A table of Orlando Science Center Holiday Gifts

Keep Calm and Shop Local

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You don’t need to go to the North Pole to find the best presents. These Central Florida shops are brimming with ideas for kiddos who made The Nice List. Plus, a few stores around town predict the hottest gifts of the season, so you can get ahead of your shopping before things start to sell out!

More on the holidays in Orlando:

Local Central Florida Toy Shops for Holiday Gifts

ToyTopia

With locations in Winter Park and Dr. Phillips, ToyTopia is the new toy store on the block. Their motto “Play Your Way to Happy” is fitting, not only because their shelves are filled with unique playthings, but also because they encourage community through in-store events, like Santa visits, and promotions.

Top Toys

  • Mirumi Bag Charm Robot: This is a plush, interactive robot that attaches to your bag, and ToyTopia is one of the exclusive retailers for it!
  • Safari Ltd. Axolotl: Here’s an adorable amphibian figure, no tank or maintenance required.
  • Mystery Boxes: The store also offers a variety of curated boxes, including Smiskis ones, where the contents are a surprise, making it extra exciting when unwrapping!

    Tugboat & the Bird

    For over twenty-five years, Tugboat & the Bird has been a haven for children. With a curated selection of clothing, toys, gifts, and more, it’s a one-stop shop for parents and kids alike. While they’re known for always carrying classic brands and being on top of what’s trending, they also make it a priority to get to know their customers and grow with the children.

    Top Toys

    • Matching Pajamas: Beaufort Bonnet pajamas are always sweet for siblings.
    • The Bitzee Aquarium: Like a modern-day Tamagotchi, this fish tank and its digital inhabitants allow kids to play, feed, and take care of their pets. Watch the aquarium grow and become home for up to thirty-five aquatic animals!
    • Fat Brain Toys Air Toobz: Imagine a marble run that’s powered by air. Kids can design their own tracks and then launch foam balls into it with the touch of a button.
    Tugboat & the Bird Storefront with a yellow door
    Tugboat & the Bird Storefront — Image courtesy of Tugboat & the Bird

    Orlando Science Center (OSC) — Featured Image

    While the OSC may not be the first place you think of when it comes to holiday shopping (although a yearly membership is a phenomenal gift in itself), it’s a truly hidden gem for fun finds. Little scientists will love unwrapping STEM activity kits, or plushies and dolls inspired by their favorite animals, while unknowingly learning through play!

    Top Toys

    • Numberblocks Learning Toys & Activities: These hands-on learning toys, puzzles, and activities make early mathematics fun, and they’re perfect for preschoolers and young learners developing counting, number recognition, and problem-solving skills.
    • Beginner Telescopes: Inspire the next generation of astronomers with a beginner-friendly telescope. It’s great for curious kids interested in exploring the Moon and discovering the wonders of the night sky.
    • Dinosaur & Fossil Excavation Kits: Let young paleontologists experience the excitement of discovery! These hands-on excavation kits encourage children to dig, explore, and uncover fossils while learning about dinosaurs and prehistoric life.

    Maison Baby & Kids and Nava Jean

    Between the sweetest clothes, baby gear, or toys, Maison Baby & Kids has it all for stylish littles. If you have a tween daughter, make sure to pop into their sister store, Nava Jean, across the street for all the trendiest outfits, accessories, and other essentials.

    Top Picks (Maison Baby & Kids)

    • Doona Liki Trike: One of the best gifts for grandparents! This 5-in-1 trike grows with your child from 10 months to 3 years, comes fully assembled, and folds down with the click of a button into the world’s most compact trike — small enough for a car trunk or even an airplane overhead bin. It’s the gift grandparents keep at their house and actually enjoy using: no assembly, no clutter, just instant adventures.
    • Magna-Tiles: The one toy that truly never gets put away. These magnetic building tiles click together in seconds so even toddlers can build, and the open-ended possibilities grow right along with them — from first towers to elaborate castles and racetracks. It’s screen-free, creativity-building play that siblings share and parents secretly love too, which is why it’s our most gifted and most re-purchased set year after year.

      Top Picks (Nava Jean)

      • NeeDoh: If there is one present every tween is asking for this year, it’s a NeeDoh. These irresistibly squishy sensory balls are this year’s most collected, most traded, most sought-after little gift, perfect for backpacks, desks, and calming busy hands. Small enough to tuck into a stocking and fun enough that girls want one in every style, it’s our hands-down #1 stocking stuffer of the season.
      • Katie J Dylan Bow Sweat Set: The go-to essential for every tween girl right now: Katie J’s bow appliqué sweatpants paired with the matching cropped zip hoodie, finished with the sweetest seersucker bow detailing. It’s cozy enough for every day, cute enough to feel like an outfit, and endlessly mixable with her favorite tees and tanks, so it’s the set our girls reach for on repeat, from school days to sleepovers to travel days.

        More Toy Destinations Around Town

        Pop Fandom Toys

        This Mount Dora shop is a superfan’s dream. With cards and collectibles, there’s plenty to discover to grow your collections. They also have a Buy/Sell/Trade market and are currently accepting Pokémon card raw singles, Marvel Legends action figures (sealed in box), One Piece sealed products, and more, but all are subject to change based on the market.

        Lakeshore Learning

        Yes, this is where teachers shop for their classrooms, but Lakeshore Learning also has an amazing selection of toys, from educational ones to hands-on building and art kits.

        Toys“R”Us

        The iconic toy store is back and is opening its doors in the Oviedo Mall just in time for the holidays. Shop for all of your favorite brands with a side of nostalgia.

        POP US! Collectibles & Toys

        This is a hub for toys and merch based on all your favorite pop culture characters. They have a wide selection of Funko Pop! figures, Pokémon items, squishies, blind boxes, and more.

        LEGO® Store

        Here’s a mecca for little creators. Located within Disney Springs, the LEGO store has everything you need to build your next brick-tastic masterpiece.

        Merry Memory Makers

        Cut back on clutter and give a gift that you and your kids can experience together. Central Florida has so many amazing places to go, so check out these fun ideas!

        Ripley’s Believe It or Not Crazy Golf

        This isn’t your average putt-putt place! It’s a glow-in-the-dark, immersive course where you’ll have to focus on whether the hole in front of you is real or not! Pair it with a wrapped copy of Wired Into Weird, Ripley’s Believe It or Not’s new book. ripleys.com

        SeaWorld Animal Experiences

        Budding marine biologists will love to get up close and personal with their favorite aquatic animals, from orcas and sea lions to penguins and dolphins! SeaWorld also has some all-new offerings, like the Trainer for a Day Experience, where you can see what it’s like to work at a zoological facility, or the Ocean Explorer Tour, where you get hands-on time with different animals across the park. seaworld.com

        iFly

        Ideal for thrill-seeking kids, indoor skydiving is a great option to get their adrenaline pumping. iFly has a wind tunnel where kids as young as three can learn to soar like a bird, and there are lots of different flights and gifting packages, including one-on-one coaching. iflyworld.com

        Grande Lakes Orlando Space Exploration Experience

        If you’re looking for a splurge, book this out-of-this-world offering from Grande Lakes Orlando! Take off in a private helicopter that’ll take you directly to Kennedy Space Center, where you’ll then be treated to exclusive VIP access, including a dedicated concierge host, curated lunch, private bus tour, and an astronaut meet-and-greet based on availability.

        Helicopter for the Grande Lakes Orlando Space Exploration Experience
        Helicopter for the Grande Lakes Orlando Space Exploration Experience — Image Courtesy of Grande Lakes Orlando

        American Girl Holiday Events

        For American Girl lovers, or for girls who are receiving their first doll this year, plan a special outing with their doll? The American Girl Store in The Florida Mall has lots of events happening, from holiday bingo and pizza party to gingerbread house decorating or a New Year’s Eve teatime. You’ll get bonus points for booking a dual girl/doll salon appointment beforehand.

        The VIP Experience at LEGOLAND® Florida Resort

        No lines, no planning, no stress, but all the fun! That’s the upside to booking a VIP tour next time you head to LEGOLAND Florida Resort. Your personal host will plan out the day, so your family can build incredible memories while creating designs and riding attractions completely hassle-free.

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         Originally published in the November/December 2026 issue of Orlando Parenting Magazine.

        Hailea Boykin is a contributor and writer for Orlando Parenting and Director of Digital Content for Orlando Date Night Guide and Tampa Bay Date Night Guide. She helps publish and update Hooray Media's family and date-night sites and writes event and attractions coverage for Orlando and Tampa Bay parents. She earned a B.A. in Professional and Creative Writing from Central Washington University and has also written for Attractions Magazine.