Kissimmee vs International Drive

[Julia Ann]

We stayed in Kissimmee on our 2nd visit in 2001, can't remember the area very much just remember it was pretty close to Disney, was wondinering if the area has developed vey much since, for places to eat - does it compare to IDrive?

 

[wayneg]

Kissimmee covers a very large area. The place itself is about 13 miles from Disney but a lot of Hwy192 gets called the Kissimmee area.
We used to stay in hotels anywhere from The Old Town/Celebration area over to Sherberth Rd, also stayed on Idrive a couple of times but really dislike it.
Our favourite area is around Lake Buena Vista, lots of places to eat, a few minutes into Disney, Easy access to I4 or if thats busy Palm Parkway to Universal/Seaworld & Walmart. Its the only place we stay now


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr...diDENwv0Rl83nlA&oq=walt&t=h&gl=uk&mra=ls&z=13

 

[UKDEB]

Since 2001, the whole 192 drag has gone through a $23 million "BeautiVacation" project, aimed at making the area more tourist-friendly, so you would notice a significant improvement. It's certainly a lot more visually appealing than it used to be and new restaurants and businesses spring up all the time.

Parts of I-Drive are unquestionably a bit tacky, but the southern end near the Convention Center is actually very attractive.

 

[SanFranciscan]

Highway 192 has been getting some ink in the Orlando Sentinel since I moved here two years ago, with Oseola County politicians and, more recently, the owner of a dinner theater trying to pull the area up. I was told by a realtor giving my husband and I a tour earlier this week that 70% of the residents in the area work for Disney, but my sense is that 192 is hoping to compete with Disney World for tourist dollars while relying upon Disney to bring those tourists in. It is not an area which I have spent much time in, but my initial impression is that 192 in Kissimmee took a hit from which it can't really recover now that Disney World has its Value Resorts.

A number of the buidlings along the stretch of 192 that we rode down were unoccupied commercial buildings for former restaurants and lodges. Let's see if I can remember what I saw open there. There were the usual fast food drive-throughs. I remember Capone's because they advertise a lot and are pretty famous. There was a miniature golf place there, "Pirates" I think, which was lit up for business.

International Drive looks economically healthier than 192, but that might just be because I am familiar with the part of I-Drive which is near Sea World and the Convention Center. If you don't want to stay on-site at Disney, I believe that you would fiind more food and entertainment choices on I-Drive than on Highway 192.

 

[queendisney]

if you are set on looking at those two area's then I would also go for I-drive but only down the Convention Centre end of it..there is so much to do within walking distance.
I thought that Kissimmee (near Disney end) although it has really impoved on looks, it just doesn't offer as much.
But I must admit I am with Wayne on this one, have a look at the Lake Buena Vista area for location

 

[chmurf]

Don't know about the projects for 192 but I must say that it was the only place where I actually felt unsafe (and I was in Florida Mall when the riot police had the mall evacuated during the all star game shoe unrest in february and didn't feel that "nervous", lol)

We had decided to go for some take out pizzas at pizza hut (florida plaza&irlo bronson @marker 9) and ... well... a lot of weird people many were visibly under an influence of some kind (and I'm not talking about beer), others were ... well ... I don't know ...

Since that time we only ever go to 192 for a shopping trip at super target or publix but we mainly stick to the crossroads/palm pkway and 535 area.
Loads of restaurants, and nice hotels to stay offsite. From the Clarion to the Fairfield

We don't feel the need to go anywhere else when we're offsite, we already have everything in close proximity (and it's also as close as you can get from the "Disney area" (except for hotel plaza boulevard which is inside of the magical gates)

 

[queendisney]

Don't know about the projects for 192 but I must say that it was the only place where I actually felt unsafe

Yes the same here..we stayed off site on the 192 the second time (1995) we went to Florida and on a couple of occasions we also felt unsafe. It was dark but not late and we decided to just pop out of the hotel to the shops next door and we just felt like something sinister was going on or was about to..(although we didn't see or hear of anything)..but that was the last time we ever stayed on the 192. Have visited the area a few times since they have done all the beautification of the main 192 stretch and it feels a lot better now, but still not a place I would recommend to friends to stay..

 

[Kath2003]

Have stayed in e Kissimmee/192 area before but 10 years ago so I don't feel in a position to comment.

My last 5 trips have been on I-Drive. Here's why we like it:

1. Whilst some areas (North of the Universal Blvd intersection) are tacky, the rest is actually very nice. This is particularly true of the area round the Convention Center. There are nicely planted gardens around the walkways, benches etc. and the area feels very well kept.

2. You are in walking distance of everything you could need - local Walgreens, restaurants, fast food and bars. We prefer not to drive as we enjoy having a drink when we are on holiday, so it's great to have literally hundreds of places to eat & drink within 10 minutes flat walk every evening.

3. There are excellent bus routes and it is easy to get around without renting a car. We travel with ease to several malls (Florida, Milennia), outlets (both Prime), theme parks (all of them), supermarkets (Publix) etc. We also find that this saves us a lot of money, though this is not the deciding factor for us.

4. The area feels safe and I have no problems walking in the area at night, even alone (female in my 20s).

We have another trip coming up soon and have chosen I Drive again - for us, it's a convenient and pleasant place to stay, with many hotels which meet our needs.

I will also say that I Drive has only improved since I have been visiting Orlando (first trip over 15 years ago), but especially in the last 5 years.

 

[MrRomance]

Let me start by saying I have never stayed on I-Drive so I can only really judge it from the time I've spent there for other things. I have stayed numerous times on US 192 (what many people refer to as Kissimmee) and up until 2008 when we started staying on-site we always stayed there.

A few PP's have said that there has been a lot of investment on US 192. This is certainly the case on the West, but certainly NOT the case on the East. If anything, it is very sad to see how far the area has declined since our time staying there. We mainly stayed at what used to be called Howard Johnson Maingate West (I believe it's called Champions Gate now). In the 90's it was really nice but it fell into disrepair and in the early half of the 00's and that was the reason we began staying on site. I understand it has now undergone a big refurbishment and I know from when we headed down there last year that there has been a lot of money spent close by in terms of shopping facilities, restaurants etc. It looked quite good.

I-Drive tends to be a love it or hate it kind of place. I have friends who wouldn't stay anywhere else, I also have friends who hated it so much they wanted to come home! From my time over there, I would say it's got fairly good facilities and is fairly well connected but it isn't an area I'd want to stay in. People who like it say the transport links are important to them, so if you plan on driving, then perhaps it's an area to miss. Overall, I would say US 192, if you're at the west end, offers good value and there is definitely plenty of shops and restaurants over there.

 

[sandshal]

Stayed at Sheraton Vistana Villages at the South end of Internatiomal Drive twice now ..... Personally I think it's a far nicer and more easily accessible place to stay than Kissimee. Wouldn't stay North end though unless I was on a very tight budget

 

[Shazzie B]

We've stayed on 192 several times (think it's the west -end); we prefer it beacause it's quieter than I Drive & quick to access Disney via Sherbeth Road. Always felt safe walking about - not that we're out late. Mainly 'chain' eateries, Perkins, Ponderosa, Golden Coral & Outback Steakhouse. Handy for supermarkets too Publix & Winn Dixie (DD loved visiting as the film was one of her favourites!)