Let your money go: Frozen toys expected to top Christmas sales charts

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/sep/25/frozen-toys-expected-to-top-christmas-sales-charts

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Toys based on the blockbuster Disney animation Frozen look set to top Christmas sales charts after being named on an annual “most-wanted” top 20 list.

The Disney Frozen Cool Tunes Sing-along Boombox, which plays songs from the $1.2bn fantasy musical’s Oscar-winning soundtrack, and the Snow Glow Elsa doll, based on the film’s ice-wielding princess, will hope to plug a supply gap fostered by the huge and largely unexpected success of the fairytale-themed movie, which became the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time in May. Both have been named on The Toy Insider Holiday Guide: Hot 20 list, compiled by the experts in the toy industry publishing world.

“It’s going to be a frozen Christmas,” Laurie Schacht of Adventure Publishing, which compiles the annual list, told Bloomberg. “The appeal is so broad, and it’s such a wonderful story that parents are happy to put merchandise like this in their kids’ hands.”

Disney initially struggled to meet demand for Frozen merchandise in the wake of the film’s November US release date, and there were reports of Princess Elsa dresses selling for up to $1,500 each on eBay as recently as June.

Each of the Frozen items retails for around $35 in US stores. Amazon.co.uk was selling the Boombox for £59.99 online at time of writing, while Argos has the Snow Glow Elsa for £39.99 in stores.

Older Frozen fans are being catered for too. InStyle reported last week that bridal designer Alfred Angelo is collaborating with Disney to create a wedding gown based on Princess Elsa’s icy style. The dress is expected to be available in January 2015 at Alfred Angelo stores.