thought into the interior construction elements/materials. I would have certainly been willing to pay more money for thick MDF to have been used throughout the dollhouse, now, however, I will never buy another KidKraft dollhouse, assuming this one does not last nearly as long as I hoped it would when I bought it. I would also beg all dollhouse creators to give-up the gaudy interior sticker/wallpaper designs that they insist on using. What good is it to put a picture of a sofa on the back wall, when the dollhouse comes with an actual sofa? The wall decals can really, and unnecessarily, limit the imagination.
Assembly took a little time--I had some difficulty assembling the elevator and found the diagrams in the instructions very unhelpful--I ultimately had to consult the picture on the box to figure out how to assemble it. As usual, KidKraft did have every piece nicely labeled and everything lined-up precisely. I would also like to note that this dollhouse is designed to be placed up against the wall. They include a kit to secure it to a wall, which people who place this dollhouse on carpet may want to use--I can see the dollhouse being very easy to tip over, and not sturdy enough to survive the crash. The backside is completely white, and there are no window or door cut-outs on the back wall. This too was a big disappointment for me. The girls still play with their Fisher Price Loving Family dollhouse, and their Barbie My House, which has 360-play--doors that open and close, window, etc.--and even though the KidKraft accommodates Barbie dolls, the quality of the Loving Family dollhouse is much superior, as is the My House.
I specifically avoided buying Barbie's 3-story dollhouse with the lights and sounds this Christmas because I was so happy with the quality of the KidKraft kitchen, and really thought their dollhouses would be on par. I don't think they are, and I hope I don't have to turn around and buy the Barbie townhouse because this one doesn't make it past 6-months.
Lastly, I would also say don't let the "manufacturer's retail price" fool you here. There is no way the MRP here is meant to be truthful or accurate, and I believe it is used to manipulate the consumer into thinking they are getting a higher-quality item at a more reasonable rate. This dollhouse should not be priced into the triple-dollar-digits. The quality is just not there.
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