Those of a certain generation will remember the pocket-size homes full of dolls that almost every girl seemed to carry around in the 1990s and early 2000s.
The Polly Pocket brand, which was created by London native Chris Wiggs as a toy for his daughter in 1989 and achieved peak popularity after being acquired by Mattel (MAT) in 1998, is nearing its 35-year anniversary in September 2024. The brand has been marking the date with a series of promotions and nostalgia-oriented advertisements while home-rental platform Airbnb (ABNB) has also jumped aboard and recreated the classic pink shell-shaped home as a life-size property.
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Appearing in Littleton, Mass. for a series of events and visits taking place throughout the fall, the 42-foot "tiny but mighty" home recreates the Polly Pocket toy down to a tee — while one will not be able to clack it open and shut, the top portion replicates a real kitchen and study area separated by pink staircases while the bottom is a lounge in the brand's signature pink-and-aquamarine colors.
Want to stay in Polly Pocket's iconic home? Here's what you need to do
The entire home is built out in the open (so spending the night will be akin to camping in a separate tent-style bedroom outside the main house) but Airbnb recreated it so that guests can have a Polly Pocket-themed experience with a retro fridge stocked with real treats and a closet filled with themed clothing for dressing up and taking selfies.
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"I can't wait for you to visit and help celebrate my birthday in my most epic compact ever," Polly Pocket writes in the Airbnb listing description. "Let's have some serious slumber party fun in my hometown of Littleton, where we make the ordinary extraordinary."
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'Always down for a new epic adventure, especially if my BFFs are along for the ride'
To book a stay in the house, one will need to go to airbnb.com/pollypocket between Aug. 21 and 28 and request one of three one-night stays between Sept. 12 and 14. The property can accommodate four people at $89 each — the price is a reference to when Polly Pocket first made her debut in 1989.
For those who are unable to spend the night, there is also the option of booking one of 21 day visits for up to 12 guests at a time on airbnb.com/pollypocketplaydate. The winners of the slots will be raffled off among those who request them online. If selected, guests will also need to arrange their own transportation to Littleton — the suburb of 10,000 people is located at a 40-minute drive from either Boston or Worcester.
Over the years, Airbnb has recreated a number of fictional properties from beloved toy universes such as Barbie's Malibu Dreamhouse in California to tie in with the release of the movie in the summer of 2023 and Shrek's Swamp in Scotland a few months later.
"I’m your average girl that’s not-so-average sized," reads Polly Pocket's host description. "But even though I’m tiny, there's no adventure too big for me to conquer. Whether it’s hanging ten on a surfboard or rocking the runway, I'm always down for a new epic experience, especially if my BFFs are along for the ride."
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