Polly Pocket’s Compact Is A Real-Life Airbnb You Can Stay In

For 35 years, Polly Pocket has always been, well, pocket-sized—until now. This summer, Polly’s iconic home—straight out of a ‘90s millennial’s girl dream—is open for an adventure of life-sized proportions, only on Airbnb, and Canadian Polly fanatics are welcome to book. Polly Pocket’s vintage-themed, two-story Slumber Party Fun compact is the newest addition to Airbnb’s Icons Category: the 42-foot-tall, larger-than-life space takes adventure to new heights. Find (and book) it in Littleton, Massachusetts for a slumber party stay or a play date experience. We chatted with Matt McNama, senior communications manager, Airbnb, to learn more. —Vita Daily

What inspired Airbnb to partner with Polly Pocket and create this unique life-sized compact experience?

We wanted to join Polly fans in celebrating the 35th anniversary of the release of Polly Pocket this summer. Polly has an incredible fandom that taps into 90s nostalgia. What better way to relive the 90s than having a life-sized pocket full of adventure.

How does Polly Pocket’s Airbnb experience align with Airbnb’s mission of offering unique and memorable stays?

We launched Airbnb Icons this past May as a way to take guests inside worlds that only existed in their imaginations. As life becomes increasingly digital, we’re focused on bringing more magic into the real world with the most extraordinary experiences on earth 

Can you share any behind-the-scenes insights on the process of transforming Polly Pocket’s iconic compact into a full-scale Airbnb listing?

Polly Pocket’s compact measures an impressive 42 feet by 41 feet so life-sized guests can feel pocket-sized for the night and it takes a village to create something that’s not only life-size but authentic to Polly. We worked hand in hand with Mattel to bring the experience to life!

What kind of nostalgic elements or surprises can guests expect to find during their stay or playdate experience at Polly Pocket’s home?

Polly’s vanity is stuffed with nostalgic hair and nail accessories, the retro fridge is snack-filled with 90s nostalgia, and of course Polly’s closet has her most iconic throwbacks. For Polly fans or for those who love doll-core, this is a match made in millennial heaven. 

How does Polly Pocket’s listing fit into Airbnb’s Icons Category, and are there other iconic listings planned for the future?

Icons are a new category of extraordinary experiences hosted by the greatest names in music, film, television, art, sports, and more. Icons let you step into worlds you’ve only ever dreamed of – and Polly is the perfect example of that. 

You’ll have to stay tuned for more Icons coming up, but two that we’re excited about are joining a living room session with Doja Cat and staying in Prince’s Purple Rain house. 

What kind of feedback have you received from guests who have booked or shown interest in this experience so far?

We’re just launching Polly today! But our hope is that this is every Polly fan’s 90s dream come true. 

Years in the making, Icons is inspired by many of those iconic stays over the years such as Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse, Shrek’s Swamp, the Home Alone house, amongst others.  

We’ve been able to take all of those learnings and build it all into a brand new category, with new experiences dropping throughout the year.

How does this Polly Pocket Airbnb experience appeal to different generations, particularly millennials who grew up with the original toys?

Every Icon is designed to offer a once in a lifetime experience whether it’s the X-Men X-Mansion or Carl’s home from Up!. What’s so incredible about Polly is how much it taps into our childhood in a way that’s both nostalgic and playful. 

A millennial at heart, Polly Pocket has spent the last 35 years making the ordinary extraordinary and igniting a sense of adventure in kids everywhere. As the ultimate nostalgic doll, she bridges generational gaps, creating cherished memories for the young and the young at heart.