Black Friday Toys
The Best Black Friday Toy Deals
Ask young children what they want Santa to bring and they'll enthusiastically reel off a list loaded with toys, toys, and more toys. This year the Black Friday toys deals will not disappoint their gift-giving elders. To get an idea of the offerings, we researched numerous best toy lists posted by mega-retailers such as Toys R Us, Kmart, Target, and Walmart. Then we scoured the ads for Black Friday deals on toys. Here are the best of the best -- for the moment, anyway.
Furby.
Shoppers who have already purchased the newest model in the Furby lineup provide mostly positive feedback in reviews posted at Amazon
. These furry, robot-like creatures are said to be an impressive update from Furbies past. One writer awards the toy "pet" an A+, saying it suits kids of almost any age and teaches valuable language and translation skills.
Included on many of the top toys lists of 2012, Furby by Hasbro is an educational toy wrapped in cuddly. At first it speaks its own language, but the more you talk to it, the more English it learns. You can also play Furby music, tickle and pet it, and use it with a corresponding iPhone/iPad/iPod app. Furby runs on four AA batteries.
The best Black Friday Furby deal we saw was at Walmart, where Furby is going for $45 -- a 17 percent cut off the regular $54 price. Kmart is also advertising Furby in its Black Friday toys ad, but the price is listed at $54 -- the same as the original. If Furby is on your child's wish list, consider making Walmart your first stop on Black Friday.
LeapPad Explorer.
The newest installment of LeapFrog's LeapPad Explorer, the LeapPad 2 Explorer, appears on many a toy list this holiday season. We haven't yet seen any Black Friday LeapPad 2 Explorer deals in ads, however. The original retail price runs about $100, which is what retailers currently are promoting. LeapPad 1 Explorer, meanwhile, will be discounted at Walmart on Black Friday; tagged at $65, this represents a 35 percent reduction from the original $99.99. Unless you're set on the latest version, the Black Friday LeapPad 1 Explorer deal at Walmart is looking good.
Update: A deal going on now at Amazon is looking even better: The LeapPad 1 Explorer is included in Amazon's Black Friday Deals Week for just $59.97 -- 40 percent off the original retail price. The site is also throwing in a free green gel skin case with purchase.
PC Mag reviewed the LeapPad 1 Explorer and found many favorable things to say. The expert considers it age appropriate, easy for little hands to hold, and easy to learn to use. The rugged outer shell protects wear and tear, and most importantly, it provides hours of entertainment. The reviewer calls it a tablet concept rolled into an attractive learning toy for youngsters.
The LeapPad 1 Explorer is designed for ages 4 to 9. It runs on four AA batteries and features 2GB of memory, a microphone, and a video/camera recorder. It's compatible with all LeapFrog Explorer apps and games, in addition to having its own extensive library of games, digital books, videos, and flash cards (many sold separately).
Power Wheels.
One ever popular toy with the young crowd is a motorized car that kids can actually drive around. Again this year Power Wheels by Fisher Price is a sure-fire Black Friday special. Both Walmart and Kmart are advertising these toys (toys, seriously?) in Black Friday ads. Walmart's deal covers a Power Wheels Ford F-150 truck that runs on a 12-volt battery, originally $349 marked down to $264 on Black Friday, for a 24 percent saving. Buyers who have purchased the truck on Amazon report it provides miles of entertainment for little ones. The battery is rechargeable and lasts up to an hour-and-a-half. Reviewers consider it sturdy and sufficiently powered to tackle small hills. Parents and kids alike seem satisfied with the product, but the high price tag gives some potential purchasers pause. This truck is recommended for children 3 years and older.
If you want to spend less than $100 (or your child hasn't yet reached the recommended driving age) but are determined to bowl him or her over, Kmart is offering a competitive Black Friday toys deal. You can get a Barbie VW Beetle (originally $118.78) or a Disney Cars Lil' Lightning McQueen (regularly $99) for $89 on Black Friday -- that's 24 percent off the Barbie car and 10 percent off the Disney Car. Both run on a 6-volt battery. Reviewers commenting on the Barbie VW Beetle at Walmart say kids quickly learn to maneuver this buggy, it promises several years of use (recommended age is 18 months to 4 years old, although some posts say children up to 6 play with it), and it's safe.
Additional Hot Black Friday Toys Deals.
Board games are an inexpensive way to add to the pile under the tree, and most vendors are featuring some sort of Black Friday sale on board games. Normally board games cost from $8 to $20, but Black Friday at Walmart means select games are going for just $3.88 while others can be had for $9.88. Target is selling all classic board games for $7 that day and Kmart's Black Friday toys sale includes buy-one-get-one-free on all board games.
Lalaloopsy Dolls have ended up on several top toy lists this year. We didn't see many Black Friday toys deals on this item but we do want to note that Kohl's is offering one model for $24.99, although the ad is mum about which specific doll. Lil' Tykes is also featuring the dolls in its Black Friday toys ads and is selling the Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Doll: Sew Cute for $29.99 while Toys R Us has two-packs of the dolls (Toffee/Ember or Misty/Rosy) for just $29.99.
Thanksgiving Day Toys Sales.
If you plan to shop the day before Black Friday, Walmart is hawking Barbie and Hot Wheels (his and her) Power Wheel Jeeps for $89 starting at 8pm. These are 6-volt toy cars and appropriate for kids ages 3 and up. Not much information was provided in the ad.
Black Friday Toys Deals at a Glance
| Item | Best Black Friday Deal Retailer | Black Friday Price | Non-Black Friday Price | Black Friday Savings Percentage | Mail in Rebate? | Store Gift Card or Cash Back? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Furby | Walmart | $45 | $54 | 17% off
No No | ||
| LeapPad 1 Explorer | Amazon | $59.97 | $99.99 | 40% off
No No | ||
| Power Wheels (Ford F-150, 12 volt battery) | Walmart | $264 | $349 | 24% off
No No | ||
| Power Wheels (Barbie VW Beetle or Disney Cars Lil' Lightening McQueen, both 6 volt battery) | Kmart | $89 | $118.78 (Barbie) or $99 (Disney Cars) | 24% (Barbie) or 10% (Disney Cars)
No No |
