Build-A-Bear is opening its largest Workshop at ICON Park (8375 International Dr), the entertainment complex around the giant observation wheel on International Drive. The company's October 20 announcement says the new multi-level store opens officially on Thursday, November 5, 2026, with grand-opening celebration details to come. Its October 5 release describes a three-story Workshop and calls it the brand's largest and most ambitious experience.
This guide covers what Build-A-Bear has confirmed so far, what it hasn't, how the flagship compares with the regular mall store at the Florida Mall, and how to fill the rest of a family afternoon at ICON Park and along I-Drive. We'll update it once booking details, prices and hours are posted.
What's Confirmed So Far
The headline is size. ICON Park already has a Build-A-Bear Workshop (8375 International Dr), a 1,360-square-foot store that opened in June 2021. The new building replaces that small footprint with three stories, according to Build-A-Bear's own release. Some coverage from July 2026 called it two stories. We're going with the company's figure.
Build-A-Bear has named three experiences for the new store, plus three specialty shops inside it. The classic part of a visit stays: you pick a plush, it gets stuffed and the Heart Ceremony is part of the new store too.
Construction started with a groundbreaking on July 31, 2025, and the opening date has been firm since the October 20 release. Coverage in October says the building's facade faces International Drive.
The Design Studio: Appointment Only
The biggest change is the Build-A-Bear Design Studio. Build-A-Bear describes it as an "appointment-only plush atelier where guests collaborate one-on-one with a dedicated Design Consultant." Instead of choosing from the shelf, you work through the design with a consultant, and a seamstress then builds the bear. It finishes with the Heart Ceremony.
You can't walk in for this one. ClickOrlando's report puts it plainly: "You have to sign up for an appointment." As of mid-October, Build-A-Bear had not posted Design Studio prices or how to book. If the Design Studio is the reason for your trip, wait for booking to open before you build a day around it.
The Bakeshop and Personalize Me
The Build-A-Bear Bakeshop lets guests "frost and decorate their own cupcakes and cookies." That makes it a good stop for a younger sibling who isn't building a bear, or a short break between floors. Build-A-Bear hasn't said whether it needs a reservation.
The Personalize Me station handles embroidery and screen printing: embroidered initials, names and numbers on T-shirts and hoodies, plus patches and screen prints. It's the way to put a name on a bear's outfit before you leave.
Three Specialty Shops
The October 20 release also announced three shop-in-shops: a Build-A-Bear x Pokémon Workshop, a Build-A-Bear x Hello Kitty and Friends Workshop (the fourth of its kind) and Promise Pets by Build-A-Bear Workshop. These are licensed collections sold under the store's roof, so a Pokémon fan and a Hello Kitty fan can each shop their own corner in one trip.
The Rooftop: Not Confirmed Yet
Early reports in July 2026 described a partly covered rooftop with food and drinks and an outdoor courtyard. Build-A-Bear's October releases don't mention either one. Treat the rooftop as a maybe until the store's own page lists it.
Flagship or Mall Store?
Every Build-A-Bear does the basic bear: choose, stuff, Heart Ceremony, dress. What the ICON Park flagship adds is the Design Studio, the Bakeshop, embroidery and the specialty shops. For a toddler's first bear, the mall store does the job. For a birthday, a one-off custom design or a fan of one of the licensed lines, the flagship is the one to plan for.
The nearest full-time alternative is the Build-A-Bear Workshop at the Florida Mall (8001 S Orange Blossom Trail, Suite 1244), in the Macy's wing near Old Navy. Its posted hours are Monday to Thursday 10am–8pm, Friday and Saturday 10am–9pm and Sunday 11am–7pm. Our Florida Mall guide covers the rest of the mall wing by wing, and the Florida Mall page lists every shop we've confirmed.
Will the old ICON Park store stay open once the new one opens? Reports in July said the small store keeps running in the meantime. Nothing we've seen says what happens to it after November 5. Plan on the flagship, not the old shop.
Tips for Opening Week
Opening week at a new flagship may be busy, and Build-A-Bear says grand-opening details are still to come. If you have flexibility, a weekday visit is the safer bet. Build-A-Bear's release points to buildabear.com/ICONPark for updates, so check there for updates on hours and Design Studio booking before you go. Budget for extras: outfits, shoes and accessories are where a bear's cost adds up, at any Build-A-Bear.
Making a Day of ICON Park
ICON Park has a long list of ticketed attractions in one complex, so the bear can be one stop in a half day. The park's own site lists The Wheel, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, the Museum of Illusions, Ripley's Crazy Golf, a 7D motion theater, a carousel and an arcade, plus Blue Man Group for an evening show. Pick one or two; tickets are sold separately.
For treats, Sugar Factory (8375 International Dr) is a restaurant, bar and candy store serving big sundaes, milkshakes and chocolate fondue, open Sunday to Thursday 11am–11pm and Friday and Saturday 11am–1am. Shake Shack, Häagen-Dazs and Starbucks are also on ICON Park's list for a quicker bite.
A short drive south on I-Drive, Rocket Fizz (9101 International Dr) at Pointe Orlando sells bulk classic candy, taffy and a wall of unusual bottled sodas. If you have more shopping to do, Disney's Character Warehouse (4951 International Dr) at Orlando International Premium Outlets sells discounted Disney parks merchandise from past seasons. Our outlets guide and the International Drive and outlets page have the rest, and Universal's shops are a short drive away.
Getting There and Parking
ICON Park is at 8375 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819. Parking in the ICON Park garage is free on floors 4 through 7, with premium parking on floors 2 and 3. Free valet is also offered. I-Drive's visitor site lists the complex as open daily 10am–2am, subject to change. Individual attractions and shops keep shorter hours.
Without a car, the I-Ride Trolley stops at ICON Park: stop 14 on the northbound line and Green 08 on the southbound.
