If you are on the way home from a park with the kids and you’ve been drenched wet through on the water rides, you probably want somewhere quick and easy. The Golden Corral was always our choice for those times, a vast array of food, buffet style with something for everyone, from meat, potatoes and veg to pizzas and burgers for the kids, with a fantastic assortment of desserts and cakes this is real value for money for about $12 per adult. They also do a great buffet breakfast if you want to fill up before your day out and the whole family can eat without breaking the bank.

Shoneys is another good option for the buffet breakfast or dinner. The choice of steakhouses is also vast and probably depends how far you want to drive. Mannys Chop House at Haines City do a great meal but beware the wait time can be 2 hours. You can call ahead but you will still have to wait and the place is always packed. For me, you can get a good steak elsewhere without all that waiting.

We like Longhorns on the 192, the Texas T’oniion is our favourite starter followed by Flo’s filet. We ate at a Longhorns out at Cocoa Beach once and it wasn’t as good so they do vary. The Outback is always good too.

We like the Bahama Breeze at Buena Vista, the menu is varied and the restaurant is really nice. We also like the Olive Garden there will be one of those close to wherever you stay. Don’t bother with a starter - you will get endless soup or salad and breadsticks, followed by a good selection of pasta, chicken, seafood and steak dishes. wherever you eat you will always get far too much

Lake Buena Vista is the place to shop for all your designer goods at a cheaper cost whether it’s Nike you’re after or Tommy Hilfiger. Why not make it a day of shopping to enjoy and even visit the food court for lunch. Shops that are at Lake Buena Vista include Tommy Hilfiger and Tommy Hilfiger kids, Nike, Gap, Adidas, Dress Barn, Coach, DKNY, Dior, and much much more

Florida Mall

Turn right follow 192 down past Wal-Mart for about a good 15 mins when you get to what they call “Kissimmee gate” this is a gate thing that is on the right hand side of the street which is above the road at a main set of traffic lights.

On the left hand side at theses lights there is pc world/office world

You need to turn left down the orange blossom trail this is a very long road you will pass tub-a-ware main Depot- you would be heading towards the airport (Int) passing this under the toll bridge, pass home depot on right, carry on until you come to rooms to go which is on the right, just past this you will see signs for Florida mall – turn right you will see lots of shops if you go into any of them they lead you into the Florida mall

When you drive down the orange blossom trail you think it goes on forever which it does but with practice you will find the short cuts …lol.

Farmers Market

On Saturdays and Sundays – Farmers market – Disney stuff much cheaper to buy, come from the villa turn right onto the 192 follow the road down for a good 20 mins pass rail way on the road- and past what they call the Kissimmee Gate - pass Kissimmee airport for another 5 minutes – you will see a bridge - just past under the bridge on the left hand side Farmers Market go early lots to buy….

In between our shopping we went to the Golden Corral a lot, it is buffet style food “eat all you want for about £3.00-breakfast, £4.50 Lunch, £7.50 Evening Dinner.” Children half price, we felt it was very Good value. 

The wal-mart is less than 5 minutes in the car from our villa, Florida Lets a Dream.