Downtown Disney® Marketplace Shopping

OrlandoFunTickets.com may be your home for online discounted ticket shopping for all of the top attractions in Central Florida, but in terms of shopping for that perfect souvenir once you are at the Walt Disney World® Resort, the Downtown Disney® Marketplace is the place to be. Read below to find out all about the different stores located at this premiere shopping destination!

The World of Disney® Store is the flagship store at the Downtown Disney® Marketplace, and for good reason. This mammoth souvenir store has 12 rooms, occupies 51,000 square feet and proclaims itself as being the largest Disney character store on the entire earth. In fact, this legendary store has everything in the world Disney-themed that you could want, from adult apparel and souvenirs to any and everything that a child could ever ask for. If you can’t find it here, chances are you won’t be able to anywhere!

The World of Disney® Store may be a maze full of different theme rooms, but one stands out above all the rest. The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique opened in the World of Disney® Store to celebrate the store’s 10th Anniversary in 2006, and it has grown in popularity ever since, as parents bring their young sons and daughters in to transform them into princes and princess while receiving the “royal treatment.” The packages can be limited to only having their hair and makeup done or can be as elaborate as having an entire princess costume included with their very own photo shoot! Girls that would rather become Hannah Montana are in luck as well, as a new package turns guests into the pop star for a day!

The World of Disney® Store may be widely considered the busiest store in the Downtown Disney® Marketplace, but the much smaller Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop gives it a run for its money. This store is divided into two separate parts – a retail store and an ice cream shop. In the retail store, you will find bag after bag of the famous Ghirardelli chocolates in their signature flavors, along with espresso drinks and Ghirardelli baking products as well. The adjacent ice cream shop is where the guests can really quell their sweet tooth, however, as a variety of ice cream treats, such as a standard waffle cone dipped in chocolate to a milkshake or float, along with Ghirardelli’s signature ice cream sundaes, are offered. For those feeling up to the challenge, you can even try the Earthquake, which has eight scoops of ice cream with eight different toppings!

Loacted behind Ghiardelli is a true hidden gem in the Downtown Disney® Marketplace, Arribas Brothers. This store offers guests a large selection of full-lead crystal from all around the world, along with many Swarovski crystal items. There are a large number of these hand-blown glass items that are Disney related , but perhaps the favorite thing for many guests to do in this store is to watch firsthand as the craftsmen work diligently on these creations right before their very eyes, giving everyone a sneak peak at how these beautiful items come to life.

Located directly in front of Arribas Brothers is Basin, the first store at the main entrance to the Downtown Disney® Marketplace, guests are treated to an array of bath and body products that are made from all natural ingredients. Products range from bath crystals to soaps, shampoo and facial products. This store is also unique in that many of the bath crystals and other products reside in basins all around the store, allowing guests to fill a bag with their own unique combination to take back home with them.

While Basin may appeal more to adults, one store that you definitely won’t have any problems getting children to go into is Once Upon a Toy. The exterior of this store is half of the appeal, as it appears that the front of the building has been constructed from giant Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs, while some of the name of the store is written with pieces from Scrabble. Upon entering Once Upon a Toy, guests are bombarded with every toy imaginable – board games, plush animals, along with merchandise from “Star Wars,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Toy Story,” Playhouse Disney and much more! What makes Once Upon a Toy different from most toy stores, however, is the unique merchandise available. Guests can build their own light saber, make their own Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head from hundreds of different parts or even start a collection of their very own miniature Walt Disney World® Resort, as there are mini replicas of Cinderella Castle and even the monorail that you can take back home with you!

Another store that targets a different audience at the Downtown Disney® Marketplace is the Team Mickey Athletic Club. This store is a sports lover’s dream, as everything in this shop pays homage to the sports world, from Disney-themed sports gear to sports memorabilia, toys, games, collegiate and professional sports gear and a plethora of ESPN logo merchandise as well. Another unique addition to the Team Mickey Athletic Club is the new Rawlings Making the Game shop, which allows guests to purchase customized baseball bats, balls and mitts right from the experts!

Adjacent to the Team Mickey Athletic Club is the newest addition to the Downtown Disney® Marketplace, Tren-D. Formerly Summer Sands, this store has undergone a major transformation to become the trendiest shop at the Walt Disney World® Resort, featuring an eclectic mix of fashion (clothes, hats, handbags and jewelry) from brands such as Roxy and Billabong.

One of the best photo spots at the Downtown Disney® Marketplace also happens to be one of its most popular stores. The Lego Imagination Center is home to - you guessed it - legos of every kind, size and shape. But, not only are there collections of legos inside the store for purchase, there are several lego statues outside as well that attract crowds on a continual basis, such as a sea serpent coming out of the lagoon or a family out walking their dogs.

While many people may see the sculptures outside the Lego Imagination Center as works of art, there is another store at the Downtown Disney® Area that also focuses the entire store of artful creations. The Art of Disney is home to limited edition pieces such as lithographs, original paintings, sculptures, collectible figurines and more. And even better yet, whether you are shopping on a budget or are looking to add a big-name piece to your collection, this store has a nice mixture of budget-friendly as well as top-of-the-line pieces to choose from.

Other stores at the Downtown Disney® Marketplace include Disney’s Pin Traders, an open-air store with every Disney pin available that you can imagine, along with Mickey’s Mart (where everything is under ten dollars) and tons of outdoor kiosks where even more unique items are available.