Shopping question, a good girls’ outing?

[coastgirl]

My dd, 10, wants to have a “girls’ day” of shopping while we are in Orlando. I don’t drive while we are there so a “one-stop shop” is best, where dh can drop us and come back a few hours later.

We are NOT high-fashion high-price girls. (Ok, dd might be but I’m not gonna let her! ) I’m happiest at the outlets or a Target, but that’s not much fun as a destination. Generally she gets her stuff at Old Navy, Children’s Place and (on a good day) Justice, Land’s End and LLBean. We have no familiarity with US department stores, have bought towels and stuff at JC Penney but I’ve no idea which if any would have clothes she’d like. (Some Sears have Land’s End, right?)

She also wants to shop for her Maplelea Girl (American Girl doll-sized stuff fits), which would be at Target or Toys R Us I think.

We also want a nice place to have lunch. Either a nice food court that won’t be crazy loud or a sit-down place—our traditional girls’ lunch is sushi or a bento box at a Japanese place, but I know that’s getting pretty specific now!

We’ve done the outlets often, but not the malls. Are there any malls that might have big boxes like Target in the parking lot or walking distance? I have heard that Florida Mall and Mall at Millenia are destination malls but are they just high-end, or will we see the places I’ve mentioned?

(I do plan to use the malls’ websites to get store lists, but there’s nothing like experience…)

 

[livndisney]

My dd, 10, wants to have a “girls’ day” of shopping while we are in Orlando. I don’t drive while we are there so a “one-stop shop” is best, where dh can drop us and come back a few hours later.

We are NOT high-fashion high-price girls. (Ok, dd might be but I’m not gonna let her! ) I’m happiest at the outlets or a Target, but that’s not much fun as a destination. Generally she gets her stuff at Old Navy, Children’s Place and (on a good day) Justice, Land’s End and LLBean. We have no familiarity with US department stores, have bought towels and stuff at JC Penney but I’ve no idea which if any would have clothes she’d like. (Some Sears have Land’s End, right?)

She also wants to shop for her Maplelea Girl (American Girl doll-sized stuff fits), which would be at Target or Toys R Us I think.

We also want a nice place to have lunch. Either a nice food court that won’t be crazy loud or a sit-down place—our traditional girls’ lunch is sushi or a bento box at a Japanese place, but I know that’s getting pretty specific now!

We’ve done the outlets often, but not the malls. Are there any malls that might have big boxes like Target in the parking lot or walking distance? I have heard that Florida Mall and Mall at Millenia are destination malls but are they just high-end, or will we see the places I’ve mentioned?

(I do plan to use the malls’ websites to get store lists, but there’s nothing like experience…)

Hmm... there is an Old Navy Outlet on 535. We live near Florida mall and I am NOT a fan. Millenia mall is more "upscale"-there is a Target across the multilane road.

Suggestion-there is a Walmart on Turkey Lake rd (That has items that should fit the doll). Across the street is a Micheal's (craft store) with more items to fit the doll. In that strip mall there is a PF Changs. There is also a Kmart across Sand Lake Rd.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We have been to the Florida Mall several times, and don't find it to be "high end". Lots of trendy stores (like Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, etc.) that your DD would probably be very happy to find.

The food court there is pretty big and has lots of options (including some yummy American fast food chains that are a little different than what we have here at home). But its a typical food court that's busy and kind of loud ... nothing fancy by any means.

The Florida Mall has the M & M store which is a family favourite. A good place to get some fun photos and chocolate (Mom's reward for mogging around the mall for hours on the boy's behalf ).

The big winner for us, though, are the outlet malls. While we enjoy visiting the Florida Mall, its the outlets where we are happiest to spend our time (and money! ).

 

[sympatico]

We like the Florida Mall because there's a mix of stores. There's a Sears, JC Penney along with Macy's, Dillards, Nordstrom, Saks, as well as Disney Store, Old Navy, M & M store P.S. (Aeropostal for Kids), Justice and tons of other stores: http://www.simon.com/mall/the-florida-mall/stores Has a big food court also with a revolving sushi bar. There's a ToyRus in the parking lot on the JCPenney end. I think you'll find plenty to do just in the mall.
I didn't like Mall at Millenia because it was too high end for me. JMO

 

[coastgirl]

Oooh, Florida mall is sounding good! The outlets tend to have fewer amenities if I recall correctly--we will definitely be spending a goo dchunk of our shopping money there, but shopping there is "business" whereas I'm looking for an outing for me and dd.

 

[bankr63]

Just to add that there is a Target (or Tar-jjjay as we call it) located in the parking lot area of the Florida Mall as well over by Marshall's (Winners of the South). It is NOT my favorite Target in Orlando, we much prefer the location on Irlo Bronson (192) which is cleaner and much bigger.

PS - OP and most of the responses here are from fellow Canucks; hmmmm....

 

[coastgirl]

Excellent!

 

[livndisney]

Just to add that there is a Target (or Tar-jjjay as we call it) located in the parking lot area of the Florida Mall as well over by Marshall's (Winners of the South). It is NOT my favorite Target in Orlando, we much prefer the location on Irlo Bronson (192) which is cleaner and much bigger.

PS - OP and most of the responses here are from fellow Canucks; hmmmm....

Glad the Canadians were able to help you.

 

[Tinkerboy00]

FL Mall has some of the basic stores where as MoM is more high end. Both have targets pretty near by.

Im not a fan of FL Mall its really gone downhill and the neighborhood is a little sketchy now.

 

[Ali]

Florida Mall is a fine place to go, and everything they have said here about it is true about the stores. I like to look at the fancy stuff and highly decorated people at the Mall at Millenia but I don't spend much money there. The best thing about it is the Ikea nearby.

 

[Belle599]

Just to add that there is a Target (or Tar-jjjay as we call it) located in the parking lot area of the Florida Mall as well over by Marshall's (Winners of the South). It is NOT my favorite Target in Orlando, we much prefer the location on Irlo Bronson (192) which is cleaner and much bigger.

PS - OP and most of the responses here are from fellow Canucks; hmmmm....

Another thumbs up from me for the 192 Formosa Target.....it is the best in the Greater WDW area.

But for your daughter I think Florida Mall is probably the best bet although it can be zoo-ish during peak shopping times.

If you have some other time for shopping, do consider the Formosa Target.

Whoohoo and a shout out to my fellow shopping expert canucks

 

[coastgirl]

Another thumbs up from me for the 192 Formosa Target.....it is the best in the Greater WDW area.

I just did a google maps on that and it looks like that one is 2 miles from our house (in Emerald Island). That's a great tip! We will be doing some shopping before our girls' day at the mall to be sure, so we can check that out too.

 

[Belle599]

I just did a google maps on that and it looks like that one is 2 miles from our house (in Emerald Island). That's a great tip! We will be doing some shopping before our girls' day at the mall to be sure, so we can check that out too.

If you're staying in a vacation home in EI, consider stopping here on Day #1 to pick up groceries. There's a Sweet Tomatoes and a Flippers Pizza in the same plaza if you're hungry. Even better, there's a new and FABULOUS Bonefish Grill just down the 192 on the opposite side. Yum!

 

[4kids4karen]

You said you are familiar with U.S. brands, so you are not from the U.S.? Why not introduce her to other namebrands such as:

Little Miss Missmatch (they have one in DTD).

I just took my daughter on a girls shopping trip while we were in Atlanta. I looked up the stores at each mall in the area and decided the Mall of Georgia had the kids stores she liked most which includes P.S. by Aeropostale and Abercrombie Kids, and Journey Kids. I got some great deals as there were many sales going on.

My daughter is 10 but no longer is into Justice unless it's going in for basic cami or tank tops. She loves Tilly's at our local mall. My daughter will not shop at Children's Place or Gymboree anymore unless it's for one of our younger, infant relatives. We do have an Old Navy locally, but haven't been to one of those in since maybe she was 4 or 5 years old. Everyone's style is different. We do still like Target.

If you are afraid of the price tags, then just shop the sales and clearances. Sometimes it's not even about buying the items, but just fun of trying on clothes and hanging out with mom. If it is a shopping day for a 10-year old girl, I would choose the location with the most options for her.

I just did a store search for P.S. by Aeropostale in Orlando and came up with these locations:

Florida Mall
8001 South Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando , FL 32809
List of Stores: http://www.simon.com/mall/the-florida-mall/stores
Based on the list of stores at this mall, MY daughter would like this mall. LOL. Although we haven't been to this mall in probably five years. We have the same stores in Tampa so no need to go to Orlando for us to shop. This is indoors so no need to worry about the weather.

Orlando Premium Outlets
4973 International Dr.
Orlando , FL 32819
List of Stores: http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/store_listing.asp?id=17
Based on the list of stores, they have fewer options that would appeal to my daughter. I was at this outlet in March coming back from Daytona my friend wanted to stop at Tori Burch. I took my DD and her two DD to the food court while the mom shopped. It was raining really heavy this day but had stopped when we arrived here. There were puddles still in the sidewalk since this is an outdoor outlet mall.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

She also wants to shop for her Maplelea Girl (American Girl doll-sized stuff fits), which would be at Target or Toys R Us I think.

I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, but there is a Toys R Us very close to the Florida Mall. Its not part of the mall itself, but Google Maps says its only a 2 minute drive or a 9 minute walk. I know we have seen it on our trips there, so its very convenient to the Florida Mall if you are in the market for doll clothes for her Maplelea Girl .

 

[coastgirl]

Thanks Karen and Gina.

I figured that in the US Justice would be for younger kids by now, but they are new to our area and very popular. I find that what's trendy in the US takes a year or two to get here (it used to be more like 5 when I was a kid!). We just got our first Justice in town this winter. When I was in there, there were girls who were a couple of years older than mine in line; I liked that the line appealed to a wide range of ages and didn't have anything too revealing or otherwise "too old", though I found it a bit "frou frou" myself. We have to be really careful at Old Navy because a lot of the styles are banned at her school--short shorts or spaghetti straps. We can check out a few of those new things, thanks, P.S. and Little Miss Mismatch. Never heard of Journey Kids either...

Abercrombie is not on our list for philosophical reasons (the CEO is an idiot).

GIna, thanks for the tip on the TRU too. We will scope it out when we get dropped off so we know where to go. She does want to look for stuff for Jenna (her Maplelea). We are also going to Ikea, I understand they have some properly-sized furniture.

Thanks for the outlet link too, we plan on starting here for our "serious" shopping before we get to the regular stores. I can never remember which one I prefer.

 

[4kids4karen]

Thanks Karen and Gina.

I figured that in the US Justice would be for younger kids by now, but they are new to our area and very popular. I find that what's trendy in the US takes a year or two to get here (it used to be more like 5 when I was a kid!). We just got our first Justice in town this winter. When I was in there, there were girls who were a couple of years older than mine in line; I liked that the line appealed to a wide range of ages and didn't have anything too revealing or otherwise "too old", though I found it a bit "frou frou" myself. We have to be really careful at Old Navy because a lot of the styles are banned at her school--short shorts or spaghetti straps. We can check out a few of those new things, thanks, P.S. and Little Miss Mismatch. Never heard of Journey Kids either...

Abercrombie is not on our list for philosophical reasons (the CEO is an idiot).

GIna, thanks for the tip on the TRU too. We will scope it out when we get dropped off so we know where to go. She does want to look for stuff for Jenna (her Maplelea). We are also going to Ikea, I understand they have some properly-sized furniture.

Thanks for the outlet link too, we plan on starting here for our "serious" shopping before we get to the regular stores. I can never remember which one I prefer.

Actually, my 28 year old sister shops and wears Justice clothes. No, I am being serious. She is 100% Korean (my Korean step-mom's biological daughter) and is the size of a 14 year old. She has only lived in Korea, Germany, Oklahoma, and now back in Korea. The three years she lived in Oklahoma Justice was her favorite store because of the great sales (she is very frugal and won't spend more than $10 on a top).

The Abercrombie CEO I can debate there is a market for everyone (plus size, skinny size, etc.) but this isn't the right forum for it. Two days ago I was there with my DD and the size 8 super skinny was actually to tight on her (first time ever) so she had to bump it up to the size 10 super skinny jeans and they are not super tight. She is a competitive athlete and eats as much as her teen brothers, she is just tiny. So Abercrombie clothes fit her well. My issue is with the general public who makes comments geared towards skinny being anorexic, which during the CEO comment debates was brought up way to many times that I found those comments offensive. LoL. I just had to stop reading the debates as I have a son who was overweight for some years and a son who is underweight where we had to seek medical tests to test his growth hormone, digestive system, etc. to ensure everything was okay there. He always came up in the bottom of the normal range. As an almost 21 year old he still looks like a 14 year old super skinny boy, while his younger brother has surpassed him in size and looks about 5 years older than he is. He is no longer overweight because he wants to join the military and had to lose weight for that. I just realize that there is a market for all body types and I try not to judge based on that. Hmm... probably got too much into that conversation.