florida mall or belz/festival bay

[bawden2]

Hi a couple of questions on shopping.
1- Which is best for shopping Florida Mall or Belz/Festival Bay.
I have been Belz before but not Festival Bay. Always enjoyed shopping there and all the discounts. Is it a lot cheaper at belz. Looks like more shops at Florida Mall.
2- We need to get a taxi as no transport. Staying in disney all star. My daughter is in a wheelchair. Which is closer.
Many thanks.:rotfl:

[SorcererMickey]

Considering you have been to Belz, which is now called Pr1me Outlets, and that your daughter is in a wheelchair, I would not even bother going to Festival Bay. There's really not that much there.

The Florida Mall (http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=139), if you can, you just have to go. It's big, it has everything, it's indoors...

If you want to go to an outlet store, go to the Orlando Premium Outlets (http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=17) on Lake Buena Vista. It's just a few minutes away from Downtown Disney.

Florida Mall

http://www.disneyguest.com/images/boards/florida_mall-01.jpg

[terrynewpack]

I agree. Go to the Florida Mall. Lots of proper shops and not nearly as much junk as you might find at the old Belz. Festival Bay looked promising when it first opened but still about 70% unoccupied so a bit of a waste of time going there.



Terry

[benjones70]

Some good shops at Belz, Festival Bay is half empty and not worth bothering with unless you're a Skate fan. Florida Mall is well worth it, great shops, nice atmosphere and California Pizza Kitchen is fantastic as well.

[broony]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the two malls are totally different.

Beltz = Discounted (possibly end of line type stock)

Florida Mall = "proper shops" with there full range etc in store.

Another Mall worth a visit, which definately falls into the "proper shop" bracket is the Mall of Millenia. More upmarket, with the likes of Tiffany's etc in it, and some really nice eateries.

Just my opinion.

Neale

[bawden2]

Many thanks. Florida mall it is.:D

[SorcererMickey]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the two malls are totally different.

Beltz = Discounted (possibly end of line type stock)

Florida Mall = "proper shops" with there full range etc in store.

Another Mall worth a visit, which definately falls into the "proper shop" bracket is the Mall of Millenia. More upmarket, with the likes of Tiffany's etc in it, and some really nice eateries.

Just my opinion.

Neale

You're right!!! :yes:

That is why we're recommending them. Why go to two "outlet" malls :shrug: . Pr1me Outlets (formerly Belz) is in the middle of transistion of management, they are now trying to re-invent it and Festival Bay, as others mentioned, is not even half occupied, unless you know of a specific shop you need to go to, it might not be worth the trek to get there.

By recommending she'd go to the Orlando Premium Outlets in Lake Buena Vista and the Florida Mall, she would be getting two different shopping experiences :yes: .

[broony]

Sorry SM,

I keep telling my DW that I should NEVER, I repeat NEVER be involved in shopping!! (unless its for electrical goods, gadgets, gizmos and power tools). Was just a slight slip this morning replying to a shopping thread. Consider my wrists slapped (and promise that you won't tell the wife that I tried to be involved in shopping voluntarily).

Neale

[MystikPiglit]

Sorry SM,

I keep telling my DW that I should NEVER, I repeat NEVER be involved in shopping!! (unless its for electrical goods, gadgets, gizmos and power tools). Was just a slight slip this morning replying to a shopping thread. Consider my wrists slapped (and promise that you won't tell the wife that I tried to be involved in shopping voluntarily).

Neale


:lol: :lol:


SM - Do you know if the goods in the 'Orlando Premium Outlets' are discounted original items or are they 'seconds/ rejects'?

[Whitequeen]

When I went to Premium Outlets I didn't see anything in the shop that I'd seen in WDW and I went in enough on-site shops to memorise ALL the merchandise.:D
Doesn't mean they don't have them, just not when I was there.:shrug:

[benjones70]

:lol: :lol:


SM - Do you know if the goods in the 'Orlando Premium Outlets' are discounted original items or are they 'seconds/ rejects'?

They are mostly discounted stuff, you may get the odd second/reject but it is not the norm.

[MystikPiglit]

Thank you :)

[SorcererMickey]

Sorry SM,

I keep telling my DW that I should NEVER, I repeat NEVER be involved in shopping!! (unless its for electrical goods, gadgets, gizmos and power tools). Was just a slight slip this morning replying to a shopping thread. Consider my wrists slapped (and promise that you won't tell the wife that I tried to be involved in shopping voluntarily).

Neale

Oh, please don't take it like that, I'm sorry if that is how it came across. That's why we are all here, to help each other, you did help explain how the shopping areas are different :yes: .

[Clash]

Belz is a good place, but Orlando Premium Outlets is I think the best.

[katie]

When we were there in October, Festival Bay seemed to be just opening and there were few shops and fewer people. I like to have a look round Belz at the Vans shop and the Hard Rock Cafe outlet shop and of course the Disney shop. HRC had the cheapest baseball hats I've ever bought at $5 and their woolen winter hats were $2 (my 84 year old dad loves his) bumbags were $6 (leather) and excellent quality beach towels were $9. The Florida Mall is as everyone says - excellent and Premium Outlets at LBV is definitely worth a visit. I try & go to them all at least twice while wer'e on holiday as I just love mooching around looking for a bargain. I suppose bawden2 will need to base a decision on which is easiest to get to if she has no hire-car.

Katie :)

[renkadima]

If Festival Bay ever did get anywhere near full occupancy, it would be a great place to visit. Until then, it's more of a curiosity than a shopping mall. It's got a fab cinema, though.

[SorcererMickey]

Festival Bay is still about 60% unoccupied.