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Dan Gater |
| Registered: | 12 May 2008 | | Last visit: | 12 May 2008 |
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| Kissimmee Travel Guide: Kissimmee Travel Guide
| | Written by Dan Gater on 12 May 2008 about a trip in Jan 2008.
Trip was for a family on holiday. Dan Gater would definitely visit again.
| Kissimmee shopping |  10.0 | For an all encompassing shopping experience you can't beat Walmart - especially if you're buying electronic items (that are compatible in the UK obviously). Digital cameras are particularly cheap compared to UK prices however the real bonus is that if anything goes wrong with them within 12 months you can return to your local Asda. We visited the Walmart Super Centre on W 192 next to Medieval Nights.
The Florida Mall (8001 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809) was about 20-30 drive away and has a great selection of shops and has a real American feel about it. Don't forget to get a Cinnabon to take home. Even though it's a mainstream mall there are still some discounts to be had. M&M World is a must if you have kids - especially the M&M wall that has dispensers filled from floor to ceiling with every colour M&M you can imagine - I came away with a bag full of black M&Ms.
The outlet malls are where the real bargains are and you have plenty of choice - Belz Outlets (at the top end of International Drive), Lake Buena Vista, Orlando Premium Outlets (near to the now closed Dixie Stampede)...the list is endless. Most carry designer outlets - Timberland, Levis, Converse, Nike etc - and the danger of overspending is very real but the quality is absolutely spot on!
Most of the shops on the 192 are novelty stores (apart from the odd electrical store) that we found to be generally filled with tat but stick with the mainstream and you can't go far wrong. |
Kissimmee restaurants |  8.0 | For best quality and reasonable price we found TGI Fridays to be unbeatable. We visited 3 different TGI restaurants and staff were always friendly, service was invariably quick, and food was always first class. One major advantage was that there were vegetarian options (besides pizza and pasta!) on the menu which was a welcome relief for the wife.
Another excellent chain in abundance (especially on the 192) is Perkins which is especially good for a real american breakfast and kids are made to feel welcome. Locals tend to eat at Perkins which is always a good sign. We stopped at a Perkins before we flew back home and 5 of us (2 adults, 3 kids) had a three course slap up lunch with muffins to take away (which are to die for) including drinks and tips for $45.
If you want a memorable meal then I would highly recommend the Rainforest Cafe - we ate at the one at the top of Downtown Disney. You pay a bit more but the experience, especially for kids, is great - especially when the thunder and lightning starts and the animals start to move around. If you have a sweet tooth then I would definitely recommend a volcano for desert. Order 1 and it'll feed 4-5 easy! Plus the staff parade it through the restaurant and chant "VOLCANO" which the kids really enjoy - and any adults who are just big kids too! Best thing to do is get into the spirit, you're in Florida, roll with it!
If you looking to grab a sandwich then I would recommend the deli counter at Publix. |
Kissimmee attractions | 10.0 | Universal and Islands of Adventure were both great fun as long as you have kids that are willing to go on more daring rides than you find at Disney. I found the live show in Islands of Adventure to be a lot better quality than any I saw at Disney and quicker too which is a benefit if you have small children in your party.
Magic Kingdom is a family favourite although choose the time you visit wisely. Avoid Saturdays and Sundays at all costs as this is when the locals go and it's always busy. We made the mistake of going on Superbowl Sunday thinking it would be empty - wrong! A good tip - have a good breakfast before you go that should last you until tea time and then grab something quick at Cosmic Rays just right of Cinderella's castle - very reasonable. Buzz Lightyear spin is a great ride for young kids as well as Goofy's Barnstormer. We went on our last night (Wednesday) and stayed until closing and we basically had the run of the rides and the kids had a ball.
Sea World is a must although I'll have to admit the Clyde & Seamore show is getting a little tired - saw it in 2005 and it was brilliant but they haven't changed it since then. Dine with Shamu is an unforgettable experience - highly recommended.
Hollywood Studios is also brilliant - the extreme stunt show and Indiana Jones show are excellent.
Something different than the parks - try Sky Venture on Intl Drive, sky diving in a wind tunnel. My 6 year boy loved it and so did I! |
Kissimmee day trips | | Sarasota. About 2 hours drive from Kissimmee so make sure you leave early to get most of the day there. Siesta Key/Beach are spectacular. The main car park has room for about 400 cars and there is a large picnic area just infront of the beach which is very convenient. Then its just 20 yards to the beach and there is plenty of room for everyone. Lifeguards patrol the beach constantly which is reassuring and it was nice to see them enforcing the no smoking/no dogs policy which made it a plus if you have children playing.
If you want to cool down after you've been to the beach, Big Olaf's Ice Cream hut on the road out of Siesta Key is the place to go. There were also lots of craft shops with plenty of locals hanging around which gave it a nice relaxed atmosphere. |
Getting to Kissimmee | 10.0 | We flew from Manchester to Orlando International on Virgin Atlantic. Checking in at Manchester was chaos but Orlando is very organised but beware - once you've collected your luggage you then have to get on the monorail to the main terminal which means putting your luggage onto another conveyor and reclaiming it again at the other end. It was very well organised though so didn't cause any problems.
Getting out of the airport is a doddle. If you're staying in Kissimmee the quickest option is to take the north exit on the 528 which then leads onto I4 West which takes you to Kissimmee and beyond (exit 64 gets you onto the 192).
Driving is a doddle too and much more relaxing than driving in the UK. |
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