Lighten Up!

My wife and I found this awesome local toy store by searching on Unilocal.We were in the area for the holiday and wanted to buy something fun for our niece and nephew. Yes this store is very over priced, we found it almost impossible to buy two gifts under $ 40 and most of the female targeted toys seemed to be for ages less than eight. After looking around a while we settled on two nerf style rockets and bean boozled candy. The kids loved their gifts and were most amused by the bean boozled candy.

A Great Find! As grandparents, it can be difficult to get ‘fun’ things for the grandchildren. But this is the place! Great toys, games etc and many unusual items. Store personnel are VERY helpful and very knowledgeable. We found something good for ALL our grandchildren — 6 mos to 22 years! We also had a LOT of fun playing many of the panes on display. We were there a couple of hours and NEVER bored.

I really wanted to love this toy store, but it just didn’t have what I was looking for at the time.
I went to the store on a Friday evening in January, post-​Christmas, looking for Christmas presents (we were having a late Christmas get-​together) for my nephews. I prefer not to shop at Target, WalMart, etc. or to get them the same-​old types of toys, so, since I live close to downtown Winter Park, I looked for a toy store in the area.
Upon walking in, all I could hear were two women LOUDLY talking to the girl on the register and their dog yapping. I really don’t mind dogs in stores; I have a dog, and I get it, but Lighten Up! is small, and the dog wandering around combined with these two women having the most meandering, loud conversation with the check-​out girl made it rather uncomfortable for me to shop. I know that this isn’t exactly the shop’s fault (the dog and the loud conversation, though the employee was a part of it), but I also wasn’t greeted by the employee or asked if I needed help as I wandered around the small space. Basically, I felt like I was invading the store and wasn’t actually welcome there.
There were some interesting toys there, and some unique toys, too. But the selection was limited, and, ultimately, I didn’t find anything for my nephews. I ended-​up at Barnes and Nobles and bought them board games and books there.
It’s not a bad store, but it’s not some place I’d go to again if I needed to buy a present. Kids, I’m sure, would love it there.

Lighten Up! is a nice little toy store. I have been there several times with my little boy. We both like it. They are a bit expensive, so I don’t shop there much. However, Ligten Up carries a different selection toys and games then other toy stores. For example, I have purchased the tell tale game. This is not a game that I have seen in other toy stores such as ToysRUS, Target, and or Walmart. So I really appreciate a place where my son and I can purchased something that we can both play and enjoy together. I also like the layout of the store since it is small. Lighten Up! work. with the space that they have very well. Overall, I would have to say, I like shopping here. Not to mention, the people are really nice. They are very friendly and great with suggestions for my son’s toy needs. We love visiting Lighten Up in Winter Park.

I love this store! My 3 daughters (ages 10, 12 and 15) have loved this store for years. Lighten Up is a really neat and innovative toy store that has the most interesting toys you won’t find at a traditional toy store. All the toys are kept out so you can try them, and the staff is good at every single one! Oh, BTW, I’ve never noticed any unpleasant odors, nor have my shoes ever stuck to the floor.

Lighten Up! Is one my daughter’s favorite toy stores! She collects glass animals and Lighten Up! Is one of the only places I know that carries them. They have a great variety of toys for both my kids and they have such great staff

I moved to downtown Winter Park 6 months ago and have been a customer of Lighten Up since. I am a school teacher and am always in need of fun stuff for the classroom and the variety of games and toys here is great. Without the knowledge and insight of the guy behind the counter I would never be able to make a choice! Friendly, knowledgable staff and a fun, interactive atmosphere with so much to choose from. Definitely a wonderful little store to have in the neighborhood.

What a hoot this place is. To walk off our burger and beer from BurgerFi, we checked out some stores along Park Ave. I was able to drag my hubby into this store, however once in the store, I had to drag hubby out. Lighten up! is a fun store, and yes, the kids (and adults) are free to play with the toys (there was a tot riding one of the cars around the store). Hubby asked the gentleman (Dan is his name, and he’s a sweetheart) at the register to show us the most-​popular toys and how they work; Dan showed us the two top sellers (these are not your average Toys-​R-​Us toys; they’re more creative) and offered them to us to try. When I told Dan the age of kids I work with, he quickly recommended excellent ideas. I had to restrain myself from buying too much, although the prices are fair. You can find toys for as little as 50 cents a piece (tiny rubber animals that the regular customers collect– per Dan) to more-​expensive items. This store is definitely worth checking out when you need to purchase a gift that looks like you put some thought into it and didn’t just buy any old toy at some large chain store.

My kids love Lighten Up! It’s not your traditional toy store, no. This store has all of the old timey type of prank toys (hand shake buzzer, snap gum pack etc), kites, wind up toys, marshmallow shooters, rubberband shooters, all things that are NOT electronic!
We have a great time shopping here.
And, no, it doesn’t smell weird. Staff could be a bit more energetic/​hospitable.

Lighten Up! has got to be one of the most depressing places geared toward children in the world. My three year old begged to go in while we were on our way to Tutti Frutti today and so, I of course obliged.
Dismal does not begin to describe what I found waiting on the other side of the heavy glass door…
Immediately we were hit by a strange, unidentifiable smell permeating the entire store. It smelled like dust, rubber and something I couldn’t put my finger on. We were greeted (sort of) by a pretty, but lethargic girl who stayed seated behind the register. The dingy, blue rubber floors had a sticky feel to them. The layout was confusing and uncomfortable. The lighting was odd. There were no sounds of children’s laughter, no fun kids’ music, only a lone flat screen high in the ceiling playing the Disney Chanel with the sound muted. Even the toys could not bring cheer to Lighten Up! Lighten Up!, indeed.

This is a really neat toy store. I like that they have a HUGE variety of non-​traditional toys (no Barbies here). Another thing that I love is kids are free to play and explore the toys. A lot of toys are opened and stored a kid eye level for optimal playing and exploring. This is a true toy store experience. My 2 and a half year old niece is always asking to go here every time we’re on Park Ave.
Yeah toys might be a little more but they are for sure HIGH quality. If you’re looking for a unique gift for a special kid this is the place to go. I hope it is able to stay