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| Guide To Orlando
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OK.when you're in Orlando you're not going to be shopping for anything serious. This is all about fun and frolic and seeing the sparkle in a child's eyes when they get their first pair of Mickey ears, a Cinderella figurine, or a Shamu stuffed animal. Hey, what the heck.you might even get yourself a pair of ears to wear too! What you are going to do with all that stuff once you get home, however, is your problem!
If you are at the theme parks, a good word to the wise is if you see it and like it, then buy it. Prices throughout the park are the same and you are not going to find a cheaper price at another store. You may, however, want to wait until the end of the day to make your purchases so that you don't have to carry everything with you all day - unless, of course, you plan to wear your Mickey ears or T-shirt.
Also, it's a pretty good idea not to shop on the first day of your visit. Your child may fall in love with an item on the first day and then the next day they may find something else they like better. Tell them to look around, see what is out there, and then make a decision on what to buy. And even if you locate Disney memorabilia in the airport or a mall, you will still be paying the same price as you would in the parks.
As for the sundries, we recommend buying film, batteries, suntan lotion, etc, BEFORE you get to Orlando . These items will be much cheaper at home than in the parks where they know they have a captive audience who doesn't have anywhere else to go.
As for shopping outside of the parks, here are some recommendations for "hot spots":
International Drive is definitely a tourist area in Orlando . Stretching some 7 to 10 miles north of the Disney parks, you find many hotels including the Clarion Hotel Universal, Homewood Suites International Drive, Best Western Plaza International, and Sheraton World Resort here as well as restaurants and attractions. Pointe Orlando is the shopping mecca of this area and features a bi-level complex with an IMAX theater, and 80 shops.
If you are looking for cheap, touristy style items to bring people back home, Kissimmee is probably the place you want to head for inexpensive T-shirts, seashell items, and other kitsch. The Rodeway Inn Maingate is situated in Kissimmee .
Celebration is a town created by Disney with about a dozen expensive shops and galleries in its downtown area. It's probably a better place to walk around and explore than to plan a shopping excursion, but you will find plenty of places to browse and wander through.
For a true Disney shopping experience, the Downtown Disney Marketplace on Buena Vista Lagoon is a great place to search for that extra-special memento and it also has plenty to keep the kids occupied including the Lego Imagination Center store where kids can play in a free Lego-building area while parents browse inside. Other popular shops include the Art of Disney featuring original Disney art, and EUROSPAIN, where crystal and metal artisans make creations which you can purchase right before your very eyes.
If you want something a bit more unique, Downtown Disney West Side on Buena Vista Drive has the Guitar Gallery with custom and collectible guitars and Sosa Family Cigars, a traditional Cuban-style cigar manufacturer. There is a Virgin Megastore here as well. Winter Park , north of downtown Orlando , also features more upscale shopping, restaurants, and art galleries situated along a picturesque cobblestone street.
For something really out of the ordinary, six times a year, usually on a Thursday, Walt Disney World holds "back-lot" auctions featuring castoff and surplus merchandise which might include everything from lawn mowers to pots and pans or theme-park props (some of the bigger items are sold on ebay). You can call (407) 824-6878 to see if they will be having an auction when you will be in town.
Outlet shoppers will be delighted to know that there are two centers here: Belz Factory Outlet World is at the north end of International Drive with 180 stores including, at last count, 18 shoe shops, 14 houseware stores, and over 60 clothing shops. Orlando Premium Outlets at the other end of International Drive , has about 110 stores and insider's say the absolute best deals can be found at the Banana Republic store where many items are half off! The Comfort Suites Orlando, Howard Johnson Plaza Resort, and Buena Vista Suites are all nearby.
And if you or your kids just can't live without going to a mall, you've got a choice of three: Pointe Orlando as mentioned previously; Mall at Millenia near Universal Orlando, with a variety of upscale stores including Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, Tiffany & Co., Gucci, and more; and the Florida Mall, which is adjacent to the Adam's Mark Hotel and has more than 200 stores, restaurants, and entertainment places.
Hey, if you plan it right, maybe Mom can go shopping while Dad takes the kids to a theme park! |
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