*~Old Town~*

[~kathryn~]

We're staying in Comfort Suites Maingate East in the Old Town area (29 days to go!)

Does anyone have any recommendations of good things to do in the area? Places to eat that are nice/good value?! It'd be nice to have a few evenings out and will probably spend some evenings away from the disney parks (shock horror!)

Any thoughts welcome, thank you!

 

[Acklander]

If you like Italian, Pachino's restaurant is right near there. I've also gone to Logan's Road house. For really nice, Charlie's steak house is a few blocks away from your hotel. Also, tons of restaurants in Old town

 

[Keacc]

Go into Celebration. There are several great restaurants there, Columbia House & Celebration Tavern. You can also do a segway tour of Celebration with http://www.zetours.com/
my wife and I have done the segways twice and had a blast. The tour guide Dale is really good.

 

[Pineapple Whip]

I'll second Pacino's but your mileage may vary depending on who's cooking. Their Frutti Di Mare and Tiramisu were very good.

If you head east to the intersection of 535, there's a Smokey Bones BBQ that has good reviews. I'm heading there at some point to try them.

Celebration has a few good restaurants as PP stated. I'm trying to go to the Columbia restaurant, which has a great reputation for Cuban food. (Bongos lost its way long ago).

You have to go to Krispy Kreme on Polynesian Isles Blvd. if you haven't had them before. Macaroni Grill is there too and I'm a fan.

Old Town has some fun but it has gotten cheesy over the years. Try it on an event night like a car show for a bit more life.

192 has some life left in it, but has taken a beating over the years. I'm guessing you're driving if you're there. Don't be afraid to take a ride over to I-Drive and other nearby areas. Take I-4 East for a couple of exits and hop off at the Sea World exit. There's some great food, shopping, and entertainment along I-Drive (a good amount for the over 21 crowd) but enough for kids as well. Pointe Orlando is a hidden Gem because a lot of people drive by the big upside down building and that's all they notice. Great food in that mall. Sand Lake Road has great food also, if you head west on it from IDrive, you'll find Dr. Phillips and Restaurant Row. Just before Restaurant Row is Turkey Lake road. If you head south on that, it will go all the way back to 535 (DTD) via Palm Pkwy, and help you avoid I-4 / I-Drive traffic. There is another Wal-Mart, a NYC Bakery, Whole Foods, Anthony's pizza, great Chinese food at Taste of Asia, big post office, hospital... just quite a few hidden things.

If you find the Publix and Walgreens across and left from Old Town, that street between them is an extension of I-Drive (International Drive South). Follow that to 535 (dead end) and make a right for Walmart (535 will dead end at 192 / Smokey Bones), or a left for more food and DTD area. If you turn right at 536 and make a left at the sign for IDrive south, it will lead you to the rest of IDrive via the local route. If you continue on 535 past 536, you will find Bahama Breeze (good food) just before the intersection of I-4 and 535. If you continue past I-4, there are many more great restaurants, and the 535 gate to DTD.

 

[~kathryn~]

Thanks for the advice! No we're not planning on driving at the moment, we're still looking into it though. There's only 2 of us and as hopefully we'll be at the parks a lot of the time it probably works out cheaper to get taxis.

I'll definitely try your restaurant suggestions, thanks!

 

[Pineapple Whip]

Thanks for the advice! No we're not planning on driving at the moment, we're still looking into it though. There's only 2 of us and as hopefully we'll be at the parks a lot of the time it probably works out cheaper to get taxis.

I'll definitely try your restaurant suggestions, thanks!

It's questionable sometimes. Depending on the dates you're here, if your driver is over 25, you have a free membership with National, and find coupons from Sam's, Costco, BJ's, AAA or your credit card... the car might be dirt cheap. Of course if you plan to hit the bars, you'll need to walk it off for a while before driving.

But a combination of free shuttles, WDW transport, and public / private transit can work well also. Below are the local public bus, a fare estimator for cabs, and a private bus service that runs up and down IDrive. Just keep the number to mears handy in case you run late on a shuttle / bus schedule, and they'll dispatch a cab wherever you are. Make sure they give you a quote and that the cab has a meter.

www.golynx.com - public bus

http://www.mearstaxi.com/services/taxi-fare-estimator.asp area cab services

http://www.iridetrolley.com/ I-drive bus service.

 

[Pineapple Whip]

FYI, went to the Smokey Bones on 535. They're okay but the BBQ is nothing to write home about. Fiancee said her dish was very good though, so they might be better for the entree / dish type meals. If you're trying the traditional gluttonous plate of BBQ meats with some sides, it's pretty good, but as I said, nothing to write home about.

I don't understand how they took #3 for the best BBQ in Orlando and #3 for best ribs... either someone got paid off, or I went on a bad night.

 

[jeff968]

If you like old cars don't forget to check out the cruise night on Saturday night at Old Town.

 

[~kathryn~]

Thanks guys - so helpful as always!

 

[~kathryn~]

It looks like there are a few shopping outlets about - do you know which ones are closest and which are the best/biggest? Was thinking of going to one but only for a day so could probably only fit one in.

 

[MorningGlory]

It looks like there are a few shopping outlets about - do you know which ones are closest and which are the best/biggest? Was thinking of going to one but only for a day so could probably only fit one in.

Orlando Premium Outlets isn't too far from Kissimmee, and if you join up to their site online, you can get a free book of discount vouchers, plus print off many more from their website

 

[dunbarfamily]

We're staying in Comfort Suites Maingate East in the Old Town area (29 days to go!)

Does anyone have any recommendations of good things to do in the area? Places to eat that are nice/good value?! It'd be nice to have a few evenings out and will probably spend some evenings away from the disney parks (shock horror!)

Any thoughts welcome, thank you!

We stayed there on our first family trip in November 2005! Rooms were nice and big, everything was clean. Free breakfast was a madhouse...but things might have changed. I'm sure you'll love it!

Anyways, you didn't ask for a review...

We liked eating at the Denny's because it was cheap. We didn't eat out much though. We'd have breakfast in our room, lunch at the park, and dinner either at a park QS or Dennys. We didn't venture out much because we wanted the kids to enjoy the pools, nap, etc.

Have fun!!

 

[Pineapple Whip]

It looks like there are a few shopping outlets about - do you know which ones are closest and which are the best/biggest? Was thinking of going to one but only for a day so could probably only fit one in.

This is dangerous; are you flying home, how much space do you have in your bags? Where will you put the bags when going from store to store?

Orlando Premium Outlets bought out the prime outlets, so there are 2 now on I-Drive. One on Vineland / I-Drive South (closer) and one all the way at the other end of I-Drive. The traffic on I-Drive isn't bad this time of year, so if you ride down it you will see all the stuff there, and all the small independant outlet stores that are not in one of the mall format outlets. These are near the I-Drive North premium outlet, but you should be careful because there are a few fools who call themselves "outlet store" or "factory store" when they're just selling crap. Now if you see "Thor-lo Factory Store" or "Samsonite Factory Store" with the logos... it's probably legit.

There are also the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, which are even closer to you on 535.

You should google all their websites and check out the stores that they offer, so you can plan who to hit when.

If you drag this map up and down, you'll just see little red shopping targets everywhere.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...9&sspn=0.078336,0.153637&ie=UTF8&sa=N&start=0

I haven't even gotten to the Mall at Millenia, or the Florida Mall, and others which are all somewhat farther away. They're not outlets, just nice malls. This is just the wrong place to bring your money.

 

[stefa70]

We often Rv at Tropical Palms which is right behind old town and LOVE to get Flippers pizza (which will basically be your neighbor at Comfort suites) There are some great little shops at Old Town and nice to just stroll around, especially if it's Saturday when the old cars are there. For shopping, I prefer the Lake Buena Vista mall to the Premiuim outlets. They have some great stores ( Vanity Fair, Nike, Gap....) The premium stores weren't my cup of tea as far as "name brands" it's also farther away and I felt we were going to die numerous times just trying to park! Have a great time!!

 

[csharpwv]

There is a great Day Spa at Olde Towne - called Vivians. You can get a Facial, Massage, and a couple other treatments - along with a Manicure and a Pedicure at a partner salon close by for the price of a massage and a facial on Disney Property!

I bought a package for my wife and she loved it!

 

[visitingapril09]

If you like old cars don't forget to check out the cruise night on Saturday night at Old Town.

Is this every Saturday night all year?? We are going in March and I think this is something my teen boys might like.

 

[Pineapple Whip]

We often Rv at Tropical Palms which is right behind old town and LOVE to get Flippers pizza (which will basically be your neighbor at Comfort suites) There are some great little shops at Old Town and nice to just stroll around, especially if it's Saturday when the old cars are there. For shopping, I prefer the Lake Buena Vista mall to the Premiuim outlets. They have some great stores ( Vanity Fair, Nike, Gap....) The premium stores weren't my cup of tea as far as "name brands" it's also farther away and I felt we were going to die numerous times just trying to park! Have a great time!!

True, parking can be awful and LBV stores is much more peaceful. If you drive to the others, head straight for the back of the property as there are multiple entrances into these open air malls, leading to multiple parking lots surrounding the property. The bulk of the crowds want to cram into the first parking they see at the front, and make life difficult. I pretty much do this at any mall and find a spot fairly quick.

 

[stefa70]

Yes, every Sat night! They start coming in at 1:00pm. Your teenage boys will LOVE it!

 

[cojimera]

Celebration has a few good restaurants as PP stated. I'm trying to go to the Columbia restaurant, which has a great reputation for Cuban food. (Bongos lost its way long ago).

Good to know there's a restaurant with Cuban Food in the area . We're Cuban and we love our Frijoles negros con Tostones ,especially my husband.I google them and found the website but there's no prices listed.Do you happen to know how much is to eat there??
Thanks for the info

 

[Pineapple Whip]

Good to know there's a restaurant with Cuban Food in the area . We're Cuban and we love our Frijoles negros con Tostones ,especially my husband.I google them and found the website but there's no prices listed.Do you happen to know how much is to eat there??
Thanks for the info

Don't know the prices and I have not had time to actually eat there. I would just call ahead and check; I somehow got the impression that it is in the mid - high range... $30-$40pp, but I think it was just based on checking out the pics on the website.

There's quite a bit of Cuban and other Spanish food in the area, but you need to travel into our neighborhoods to go find that food. Then there's the 800 restaurants and 200 food trucks, everyone's favorite is different, and none of the ones you try seem to have the exact flavor you want, so you just end up cooking it yourself. I haven't been here that long and I'd go broke trying all the restaurants in the area. I'd avoid Bongos though; the experience is nice but the food is bland, it's a real shame.

This is another place I'm interested in... I hope it lives up to the reviews.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/havanas-cafe-cuban-cuisine-orlando

This place has a good sandwich, but I've had better. A bit of a drive, but it beats driving to Miami for lunch.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cuban-sandwiches-to-go-orlando

Another one I just found in google on John Young Parkway; I think it's new I don't remember seeing this place.
http://www.padrinosbistro.com/home.htm

Y si quiere algo un poquito mas "foo foo" http://www.cubalibrerestaurant.com/ on International Drive. They put a twist on traditional food, but it's not a bad twist. I ate at the one in Atlantic City and it was good... just a bit expensive... but then again it was Atlantic City.

I haven't tried any tostones out here except for the tostones con pollo at Bahama Breeze... that's good food too.