Waterford Lakes TownCentre Mall?

[abacobaby]

Has anyone been there? Is it worth a trip? It sounds interesting to us since we don't drive in the U.S. and at this mall there is also a huge SuperTarget, so this would be a good one stop shopping trip for us. Is Mall of Millenia close to this mall? In walking distance?

Any input is very appreciated!!!

[OKWTink]

Waterford Lakes? I think that is way over on the east side.

There is a supertarget across the street from the Mall at Millenia. That would be a better "one stop" shop sort of venture.

[SorcererMickey]

You're right Tink. Waterford Lakes Shopping Center is on Colonial and Alafaya Woods Blvd, about 10 minutes away from UCF. It's about 30-45 minutes away from the Disney area.

In addition to the Super Target by Millennia, there is another Super Target on US192 just east of SR535.

Abacobaby, let us know where you are staying while here on vacation and if you will have a car and we'll give you directions to the closest shopping areas.

[Keith]

A few years ago we went on a virgin (gator tours) shopping tour and they took us to a shopping centre/park somewhere. It had a nice book shop, a circuit city and I think a super target.

Any idea where that would be? I'll search on waterford, perhaps that was it.

Even though it was a long way outside disney, I really liked it because of the diversity of shops including a super target at the end.

[abacobaby]

SorcererMickey - thanks for your reply. I really appreciate it. We will be staying at Port Orleans Riverside and we don't drive in the U.S. so renting a car is not an option for us. I am getting more confused by the day about where to shop. I have found info on the shopping tour offered by Gator Tours. That is where I actually read about Waterford Lakes Mall.
They don't stop there anymore though. The tour stops at Millenia Mall, Lake Buena Vista outlet mall, World of Denim and Belz Factory outlet mall.

We could do the tour or we could go to Waterford Lakes (where there are regular stores and a SuperTarget) or go to Millenia Mall and supposedly there's a Super Walmart across the street, or last but not least we could go to the Premium outlet mall and there is supposed to be a Super Target across the street from that.

The reason I am looking for a place with a variety of stuff (hence my fascination with Target/Walmart) is that we live in the Bahamas where we don't have malls of any sort so when we go on vacation we also have to do ALL of our clothes/toys/toiletries shopping too.


I have a 2 year old DD and really need to buy her lots of toddler clothes in a few sizes. I really love Old Navy, Gap, The Children's Place, Osh Kosh B'gosh stores. It's really confusing for me to decide. HELP!!!

Any help would be appreciated!!!


KEITH - thank you for your reply as well. Our first choice was to actually take the shopping tour offered by Gator tours, but as I wrote above they don't stop at Waterford Lakes Mall anymore - that IS the place you were referring to. How was the tour otherwise? Was it on time? Did you feel rushed at all the places? Was it enough time at the Mall of Millenia? You are the first person I have found who has actually taken the tour so any input would really be appreciated.

Thanks for all of your help!!!

[OKWTink]

There is no Superwalmart across from Millenia Mall, nor is there a Super Target across from Premium outlets. :)

O'kosh, Carters, Gap, all have outlets at Lake Buena Vista.

[Keith]

S
KEITH - thank you for your reply as well. Our first choice was to actually take the shopping tour offered by Gator tours, but as I wrote above they don't stop at Waterford Lakes Mall anymore - that IS the place you were referring to. How was the tour otherwise? Was it on time? Did you feel rushed at all the places? Was it enough time at the Mall of Millenia? You are the first person I have found who has actually taken the tour so any input would really be appreciated.


I enjoyed the tour really but the Waterford mall was the best part of it for me. The variety at Waterford was great for us! I had bestbuy, book shops, Helen had lots of clothes shops and at the end we went to super target for, well, *everything* else you could ever want <G>

It was on time, we didn't feel rushed and there was plenty of time at Millenia yep! There were places that bored us totally though like the world of denim :lol:

Since then, we've just got taxis to florida mall and mall at millenia which are both fine but not as varied as Waterford (taxis to either cost about $40 each way from disney). The taxis do work out ok though in terms of flexibility and storage room for shopping :)

[abacobaby]

Oh, I'm sorry Tink - there is a Super Target across the street from Mall of Millenia though, isn't there? I believe it was you who posted that for me originally!? I'm sorry about getting confused. Well, is there a Super Walmart across from any of these places like Premium outlets?

Thanks for all of your help!!!

[abacobaby]

Sorry, Tink....I meant there is supposed to be a Super Walmart across the street from Lake Buena Vista Outlets. Do I have it right this time?:hehe: Honestly I don't think I could get any more confused than I am right now:D

Keith, thank you so much for the information. I have never been to Waterford Lakes, but I "knew" there was a good reason I was disappointed that they aren't stopping there anymore. I just can't decide what to do!!!???

Tink, by the way, thanks so much for your patience....After November, I'll have actually visited some of these shopping places and know a little more of what I'm talking about:blush:

[OKWTink]

No problem! It is confusing.

Yes, there is a Super Target across the street from Millenia Mall. There is no Super Walmart near Premium Outlets. It's just the Outlets (and a Publix "behind" them).

[SorcererMickey]

Ok, now I see what you want to do :yes: . You want to be able to go to a shopping complex where you can hit as many of the major stores as possible.

To clarify what is where, here is a breakdown of the shopping complexes in the area:

(The words in bold red are links, click to get more information)


Closest to Disney there is the Orlando Premium Outlets (http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=17). Click here (http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/store_listing.asp?id=17) for the list of stores. This one is located on the other side of I-4 from Downtown Disney. You still need to get a taxi to get there.
South of Disney along SR535 just before US192 there is a new Wal-Mart. About 1/4 mile away on US192 east, there is a Super Target. There are lots of other stores in that shopping center. I cannot remember which ones right now. If you wanted to hit Wal-Mart and Super Target at the same time, this would be the easiest way. You would need a taxi to get there.
Then there is the Pr1me Outlets area (formerly Belz). Since the name change, I haven't been able to find the new website, but I guess you are familiar with it.
There's also the Florida Mall (http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=139). There is also a regular Target in the area and just across the street from the FM, a new annex opened with a ROSS and several shoe stores.
Then there is The Mall at Millennia (http://www.mallatmillenia.com/html/). As you said, there is a Super Target across the street. Other stores in the ST area are Stein Mart, Pier 1 Imports, Home Depot, EXPO, BJ's, etc.


Hope that helps make your decission of where to go.

[abacobaby]

SorcererMickey and Tink - thank you very much for your help.

SorcererMickey - thank you very much for your detailed list. Yes, I want to find one shopping area where I can get as much variety as possible :D We will be spending our second shopping day at the Florida Mall. So, I have narrowed it down to these choices for our first shopping day: Mall at Millenia with SuperTarget across the street OR Waterford Lakes Towncentre Mall OR Lake Buena Vista Outlet Mall, which supposedly has a Super Walmart across the street. Can anyone verify this???

So, which would be my best choice? Truthfully, how is the quality/selection of stuff at outlet malls??? I've only been to an outlet mall once before in my life and I was not impressed. We went into a TommyH store and everything was white with just the TH logo, or another plain color. There was nothing with pattern at all.

Any advice would be appreciated!!!

Keith - how did you find the outlet mall selections on the shopping tour???

[SorcererMickey]

The Lake Buena Vista Outlets are located on SR535. The Super Target is not across the street. This Super Target is the one I listed as being close to the new Wal-Mart.

If you plan to go to the Waterford Lakes Mall, just a warning, it's very far away if you plan to go by yourself, meaning not with a tour. My parents live by UCF which is about 10 minutes away from the mall and it takes me about 30 minutes of highway driving without traffic to get there.

If you plan to stay on the Disney area, SR535 is just off of the Downtown Disney area. Your choices are the Orlando Premium Outlets, just off of SR535 --> Farther south on SR535, the Lake Buena Vista Factory Outlets --> Just a bit more south, the new Wal-Mart --> and finally the Super Target on US192. These stores are all located along a 1 mile stretch of road, but you will need a taxi to get from one to another.

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

[abacobaby]

SorcererMickey... thanks for all of the great info and map!!! The map really helped me understand things a lot better. Oh, no matter what we decide to do, we are paying for a car service to pick us up that morning and then get us that afternoon. I know it'll be a little more expensive, but we are travelling with our 2 year old DD and we are not bringing a carseat so this is a better option for us.

[Keith]

Keith - how did you find the outlet mall selections on the shopping tour???

I'm perhaps different from others in that I don't get all that excited by loads of outlet designer shops so orlando premium outlet mall does absolutely nothing for me whatsoever and in fact, as much as I love shopping and as close as that one is, I haven't been back in my last so many trips.

Beltz (lbv outlets or whatever its now called) was better for variety but kinda scummy looking/feeling towards the end of its Beltz life.

I REALLY REALLY like waterford :( shame its so far away but that was my favourite really.

[abacobaby]

Keith, that is exactly why I am skeptical to do this tour now. I really am NOT the biggest fan of outlet malls. Now that they are stopping at 3 outlet mall type places and only one regular mall - Mall of Millenia, I am not convinced this is the best tour to take. Now, if they would have gone to Waterford Lakes, Mall of Millenia, and two outlet malls, I would have probably done it. I wonder why they discontinued the Waterford Lakes stop?

[Keith]

Keith, that is exactly why I am skeptical to do this tour now. I really am NOT the biggest fan of outlet malls. Now that they are stopping at 3 outlet mall type places and only one regular mall - Mall of Millenia, I am not convinced this is the best tour to take. Now, if they would have gone to Waterford Lakes, Mall of Millenia, and two outlet malls, I would have probably done it. I wonder why they discontinued the Waterford Lakes stop?

I don't know :/ maybe it was a bit far out or something but to be honest, I'd rather NOT go to the outlet malls, save the money and go to Waterford instead. I realise it may not make much sense to locals, but for me as an out of towner/out of countrier ;-) being able to walk to a load of US classics like best buy, super target, barnes and noble etc. was EXACTLY what I wanted.

The mall at Millenia is nice too but its all upmarket stuff. I love the apple store and the feel of a NICE mall, but in terms of buying stuff, it's not "normal" goods if you know what I mean, it's tiffany, burberry etc.

Florida mall is more varied and "normal" but there's no target near it and I have to take my life in my hands walking across the road to best buy/book shop.

I think in December I'll say hang the cost and hire a towncar/taxi to take me to Waterford for a good few hours.