Wow! This store was recommended to me by a Vancouver friend. Growing up in New York I had many toys/toy brands from Europe and in raising my son I've been looking for a lot of the toys I remember from my childhood. I found my beloved Moulin Roty toys here to give to my son. The selection here is an awesome combine of whimsical aesthetic while simultaneously avoiding much of the plastic that has come to be a part of childhood. They also shipped easily back to the Bay Area. read more

Awesome Toy Store in Vancouver! Amazing selection of high quality toys. I was directed here by my son's teachers. I've seen some of their items in the classroom and wanted them in our home. It's important to me that the toys he plays with last and that his younger sister will also play with the same ones. We said goodbye to plastic years ago so I appreciate the natural materials, especially wood. This is also a great place to pick up birthday party gifts. read more

Strolling up Commercial Drive and I happened upon Dilly Dally, a new (September, 2010) toy store that caught my eye from the outside. As a mother to none but an auntie to several, of course I had to take a wander inside, and I am glad I did. The store sells a variety of books, toys, and activities for children up to about seven or eight. Everything here is old-skool - puzzles, wooden toys, models, bouncy balls, flip books, yo-yos, marbles, stickers. There were no lights or electronic noises to bother me in the store. Big plus. What initially caught my eye was the "openness" of the displays - touching jars of marbles, bins of rubber balls, etc., is encouraged. A whole wall of stickers at kidlet eye-level. An entire long table complete with paper and crayons so kidlets can actually play and entertain themselves while their guardian can get on with shopping. Smart. But most of all what impressed me was the range of products and prices - they have an incredibly wide and varied stock and just as wide and varied price points. This is a fantastic place to go if you need to bring "something" to a baby shower, child's birthday, etc. but are not looking to spend a bundle. One could very, very easily create a cute gift bag with some clever, fun, whimsical contents for under $10. I really like that their wall of wooden toys range in price - more than a few were under $5 and yes, everything in the store has been approved for safety. This is a lead and carcinogen-free zone. I had a chance to chat briefly with one of the owners and complimented him on the overall look and design of the store. He seemed very amiable and enthusiastic about the space. As someone who spent a few years working at a children's store (several lifetimes ago) I immediately recognized and appreciate the thought that went into the space and the stock. The store is owned by real people and is not a chain. Definitely worth checking out. Shop local! read more

Dilly Dally - Wooden toys that don't have lead and are actually reasonably priced. Huzzah! - Toy Stores Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Lovely toy store if you're looking for non-electronic/non-character toys! High quality brands including Brio, Siku, Lego and other wooden and soft toys. Lots of books and a small collection of clothing brands. Came here as I was in search of a Whistle and Flute birthday shirt and this was one if the few places in town that had it in stock. Picked up some books as well. Complimentary gift bag and great service to finish. Thanks! read more

I miss seeing such simple but cute toys for little ones! Very different and unique selections compared to your regular mass market selections. Remember to follow them on Fb and IG for contests! I saw this super cute felt sushi set...so tempted!!! read more

Dilly Dally - Toy Stores Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I am a fan of Commercial Drive as is already. When it came time to buy a toy for my anti-Barbie friend's daughter, I went over to Dilly Dally. Dilly Dally goes back to basics: no electronic gizmos, Play Stations, high-tech mumbo jumbo. Many toys are old fashioned stuff our parents had when they were little (I love those little kaleidoscopes!). It's a charming place indeed and I decided to get the cute wooden fruit and vegetables; I secretly want my friend's daughter to grow up and become a bad-ass sushi chef. Is that cool or what? read more

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This is a great shop for those with kids, those buying gifts for kids or even adults who still love children's products. I love the selection of books, animal figurines, hand crafted toys, stuffed animals, puzzles, games, clothes etc. This is a very unique shop that I could spend a couple hours in for each visit. Expect fairly high prices for certain products (ex. Handmade toys from Europe, clothes), but several products are well-priced and competitive with other stores. read more

As an Early Childhood Educator (and former child) I fell in love immediately. 1) Their book selection is magical. First Nations, Caldecott, sensory, geographic, and so on. Beautiful and well thought out library of literary greatness. 2) Their selection of Folkmanis puppets is one of the best that I've seen. Hands down. (intended pun?) 3) The amount of wooden toys vs. plastic is a big plus in my eco-friendly eyes. Just go. Spin some tops. Enjoy life and feel like a child again. read more

This place is magical. I cannot walk by without going in and wandering around. Bouncy balls. Hand puppets. Fruit and veg stickers. Fake tattoos. Unicorns. And those are just the things that I am inclined to buy for my "adult" self. Whenever I need a gift or a pick me up, this is the first place I go. The service is fantastic - filled with people that are just as pumped to be in there as you are. They are always really helpful with gift finding and always have great suggestions. The book section is wonderful! Wooden toys! Local cards! Dress up clothes! Educational so and so! Playmobil! And so on and so forth forever. I feel like the supply of awesome in this store is infinite. Go. Play. Have fun. Then walk up the street to the park for a good swing. Best Saturday morning if you ask me. read more

Atmosphere: It was a well spaced toy store, a little too much space in comparison to the ratio of product. This worked so that the kids weren't in the way of the adult children enjoying some of their childhood favorites. It also helped since today was super busy with Car Free Day. Service: The lady at the cash til was really friendly. She really seemed to have enjoyed her job a lot and was very pleasant and not overwhelmed at all by the traffic. Prices: The prices for things are reasonably priced. I am obsessed with artistic glass pieces and found real glass marbles, 8 for a $1 in very eye catching designs. I also have a little obsession with cute stickers and picked myself up a set of smiling cupcakes stickers for 50 cents. Side Notes: Even though I am 30, I am still a child at heart and it's the little things like marbles and stickers that make a day and can make a shitty week believe it or not. The paper bag that my items were kept in were hand stamped with the store name and some animals = super cute. The lady at the til says that the bags are hand stamped daily. This in itself sets them apart from most toy stores. As for the business cards, they're designed to be used as building blocks with other cards = awesome cheap fun. read more

Not only is this place every child's dream, but also every adult who's a kid at heart! It's definitely on the pricey side, but the products sold here are of a higher quality, for the most part. And you can find the "old school" type of toys that existed before all these fancy technological advancements, such as wooden blocks, and wooden kitchen sets, and all sorts of robot things! The staff are great with helping you pick out something within your budget as well. And they have great service - I was looking for a very particular item I had seen almost a year ago for a very special big kid. I hadn't seen it in the store again but I emailed them about it and they let me know when it was in the store again. In fact, I got there the day their shipment arrived and ended up making them open the boxes up. It was really exciting! And awesome of them to do that! read more

I could have spent all day in here! Extensive selection of toys, games and books as well as beautiful decor bits and pieces and a small selection of clothing. The store has a wonderful spacious layout and staff were friendly. I want to go back again already! read more

This place is a dreamland. A combination of childhood nostalgia and adult-who-is-still-a-kid-at-heart intrigue. I walked in and was swarmed with inspiration, e.g.: -my nieces should have that toy, it would help their early childhood growth & development and be fun, they should really have that so I can play with it when I visit -wouldn't that kinesthetic toy make an amazing coffee table piece? Sort of abstract art and entertainment all in one? -I NEED that unicorn eraser... no I NEEEEEEEEEEED IT RIGHT NOW -is that how science works? That toy looks like it teaches science good ... etc. I limited myself to three unicorn products and hustled my bustle outta there something quick before I blew my budget! I'll certainly be back if I'm ever looking to decorate a kid's room, a new house, or stock up on fairytale creatures (I don't mean unicorns; UNICORNS ARE REAL). read more

This toy store never disappoints - I always find a gift here when I need one. The lovely gift wrapping included with purchases, the friendly staff, opportunity to support local business, and lack of long line-ups certainly make up for any price differences between the big chain stores. It is also a fun place to stop in for a small treasure - little erasers or a whistle, for example- this store has a section of small items for sale that evokes an experience similar to an old-fashioned five and dime. read more

I love this joint - it's frankly the best kids store in town - I always have a blast nosing around in there and I always find something new!

What an awesome store! Fantastic, reasonably toys for every age and taste. Whether you're shopping for an aspiring princess, pirate, fairy, doctor, scientist, gamer, puzzler or astronaut - you can find something for them at Dilly Dally. And my favorite part? Kids can play with the toys! I'm always surprised when I take my three year old to a toy store, she picks something up and the salespeople act like she's handling a Ming vase. As Mrs.Potatohead says in "Toy Story 3", "Toys are for playtime!" read more

Cool place to bring the young kids to, a colouring section behind the cashier, crayons/paper provided ;)

This is my go to gift shop for my kid's friends. Great selection of games and pretty awesome retro-style toys. Can be pricey, but everything is well made and worth the price. LOTS of robot stuff... read more

Great selection , friendly staff and super kid friendly. Awesome little area for kids to play and draw or test out scooters. They are always getting new things . My kids love this store. read more

It was such a good place for buying toys. Lots of variety for toys. Friendly and nice staff. We were wondering about how a toy works. They opened it for us, and had us try it. They also wrapped it beautifully for free. read more