Fresh off a Halloween sugar high, a few lucky children took this year's top toys for a test drive.
From talking robots that dance on command to the Leap-Pad Explorer, which is a kind of iPad for kids, toy manufacturers pulled out all the stops to include the latest cutting edge technology in their new products.
Tickle-Me-Elmo even has a drum now.
Still, these high-end gadgets were still no substitute for the more intuitive, old-fashioned favorites like books and Legos.
Amid the mayhem of children playing, toy makers observed eagerly to see what children gravitated towards the most.
Toy makers say the theme for the holidays this year is frugal fun. For example, one of the toys up for review was a simple cardboard castle the children brought to life using their imagination and expert coloring skills.
The castle was one of the favorites of the day and it only costs 30 dollars. More than half of this year's top toys are cheaper.
All good news for Santas on a budget.
