Is the Old Town area of Orlando a "bad" area?

[Goobergal99]

My reading this thread just made me realize how clueless I am about Orlando

Whenever ppl from work are going to Florida they always ask me where things are b/c they know we go all the time. Of course I have to correct them and explain that I go to "Disney" Not Florida, the only thing I know is I get on the Mears shuttle (well now the ME) and it takes me on ahighway passed some trees and then some stores like Target and then more trees and some nice houses in a development and then I am in Disney.

 

[susan1]

hi
people have been shot everwhere in orlando and kissimmee, stayed at travelodge and masters inn in this area and felt quite safe, sure they are not mixing it up with downtown orlando, which is definiteley a no go area!

 

[grammynelliebelle]

I stayed at the Comfort Suites next to Old Town and it is a really nice hotel where I would stay at again without a problem.I've also stayed at the Days Inn Suites which wasn't as nice but the suite set up in those rooms is pretty good when you're with a group since it has like 3 separate rooms.

The Old Town area isn't bad but you're not inside of Disney and should be careful as you should at most places.However the further east you go on 192 the worse the area does become.

I'm a little confused with the east/west direction of 192. Is Davenport to the east of 192? If so, is the junction of 27 and 192 the area you speak of as not being a safe one? Im interested as we are thinking about Davenport area for our next trip.

 

[sammi]

That would be west and we stayed in Davenport (rented a villa) this past Feb with absolutely no problems.Very nice area. I think that no matter where you go on vacation you must always be "aware" of your surroundings. There's good and bad everywhere in the world.

 

[momoflizandains]

We have also stayed at Comfort Suites (in 2003) and found it very nice. We enjoyed going to Old Towne for the evening. Our girls (then 2 and 5) got their hair braided, and we walked around enjoying the entertainment. It was great for an evening of entertainment before we checked into POR the next morning.

 

[Ted and Holly]

Davenport is on the far west end of 192. The intersection between 192 and 27 can be "dangerous", but the area mix of residential and commercial and is moderately safe.

Ted

 

[safetymom]

I live in Davenport and it is a pretty safe area. I love being only 12 miles from the parks.

 

[DOOM1001]

I'm a little confused with the east/west direction of 192. Is Davenport to the east of 192? If so, is the junction of 27 and 192 the area you speak of as not being a safe one? Im interested as we are thinking about Davenport area for our next trip.

Davenport is to the west of Old Town, if you go east on 192 from Old Town towards Kissimmee 192 becomes a bit run down and less safe as you go away from Disney.This area used to be very popular in the 80's, it was where people stayed when they went to Disney with tons of hotels and attractions.Since Disney started making dozens of hotels and the International Drive area surfaced near Sea World and Universal less and less people are staying here and what's left are some old, run-down hotels.I would question staying at a hotel on 192 east of 535.

 

[jezebella]

We live in Celebration and Old Town is literally 3 stoplights down from when we leave "the compound" -- I don't mind it during the day...we just don't go there at night.

 

[disneysteve]

We live in Celebration and Old Town is literally 3 stoplights down from when we leave "the compound" -- I don't mind it during the day...we just don't go there at night.

Funny, we're the other way around. During the day, they might as well call it Ghost Town. It is at nite when all the fun and activity starts and the place really comes alive. We almost always spend an evening there while in town. DD and I like their go-kart track and we ALWAYS get Flipper's Pizza for dinner one nite. And we've even *gasp* spent a week at the Days Suites a few years ago. It was old and somewhat run down but good service, great location and I think we paid $34.95/nite. Well worth it for the price as the suite was huge, probably among the biggest around.

 

[jezebella]

Now don't get me wrong about Flippers Pizza---we just have it delivered! YUM-O! I think that when you live around here, sometimes you like going to the attractions when they are "ghost towns". Besides---if we have a night out -- we're heading to Rovers Return Pub on 192 for Karoke and $2.50 pints!

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I go there quite often and the only "trouble" I have ever seen was the inevitable timeshare booths trying to get you to go on a tour! The place is not filled with pixie dust but it is a really neat place to visit on a Friday and Saturday night esp. if you like old cars. They have been putting in some new rides recently and they have a pretty decent arcade. There are tons of shops. My favorite is the "general store" where you can get a bottled pepsi for a quarter. They have some pretty intense rides for the thrill seekers (Skycoaster, Slingshot, Ring of Fire, G-force, Pirate ship) and there are alot of kiddie rides too. There is a really good popcorn shop where you can get popcorn in any flavor that you can imagine. There are a few bars too where you can sit outside and watch the car show with a drink.

 

[MidgeD79]

We have stayed at the Days Suite next to Old town 2x, as recently as 2004. i would stay there again. I never felt like i was at risk. we paid $42 a night in the summer for 620 sq ft of living space.

 

[Ware Bears]

I am glad the Comfort Suites is getting the thumbs up as we are staying there next March/April!

 

[cardinala]

I, too, am considering staying with a group of 30 or so at the Comfort Suites in February. To me(although never having been there) it seems like the ideal place to keep a large group happy. There are restaurants/bars/shopping in the area within walking distance. Seems like a safe place as well.

We are only staying for 3 days(as it is a pre-cruise thing) and we have some in the group that are budget wary.

Have I made a good decision here?

 

[lucky winner]

Again I think it is a great area. No not Disney but a great area for food and drink and Flippers Pizza. I am from a small town and do not feel it is not safe.

 

[tweetylori]

A few years ago I booked the Quality Inn that's right there at Old Town off the internet for about $50 a night. It was considered online to be a 3-star. I arrived with my two sons, and after waiting in line forever, received a room that was across the road, in the back corner of the "hotel" (motel!). We walked in the room, turned on the ac and it started smoking! I felt so unsafe that I decided there was no way I'd stay there with my sons. We went back to the front desk, waited in line another half hour...I told them we needed a safer room or we were leaving. We were given a room in the closer building to Old Town that was decent. It felt more safe. We stayed. But I would never stay there again, and have had MUCH better hotels/deals off of priceline and/or hotwire for about the same money.