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American Girl Gift Box Review: Design Your Own Doll Set

by Katie Wallace | Updated: November 27, 2019

American Girl’s custom gift box lets you surprise your girl with a doll set you design yourself. It arrives beautifully packed with a doll plus themed outfits and accessories. You can choose a historical set or a Truly Me set. I was invited to design a gift box for my own daughter, and I am excited to share our unboxing and review.

design your own American Girl gift box product review

AG Gift Set at a Glance

  • Product: Custom Gift Box Experience
  • Choose from: Historical, Girl of the Year, or Truly Me dolls
  • Add: “play packs” of coordinated outfits and accessories
  • Comes with: a personalized note and a first-year doll hospital visit
  • Reviewed: 2019

American Girl gift set collection Truly Me outfits and accessories

How the Gift Box Works

The American Girl website makes it easy to build a custom gift box. You answer a few questions to personalize the note and get doll recommendations. Then you select a doll, either from the recommendations or the full list. You can choose a historical doll like Felicity or Nanea, a Girl of the Year like Blaire or Luciana, or a Truly Me doll. You can even add ear piercing.

Next, you pick “play packs” to include. These coordinate with the characters, or you can mix and match. Finally, you review your choices and the personalized note, and check out. Everything arrives in a collectible box tied with a bow.

American Girl gift box tied with a bow

American Girl gift box curiosity play pack: school

American Girl gift box curiosity play pack: school outfits and accessories

What We Chose from American Girl

For my daughter, I selected a Truly Me doll that looks like her. I added the Curiosity Play Pack: School and the Confidence Play Pack: Gymnastics and Skating. The school pack came with darling outfits, a backpack, and doll-sized school supplies. The sports pack included a leotard and gymnastics gear, plus an ice skating outfit, skates, and skate guards. My girls both love school and gymnastics, so these were perfect.

American Girl confidence play pack: gymnastics and skating

American Girl Sets Within the Box

Each play pack comes in its own box, nestled inside the gift box. I think this adds to the fun, since kids love opening things to see what is inside. I especially love American Girl’s outfit sets. They usually come with adorable shoes and beautiful accessories. The high-quality details are what set the brand apart.

Truly Me American Girl doll personalized gift set

About Truly Me Dolls

Truly Me dolls come in many styles, so you can pick one that looks like your child. They measure 18 inches, with a huggable cloth body and smooth vinyl limbs. They hold up well to play. If needed, you can send your doll to the American Girl Doll Hospital, and the gift box even includes a first-year wellness visit.

American Girl gift box Truly Me doll customized to look like your child

Although the dolls are designed for ages 8 and up, my girls started collecting at age 5 or 6. I even saved my own childhood doll to give to my daughter, and she is still in great condition. It is special to see my girls playing with the same toys I loved, and I often join them to play or read a story together.

Archived review: This reviews American Girl’s custom gift box experience as offered in 2019. Current options and pricing change, so check americangirl.com.

Truly Me American Girl gift set doll and outfits

homeschool kids activities from katie wallace mom of 4 kids
Katie Wallace

Hi, I’m Katie! I’m a homeschool mom who’s traveling the world with my husband and 4 kids. We raised our family in North Idaho and currently live in Mérida, Mexico. I love Jesus, coffee, creative projects, photography, and traveling. I hope you enjoy our creative ideas and family adventures!

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Hi, I'm Katie and we are the Wallace family! We homeschool, go on adventures, and travel internationally with our four kids. I hope you enjoy our creative ideas on Create. Play. Travel.

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So thankful! God provided us with a beautiful hous So thankful! God provided us with a beautiful house in Merida, MX 🌺🌴

We’ll homeschool our kids here, welcome a new baby, and host lots of friends. ☀️🌴🩵 We’ll make special memories, watch our kids grow, and have parties 🎉

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What this reel doesn’t show: we are working on a number of projects help maintain this older historic house. The owners are so kind and supportive. 🏠🌧️ We also experience tropical rainstorms many afternoons, and the weather is very hot and humid. 

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Love this trend! 🩵😊 but actually, we are so blesse Love this trend! 🩵😊 but actually, we are so blessed. God has given us many special opportunities every step of our parenting journey!

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Big cats, parrots, & monkeys! 🐒🦜📍Merida, MX - we’v Big cats, parrots, & monkeys! 🐒🦜📍Merida, MX - we’ve loved discovering sooo many free activities to do with our kids!

Parque Zoológico del Centenario is just one place that’s so much fun to explore! Outings like this make homeschool afternoons an adventure!

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Every new adventure teaches them they can do hard things!

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