shopping in Florida

[sammcg]

We are staying in Disney all stars. Ive heard walmart is excellent. Is it worth a day trip ?? I won't be driving, is there a bus. or is it worth a taxi.

[Keith]

welllllll walmart is good for food and the odd bit of other stuff... toys/a kettle etc... but I wouldn't classify it as a day trip.. even for me, the shop-a-holic :lol:

I usually get a taxi because I'll be carrying bags back... I guess you could save money getting a bus there and a taxi back.

If you just want to get provisions, crossroads near downtown disney is handy. If you're looking for an all day shopping experience... florida mall is great for *everything*.... mall at millenia for high end stuff & designer... premium outlet mall is very close to disney and loved by many (I don't like it at all)

[Lisa1976]

I second the Florida Mall, its a shoppers paradise. Its definately worth a day trip.

[Redkop]

Mrs redkop liked, premium outlet mall, florida mall, the shopping complex on I drive with FAO schwarz, walmart.......in fact she liked anywhere that had a shop :rolleyes:

chris

[sammcg]

to get to the Florida Mall, is this worth a taxi.
We'll probably be eating breakfast in the hotel, and then probably lunch in the parks so don't think we'll be eating in the hotel as such... however, we were going to be getting the refillable mugs and use them for juice, coffee etc in the morning.

[Keith]

Florida mall is definitely worth a taxi <G> it's about $35-$40 each way from all stars using the yellow cabs that you find at disney.

On the way back, the cab company with the contract for florida mall is "town and country" and they usually have a guy outside the main entrance calling cabs for you. Ask him for a "fixed fee to all stars". If he quotes $35 or less, take it.. if more, then when you get in the cab, ask for them to meter it. (I've had $25 flat fee quoted.. which is a bargain or $45 which is clearly too much)

[rjh812uk]

Please don't waste $80 in cab fares just to go to the Florida mall .In my opinion it's really nothing special,unless you are into American fashion.It's not a patch on Meadowhall,Bluewater and Trafford Park.
Sorry if this offends.

[Keith]

It doesn't offend :) it just shows differences in point of view..

I'm a total trafford centre addict but I think there's a lot more "other stuff" in the florida mall than there is at Tcentre.

Whether any shopping experience is worth $80 just to get there and back of course depends on your level of shop-a-holic-ness :-) Mine is admittedly an extreme case.

[Vikki]

I second the opinion Walmart isn't worth a shopping trip really. I would get a bus from DD to Sea World, and then ride the I-Ride for the day, stopping off at any places you fancy shopping.

[Tabitha]

Hi everyone,

We would like to do some shopping when we visit in June.
For sports goods, whih is the best place to go for good prices?
What about Beltz?

Also. last time we got the Link bus from the Ticket and Transportation centre to Seaworld ($1 per adult and children free), we saw the I-ride but did'nt see it stopping outside Seaworld. Does it stop there to go down I-drive?:confused:

[Jaynie]

I love the Florida Mall, the food court is great, we walked around it deciding where to get our meal and we were full as there are free samples outside every outlet! can't wait to try the new shopping mall out this year, anyone know what it's like?

[Keith]

The Mall at Millenia may be the new one you mean?

If so, I LOVE it to bits :)

It's a bit more upmarket than the average store at florida mall and has a nice food court.

I love it because it has an apple store <G> Helen likes the clothes stores.

Again, it's another one well worth a visit.

[sammcg]

Where abouts is this one?

[Keith]

directions etc. at their website:-
http://www.mallatmillenia.com/

[WillCAD]

Instead of WalMart or Florida Mall, consider trying one or more of the Disney outlet stores in the WDW area. They have Disney merchandise, usually last year's stock, at discounts ranging from 10% up to 75%.

Disney Outlets on WillCAD OnLine (http://w3.mivlmd.cablespeed.com/~wgarmer/disney_outlets.html)

[colinc]

Belz worth a visit- but taxi from WDW might be a bit hi, so considfer the I Trolley

Also Premium Outlets at B Vista

--
Walmart great for cheap food- but need to way up cost if not driving.

Also Walmart iis good if kids want a baseball bat/ glove

[Goofy Guy]

I am not the shopping kind of person, so it is hard to recommend shopping as an activity. I do think that the Belz Factory Outlet is where you will find some of the best bargains. Wal-Mart is good for those items that you do not want to pay an arm and a leg for at the park like food items and film or batteries. On my vacations, I would never spend a day shopping.

[lisaw]

Belz is a good choice for clothes etc at discounted prices and I like the Florida Mall for the department stores, the Hallmark shop and the Playmobile shop - it all depends on what sort of thing you want to buy really - Walmart is a good shop for it's sheer size but I think you would be needing to buy quite a lot to warrant the taxi cost :ears:
My favorite shopping place has to be Downtown Disney Marketplace for the shops atmosphere and restaurants and you can have a nice boat ride and just take in the disney experience whilst shopping at the same time - bliss:ears: :clap:

[OKWTink]

I'm not a huge fan of the Beltz stores. I find them messy, the merchandise shoddy (check the labels carefully, frequently the item is an irregular) and the prices too high for what you get.

I really like the Millenia Mall. The dining options there are worth the trip! There is even valet parking available. :D

Also, the shopping area directly across the road from Millenia is building up rapidly. There are several stores there, with more going in daily. Some of the shops are Pier One Imports, Marshalls, Broadway Shoes, Super Target, Linens N' Things, a really neat furniture shop, another neat decorator's shop, things like that.

I'm honestly not much of a shopper though. I prefer to know exactly where to purchase whatever it is I need, go in buy it and leave. Don't often browse much unless I can't find what I'm looking for or don't know quite what I want and need to "shop around."

On the approach to Beltz Outlet there is another smaller shopping area called Festival Bay. It has a HUGE outdoor/sports shop, a cinema and several other shops, including a Hilo Hattie. It's easy enough to miss because it is set a bit back off the road.

[sunshine state]

Im not really a fan of Belz either its spread all over the place, thats why im more into the Florida mall although its a really big place its easy to find everything and good for an afternoon out.

Mike

[Dotty Dot]

last june when we were their we went to festival village but not many of the shops were open then / the skate board park looks great .

[victorlowe]

I now shop almost exclusively at Walmart and Sam's Club (the associated wholesale club) simply because I always come away having spent less than I expected. They are all over the US, and the store layouts are identical, for the most part.

If I were on holiday from abroad, however, I would not consider Wal-Mart to be a shopping destination in itself.

If you're renting a car, however, you might want to stop by Walmart and see it for yourself, as they could have many of the essentials and some of the luxuries that you are looking for. They are famous for moving stock quickly, often in a few hours, because of the low prices.

Florida Mall is more of a shopping destination, as it is easy to walk around in and mostly under one roof. They have a website with stores, locations, phone numbers, etc. : http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=139

[Dotty Dot]

can i ask what sams club sells and if you have to be a member/ we shop mainly at wall mart for the villa food shopping pool toys and all those hol esentials suntan lotion / sunglasses / camera and good cheap large size shorts and tee shirts oh and we always get a new cd to play in the car and then when we come home we play it in the car here and remember the sun and air conditioning and 4 lane highways and drive through dunkin doughnuts

[victorlowe]

Dotty Dot,

Sam's Club is associated with Wal-Mart, and they are a wholesale membership club which charges a $35 per year membership fee. If a customer is not a member, they can go to the customer service desk and request a one-day guest courtesy card, but their purchases will have a 10% surcharge for non-members.

They have lots of bulk grocery items, so some small restaurants actually buy some of their stock at Sam's Club.

Some things I have bought at Sam's Club in the last year:
car tires, printer cartridges, folding chairs, camp furniture, a small DVD player (most recent), cases of coca-cola and various vitamins and medicines. They also have a very large slice of pizza for under $2. I save enough money on the vitamins alone to cover my membership fee.

They don't even offer bags, and expect the members to place their purchases directly in shopping carts or boxes. It is very basic, so I am not at all sure that they would be up to holiday-maker's standards.

I called Sam's Club here in Denver, who said they were sure that visitors from abroad can get guest cards (but not usually memberships). It is always a good idea to phone an Orlando Sam's Club from your Villa to confirm this and get directions and store hours.

I am offering the same advice to members that I would give to my own relatives, but my relatives are all "cheapskates" like me.

S McD fan, Sam's Club fan :singin: :Photo:

[Dotty Dot]

thanks for that replie / we are members of cost co and we always take our pass when gong to orlando and we always make an effore to go and have a look not for the bulk buy stuff but for the one off special ( you just never know) although when we are home in liverpool we do bulk buy from cost co all our essentials

[OKWTink]

Cost Co is a bit upper scale in comparison to Sam's Club. It features a nicer line of merchandise, a better quality beef, and fantastic wine selections.

The only problem I have with Cost Co is that here in Orlando it is waaaaayyyy on the other side of the county from where I live. It's hours are rather late in the morning too, which isn't great for me, as I'm an early morning shopper.

I was a member when living in Fort Myers and really enjoyed it. If you are a Cost Co member you are really not missing a thing by not being a Sam's Club member, or a BJ's member (I use both shops, Sam's and BJ's, now due to location).

[loocpoc]

Here is a link to the different malls in the area.

http://orlando.retailguide.com/

[renkadima]

The Mall At Millennia is almost at odds to the vast majority of shopping places in the Kissimmee area. We visited in December, but, blimey, it's expensive! If you enjoy top fashions etc. then I'm sure you'd love it, but I just felt uncomfortable. As an illustration, Bloomingdales was laid out like a John Lewis superstore, but with everything twice the price!

Walmart is the other extreme - prices are so low, it's ludicrous! I don't actually find their food offer to be anything special (I much prefer Wynn Dixie) but always come back loaded with cheap clothes - with the exchange rate as it is, a pair of Wranglers cost about £8! As long as you don't think too long about the fact that Walmart is taking over the world, it's not a bad place to spend a couple of hours (and I'm sure you could justify the taxi-fare with a well-prepared shopping list.):)

Other than that, Beltz is showing its age but still has plenty oif bargains, and the premium outlet place is good.

The big new mall near Beltz (can't remember its name) has the potential to be good, but is currently depressingly empty - unless you like fishing in cowboy boots!:p

[candyman]

is the character wharehouse still good in beltz?

we used to buy loads and loads of dsisney t's and sweats there every time we have been before.

steve:group:

[Dawn]

I can personally vouch for it still being good as of December. :thumbs: :empty:

[prncsstigerlily]

I'm 17 and I absolutely love the Pointe* the open air mall with the FAO toy store. I has everything!

[candyman]

can you please tell me where the Pointe* is

and is it open every day

steve:group:

[OKWTink]

It is on International Drive, well marked but no parking to speak of. You'll need to pay to park in the garage if you have your own transport.

It is on the "upper end" which by that I mean going away from the Beltz Outlets, nearer toward Race Rock and the Rosen Hotels.

You'll be able to find it quite easily as it is marked pretty well. If you are heading toward Beltz it will be on the right side (the road is a split median there, so you'll need to do a u-turn if you are on the other side of the street. In other words, there is no left hand turn into the place).

I've only been once, and didn't stay, but it seemed quite nice. I believe the hours are from nine or ten in the morning until sometime later in the evening, perhaps nine or ten, but I don't honestly know.

It is open every day of the week.

[Redkop]

Pointe opened at 10am when we were there last year, Kids loved FAO, but i noticed a lot of shops had closed there since 1998, i missed the cigar shop they had there, was a wonderfull smell when you went in it, but the burgar bar and the ice cream shop are very nice places to eat there

chris

[renkadima]

Didn't I read a couple of weeks ago that FAO Schwartz has filed for bankrupcy? Presumably this won't be good for the Kissimmee store:(

[JuniorMickey]

Originally posted by renkadima
Didn't I read a couple of weeks ago that FAO Schwartz has filed for bankrupcy? Presumably this won't be good for the Kissimmee store:(
I was in San Francisco in October and the FAO there has closed as well as the local one down here in S. Florida