There’s a new must-visit stop on International Drive! Build-A-Bear Workshop has officially opened its most personalized experience yet at ICON Park in Orlando. The new multi-level Workshop takes everything families love about Build-A-Bear and adds exclusive experiences, more ways to customize your furry friend and new spaces for celebrations.
You’ll still find the classic Build-A-Bear journey of choosing, stuffing, dressing and naming your furry friend, complete with the famous Heart Ceremony. But this location goes much further.
What’s Inside the New ICON Park Build-A-Bear
- Choose Me: the largest selection of furry friends at any Build-A-Bear Workshop, including ICON Park exclusives like the Friendly Flamingo, Green Alligator and Orlando Pretty Petals Pawlette.
- Build-A-Bear Design Studio: a first of its kind, appointment only experience where you work with a dedicated Design Consultant to create a one of a kind furry friend. You pick everything from premium fabrics and fur colors to the eyes and paws, see it previewed digitally, and a skilled seamstress brings it to life.
- Personalize Me: a customization station with embroidery, screen printing and patches for furry friends and their outfits, including names, initials and ear embroidery on select plush.
- Scent Bar: more than 20 scents to add to your new friend.
- Hear Me: add music, special messages or your own voice recording.
- Build-A-Bear Bakeshop: an interactive dessert stop where you can frost and decorate your own cookies and cupcakes.
- Build-A-Bear x Pokémon Workshop: the first ever Pokémon specialty shop, with collectible plush, apparel and themed photo ops.
- Build-A-Bear x Hello Kitty and Friends Workshop: a curated collection of Hello Kitty and Friends plush, including ICON Park exclusives.
- Promise Pets: an adoption inspired experience where guests welcome new furry friends through imaginative pet care play.
- Celebration Terrace: an open air space overlooking International Drive for birthday parties, corporate events and group celebrations.
Build-A-Bear’s Most Ambitious Workshop
Build-A-Bear CEO Chris Hurt called the ICON Park location the brand’s “most ambitious experience yet,” a place where families can step into the world of Build-A-Bear and make memories together. ICON Park President and CEO Chris Jaskiewicz added that the opening is another one of a kind experience visitors can only find in Orlando.
The store was designed by award winning design firm Chute Gerdeman, the team behind immersive spaces like the FAO Schwarz flagship in New York City, home to another Build-A-Bear shop.
Plan Your Visit
The new Build-A-Bear Workshop is open now at ICON Park on International Drive, home of The Wheel. Since the Design Studio is appointment only, check Build-A-Bear’s website before you go if you want to create a custom bear.
It’s a fun stop for a rest day away from the theme parks, and it’s just a short drive from Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. Find more things to do around town in our Orlando news, and see what’s new for the holidays in our Christmas at Walt Disney World 2026 guide.
Will you be building a bear at ICON Park? Let us know in the comments!
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