What happened to Belz outlets in Orlando?

[Cindy B]

We just returned from our cruise and had some time to kill before our flight. We went to the sonic on I drive and proceeded to go to Belz outlets.

We've been there before, to make a left and pass the Premier outlets and continue to Belz....

Instead the Belz area was gone? Did we go the wrong way, or did they tear it down? I saw some construction vehicles and a pile of rubble.. was that Belz?

 

[Stepharoonie!]

We think they're tearing them down and trying to make them go inside Festival Bay...my DH drove by there today and said it was completely gutted.

 

[momof1princess]

wait....are these the same belz outlets that housed the character premier and character warehouse? please tell me it's not true, i was SO looking forward to checking them out this sunday! are there any other disney outlets in orlando?

 

[tinaluis]

One of the buildings is gone -- I think it was Building 3 (the one with the carousel and the Universal Studios outlet store). I hand't read anything about it here on the DIS and we made the trek over there last month to check things out. We didn't realize the building was gone until we were just about to turn into it. DH joked that he was surprised I didn't know about it or hear about it on the "DIS Boards". There is still one Character Premiere Outlet store there, but we really enjoyed visiting both stores in the past. Oh well!

 

[neatokimmo]

This post is timed very well, we will be shopping at the outlet on Sat!

Let me just double check, the one on the east side of town in the older buildings that had colors and animals on it is gone totally? But the one in the pretty building with an outside entrance near the food court is still good? I want to check the outlets BEFORE I go into the parks. I always find great deals in the off season with them.

Thanks! - Kim

 

[ericamanda01]

Wow! DH and I were arriving on Sat and wanted to check it out before chekcing into our resort. Does anyone know how we would find out if the Disney store's are still open there?

Edited to add: Didn't they change the name to Prime outlets?

 

[jiminy14]

The Belz outlets were taken over by Prime outlets. One of the Disney outlets was closed when we were there in May (the one by the carousel). The other outlet was still open but CMs at that location told me that they thought their store would be closed by November. The Universal outlet in the same building was having a "Closing Sale" and the salesperson told me that they were closing at the end of May.
From what I was told by the Disney CMs, Prime plans to raze most of the current buildings and rebuild the center. They mentioned that they thought it would be something along the lines of the Premium Outlet center that is closer to Disney.

 

[Cindy B]

So to clarify some confusion this is the one off on International Drive, not far from Universal/Wetnwild/Skull Kingdom.

After we turn onto the street and passed the other outlets there was a large fence encompassing where we would usually turn (culdesac area) and a bulldozer. There was obviously a big pile of wood and one other building was still standing but was enclosed by construction fence.

There were rust colored buildings that were long and enclosed. They had names like Building I and Building II.

I thought something was up because there are usually two Belz billboards on Idrive area (one near Sweet Tomatoes and a TURN here sign on I drive)

 

[nbodyhome]

I stopped by a number of months ago - they made it sound like only one building was to go first (which may not have happened), and that they'd be more of an open air type mall. It is too bad, I enjoyed shopping there!

You can still go to the Character Premiere at LBV!

 

[WillCAD]

From my web page on the outlets:

In late 2005, Belz Factory Outlets mall was sold, and has changed it's name to Prime Outlets. Signs on the buildings and along Oakridge Road have been covered with temporary signs with the new name, and billboards along I-4 with the Belz logo have been removed. All of the stores inside seem to be operating normally.

In summer 2006, Mall Two was demolished to make way for new construction. The latest buzz at the end of July said that when a new building has been completed on the site of Mall Two, all of the stores that are currently in Mall One will move over, and the current Mall One will be demolished.

The entire project is expected to take 18-24 months and will eventually turn the Prime Outlets into a new open-air racetrack-style shopping plaza with nearly 1 million square feet of retail and entertainment space.

For complete info on all of the Disney outlets in the WDW area, including maps, directions, operating hours, and locations within the malls, click the Outlets link in my signature.

 

[Queenie]

I know where there are some other Disney Outlets around WDW but is there another Universal one (other than the one at Premium Outlets?)

 

[janette]

One of them was open when we were there in August and they didn't mention anything about closing. The other mall was completely torn down and there were very few stores open in the mall with the Character Outlet.

 

[InstImpres]

I enjoyed the Belz outlets last year and did very well. Last week we went to LBV Factory Stores on 535, what a disappointment. They had many items that my dollar tree has had either now or in the past year and were selling between $2.49-$3.99. It may have soured me to the whole store but I couldn't find any real bargains. I also didn't understand the non-Disney scrapbook section (basic paper, hole punches, etc.) at prices higher than my local craft store. JMHO

 

[rparmfamily]

If you are driving down I-95 there is a Disney character outlet store in the Beltz outlet mall in St Augustine.

 

[neatokimmo]

For complete info on all of the Disney outlets in the WDW area, including maps, directions, operating hours, and locations within the malls, click the Outlets link in my signature.

Excellent thank you so much, this is exactly what I needed

Kim

 

[WillCAD]

I enjoyed the Belz outlets last year and did very well. Last week we went to LBV Factory Stores on 535, what a disappointment. They had many items that my dollar tree has had either now or in the past year and were selling between $2.49-$3.99. It may have soured me to the whole store but I couldn't find any real bargains. I also didn't understand the non-Disney scrapbook section (basic paper, hole punches, etc.) at prices higher than my local craft store. JMHO

Yes, the LBV store is much more of a crap-shoot than the others, because it is the only one that's not owned by Disney.

However, when they do have good stuff there, it's usually discounted much more than at the Disney-owned outlets. All of the very best bargains on sweatshirts and golf shirts that I have ever found have been at the LBV store. But I've also gone in ther plenty of times and found nothing but junk.

All of the outlets get new stock in at least once a week, so it's generally a good idea to check your favorite store twice during your trip, once near the beginning, and once near the end.

 

[Tiffer]

From my web page on the outlets:

In late 2005, Belz Factory Outlets mall was sold, and has changed it's name to Prime Outlets. Signs on the buildings and along Oakridge Road have been covered with temporary signs with the new name, and billboards along I-4 with the Belz logo have been removed. All of the stores inside seem to be operating normally.

In summer 2006, Mall Two was demolished to make way for new construction. The latest buzz at the end of July said that when a new building has been completed on the site of Mall Two, all of the stores that are currently in Mall One will move over, and the current Mall One will be demolished.

The entire project is expected to take 18-24 months and will eventually turn the Prime Outlets into a new open-air racetrack-style shopping plaza with nearly 1 million square feet of retail and entertainment space.

For complete info on all of the Disney outlets in the WDW area, including maps, directions, operating hours, and locations within the malls, click the Outlets link in my signature.

Hi and thanks for the links. I am tryong to print the outlet mall info and directions, but It will only print half the page..any suggestions??

 

[figgy4me]

I think they are both closed. I went by there on I-4 today and looked real hard. One has been partly demolished and the other has fence etc around it. There were a very few cars around the back - like employees. I saw no cars on either side of the building and it was after 1 in the afternoon. Maybe someone living in Orlando has more info.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Okay, we went by there today.

Mall II is completely gutted out. Nothing left but the steel structure of the building. We aren't sure if they're remodeling it or what, but DEFINETLY nothing going on in that mall.

Mall I has only two entrances open, and very minimal stores left open in it (did not see the Disney one). When we went by, only a handful of cars were in the lot, and I suspect they're mainly employees.

 

[mtblujeans]

We're going in October and I was going to shop while the guys did HHN at USO!