Segment Revenues and Segment Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross sales	$ 2,273,740		$ 2,183,248		$ 4,557,632		$ 4,488,513
Sales adjustments	(195,924)		(184,488)		(392,656)		(376,230)
Net sales	2,077,816		1,998,760		4,164,976		4,112,283
Operating income	487,367		397,570		647,536		543,595
Interest expense	22,723		15,376		65,352		51,834
Interest (income)	(1,472)		(1,065)		(5,158)		(6,679)
Other non-operating expense (income), net	(731)		(2,412)		(1,034)		(3,380)
Income before income taxes	466,847		385,671		588,376		501,820
North America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross sales	1,190,946		1,132,124		2,228,979		2,221,699
International
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross sales	973,590		954,007		2,063,776		2,019,171
American Girl
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross sales	109,204		97,117		264,877		247,643
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	570,123		479,346		856,952		783,754
Operating Segments | North America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	334,540		290,706		503,285		474,833
Operating Segments | International
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	225,297		182,155		348,731		302,380
Operating Segments | American Girl
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	10,286		6,485		4,936		6,541
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	$ (82,756)	[1]	$ (81,776)	[1]	$ (209,416)	[1]	$ (240,159)	[1]

[1] Corporate and other expense includes (i) share-based compensation expense of $17.6 million and $42.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, and $13.9 million and $33.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, (ii) severance expense of $1.1 million and $9.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, and $1.9 million and $12.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, (iii) $7.5 million Gunther-Wahl Productions legal settlement for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, and (iv) legal fees associated with MGA litigation matters.