World's Largest Build A Bear Opens 5th November At Icon Park, Orlando
The world's largest Build-A-Bear store is opening on 5th November 2026 at Icon Park, Orlando, which is great news for UK families looking for an out of theme park experience during their Orlando holiday. The three-level store combines bear-making, themed shopping, a bespoke Design Studio and cupcake decorating. It is a promising option for a wet-weather break or a rest afternoon to make a personalised souvenir on International Drive.
Key Details About Build-A-Bear At Icon Park
The new flagship Build-A-Bear store is opening at Icon park on Thursday 5th November offering UK visitors a new Build A Bear experience on a huge scale. It's also a chance to plan to do something away from the parks.
What's in store? | Three floors, build your bear, appointment only bespoke build-a-bear and a third-floor Bakeshop where you can decorate your own cupcake and an outdoor terrace |
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Where is it; what's the address? | It's at Icon Park, the address is 8431 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819 |
What Makes This Different From A UK Build-A-Bear?
There's more to experience in this store and it is much bigger than any of the Build-A-Bear stores we have in the UK. While the core experience of finding a bear, doing the heart ceremony and brining it to life before choosing accessories remain, the new Orlando store offers more,.
There are more ways to customise your bear, a wider range and several dedicated themed areas that add to the overall experience.
Build-A-Bear has announced Pokémon, Hello Kitty and Friends, and Promise Pets workshops. The Pokémon space in store is the company's first dedicated workshop of its kind, while Promise Pets centres on an adoption-style experience. The Hello Kitty area will carry a selection of soft toys exclusive to ICON Park.
For UK visitors, one of the strongest reasons to go is the additional choice of experiences.
What's Inside The Three-Storey Shop?
The three floors of Orlando's Build-A-Bear each offer a different type if experience:
First floor (the ground floor where you enter): main bear-making experience that you'd find in a UK version of Build-A-Bear
Second Floor (first floor for UK stores): the Design Studio which needs an appointment
Third floor (second floor in UK stores): the Bakeshop and terrace
What's The Design Studio?
The Build-A-Bear Design Studio is an appointment-only experience exclusive to the Icon Park store where you can build a bespoke bear with unique customisation on a different level to the normal experience. This £111.11 ($150.00) a bear Design Studio opens in a new tab experience includes:
- working one-to-one with a team member to build your bear
- learning about and choosing details including animal style, fur, eye colour and paw details
- watching as your animal is made by a "skilled seamstress" and you get exclusive Design Studio keepsakes
- getting extra special keepsakes exclusive to the Design Studio experience
What's The Bakeshop?
The bakeshop is on the third floor and offers a £7.41 ($10.00) cupcake decorating experience that you can do without making a bear. This gives families an option to enjoy an activity without creating a bear. while still exploring the shop.
Is Build-A-Bear Orlando Good For A Rainy Day?
This could well be worth adding to the list of possible rainy day activities in Orlando if you're a family with under 10's who love Build-A-Bear. The ground floor experience and the top floor experience are perfectly suited to an impromptu walk-in if you find yourself with heavy rain one afternoon.
The Icon Park location is also ideal for families staying off-site in the International Drive area who may not have a hire car, as you can use public transport to get to this area.
Why UK Holidaymakers Might Want To Visit?
A new Build-A-Bear Workshop may not be the first thing you think about when you head to Orlando for a Disney World and Universal holiday, but if you have children this is an experience they might just love. Set across three floors, this new store offers similar Disney and Universal magic if you want a soft toy, as children can make bears or dress them in outfits from:
- Star Wars
- Harry Potter
- How to Train Your Dragon
- Toy Story
- Pokemon (rumoured to be coming to Universal Orlando)
If you are staying in the International Drive area hoping on the i-trolley to Icon Park and visiting this store could give them a familiar, but equally Disney or Universal themed experience to pick a soft toy to remember their holiday that isn't an off the shelf theme park toy.
Is It Worth Including In Your Orlando Holiday Plan?
Build-A-Bear's new flagship is most appealing for families who already enjoy the brand, children interested in creative activities, and collectors seeking something unique to Orlando.
For UK holidaymakers looking for something different outside the theme parks, it's worth a place on the shortlist of activities. Plan it around your family's interests and spending limits, and keep it in mind for a licensed Disney or Universal souvenir that you don't need to buy in the parks.
