The Inside Line on the Hottest Holiday Toys

Other Good Picks: Madden NFL 2003, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4, Metroid Prime, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Close, But No Cigar: Grand Theft Auto 3. With Vice City sure to be a tough find, many video game retailers will probably push GTA3 as a good second choice. But chances are a gamer either already owns or has played last year's edition into the ground. Try one of the other good picks instead.

The Barbie Doll to Buy: Barbie as Rapunzel

Every year there's one Barbie doll that everyone wants but no one seems to be able to find. This year's frontrunner features the classic 11-and-a-half-inch holiday staple dressed as Rapunzel, complete with long, flowing hair and period dress. According to an exclusive poll of two dozen retailers by PlayDate, the doll is expected to be this holiday season's best seller, hands down.

"It's amazing it took Mattel this long to come out with this doll," said Siegel. "Barbie is all about dressing and undressing and playing with her hair. This is the character with the longest hair ever. There's a lot of buzz around the doll." But because of the dockworker strike, the doll will be scarce at first.

Other Good Picks: Pop Sensation Barbie, Mystery Squad Barbie, Dream Glow Barbie.

Close, But No Cigar: Anything Rapunzel that isn't a Barbie. Because Rapunzel is in the public domain, companies don't need to pay a royalty to make a knockoff with long hair. "Off-price shoppers are always offered products that are 'inspired by hot trends,'" warns Siegel. "There will be Rapunzel dolls, but they're just not Barbie. And that matters."

The Hot Harry Potter Toy: Hogwarts Express Lego Set

Harry Potter continues to cast a spell over children, and related products are sure to vanish from shelves before you can say Hogwarts. Because of author J.K. Rowling's insistence on limiting licenses to a few companies, Potter toys are extremely well-made -- and slightly scarce, especially with the latest movie hitting theaters this weekend.