Child- and Teen-Friendly Stores Cater to Kids' Wildest Dreams
While you're in town for your convention, your spouse and kids will find no shortage of family friendly stores to explore. In fact, children and teens will be thrilled to discover just how many stores cater specifically to them. Whether they're into character toys or the latest CDs, DVDs and games, brand name clothing or way-cool décor for their rooms, your kids will feel like kings and queens in these Orlando stores.
When you have just a short time to spend with your family between meetings, there's nothing like free entertainment. For no charge, visitors can stroll Downtown Disney® Marketplace and let their imaginations run wild at the LEGO Imagination Center, carrying all the latest play sets as well as life-size and larger models in and outside the store. Kids will imagine that heaven looks a lot like Once Upon A Toy - it features Disney's largest assortment of toys and games, even classic games like Monopoly and Candyland in special Disney versions. For paraphernalia featuring all their favorite characters, kids can shop World of Disney, with 12 rooms full of food, plush toys, apparel, accessories and more. The music lovers in the family could spend hours browsing the Virgin Megastore, the Southeast's largest music and entertainment store with 300 listening stations and 20 DVD watching stations, located in Downtown Disney® West Side.
You can roam free through Universal CityWalk's shopping, dining and nightlife complex without entering the parks. Little shoppers on the prowl for toys, novelty items and souvenirs will love Cartooniversal, Dapy and the Universal Studios Store. Today's eco-minded kids love helping a good cause, and when they buy toys, books, plush animals and more from The Endangered Species Store, they're also donating to The Nature Conservancy Fund!
Orlando's newest mall, The Mall at Millenia, offers high-quality, educational toys for the whole family at the Discovery Channel store, where its television brands such as Animal Planet Pets are brought to life. A girl's room is her sanctuary, and there's no cooler place to help her update her space than Pottery Barn Kids. Meanwhile, the fashionistas of the family will be darting between stores like ultra-hip Urban Outfitters, Abercrombie and Forever XXI, where a little baby-sitting money goes a long way. As usual, you'll find the boys sampling music and video games at FYE or EB Games or playing with the newest technology at the Apple Store or Sony Style.
With more than 180 stores at The Florida Mall, kids will have no problem finding stores they'll love. Playmobil Fun Park Orlando offers all the latest construction sets as well as the old classics - and even gives kids a chance to try out some of the newest toys right in the store. There's nothing quite as special as something homemade, and at the Build-A-Bear Workshop, kids can build a new friend from the inside out. First, they choose from a variety of unstuffed plush animals, give it a heart, help to stuff, fluff it and sew it, then select an entire wardrobe of clothes and accessories, even cell phones! The Gen Y crowd will love checking out the Game Stop and Electronics Boutique for all the latest video games as well as PacSun, Charlotte Russe and 5-7-9 Shop for the coolest new clothing styles. If you can't find the kids at the end of the day, try looking at Dylan's Candy Bar, a mecca of sugary sweets of all types, including incredible, original gift baskets or M&M's World where everything under the sun has a special M&M-theme and you can get the colorful candies in every shade imaginable.
A trip to Orlando just isn't complete without a stop at one of the area's outlet centers. The teenage clotheshorse in your family will be in heaven at the Orlando Premium Outlets' many shoe and clothing stores. They'll find discount duds at Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Banana Republic Factory Outlet Store, Reebok, Nike Factory Store, Adidas and more. Their little brothers and sisters won't mind - they'll be spending their vacation money at the KB Toy Outlet or Disney's Character Premiere. Should mom decide the little ones need some new clothes as well, there are plenty of children's apparel shops as well.
Parents of little ones will want to visit the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores for the great deals and wide selection at the Oshkosk B'gosh Superstore and Carter's outlets. The kids won't want to miss another chance to shop for Disney-themed souvenirs at Character Outlet.
Prime Outlets Orlando is a sure bet for bargain-hunting families. Here, kids will find discounted Disney merchandise at Disney Character Premier as well as KB Toy Liquidators. Festival Bay Mall at International Drive lets mom and dad shop while the kids catch a movie at the 20-screen theatre, try their hands at Putting Edge, miniature glow-in-the-dark golf, or indoor skateboarding at Vans Skatepark. The guys won't want to leave before checking out the laid-back beach fashions at Ron Jon Surf Shop and the super affordable tees, sweatshirts and hats from their favorite college teams at Steve & Barry's University Sportswear. Meanwhile, the gals will be camped out in the dressing rooms at trendy clothing stores like Charlotte Russe and Pac-Sun.
Mom may have to drag the kids to the mall with her at home, but shopping in Orlando will have them begging for an advance on their allowance. Just think of all the chores they'll have to do when they get home...