Walt Disney World is full of tempting, shiny souvenirs, but nowhere is the shopping more prime than at Downtown Disney. This area is currently undergoing a transformation into “Disney Springs,” with new features, retail, and restaurants on the way. But the old favorites won’t be going anywhere! Here are seven of the top, must-shop stops at Downtown Disney Marketplace:
Marketplace Co-Op: This eclectic retail space is the new store on the block at Downtown Disney. In fact, it’s not one shop but rather six small, specialized boutiques carrying everything from Disney-themed dining and housewares to sports apparel to makeup and fashion accessories. If you’re looking for unique curios you won’t find anywhere else, this is your stop!
Once Upon a Toy: Home to the largest selection of toys and games on property, Once Upon a Toy lets shoppers create their own Mr. (or Mrs!) Potato Head from a huge variety of parts and accessories, build a custom light saber, browse cuddly plush, or pick up the latest Disney princess doll.
The LEGO Store: Builders who can’t find their favorite sets at Once Upon a Toy will want to stop at the LEGO store across the water. What makes this different from other LEGO stores around the country are the incredible Disney-themed constructions – Prince Phillip is battling Maleficent and Buzz and Woody are blasting off to infinity and beyond…all made out of bricks! Don’t forget to say hello to Nessie in the lake.
T-REX Gift Shop and Café: This incredibly themed restaurant and shopping space has oversized prehistoric creatures, an ice cave, and the occasional meteor shower. If you’re feeling hungry, sit down and see if you can survive the Chocolate Extinction dessert. If you have a dinosaur lover in the family, you can create your own stuffed triceratops friend in the shop.
Disney’s Days of Christmas: No matter the time of year, you can find festive holiday spirit and supplies to deck the halls at the Days of Christmas shop. The store itself is decorated like a winter wonderland and offers ornaments of just about any Disney character you can think of.
World of Disney: If you didn’t find the perfect souvenir anywhere else at Downtown Disney (or even if you did and put off buying it), you’ll probably find it somewhere in the dozen rooms of World of Disney, the largest Disney character store in the world. The selection can be daunting, so take your time and remember to admire the theming of the rooms as well. Princess castles overlook the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and the villains have taken over the jewelry room, where Tinkerbell is trapped in a lantern.
Goofy’s Candy Kitchen: All that shopping is bound to make you hungry! Finish your day with some sweets from Goofy’s crazy kitchen – there are cupcakes, cookies, fudge, and much more behind the counter or you can order up a custom caramel apple and watch it being dipped in chocolate and toppings right before your eyes. You could also stock up on some hard candy for the trip home – if there’s any room left in your suitcase!
Leave a Reply