World of Barbie LA {Pop-up Review}

A wave of nostalgia hit me the minute I stepped into the World of Barbie. I grew up playing with dolls and was obsessed with all Barbie products – the Dreamhouse, her car, clothes and shoes. I loved to make up little stories in my head while Barbie and her friends walked around Barbie’s house. So when I heard that the World of Barbie pop-up tour was coming to Los Angeles, I just knew that I had to visit!

My mom bought me my first Barbie. She remembered how much I loved playing with Barbies and when I invited her to come with me to experience the pop-up, she said ‘yes’ right away!

After check-in, you’re immediately transported to Barbie’s Dreamhouse. My mom really liked the colors in Barbie’s living room. It’s super colorful and fun! I snapped this photo of a World of Barbie employee photographing Barbie fans. One thing to note is that pop-up employees are very helpful and willing to take pictures of you (and your group) if you forgot your selfie stick.

You’ll have major closet envy when you step inside Barbie’s walk-in closet. I wish my closet was as organized and spacious as Barbie’s!

Barbie’s Dreamhouse wouldn’t be complete without a pool (it’s actually a ball pit) and a movie theater. I spy the “Barbie” movie poster which will be released this summer and is rated PG-13. For Barbie fans of ALL ages, stay tuned for my DVD giveaway contest of “Barbie: It Takes Two – The Music of Friendship.”

There’s a full-size Camper Van where you can sit in the driver’s seat, ‘dine’ inside the kitchenette in the back or lay on a hammock.

A visit to the Paul Mitchell® Salon allows guests to try on different hairstyles and colors using an interactive touch screen. I tried it and let me just say that I’ll leave the blond hair to Barbie because it wasn’t my best look, lol. However, kids and adults alike will enjoy experimenting with a new ‘do.

The thing I like most about Barbie is that she is aspirational. As a kid, Barbie showed me the possibilities of various careers and hobbies. I remember wanting to be a singer or an ice skater!

In my opinion, Mattel has made a lot of strides in creating an inclusive world of Barbies with diverse dolls that represent people from all walks of life.

What else can you experience at World of Barbie?

• Travel to intergalactic destinations aboard Barbie Interstellar Airways shuttle
• Grab the mic and record your masterpiece in Barbie Music Studio
• Report on the news and weather on the set of “The Barbie Show”
• Visit the gift shop and build a customized Barbie from scratch (Note: This “Build It Barbie” experience requires a separate cost.)

I took a ton of photos and if you’d like to view all 65 of them, plus two videos, then head over to my Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/RealMomOfSFV.

Overall I had a lot of fun walking through the pop-up! It gave me a chance to revisit my childhood and I got to share this experience with my mom. Thank you, World of Barbie for hosting us!

LOCATION
World of Barbie
Santa Monica Place
395 Santa Monica Pl.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(Park in the garage adjacent to the shopping mall. The first 90 minutes are free.)

Want to visit World of Barbie? The pop-up runs through September 2023. For more information, visit their website here and make sure to follow their Instagram account for the latest updates!

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received for this post. I received complimentary tickets to World of Barbie which helped facilitate this review. All images and opinions are 100% my own.