Orlando Malls - Which One?

[kylara]

I'm sorry, what is meant by this statement?

Mike in the Maritimes.

I didn't make the statement but since I use to live in that area I am gonna take a guess. Lots of teens hanging out, being obnoxious, running through the mall, harrassing people. Also on Friday and Saturday nights, lots of fights would happen. I know two people who had their cars broken into on weekend nights.

That general type of stuff that kept me away from the Florida Mall on weekends for the most part but definately kept me away on Friday and Saturday nights.

Although early on Saturday, right after they open, wasn't bad.

 

[ducklite]

kylara pretty much nailed it.

I have two cars. One is a roadster, the other is a six year old four-door Saturn sedan. We call it "the dad car." No self-respecting criminal would get near the thing, let alone try to steal it. I take that car when I go to the Florida Mall. I get my hair cut there on Saturdays, usually first thing in the morning, and I"m out of the mall by noon. I've seen the police there taking a report on a car that was broken into almost every single time as I was leaving.

Do not leave a sigle thing in plain sight in your car there. Cell phone chargers, umbrella's, you name it, they will break in to get it--in broad daylight.

Early Saturday is generally OK as far as crowds go. Around noon the place gets packed, and as the day changes to evening, the crowd gets younger and rowdy.

Anne

 

[FreddyBeach]

Do not leave a sigle thing in plain sight in your car there. Cell phone chargers, umbrella's, you name it, they will break in to get it--in broad daylight.

Early Saturday is generally OK as far as crowds go. Around noon the place gets packed, and as the day changes to evening, the crowd gets younger and rowdy.

Anne

These are things to consider. We will have a few hours to kill Saturday afternoon before our condo is ready. We'll be coming straight from the airport loaded with our luggage, so the Florida Mall sounds like it is out.

Are the other malls like this as well? Chelsea? Prime?

Thanks for the info.

Mike in the Maritimes

p.s. Just as a background, I'm from Fredericton, New Brunswick. pop. 50,000 soaking wet. New Brunswick defines the word "Rural". I have to drive for 4 hours to get to a city bigger than 200,000 people.... and that's in Nova Scotia. We didn't just fall off the turnip truck, but we're close.

 

[U2_rocks!]

p.s. Just as a background, I'm from Fredericton, New Brunswick. pop. 50,000 soaking wet. New Brunswick defines the word "Rural". I have to drive for 4 hours to get to a city bigger than 200,000 people.... and that's in Nova Scotia. We didn't just fall off the turnip truck, but we're close.

Mike, I am at this ..... I went to UNB Fredericton for 4 years! I could tell that it wasn't the biggest town in the world, and the people weren't the most worldly. But I came from an island that is 14 miles by 21, and Freddy Beach was a great change of pace! At 18 years old I wasn't too worldly myself, coming from a tiny island, so I actually chose somewhere like UNB to go to school rather than somewhere huge and overwhelming.

Premium Outlets isn't a huge teen hangout during the day from what I've seen - I think you will be OK there. It's smack in the tourist area, next to a church actually, but it's not one of the low-end, more seedy areas. It's near to the timeshares and nicer offsite resorts and restaurants. There's a Target and a Wal-Mart not too far from Premium Outlets - I love Target!

 

[Tinkerboy00]

Just to give you an idea of what I meant:

Back in Jan. they did a report of the calls from local malls to police for various incidents. These included like six/seven malls in the surronding area of Orlando.

Mall of Millenia had the least with almost 500 calls to the police and Florida Mall was the worse with over 1500 calls to the police in 2006.

There have been many fights, cars being broken into, and even a gang related stabbing.

Not to mention that traffic and parking is a nightmare on the weekend.

 

[Amity 3]

I guess we're lucky, we've never encountered any of the listed problems. we've taken friends flying into MCO there right after touchdown for shopping and lunch.

never a problem at Festival Bay, Millenia, or the old Belz, but we witnessed a shooting a couple of months ago at the Premium Outlets.

 

[FreddyBeach]

...never a problem at Festival Bay, Millenia, or the old Belz, but we witnessed a shooting a couple of months ago at the Premium Outlets.

I feel so much better now.

Mike in the Maritimes

 

[AnninIowa]

I know that the next trip I am definitely going to Premium Outlets! We only got to walk through the food court area after getting dropped off by the Busch Shuttle (we were going to the other side to catch a taxi) and it was so hard not to shop!! Disney Outlet, Coach, Burberry, Versace, Dooney & Bourke...I can't believe I didn't even get to go in ONE store!!

 

[calgarygary]

I feel so much better now.

Mike in the Maritimes

I know what you mean, a couple of years back, we visited the Mall of America (Bloomington, Mn) and there were signs on the doors - per Minnesota state law, no guns allowed!

Not exactly what we Canucks are used to.

 

[kennancat]

Again, you won't find Old Navy, but it's not all that upscale IMHO.

Anne

Does this mean you'd be happier not knowing that they're building one right in front of the mall?

Of course, they're building a West Elm and Ikea too, so hopefully that will offset the Old Navy.

 

[FreddyBeach]

I know what you mean, a couple of years back, we visited the Mall of America (Bloomington, Mn) and there were signs on the doors - per Minnesota state law, no guns allowed!

Not exactly what we Canucks are used to.

I remember a sign at the Orlando airport (I hope it's still there 'cause I'm going to take a picture) that said "No Guns Past This Point"....

I love that sign... It reminds me of a sign I saw on a building near where I live... it said "Absolutely no posting of signs". I love the irony.

Mike in the Maritimes.

 

[Tinkerboy00]

Does this mean you'd be happier not knowing that they're building one right in front of the mall?

Of course, they're building a West Elm and Ikea too, so hopefully that will offset the Old Navy.

Oh, I love West Elm. But still glad to be leaving Florida.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

I usually went to Millenia, but I have an obsession with all things that come in little blue boxes Plus the Cheesecake Factory is there.

Mmm, we just got back from Cheescake Factory and I have to say, it was fabulous! So good, I even brought a piece of Carrot Cake home!!