Melissa & Doug Fold & Go Princess Castle Review + Giveaway

Years (and years) ago in college, one of my best friends had a summer job working at “the puzzle company” in her town. She worked in customer service getting replacement puzzle pieces for parents. Fast forward almost ten years when I was playing with my young son, surrounded by Melissa & Doug toys and puzzles. I looked on the bottom of one and noticed they were made in Westport, CT – the same town where my college friend lived. I called her immediately and asked, “Remember when you worked for that ‘puzzle company‘… Was it Melissa & Doug?!?” She seemed puzzled (she didn’t have any children yet) but said “Yes.” I was thrilled. You see, I am so into Melissa & Doug products and think they are so prolific in the children’s market that I felt very cool knowing someone who worked there ten years ago. That story tells you that while I may be lame, Melissa & Doug is anything but.

About Melissa & Doug

Our philosophy has remained the same over the years–to make each and every customer a happy and permanent member of the Melissa & Doug family, while offering products with tremendous value, quality and design. We’ve always welcomed customer suggestions, and we continually strive to make improvements to our products. We’re honored by the faith you place in us and view it as our responsibility to continue to earn your trust in the years to come!

Fold & Go Toys

With plenty of Melissa & Doug puzzle experience (and stacking train and play food and grocery cart) under our belt, I was eager to play with one of the newer toys in the Melissa & Doug toy chest – the Fold & Go Princess Castle. Folded, the Castle measures about 13.5 inches by 10.5 inches by 7 inches. One end of the castle is hinged so when you open the castle to get into the fun, it extends to 27 inches long. The house has three floors including the roof and separate rooms just like a “real” or full-size doll house. There are lots of windows, a door that opens to lay flat and an interior door to create a private little room. The Castle also comes with a princess and prince (though my children insist they’re both princesses), two horses and four pieces of furniture (two chairs, bed and chest).

The Castle arrived on my daughter’s birthday and I asked my son if we should surprise my daughter with it when she woke from her nap. He was not a fan of waiting for anyone – even the birthday girl - so we opened it immediately and started playing. What struck me first is how this has the feeling and pretend play potential of a big doll house in a compact and easy to move size. Later that day when we celebrated my daughter’s birthday and after she opened her gifts, guess what the kids and their cousin spent the whole night playing with? Yep, this Fold & Go Princess Castle.

Since playing with it that first night, my both of my kids have continued to go back to this toy. It’s fun to see them act out little stories and try to get the “princesses” to ride the horses and hide in the closed room and whatever else they come up with.

Other Fold & Go Toys

The awesome Fold & Go concept is available in several different play sets, and all are great options for the holidays.

Fold & Go Barn, Fold & Go Dollhouse, Fold & Go Woodland Treehouse, Fold & Go Castle

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… The Fold & Go Princess Castle is a great toy with a lot of fun and hours of play packed into a relatively small package. I love the concept of the toy – and the flexibility to play with it downstairs or fold it and take it upstairs or even to grandma’s house. The construction of the castle and furniture is exceptional, and I love that it comes with all the toys you need to make it playable immediately.

Or Not to Buy… The prince and princess are not really up to the same quality as the other pieces of this play set. The photo to the right was taken the first day we played with the toy and the picture below was taken yesterday. The crowns are fraying and falling off, and they haven’t held up as well as other Melissa & Doug products we’ve played with. Obviously my kids haven’t noticed and probably don’t care, but I thought it was worth pointing out. They’re still pretty darn cute.

Shop! The Melissa & Doug Fold & Go Princess Castle is $49.99, as are the other Fold & Go play sets. Right now, get Free Shipping from Melissa & Doug on orders over $30 with code FREESHIP30. The Fold & Go play sets are really the tip of the iceberg – the Melissa & Doug collection of puzzles and educational toys is incredible.

Win! Your Choice of Melissa & Doug Fold & Go Toy!

How to Enter: Visit Melissa & Doug and take a look around. Leave a comment here with your favorite Fold & Go toy or another product that catches your eye.

Bonus Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

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Giveaway ends December 12. Open to US mailing addresses only.

Disclosure: Thanks to Melissa & Doug for providing a product for the purpose of this review and the giveaway prize. Opinions are my own.