Tickle Me Elmo combined the appeal of Sesame Street’s stand-out character with a novel design and became the must-have toy of the 1996 holiday season. Putting electronics into a plush-type toy had been done before but Tickle Me Elmo took it to the next level and allowed the toy to emulate the experience of being tickled. Laughter is emotional and physical—it’s fun, but also a little uncomfortable. When Elmo was tickled, he laughed, then he laughed some more and shook with glee. Tickle Me Elmo relates to basic play elements—anticipation, surprise, and pleasure.
Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Fri. & Sat. till 8 p.m.