For more than 60 years, and with more than one billion sold, she’s among the top-selling toys of all time: Barbie. And now, a new attraction celebrates her legacy and allows guests to experience Barbie’s world in life-size.
“The World of Barbie” attraction made its global debut on July 22 at the Square One shopping center in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, near Toronto. The 30,000 square foot attraction was brought to life by live events firm Kilburn Live and children’s entertainment company Mattel, which owns the Barbie brand.
“Barbie is by far the number-one doll in the world and one of the top toy brands globally,” says Bryan Harris, chief marketing officer for Kilburn Live. “She is multicultural, aspirational, and inspirational, and has shaped millions of children’s imaginations. Our intent with ‘World of Barbie’ is to deliver that same inspiration to Barbie fans via life-size installations.”
“The World of Barbie” allows guests to literally step into the world of Barbara Millicent Roberts—aka Barbie—with environments that reflect her lifestyle. Perhaps the most recognizable to fans will be life-size rooms of Barbie’s Dreamhouse, the doll’s home first introduced in 1962 (and updated with numerous renovations over six decades).
At “World of Barbie,” fans can walk through Barbie’s neighborhood, with each street carrying names central to the brand, such as Barbie Boulevard, which is intended to be reminiscent of the “Hollywood Walk of Fame,” Ken Lane, Daisy Drive, Nikki Avenue, and Skipper Street.
Among the other actual-size environments is the Barbie Laboratory, Barbie Production Studio, Barbie Design Studio, and Barbie Interstellar Airways. Since her introduction in 1959, Barbie has stayed busy, pursuing more than 250 careers.
“We want visitors, particularly youth, to be inspired to imagine the endless possibilities of walking in the footsteps of Barbie, to become a scientist, designer, music producer, astronaut, and much more,” says Harris. “We have built something for Barbie fans of all ages, and people will discover and take away something new with every visit.”
With such an established brand, the question arises as to what prompted the creation of a Barbie attraction now. “Barbie has always been a focus of our interest at Kilburn Live because of her iconic history and wide audience appeal,” Harris tells Funworld. “It was a matter of timing in terms of when we could bring this immersive attraction to life.”
Though Barbie is a doll for children, Kilburn Live and Mattel realize that “World of Barbie” will also attract adult guests of all ages who grew up playing with the toy. “Barbie has wide appeal across multiple generations,” says Harris, “and this is a great experience for audiences across all ages. Parents can bring their children to ‘World of Barbie’ for an unforgettable family day.”
Following its debut near Toronto, “World of Barbie” will tour several cities across North America, including New York, Chicago, and Dallas. Admission price ranges from CA$33.00 to CA$52.50 for adults, and CA$24.00 to CA$52.50 for children ages 1-13. Infants under 12 months are free. Kilburn Live suggests guests allow at least 1½ hours for their visit, but they’re welcome to stay as long as they’d like.
Lands Inside the “World of Barbie”
Visitors to “World of Barbie” can experience an assortment of life-size settings:
- Barbie Dreamhouse: Guests can explore exquisitely designed rooms in the Dreamhouse, which comes complete with a patio and ball pit pool.
- Barbie Laboratory: Visitors will find everything from a Barbie-styled periodic table to microscopes and chemical reactions.
- Music Production Studio: Visitors get to play DJ, try out instruments from Barbie, and dance to a selection of tunes.
- Barbie Interstellar Airways: Guests can travel among the stars aboard a space shuttle, track objects on a radar, and report back to mission control.
- Barbie TV Center: Visitors get to interview guests, give a weather report, and deliver breaking news via a teleprompter on the set of The Barbie Show.
- World of Barbie Museum: This gallery showcases the evolution of Barbie through a style gallery featuring Barbie dolls and Dreamhouses from different decades and a collection of her vintage cars.
- Camper Van: A full-size camper van, built by car-customization shop West Coast Customs, lets guests take the wheel or simply relax in a hammock.
- World of Barbie Café: Guests can enjoy sweet treats and afternoon tea. Online reservations are available with select VIP ticket purchases. Walk-up guests are served on a space-available basis.
- Barbie Dreambuilder: Exclusive to World of Barbie, this experience lets visitors create their own customized Barbie set. Using their creativity, they can select from dozens of dolls, fashions, and accessories.
