For SW Ontarians - opinions re: outlet malls

[peacefrogdog]

Would appreciate opinions from fellow Ontarians....

We went to the Orlando Premier outlets on Vineland last fall during our trip and thought it provided some of the best shopping deals we've ever seen. We were shopping for clothes for ourselves (Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Perry Elis, Anna Taylor) and the kids (Carters, Gymboree, Nautica kids).

We just went to the Niagara outlets (the US one) and were less impressed with the deals and the selection.

My question is: Has anyone been to the Orlando Prime outlets on I-drive? It looks to have a similar store directory as the Premier outlets but I was curious as to how it compares in terms of selection/deals compared to both the Premier outlets as well as the Niagara outlets.

 

[pxlbarrel]

My opinion is that the Niagara outlets have less selection than any outlets I've ever gone to. I've always thought it was because they're so close to the border, they're picked through before I get a chance to get down there. I find that the farther I go from the border, the better my selection.

My mom spent an entire day at the outlet mall on Vineland. I mean, I was ready to drive us to the one on International Drive but she refused to leave Vineland. We left her there while we went off.

My impression is that the outlet mall on Vineland had a nicer choice of stores... I mean, there seemed to be more high end stores. I have to admit that I bought clothes and shoes on Vineland than I-drive. I-drive, I just bougth stuff at the Character Warehouse stores. Maybe it's atmosphere too... The one on I-drive was once the Beltz mall that I remember to be a bit dreary.

Go to both anyway!!! LOL

 

[dancin Disney style]

We liked the Buena Vista outlets last year. It's right near the Holiday Inn Sunspree. They had a Character Warehouse too. I could have spent all day there but DH is not much for shopping. We got some great deals at Nike and Aeropostale.

 

[dsneygirl]

The I drive outlets are being completely remodeled. When we were there last Sept it was about 50% done. Now it's more an outdoor style like the one on Vineland. The place was a dump the last time I was there before the reno.

In terms of deals I don't think one is any better than the others. It's all hit and miss at the outlets.

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

We were just in Orlando (came back May 5th) and went to both the Premier Outlet Mall and the Prime Outlet Mall (new name for what was the Belz Mall) on I drive. Also went to LBV one as well (but it's pretty small.)

As always the Premier mall was great. The one thing was that the parking was horrible and the crowds were very heavy.

The I drive mall (Prime Outlets) is really nice now. There are portions of the Prime Mall that are still aren't completely finished but looked like they would be soon.

We actually wound up getting lots more at Prime rather than Premier this time --- although we always go to both.

There's an outlet mall in Waterloo, NY (that's closer for Eastern Ontarians) that we go to sometimes but I suspect it's very much like what you found with the Niagara outlets. Smaller with less current selection.

 

[mom_rules]

Went nuts and broke the bank at the Idrive outlet mall in April.

A lot of stores yet to come but had no trouble filling an entire extra suitcase with stuff.

Here's the mall directory:
http://www.primeoutlets.com/cntrdefault.asp?cntrid=1077