Polly Pocket gets life-sized in Littleton

WBUR | August 21, 2024

The 1990s brought a wave of innovative toys, including digital pet Tamagotchis, plush talking Furbys and tiny worlds hidden inside Polly Pockets. The exterior of one of these plastic compacts looks like a makeup case, but when you open the lid, it transforms into a tiny, portable playset where Polly and her friends can move around intricate houses, the rodeo, magical forests and other dreamy locations.

In honor of Polly’s 35th birthday, Mattel and Airbnb partnered to develop a life-size, two-story Slumber Party Fun compact. A 1-to-1 replica of the 1994 toy, the 42-foot-tall house is located in Littleton, Massachusetts.

“Polly is from a fictional town called Littleton, so we wanted to make sure that the compact was located in a Littleton somewhere,” said Ali Killam, communications lead at Airbnb. “But we also wanted to make sure that we upheld the adventure theme, because she’s always on the go, as compacts are. We wanted to make sure that this matched that kind of energy and vibe for Polly, and that it’s situated in nature, and there’s a lot to explore in the nearby area.”

Killam said she and her sisters shared a basket of compacts when they were young. “I remember we’d always fight over which compact we got to play with,” she said. She described herself as a “horse girl” and especially enjoyed playing with a yellow compact with a miniature horse inside.

The playful Airbnb sits in a large field surrounded by trees, illuminated by purple lights. The purple theme continues inside, along with pink and blue — matched to the exact Pantone shades of the original compact — running throughout a living room with a TV playing a welcome message from an animated Polly figurine. An oversized faux fireplace sits off to the left and under a purple phone cover to the right, there’s a real pink phone where guests can leave messages about their stay for Airbnb host Polly.

Past a large blue door, a walk-in closet is filled with custom clothes made from the nostalgic gummy texture — a nod to the early 2000s dolls’ clothing. The pieces have some weight to them and feel like the texture of the material bounce houses are made of. There’s a bright pink coat covered in gray stars, a purple jacket lined with pink, purple and blue skirt-and-top sets and whimsical, structured scarves. Plastic shimmering purses sit under the clothing rack. The clothes are wearable and have ties and hooks in the back to adjust to different sizes, and the closet has two full-size mirrors facing each other for guests to strut a walkway in their new looks.

On the second floor, a vanity is stocked with nail and hair supplies from heart nail stickers to small plastic butterfly clips. Up another set of stairs, a play kitchen boasts a 12-foot-tall prop fridge filled with ‘90s snacks like various Ring Pops and Push Pops. A functional clock hangs at the top of the compact.

Polly’s Action Park tent sits off to the right of the compact with sleeping bags and glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling for a cozy sleepover with friends.

Near the entrance to the field, there is also a blue and white striped tent with a charm necklace and bracelet-making station for guests to create new pieces with astrological signs, lollipops, animals and more.

And don’t worry, there are bathroom trailers tucked away behind a small white fence and purple storage shed to not disrupt the aesthetics.

The compact is open-air, but Killam noted that with light rain, everything can be easily dried off with towels, and in the event of a downpour, there is a tarping plan.

Interested kids at heart can request to book one of three night stays for up to four people Sept. 12-14 for $89 per guest. Those up for a “playdate” can apply for one of 21 daytime experiences for up to 12 people Sept. 16-Oct. 6 for $35 per guest. Bookings are open now through Aug. 29 at 2:59 a.m.

As of right now, these dates are the only times fans have the opportunity to visit the house. Killam said the team wants the compact to be a limited, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The compact is part of Airbnb’s recently announced icon series, “a new category of extraordinary experiences hosted by the greatest names in music, film, television, art, sports, and more,” according to a press release. Other adventures include sleeping in Disney and Pixar’s “Up” house — it will actually be suspended in the air — or partaking in a living room performance with Doja Cat.

“What we wanted to do with icons was create these spaces and worlds that people have maybe only ever imagined or seen on a screen,” said Killam. With Polly’s house, she said it’s an opportunity for guests to “try the doll life on for size.”

Killam said she hopes guests feel like they have truly immersed themselves in Polly’s world.

“There’s a lot of really fun Easter eggs and details true Polly fans will remember and embrace and be excited by,” she said. “I think it’s just a way for people to experience Polly that’s truly once-in-a-lifetime.”