Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
323
Cottage
(a boutique filled with clothing and gifts for children);
Confetti
(personalized
gifts, sweets and treats); an art gallery; a book store; a grocer; a post office; a perfumery;
and a jeweler, among others. The real attraction is the relaxing, picture-perfect atmo-
sphere. The high prices, however, may make for more window-shopping than actual
spending. If, by chance, Celebration reminds you of the film
The
Truman Show,
you're
not alone. The movie was filmed in Seaside, a Florida panhandle community that
inspired the builders of this burg.
DOWNTOWN DISNEY
With three distinct areas—West Side, Pleasure Island, and the
Marketplace—
Downtown Disney
(
&
407/939-2648;
www.downtowndisney.com) is
chock-full of some of the most unique shops in Orlando, as well as many restaurants and
entertainment venues.
The best shops in the Marketplace include the 50,000-square-foot
World of Disney,
the largest store in Downtown Disney (and the second largest Disney store in the world).
There are rooms and more rooms filled with everything Disney, from toys and trading
pins to clothes and collectibles—and everything (and I mean
everything
) in between.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
arrived in 2006 and is a place where little girls can have their
hair styled, put on makeup, and have their nails done so they look like a princess when
they emerge. In the princess room, girls can play dress-up, while the adventure room is
geared more to boys—they can create their own pirate hat, play video games, and check
out superhero, space explorer, and cowboy gear.
I always stop in at the
LEGO Imagination Center
when I'm in town. The large store
is easy to shop in and offers lots of play areas to entertain the kids (I'd hate to be the one
cleaning up at night). Shelves are filled with LEGO blocks designed for everyone from
toddlers to tweens, Bionicles, T-shirts, and trinkets. Check out the display behind the
counter when you cash out—it's filled top to bottom with teeny tiny LEGO people (vis-
ible thanks to a nifty magnifying glass that runs back and forth across their little faces).
Once Upon a Toy
is one of the best stores in the Marketplace, and the best toy store I've
ever been in. It's stocked from floor to ceiling with games and toys, many of them clas-
sics—you know, the ones you played with while growing up. Its 16,000 square feet of
space is divided into three separate sections: The first is filled with board games; the
second is loaded with stuffed animals, building sets, and Playskool toys; the third features
action figures, vehicles, and videos. The store's popular “build your own” and “fill your
own” stations, including a new “build your own light saber” station (where you can pick
8
Tips
Getting Your Fill
The neatest way to buy toys at several Downtown Disney stores (especially Once
Upon a Toy) is in bulk . . . sort of. Toys such as Lincoln Logs and Mr. Potato Head,
as well as a few others, can be purchased by the piece. Here's how it works: You
pick out a box (often with two sizes to choose from) and fill it up with as many
(or few) pieces as you can fit inside. The only stipulation—you have to be able to
close the lid properly. No matter how many pieces you've stuffed inside, the price
of the box remains the same. If you've got good space-saving skills, buying your
toys this way may net you a very good deal. (Here's a hint to get you started—Mr.
Potato Head has a hole in his back, so fill it up and you'll fit more pieces in your box.)
