best shopping mall??

[mickeydumplings]

Hello All

As staying onsite being a non driver which would be the best mall
to venture out to want to get the usual stuff Clothes shoes toys
gifts to take home.
Also Which would be our best route bus (where from)
or Cab (there is me and 2 children)

We are going to get a town car from the airport and stop for a few groceries
so how near would the nearest walmart for maybe more groceries the 2nd week.
(Also Which would be our best route bus (where from)
or Cab (there is me and 2 children)

Thanks
Debbie

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Sorry cannot help regarding your transport questions as we always rent a car.

There are 2 major malls in Orlando, the Florida Mall and the Mall At Millenia.

Overall FM is the best, for a good selection of quality stores at all prices, there are some excellent department stores there too as well a big food court.
MAM is newer, a lot of the stores are of the exclusive/expensive variety but there are good one's too such as Macy's and Bloomingdales (the only one in Orlando) and again a decent food court.

Both are well worth a visit (we manage several visits!).

Bargains can be had particularly on jewellery, perfumes and sportswear.

There are other shopping areas too, if you do a search on the UK forums on 'Millenia' you will find a rather lengthy post I put on a while back

Neither of the above malls are very close to WDW, so your cab fare would probably be pretty expensive, I am sure you could get to either by bus but I have never done this - I am sure you will get further responses though.

 

[mickeydumplings]

Thank you Johnny

I will do a search of Millenia.

Cant go all that way and not shop

Debbie

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Thank you Johnny

I will do a search of Millenia.

Cant go all that way and not shop

Debbie

Here's the thread Debbie:

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=976911&highlight=millenia

 

[Claire L]

If you want baragins then it has to be the Premium Outlets, they are not far from Downtown Disney and a cab shouldn't cost too much maybe $10 each way.
Also opposite PO is a Publix store which is a general grocery store, like Tesco say, it is reasonably priced as just off WDW property.

Claire

 

[mickeydumplings]

Hi Claire

Thank you thats sounds perfect for us.

Debbie

 

[Goofyish]

For overall choice and diversity then you can't beat the Florida Mall - it has 100's of individual stores and 6 large departmental stores like Sears etc.
It also has a large food court, coffee/snack outlets and a few full service restaurants too. There aren't as many 'designer' outlets at the mall, but that doesn't mean there are no bargains

Florida Mall Details

When we went just before Christmas we chose to use the same Towncar company that we used for our airport transfers - FLTours.
We chose this more for convienience than costs, although it worked out only slightly more than a taxi. There was also the peace of mind factor in knowing you were being taken a picked up by a known entity, rather than just hailing the next taxi in the rank

FLTours were very good, the called us the day before to confirm pick up times, and were waiting for us outside the hotel and the mall just before the pre-arranged pick up times

FLTours

 

[SimonV]

Premium Outlets is definitely the best choice for on-site non-drivers. Just get a Disney bus to DD and a cab from there. PO also have their own daily shuttle ($9 per person) that picks up in the LBV area - call 407 390 000 to book. There is also a new Wal-Mart further down 535, but it will be twice as much as PO from DD. From DD, it is also possible to walk to the Crossroads Plaza (along Hotel Boulevard at the Marketplace end) for the Goodings supermarket, although it may not be a great idea with children (takes at least 20 minutes).

 

[Soprano]

Premium Outlets is definitely the best choice for on-site non-drivers.

Agreed. Fine little shopping location. I got many bargains last time. Ralph Laurent shirts under £20!

 

[mickeydumplings]

Thanks All for your replys

Dont suppose there is a Toys r us nearby.
My boys are WWE mad and of course they will have
all the newer figures.
Be nice to buy from shop rather than internet.

Debbie

 

[Claire L]

The closest R Us I can find is at the Florida Mall -

Toys R Us
1631 Florida Mall Ave
Orlando, FL 32809-7737
(407) 859-4831

Claire

 

[MrsJobba1]

I am looking forward to going to Premium outlets this year

Last year we went to the mall at millenia and to be honest we wern't thhat impressed. We only went there because I wanted a new Ipod and the apple store there had the best prices. Things did seem very expensive ( Dh saw a gold chain he liked and when he asked the price it was $8500 )

In the past we liked the Beltz I think its changed names now has it? To get there being a non-driving couple we got the mears shuttle to wet & wild from our hotel for $20 pp return then rather than going in wet n wild we rode the I- Ride trolley up to the Beltz and around I Drive for a day out.

At the premium is there a Vans store or a Levi or Gap discount by any chance?

Thanks

 

[carolfoy]

Premium outlets are very hit and miss, sometimes loads of bargains, sometimes none, ther's a Nike and an ADIDAS store, Guess, cosmetics company, KBtoys, ralph lauren, disney and universal stores, loads more, can't remember all of them

 

[LeCras]

Here is a list of what you will find at the Premium Outlets.

Charlotte

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I agree with Carol, Premium Outlets can be very hit and miss, remember the stores here mostly sell merchandise that didn't sell originally at full price in the bigger stores.

It may be best for the non-driver option, in fact it definitely is, but you will not necessarily come away with loads of bargains or in my case last August didn't come away with anything at all.

As for Belz , although there are plans for re-development, sorry it has always been bottom of our shopping favourites.
The nearby Festival Bay is much much better.

Mall At Millenia's department stores can offer good value for money, there are exclusive stores there but in my opinion it is well worth the visit, there are the likes of Quiksilver, American Eagle, Gap, Tommy Bahama, Oakley etc that gives the mall a good contrast between the exclusive and the affordable... second only to the Florida Mall.

As I said earlier on the thread, M&M/FM have very good food courts too.

 

[Miffy2003]

At the premium is there a Vans store

I can't remember if there was an actual Vans store or not, but there were lots of Vans for sale at all the shoe store places eg Payless Shoes etc.

DH buys all his Vans in America as they are SO CHEAP and often have offers on like two pairs for $60 etc. In fact he tends to stock up and I beleive he still has at least one pair in the wardrobe he has never even worn as he is "saving them" What for, I don't know