Festival Bay is next to the Belz Designer Outlet shopping mall - or rather next to what used to be Belz, as this mall is now known as Prime.  And it is easy to find - just head north on International Drive, and you will drive past Festival Bay, on the right towards the top of I-Drive.  The I-Ride trolley service runs right by Festival Bay, which can also be approached from The Mall at Millenia.

Festival Bay is now well established, albeit with several units still unoccupied.  As these empty stores are filled, so this will become a more serious competitor to the existing malls.  But already there are some exciting shopping opportunities.

Ron Jon’s

Ron Jon’s Surf Shop is one of the anchor stores at Festival Bay.  Renowned for its wide choice of surfwear, a visit to Ron Jon’s used to mean a trip along the Interstate to Cocoa Beach.  But not any more - Ron Jon’s has come to Orlando!  Whilst there are other surfwear stores in the area (PacSun have several outlets), this really is a welcome addition, packed full of surf labels.

Bass Pro

Outdoor activities are catered for at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, specialising in not just fishing equipment (the name gives that much away), but also other outdoor activities such as boating and hiking.  Why not treat yourself to one of the power boats lined up outside?

Vans Skate Park

Vans Skate Park provides the opportunity to practice skateboard and roller blade skills.

Other Stores

The range of other stores continues to increase.  Our favourites include shops specialising in Hawaiian fashions and products, an excellent discounted book store - and, of course, the opportunity to stop for an ice cream or coffee.

Cinema

A multi-screen cinema is the prime entertainment on offer - the opportunity to put your feet up and relax in front of a blockbuster movie (visitors from overseas will no doubt get the opportunity to catch a film several months ahead of its release in their home country).

Our Verdict

Festival Bay promises to deliver even more as it continues to develop.  Its location provides the opportunity for a real shopping blitz - by starting at the Mall at Millenia, and then joining I-Drive and working south through Prime, Festival Bay and the Premium Outlets.

You will also find on one of the Disney Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques here - this is where my little daughter loves to go and enjoys having her hair and make up down, as well as dressing up in one of her favourite disney costumes.  The last time we went we went for the full package where you get a photo shoot included.  My daughter looked amazing when they had finished and the photos are an ever lasting memory.  It was well worth the money!  Everyone was commenting on her as we walked through Downtown Disney.  She also remembers that moment and she is only 6.  A must for every little girl. 

You will also find great shops with all the Disney Merchandise;  if you forgot to buy a particular item in one of the parks, you will hopefully be able to purchase it here.  There are also various other retailers, as well as some great themed restaurants.  

There are also some great entertainment venues, like Cirque de Soleil which is located in Downtown Disney. 

I have listed a few of  shops/restaurants, etc, which you can find at Downtown Disney below:-

World of Disney - if you are looking for loads of fun whilst shopping, this is the place to go.  It is one of the largest stores and has so much to choose from.  This is where you will also find the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique mentioned above. 

Once Upon a Toy - Play happily ever after at this amazing toy store that offers the largest assortment of toys and games in all of Disney.  From princesses to pirates you will find some great toys in here.

Lego Imagination Centre - this shop is great, especially if you kids are into lego.  Not only can they buy some great lego sets (which my son has plenty) they get to play and make models with the lego stands outside.  This has kept my kids occupied for hours (for free) whilst we sat and watched enjoyed a cup of coffee. 

Disney Days of Christmas - this is my favourite shop at Downtown Disney - its Christmas all year round.  You also get to personalise a lot of the ornaments so they make them very personal to your visit. 

Rainforest Cafe and the new T-Rex restaurants can also be found at Downtown Disney.  We have visit the Rainforest cafe a few times now, and the kids love it.  We have never eaten in the T-Rex one, but have had a sneek look inside.  If you kids love dinosaurs this is the resturant to visit.  It has large interactive models of dinosaurs dotted around the restaurant that move at certain times.  You will also DinoBear (part of the build a bear workshop) in her.  My son loved this as he was able to choose his own dinosaur and dress it.  Quite appropriate for a boy!

This is just a taster of what can be found at Downtown Disney. 

Don’t forget to make a visit on your next trip.  We hope you enjoy it.

Finding St.Augustine is quite easy.  Just head East from Orlando toward I95 on the Atlantic coast and go North (toward Jacksonville).  Go for about 40 miles and then turn off onto SR1 and keep going North for about 20 miles.  Then just follow the signs to St.Augustine.

St. Augustine is the USA’s oldest city, founded on August 29 1565 which was also the feast day of St. Augustine.  It is also considered to be one of the most charming and quaint cities in Florida.

St. Augustine has a beautiful historic district with cobblestone streets, cafes, bars, unique shops and bed and breakfast hotels.

Shopping in St. Augustine just could not be easier.  If you have a passion for antiques, hand crafted gifts, blown glass, arts and crafts, fine arts, or handmade chocolates, and if you are shopping for clothes, shoes, or household goods, or perhaps finding unique and unusual gifts from around the world, St. Augustine has it all.

Just relax and enjoy strolling along the historic downtown streets.  Stop whenever you like and have a meal at one of the many fine restaurants or bars.

Try the antique Market – a beautifully restored 1930s feed and general store.  The Antique Market, is a premier importer of antiques from England, Europe and Asia. The Market’s proprietors specialize in antiques from England, Scotland and Wales and lead purchasing tours every year throughout England. It is well known for its fine selection of quality antiques.

Aviles Street – is located in the heart of St. Augustine’s historic pedestrian only district.  It offers a splendid mix of shopping by way of interesting stores, boutiques, art galleries and souvenir shops. In addition, Aviles Street is dotted with pleasant cafes and historic homes.

Cobblestone Village Shopping Mall - presents a fresh clean feel, as it is a recent addition to the St. Augustine shopping scene.  The are 8 anchor stores plus 20 additional retailers furnish shoppers with a varied selection including favourites such as Bed Bath and Beyond, Pier 1 and Bealls.

St. George Street – is one of St. Augustine’s most popular shopping districts.  It wends its way through several brick-lined blocks of the city’s center.  Along this car free thoroughfare you’ll discover independent retailers offering home accents, jewelry, books, pottery, clothing and more. St. George Street affords the perfect environment to soak up the old cities ambiance.

Whetstone Chocolates – you just cannot experience St. Augustine without visiting Whetstone Chocolates, the city’s signature chocolate manufacturer for nearly 40 years.  In fact, Whetstone is Florida’s only chocolate producer and is known throughout the state for its high quality.  Indulge your senses by taking a self-guided tour of the chocolate making facility and stopping by the store to purchase some delectable sweets.

There are also many places to visit and explore as follows:

Castillo de San Marcos - took 23 years to build (from 1672 to 1695). Made from coquina which is a virtually indestructible limestone comprised of broken sea shells and coral, the walls of the fortress remained impenetrable through 300 years of enemy shelling and pounding by violent storms.

Fort Matanzas - was built between 1740-1742 and is a very well preserves masonry watchtower.  It provided a high point to help the Spanish view any enemy vessels approaching from the South.  The fort played a strategic role in warning St. Augustine of potential enemy advancements from the south via the Matanzas River.

Lightner Museum - is housed in the former Alcazar Hotel, built by railroad magnate Henry M. Flagler, and features an intriguing array of items from shrunken heads and mummies to stunning collections of stained glass and crystal.  It was opened in 1889.

Old City Helicopters – a tour of St. Augustine from the best seat in the house, from a helicopter!

St. Augustine Haunted Pub Tour - this tour takes you on a storytelling excursion through downtown.

Hearse Ride Ghost Tour - taking a ride in a hearse is a must BEFORE you die!

Red Train Tours and Discount Attraction Tickets - “The way to see St. Augustine!”

Adventure Landing - is the perfect place for family fun!  Birthday parties, celebrations, or even just a day of fun! Mega Arcade.

Old Jail - built by Henry Flagler in 1891, the jail was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1987.  The Old Jail served as the county jail until 1953.

Colonial Spanish quarter – is a living history museum depicting the life of Spanish Soldiers and their families in 1740 St. Augustine.

Dow Museum of Historic Houses – on one city block, you will discover over 400 years of history. Hidden among beautiful courtyards are 9 historic houses original to the site.

Father O’Reilly House Museum - built prior to 1763, this Spanish colonial house belonged to Father Miguel O’Reilly, who came to the parish when the Spaniards returned to rule in 1784.

Fiesta Falls Mini Golf - is an 18-hole miniature golf course right next to La Fiesta Inn at the beach.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not - The original Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum features fun interactive galleries, mind boggling facts, and unique oddities and curiosities.

Flagler College - Flagler College is a combination of the past and present. The Ponce de Leon hotel, originally built by Henry Morrison Flagler in 1887, now serves as a residence hall for students.

Marineland – swim with the dolphins and let your dreams come true.

Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse - let your first lesson in history begin at the Oldest Wooden School House! Built prior to 1763, the school remains as it was over two centuries ago.

St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum - climb 219 steps up the lighthouse to find a breathtaking view of St. Augustine from 165 feet above sea level.

Spanish Military Hospital Museum - see what a hospital looked like 250 years ago. See the tools surgeons used and the medicines people took.

Potters wax museum - America’s first Wax Museum invites you to experience over 160 figures from History to Hollywood! These life-like figures seem to come to life as you study them.

There are many golf courses and tennis resorts located in the area. Ponte Vedra is home of The Players Association (PGA) and Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).  It is a 20 minute drive from the Downtown historic district.

The city also has around 43 miles of beautifully clean beaches. Some allow vehicles, some allow dogs and some just people.  Some of the beaches produce abundant shelling opportunities, while others are covered only in luxurious fine, golden sand.

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.

Since then I use my American Express Platinum card to pay for almost everything while over there. It’s not accepted everywhere in the U.K., but is widely accepted in the U.S. On top of that I get 1.5% cash back on everything I spend, so it’s a win win situation if I pay off my account in full every month. Restaurants will also allow you to conveniently add your gratuity to the bill. So no more struggling through your purse for the correct amount of bank notes for tips, usually ending up with having to give far too much, or embarrassingly not enough!

I always make sure that I call my credit card company to make them aware of my travel plans. This can save them from flagging your account when purchases all of a sudden are showing in the U.S. and will often leave you without a card until you call them. Not an ideal situation when you’re in the U.S. I always have my reliable old MasterCard with me just in case of such emergencies, but have been lucky so far (touch wood).

You will always need a supply of U.S. Dollars with you for small purchases etc. Paying for a cup of coffee or a bottle of water with a credit card is taking it a bit too far! Buffet restaurants will generally take payment for your food on the way in, so cash for tips are best there too and always appreciated. Some major roads in Orlando have pay tolls which will require coins if they’re unmanned and cash if they’re not, so be prepared for that.

Just make sure that you get your Dollars before leaving the U.K. for convenience, and shop around for the best rate as it can vary. Many places will also buy back any currency left over at the rate you paid when you come back home, which is handy if you come back broke! However if you love Orlando as much as I do, you’ll hang on to those few precious Dollars and start planning your next visit to that wonderful place where happy memories are created!

Half way down the street is a collection of small shops and bars. There you will find Craft shops, Art galleries, Antique stores, Eclectic shops, an ice cream parlour, cafes and several bars and restaurants. Its fun to browse and spend a while dipping in and out of the quaint stores – who knows what you’ll find!

There is always something going on. Over Winter/Spring they hold Poker runs on Saturday evenings. The Lemon Bay Playhouse performs comedy/drama several times each week. There are drop-in sessions held in the Master Library where you can come along and talk to local experts on a wide range of subjects from quilting to gardening.

“Cruizin on Dearborn” happens on the first Saturday every month late Spring to early Autumn. Car collectors and enthusiasts come along and set up with their T-Birds, Chevy’s, Oldsmobiles, etc. People come for miles to walk up and down admiring the cars and chatting to the proud owners. Many of the cars are with the original owners or have been restored to former glory. They go to great lengths to make the cars as authentic as possible. One of my favourites had a drive-in-movie snack tray attached to the window!

“Easy Rider Night” happens on the second Saturday every month. It is described as “Hog wild fun with Rock-n-Roll and big bikes” As yet we have not attended but I suspect it is  similar to the car rally – but for bikers.

Halloween Safe Walk is great fun. We were luck enough to be there for Halloween ’08. The whole street is lined with stalls full of candy and treats to give away to the kids (young and old). Buildings are decorated; one car park border was turned into a “Spooky Graveyard” with hands and limbs appearing through the gravel. The Adams Family Band entertained us with jazzy tunes. Cousin It was a big hit on the saxophone. Everyone is in fancy dress and the children are accompanied by parents and grandparents. There was a lovely family feel as hoards of people strolled up and down on a very pleasant evening.

There are musical events such as “Saturday Night Live” and “Bluegrass Jam”. The Bluegrass Jam is held in the park where you can come along and listen to traditional folk, country and bluegrass.

Throughout the year festivals and events are held. There are Art Festivals, Cracker Fairs, Parades, Santa Shopping Events. If you want to know more or to find out what’s on when you are in the area check out the website.  www.oldeenglewood.com

Wal-Mart Supermarket

Locations –

1.        Corner of 192 and Bass Road Close to the villa.

2.        Corner of North Poinciana Boulevard and 535 (near The Official Ticket Center)

Target Supermarket.

 Please note Super Targets sell fresh food

Locations –

1.      Super Target between 192 Market 13 and 12 past Sam’s club

2.      Target - East on Highway 192 on left near K Mart and Home Depot.

Publix Super Market

Locations –

Corner of 192 and 535 (marker 12) in the Shopping Plaza

Between Marker 8 and Marker 9 near and on the same side as Bennigan’s

Restaurants & Fast Food Outlets

These are just a small selection of Restaurants along the Highway 192

Before Marker 15

Outbacker Steak House -Casual dining steak restaurants with an atmosphere suggestive of the rustic Australian outback

Between Markers 13 and 12

Applebee’s - Applebee’s® was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, by Bill and T.J. Palmer. The Palmers envisioned a restaurant that would provide full service, consistently good food, reasonable prices and quality service in a neighbourhood setting.

Between Markers 12 and 11

Smokey Bones - Smokey Bones has a wide variety on their menu. There is the “traditional” (usually slow-smoked) barbeque menu, including burgers, chicken and BBQ Baby Back and St. Louis Ribs, as well as a line of salads, other non-barbeque entrees, and desserts.

Cattleman’s Steak House

Taco Bell

Pizza Hut

Between Markers 11 and 10

Perkins - Family restaurants that feature in-store bakeries and serve a variety of distinctive entreés

Ramono’s Macaroni Grill - serves a wide variety of Italian food and offers a children’s menu.

Cracker Barrel Store & Restaurant

Uno Pizzeria, Restaurant – Famous for Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza but also offer a varied menu

Chili’s Grill & Bar, Restaurant - Offers both Mexican style food and typical American food. Includes fajitas, quesadillas, salads, baby back ribs, buffalo wings, grilled shrimp

Longhorn Steak House – Capture the flavour and fun of the wild west. Great steaks, burgers and fresh salads. We really enjoy the fresh bread delivered to your table.

Between Markers 9 and 8

Bennigans - Neighbourhood American tavern with an Irish twist, includes appetizers, sandwiches, steaks and lots more.

Logan’s Roadhouse – Well known for mesquite-grilled steaks, chicken, fresh burgers, baby-back ribs, seafood, and specialty salads. Enjoy the bottomless buckets of in-shell peanuts.

The New Character Balloon Flight, next to Planet Hollywood was a big hit for our last guests. Being able to rise 400 feet above the crowds and see for miles around with the chance to get Photographs of the family in a very special and unique location.

The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for their little girl proved to be her highlight of the visit. She was “Made Up” just like a Princess, having the full Princess Treatment in the Salon. A hairpiece, shimmering make over, finger nails done and a choice of her favourite Princess’s Dress (Cinderella). It was a little pricey but for a “one off” day they were delighted with the result and seeing their Little Princess’s face as she posed for her photographs, even strangers were taking pictures. They recommend booking early in your holiday to avoid any disappointment as there are only 10 Chairs in th Boutique.

They enjoyed the Irish Fish & Chip Shop on one visit but thought the T Rex Cafe was fabulous for all of them. The Table & Chairs have Dinosaur Legs, the massive Dinosaurs move and roar  to make it special place to have a meal. They said to make sure to take your camera as the special effects and the Coral Reef Bar are spectacular.

They intend to return during their next visit to fit in the things they couldn’t this time around. 

It is good to get a “Feed Back” from our guests and hopefully it will give 1st. Time visitors a reason to take time away from the Parks.

Mary —ps   Would love to hear some comments on Aquatica???