Selfie WRLD’s Instagram-worthy booths come to The Florida Mall
In a time when everything is documented, Selfie WRLD aims to provide visitors with booths and backgrounds made for Instagram in a new venue inside The Florida Mall.
The Orlando location, which celebrates its grand opening April 17, is the newest of 19 franchise locations nationwide and one of three in Florida, though each Selfie WRLD has unique backgrounds.
“Everybody likes to take pictures. Just being around my daughter, she’s always on her phone and on TikTok,” said Toya Cade, who owns the Orlando location with her husband, Donald. “I thought if people had a place where they could go and take pictures all the time, people would love to do that.”
The business takes the place of what was formerly a Ron Jon Surf Shop and is situated near The Florida Mall’s dining pavilion. Inside, nearly 40 backgrounds await visitors, many of which are found inside 8-by-10 booths.
One has rainbow-colored faux fur, while another is a green screen for making TikTok videos. A vintage diner scene is an option and so is a ball pit with neon script in the background reading, “Juicy.” Thrones, swings, bumper cars, desks and even a vintage moped help make for very “Instagrammable” settings. Changing rooms are available to swap outfits in between snaps.
“We’re children of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, so a lot of things you see here will be a little bit of a throwback,” Donald said. “We
are the largest Selfie WRLD in the whole franchise. Typically, they have up to 20 booths, we’re going to have 35.”
Selfie WRLD Orlando isn’t limited to teens and young adults looking for social media photo ops; it can be a good fit for family pictures during the holidays, professional headshots, graduation pictures and more. The space also provides a venue for birthdays, team bonding, bachelorette parties and special events.
Staff wander the floor to take photos with visitors’ devices and provide tips on how to make the most of each scene. Guests can also opt to use one of several moveable ring lights, which are equipped with phone holders for using a selftimer or a provided Bluetooth remote.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, hand sanitizer stations are set out at regular intervals between booths and enhanced cleaning protocols are in place. In addition, Selfie WRLD Orlando will operate with limited capacity and require masks when visitors aren’t taking photos.
A similar photo studio concept first came to Orlando when Parramorebased Wall Crawl opened in August 2019 with more than 20 Instagram-worthy walls. Central Florida visitors can also take mind-bending
photos at the Museum of Illusions on International Drive.
Several days before Selfie WRLD was set to open, as Toya, Donald and their daughter Korrine put the final touches on booths,
passersby had already shown strong interest in the concept.
“Even while we work today, people are coming in, ‘Are you open? When are you opening?’ “Donald said. “People are very excited.”
If you go: Selfie WRLD is open 1-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays at 8001 S. Orange Blossom Trail, suite 195, in Orlando.
Tickets are $20 per hour for adults and $15 for ages 3-14. Timed entry slots are available for online tickets, or walk-ins are available (subject to availability). For tickets and more information, visit selfiewrldorlando.com.