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Downtown Disney
Location: Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista (just off I-4 at exit 68)
Phone: 407-828-3058
Web site: www.disneyworld.com
Shops are generally open from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
You can’t mention shopping without thinking of Downtown Disney. Throughout Disney’s Marketplace against the beautiful backdrop of the waterfront, and on down through Disney’s West Side, are some of the most unique and eccentric shops around. If you have younger kids, be sure not to pass by without stopping into the newly remodeled Lego Imagination Center, which is chock full of every Lego toy imaginable, including blocks and building kits as well as toys for dressing up and imaginary role play. Once Upon a Toy is filled with toys and games that your kids will love and you will most likely remember, many offered in both the original as well as the updated Disney versions.
The Downtown Disney area (including the Marketplace, West Side, and Pleasure Island), filled with its unique shops, themed restaurants, and exciting entertainment venues all located along the waterfront, makes a great place to walk around with the family, all the while taking in the sights, sounds, and smells that surround you.
Among the array of classic games and toys found throughout the store, many of course with a Disney twist, are a few more old favorites, but here it’s how they’re sold that is so unique. Lincoln Logs and Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head dolls are sold in special boxes of various sizes, each priced by the size of the box. The boxes are available to fill with as many pieces as you can fit--the trick is that you must be able to close the lid. No matter how many pieces you fit, the price is set by the size if the box (this is where being organized may very well pay off). What’s especially neat is that you can choose from a vast array of pieces but pick only the ones you like most - so long as they all fit. Several stores throughout WDW now feature a handful of these special stations, though the selection here is among the best.
It’s of course difficult to walk by without noticing the World of Disney, the world’s largest Disney Store, and the cornerstone of the Marketplace. There are several rooms all filled with everything Disney from toys to clothing, art supplies to jewelry, and almost everything in between. The most recent addition to the World of Disney is the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Adventure Room where youngsters can pretend to be Pirates and Princesses in a way that only Disney could have dreamt up.
At the Boutique little girls ages 3 and up can be magically turned into little princesses by the Fairy Godmothers in-Training. The Princess room is filled with audio-animatronic princesses, singing and entertaining the kids as they play at the various interactive stations creating their own wands and tiaras or filling their own jewelry boxes - with plenty of princess paraphernalia available to purchase. Over at the Adventure Room, swashbucklers of every sort can play pirate, filling their chests with treasure or creating the perfect pirate hat. Video games and animatronic pirates keep the kids entertained as well.
If its home furnishings you’re looking for, you will have to venture over to the Mickey’s Pantry, Disney’s version of a home store, where you will find everything you could ever need or want for your house, and much of it of course, features the Mouse. There are many other wonderful little (and some not so little) shops to entice you as well, including the rather impressive Art of Disney store, where you can purchase prints, cells, and even original artwork.
Downtown Disney’s fun and lively atmosphere makes it a rather enjoyable place to take a leisurely afternoon or evening stroll. With unique shops, amazing restaurants, artisans, and vendors all lining the walkways, the Marketplace is always bustling with activity. The kids will enjoy building and playing in the large covered outside play area in front of the recently recreated Lego store or getting their hair wrapped or their arms temporarily tattooed at one of the various carts.
And just so you know, the evenings are exponentially busier as the restaurants of the Marketplace draw the dinner crowds and those in search of an evening out with the family after the parks have closed for the day. The unique clubs, hip shops, and themed restaurants of Disney’s Pleasure Island and Westside begin to fill in the early evening as well, usually around 7:00 p.m. or so, however they draw an adult crowd, catering more to those wishing to party the night away. While the crowds at Pleasure Island and the Westside won’t have much of an affect on those wishing to enjoy the family oriented ambience of the Marketplace (as each distinctive area is carefully and cleverly separated from the other), they will have an affect on parking - greatly increasing the degree of difficulty you will encounter when trying to find an available parking space (that’s not a mile off in another direction all together).
The Stores in Brief:
Once Upon A Toy offers classic toys, some available “by the bucket,” a unique way to purchase toys like Mr. Potato Head and Lincoln Logs and more.
The LEGO Imagination Center is filled with everything LEGO, from toys to clothes The World of Disney is the biggest (with the exception of the newly opened World of Disney in New York City) and by far the best of all Disney Stores. Recent renovations include the addition of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, The Princess Room and The Pirate Room – all perfect spots for kids to play and pretend.
At the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, which just so happens to be “Owned” by the Fairy Godmother herself, little girls (and big girls too) can be transformed into pintsized princesses as the “Fairy-Godmothers in Training”, who operate the boutique, perform magical makeovers. The menu of salon services designed to pamper princesses ages 3 and up include the following:
The Coach Package: Includes hairstyling and shimmer makeup ($35 plus tax)
The Crown Package: Includes hairstyling, shimmer makeup and nails ($45 plus tax)
The Castle Package: Includes hairstyling, shimmer makeup, nails, and a photo package
(one 6x8 photo, four 4x6 photos, and a princess themed photo holder), and a complete
Disney princess costume including accessories. (starting at $175 plus tax)
There is a choice of 3 different hairstyles to choose from including the Fairytale princess, the Disney Diva, and the Pop Princess. Also included is a sash. The boutique is open from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. (the last appointment scheduled no later than 5:30 p.m.),seven days a week. While walk-ins are welcome don’t be surprised if the Fairy
Godmothers in Training are all booked – reservations (or appointments) are highly recommended. Call 407/WDW-STYLE or 407/939-7895 for an appointment.
The Princess Room, again part of the World of Disney, is filled with interactive stations where little princesses can create their own crowns, fill jewelry boxes, and purchase princess make-up kits, not to mention listed to the Audio-Animatronic princesses sing songs.
If its home furnishings you’re looking for, you will have to venture over to the Mickey’s Pantry, Disney’s version of a home store, where you will find everything you could ever need or want for your house, and much of it of course, features the Mouse. There are many other wonderful little (and some not so little) shops to entice you as well, including the rather impressive Art of Disney store, where you can purchase prints, cells, and even original artwork.
Downtown Disney’s fun and lively atmosphere makes it a rather enjoyable place to take a leisurely afternoon or evening stroll. With unique shops, amazing restaurants, artisans, and vendors all lining the walkways, the Marketplace is always bustling with activity.
The kids will enjoy building and playing in the large covered outside play area in front of the recently recreated Lego store or getting their hair wrapped or their arms temporarily tattooed at one of the various carts.
And just so you know, the evenings are exponentially busier as the restaurants of the Marketplace draw the dinner crowds and those in search of an evening out with the family after the parks have closed for the day. The unique clubs, hip shops, and themed restaurants of Disney’s Pleasure Island and Westside begin to fill in the early evening as well, usually around 7:00 p.m. or so, however they draw an adult crowd, catering more to those wishing to party the night away. While the crowds at Pleasure Island and the Westside won’t have much of an affect on those wishing to enjoy the family oriented ambience of the Marketplace (as each distinctive area is carefully and cleverly separated from the other), they will have an affect on parking - greatly increasing the degree of difficulty you will encounter when trying to find an available parking space (that’s not a mile off in another direction all together).
The West Side
The West Side offers shops that tweens, teens, and young adults would appreciate far more than youngsters. With shops like the Virgin Megastore (featuring a huge selection of music, movies, and other media) Hoipoloi (an upscale contemporary art gallery and shop), and Planet Hollywood (filled with Planet Hollywood logo merchandise of every sort imaginable) it’s obvious why.
There are of course several more shops, not to mention a few rather unique eateries (including the House of Blues, Wolfgang Puck, and Bongo’s Cuban Café) that line the West Side walkways.
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