LOL Surprise, Hatchimals this year's best toys, according to kids

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It's the time of year when we take our annual visit to the boardroom to get unprecedented access to some of the industry's leading experts in toys.

If you're searching for this year's "it" toy, our CEOs (child executive officers) have you covered.

This year's panel of experts range in age from four to 10 and they definitely have some ideas on what's hot this holiday season.

The first toy getting top honors from our team is a repeat of last year's toy craze: the Hatchimal.

We asked this discerning team of consultants how many Hatchimals they want this holiday season. In case you're wondering, the answer is 1,800.

Another winner is the LOL Surprise Doll. This pick matches market research from the NPD group, which tracks spending in 20 industries.

They're little doll kits that come packed inside a ball. The exact contents of each LOL Surprise are, of course, a surprise, but each one is certain to do all sorts of cool things.

But parents - ahem, we mean Santa - should know: The regular LOL Surprise Doll is easier to find than the coveted LOL Big Surprise. It comes in a large, glittery gold ball and retails for about $70.

And if you don't already have one, you might be too late, unless you're willing to spend a lot more on sites like eBay.

So why do kids like the LOL Surprise so much?

"Cuz it's a surprise inside!" one of our experts said.

Another new toy flying off the shelves is the Fingerling Monkey. These are also selling for almost double the original retail price online. 

The little toys can hang on your fingers, and flip around, and are flippin' sold out everywhere you look.

You should also watch out for fakes. The toy maker has already sued 165 alleged counterfeiters and Amazon and Walmart are offering refunds for fakes sold on their sites from third-party vendors.

When it comes to video games - Super Mario Odyssey and Pokemon Sun/Moon come out on top, along with the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One X and Playstation 4/4 Pro for consoles.

Other top toys of the moment include Barbie's Dream House, Hovertrax 2.0, Hotwheels, and all things Star Wars.

If you're looking for something a little easier to find at a price that won't break the budget, DealNews says December equals discounts, especially on all things Fisher Price, Lego, and Barbie.

DealNews also predicts big discounts on "The Last Jedi" merchandise, starting two weeks before Christmas.

And if you can't find the toy you're looking for, our kid panel has an easy solution that they yelled out while spinning happily in their oversized office chairs.

"Ask Santa for it!"