BarryHom
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 20, 1999
- Messages
- 14,159
Before Disney changed the face of amusement parks, there were places like Old Town. These were relatively small places with off-the-shelf rides. You bought a number of tickets and exchanged them for rides. Old Town on I-192 in Kissimmee harkens back to these old days.
Old Town is comprised of amusement park rides, shops, and restaurants. The rides are on both ends of Old Town, with the shops in the center. The shops are arranged in a straight line. The rides are a carousel, swinging ship, flying chairs, teacups-type ride, a Froghopper, and the like. Old Town is anchored at the end by a roller coaster, the Windstorm. The rides may not look like much, but they pack a punch. The Windstorm has no loops, but it has a lot of banked turns and drops to make it a wild ride. You can get dizzy on this one! A ride called the Hurricane is like the Astro Orbiters at the Magic Kingdom, but it spins much faster than the Disney ride. The g-forces for that ride can squish you to the side! You can buy tickets for the ride or a wristband that will give you unlimited access to all the rides.
Old Town also has other rides at an additional cost. A small go-cart track will give you four minutes of ride time and 13 laps. You can be like a rhinestone cowboy and ride the Old Town Bull. You need to sign a waiver to ride the bull. I dont know about you, but I dont ride anything that requires a waiver. Up front, you can ride the Slingshot. You board a round cage, get strapped in, and then shot up. The cage bounces up and down a few times before lowering to the ground. The very adventurous will want to ride the 300-foot Skycoaster. Youre hoisted up on a cable and then released. You fly in the air like Superman!
The shops sell different wares from socks, electronic goods, obligatory tourist t-shirts, and other touristy things. You can eat at such places like Flippys Pizza and Damons. You can even sing your best Hooked On a Feeling at the karaoke bar. Beer and cigarettes seem plentiful. On a busy Saturday night, you can see nearly everyone having either a cigarette or a beer in their hand. Benches dot around Old Town for weary shoppers and riders to rest.
Old Town has special events. Bands will play on a stage off the main Old Town drag. The Old Town Cruise occurs every Friday and Saturday nights. Vintage cars are parked around Old Town. You can admire them before they drive down the main Old Town strip at 8:30 pm. Its neat to see vintage cars revving it up down the street, but dont choke on the exhaust fumes!
Ill say it before you do Old Town is not Disney! I wouldnt expect it to be. After all, youre paying $50+ for Disney and around $15 for an Old Town wristband. Sure, it may not be spotless as Disney, the rides may not be of Disney quality, and the Old Town employees may not be as courteous as Disneys, but Old Town is a fun place to hang out after the theme parks close. Its open until around 11 pm or midnight.
For prices, directions, and more information on Old Town, please visit www.old-town.com.
Old Town is comprised of amusement park rides, shops, and restaurants. The rides are on both ends of Old Town, with the shops in the center. The shops are arranged in a straight line. The rides are a carousel, swinging ship, flying chairs, teacups-type ride, a Froghopper, and the like. Old Town is anchored at the end by a roller coaster, the Windstorm. The rides may not look like much, but they pack a punch. The Windstorm has no loops, but it has a lot of banked turns and drops to make it a wild ride. You can get dizzy on this one! A ride called the Hurricane is like the Astro Orbiters at the Magic Kingdom, but it spins much faster than the Disney ride. The g-forces for that ride can squish you to the side! You can buy tickets for the ride or a wristband that will give you unlimited access to all the rides.
Old Town also has other rides at an additional cost. A small go-cart track will give you four minutes of ride time and 13 laps. You can be like a rhinestone cowboy and ride the Old Town Bull. You need to sign a waiver to ride the bull. I dont know about you, but I dont ride anything that requires a waiver. Up front, you can ride the Slingshot. You board a round cage, get strapped in, and then shot up. The cage bounces up and down a few times before lowering to the ground. The very adventurous will want to ride the 300-foot Skycoaster. Youre hoisted up on a cable and then released. You fly in the air like Superman!
The shops sell different wares from socks, electronic goods, obligatory tourist t-shirts, and other touristy things. You can eat at such places like Flippys Pizza and Damons. You can even sing your best Hooked On a Feeling at the karaoke bar. Beer and cigarettes seem plentiful. On a busy Saturday night, you can see nearly everyone having either a cigarette or a beer in their hand. Benches dot around Old Town for weary shoppers and riders to rest.
Old Town has special events. Bands will play on a stage off the main Old Town drag. The Old Town Cruise occurs every Friday and Saturday nights. Vintage cars are parked around Old Town. You can admire them before they drive down the main Old Town strip at 8:30 pm. Its neat to see vintage cars revving it up down the street, but dont choke on the exhaust fumes!
Ill say it before you do Old Town is not Disney! I wouldnt expect it to be. After all, youre paying $50+ for Disney and around $15 for an Old Town wristband. Sure, it may not be spotless as Disney, the rides may not be of Disney quality, and the Old Town employees may not be as courteous as Disneys, but Old Town is a fun place to hang out after the theme parks close. Its open until around 11 pm or midnight.
For prices, directions, and more information on Old Town, please visit www.old-town.com.
