Build a bear

[Daisybumpkins]

Helloooo,

I was just looking through some old posts when i came across one about how long it took to build a bear in the florida mall. It sounded interesting - does anyone have any info as to what exactly this is and how much it costs, and indeed where i can find the florida mall {and dont anyone say florida :D}. Thank you!

[big_dog_ush]

Similar to "The Bear Factory" over here. There's one of these in the Trafford Centre I think.

Florida Mall can be reached from I-Drive by travelling East along Sand Lake Road for about 5 miles.

[Daisybumpkins]

Thanks - however despite living close to manchester i havent been to the trafford centre! What is the bear factory? Do you get to make a bear or something?

[Winnies_No1fan]

Daisy its a shop where you go into and pick your own teddy or soft animal .you take it to the stuffing table ..they then stuff and stitch it to how full you want and you can insert a heart and things if you like ...then they stitch for you and give you a birth certificate etc ....here is the link you will read more here http://www.thebearfactory.co.uk/

[ianpetchey]

Yep,

Although the filling of the bear I find quite distressing.

[eblondie26]

Originally posted by ianpetchey
Yep,

Although the filling of the bear I find quite distressing.
Yep....and when they give you the bears heart to put in!!!!

[Leann]

hi

my 3 children did the bear factory a couple of weeks ago
it was great fun , it took ages and ages whilst they chose clothes etc in fact i think they got more excited in there than at the theme parks :eek:
the bears are very reasonable it was the all the bits that went with them that bumped up the bill
even my ds aged 12 got a bear with a baseball outfit and matching trainers

so i would allow lots of time if you are thinking of doing it

Leann x

[joanne]

Do you have a link to the US site, that sounds like something my daughter would adore

[BONZO]

Hi,

Go to www.buildabear.com

[joanne]

I don't know how I can avoid going here, my daughter spotted me looking at the site!

[Rio]

We went to Buid A Bear Workshop at Downtown Disney in Anaheim and it was fantastic!
Emily chose a ginger cat that she named Timmy and I chose a teddy that I called Mustang and we bought them loads of outfits and boxer shorts, Skechers, sandles, little workboots, socks, sunglasses and pyjamas.
It was great dressing them up and we are taking them to Orlando this year to get them more clothes.
The Bear Factory is rubbish compared to Build A Bear and its a lot more expensive.
I highly recommend it and Emily was 15 at the time (and me a few years older!!).
Love Rio

[KK_Cat]

My 2 nieces did this last year (ages 6 & 8 then). Their very different personalities were reflected in their choice of clothes for their bears. The 8 yr old had a bear in a very "cheerleader" type outfit, very girly. the 6 year old had her bear dressed up like a hells angel biker, very tough looking and macho. I have to say that the biker one was fantastic as it was so different, the only thing was when you pressed his tummy a little girly voice came out saying "my name is Michaela" not quite what you expect from 'such a macho looking bear:D (you can record your own voice message to have inside bear)

[Rio]

Emily got the biker outfit for "Timmy" including the leather cap!! We also got a Disneyland t-shirt with the hat with ears, an Anaheim Angels baseball kit with little bat and ball and lots more stuff.The time we spent in there was fantastic as when we had passed before, we thought it was for little kids, but there were 2 teenage lads in front of us choosing their bear and they spent a lot of time dressing them up.
The staff were so helpful as well and they encourage you to try clothes on your bear even if you dont buy any.
If you have a bear factory bear, check out the build A bear website for the prices, I couldn't believe the difference!!
Love Rio

[lindylou2_2002]

I just saw on the build a bear website they have 4 shops in the uk. And As one is in Canterbury might have to go and have a look to compare to bear factory. :D

[joanne]

I got back from Florida last Sunday and we did take the girls to build a bear and they loved it, we even went back and got extra outfits it is quite addictive. I see on the web site they sell Build a bear downtown disney tshirts, but there wasn't one in Florida, does this just refer to Anaheim.

[tiggerfan144]

Yeh my kids loved the build a bear never did get one over here as they seemed quite dear but when we went to Florida mall they seemed quite reasonable