Top 4 malls/outlets

[dg141]

Hi. I am after going shopping but do not know which malls or outlets to choose.
My wife would have me go to them all but we probably wont have time.
I remember going to Mercado and Belz a long time ago and I know Belz has changed its name.
Could you please list your top 4 favourites in order.
Many thanks

 

[jtlover]

Me and my daughter love Prime Outlets (which used to be Belz) and I also like Florida Mall, Downtown Disney and we are going to Lake Beanu Vista this year as well. I personally do not like Prime Outlets but a lot of others do.

 

[wicket2005]

We like The Florida Mall and Mall of Millenia because they have the shops we are interested in. They are also inside malls which means an escape from the heat or rain.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

1. Mall At Millenia - the nicest and newest large indoor mall. Nothing like as busy as the Florida Mall and has a touch of class about it and stores you don't see anywhere else. The best food court also by a mile.
Excellent stores such as Quiksilver, Lacoste, Tommy Bahama, Abercrombie & Fitch and Macy's, Bloomingdales too. It's a clear winner for me, Florida Mall is not in the same league.

2. Premium Outlets - a bit hit and miss like all outlet stores but a real pleasant shopping experience and many top notch discounted stores, something for everyone - anywhere that has a discounted Y3 & Oakley store can't be that bad.
For good quality discounted goods this is the place, especially for sportswear.

3. West Oaks Mall - a bit further afield but a pleasant drive and has all the major department stores but not the crowds.

4. Pointe Orlando - I just wish it had more shops, it used to be excellent, then went downhill. However, it is getting better again and the fact it has Tommy Bahama (THE best store anywhere) where I bought a fab watch last year makes me include it in the top 4.

*Florida Mall - Used to be our favourite but every year we go now we like it less and less, still has some good department stores but the stalls that dominate the walkways between the major shops give a cheap & tacky feel to the place. Especially as you get constantly pestered to try their products and sometimes objects thrust upon you, like the crazed seller who ran over and starting massing my scalp with a hideous contraption (I cannot put what my reaction was as young children may be watching!)
Lost count of the number of times I have to repeatedly say I do not want to try the new 'magic colour pens' or have my jewellery polished and the more it happens the more it gets on my nerves.
It's the most popular with tourists and the busiest also.

Festival Bay could of and should have been so much better, but there are still too many empty plots and some good stores have left too, it should have been better than the Florida Mall and it's a shame it never really reached full potential. Worth a visit just for the Ron Jon Surf Shop*

 

[Netty]

I havent got a top 4, but here are my fave 2!
The Loop
http://www.attheloop.com/kissimmee/index.html

and Premium outlets
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/directions.asp?id=17

 

[fuse04]

1.


*Florida Mall - but the stalls that dominate the walkways between the major shops give a cheap & tacky feel to the place.

Noticed a few of these popping up at Premium Outlets last year

 

[disney_princess_85]

I've only been to Florida Mall and Premium Outlets, I enjoyed both! This year, we're planning on going to Mall At Millenia for the first time.

Florida Mall - Used to be our favourite but every year we go now we like it less and less, still has some good department stores but the stalls that dominate the walkways between the major shops give a cheap & tacky feel to the place.

I agree, it is off-putting.

 

[scottishgirl87]

I loved the Mall at Millenia It had only just opened when I went in 2003.

 

[nemmie]

1. Mall At Millenia - the nicest and newest large indoor mall. Nothing like as busy as the Florida Mall and has a touch of class about it and stores you don't see anywhere else. The best food court also by a mile.
Excellent stores such as Quiksilver, Lacoste, Tommy Bahama, Abercrombie & Fitch and Macy's, Bloomingdales too. It's a clear winner for me, Florida Mall is not in the same league.

2. Premium Outlets - a bit hit and miss like all outlet stores but a real pleasant shopping experience and many top notch discounted stores, something for everyone - anywhere that has a discounted Y3 & Oakley store can't be that bad.
For good quality discounted goods this is the place, especially for sportswear.

*Florida Mall - Used to be our favourite but every year we go now we like it less and less, still has some good department stores but the stalls that dominate the walkways between the major shops give a cheap & tacky feel to the place. Especially as you get constantly pestered to try their products and sometimes objects thrust upon you, like the crazed seller who ran over and starting massing my scalp with a hideous contraption (I cannot put what my reaction was as young children may be watching!)
Lost count of the number of times I have to repeatedly say I do not want to try the new 'magic colour pens' or have my jewellery polished and the more it happens the more it gets on my nerves.
It's the most popular with tourists and the busiest also.

Def agree on all of those points!

Winter Garden Village is right up there with Millenia for me. It's such a beautiful little shopping and dining area. There is a huge Marshalls and Beals (think TK Max but nicer lay out) and a big Super Target. Along with some of my staples Starbucks and Chipotle there is a Coldstone Creamery and a Panera bread. Not great for the waistline but absolutely delicious. It's my fave because its so close to us but from Disney up the 535 I would imagine its around 30 mins. It's much more residential (for want of a better word) so its never super super busy like some of the other malls/outlets can be.

Also I do prefer the Prime Outlets (previously Beltz) over the Premium's. The Prime's have Juicy and Saks off Fifth along with Ed Hardy and Betsy Johnson which the Premium's don't. It all depends on what you like to shop for.

 

[Pegasus928]

Florida Mall - Used to be our favourite but every year we go now we like it less and less, still has some good department stores but the stalls that dominate the walkways between the major shops give a cheap & tacky feel to the place. Especially as you get constantly pestered to try their products and sometimes objects thrust upon you, like the crazed seller who ran over and starting massing my scalp with a hideous contraption (I cannot put what my reaction was as young children may be watching!)
Lost count of the number of times I have to repeatedly say I do not want to try the new 'magic colour pens' or have my jewellery polished and the more it happens the more it gets on my nerves.
It's the most popular with tourists and the busiest also.

Festival Bay could of and should have been so much better, but there are still too many empty plots and some good stores have left too, it should have been better than the Florida Mall and it's a shame it never really reached full potential. Worth a visit just for the Ron Jon Surf Shop*

We noticed your point about the pressure selling tactics more at Premium than we have at any other visit. They especially seemed to target the children in the group to come and try the magic pens, hair braiding, RC helicoptors - then once they were there and having fun we were made to feel like the devil himself for trying to steer them away.
We also keep on popping back to Festival in the hope that it has grown, but always come away dissappointed - and empty handed normally.

Back to the OPs question I would suggest that you go online and have a look at what shops are present in the different malls and decide from there. I assume you have an idea of what it is you are looking for - or is it just general browsing?
I liked Mall at Millenia but for different reasons to everyone else. I'm not a shopper myself, but this mall gave the ladies of the group the chance to shop while me and the kids went to the Exotic Car Gallery - which is on the edge of the car park - and checked out the Ferraris, Lambourghinis, Bucati etc.

 

[disney_princess_85]

The Prime's have Juicy and Saks off Fifth along with Ed Hardy and Betsy Johnson which the Premium's don't. It all depends on what you like to shop for.

That's interesting to know, thanks! I'd quite like a Juicy tracksuit for the gym, plus I love Betsey Johnson and DBF likes Ed Hardy.

 

[nemmie]

That's interesting to know, thanks! I'd quite like a Juicy tracksuit for the gym, plus I love Betsey Johnson and DBF likes Ed Hardy.

Seriously the deals in Juicy are insane! They run a 20% off everything promo every so often (they had one going every time on our trips last year) and its on those days you get the amazing bargains. Simular with Ed Hardy but they mostly just have awesome prices for example my husband picked up about 5 t-shirts for $22 each!! Just amazing. Look out for the big names in Saks off 5th and also Neiman Marcus Last Call although I have never personally found anything in the latter.

Also a good idea for the OP is to register online for coupons and email notification and all the malls and outlets along with your fave stores for all the best promotions. Coach are another one that nearly always run a 20% promo.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Seriously the deals in Juicy are insane! They run a 20% off everything promo every so often (they had one going every time on our trips last year) and its on those days you get the amazing bargains. Simular with Ed Hardy but they mostly just have awesome prices for example my husband picked up about 5 t-shirts for $22 each!!

Ooh, sounds great! Can't wait to visit now. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We noticed your point about the pressure selling tactics more at Premium than we have at any other visit. They especially seemed to target the children in the group to come and try the magic pens, hair braiding, RC helicoptors - then once they were there and having fun we were made to feel like the devil himself for trying to steer them away.

Yes I know what you mean, probably something that is on the increase at Premium Outlets, I probably didn't notice as much because of all the bargains I was getting.

 

[nemmie]

Ooh, sounds great! Can't wait to visit now. Thanks for the heads up.

No probs!