Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
325
Value
A Disney Bargain? The World's Best-Kept
Secret
From a pink Cadillac to a 4-foot beer stein, tons of wacky treasures are regularly
put on the auction block at Walt Disney World.
In addition to castoffs from the theme parks and WDW resorts, there are more
routine items available, from over-the-hill lawn-maintenance gear to never-
been-used stainless-steel pots and pans. If you're looking for a unique piece of
Disney, the auctions are held six times a year. Some of the more unusual items
sold in the past include furniture from Miss Piggy's dressing room and a motor-
ized surfboard. The auction takes place on Disney's back lots. Call property con-
trol (
&
407/824-6878
) for information, dates, and directions.
Bigger yet are trinkets sold by gavel at
www.disneyauctions.com
(now
under the Disney shopping umbrella). Mainstream items, including artwork,
figurines, cookie jars, pins, and snow globes (as well as other modest merchan-
dise) are available on a regular basis (and sold at a set price). But sometimes
things go big time when movie props, costumes, and theme-park artifacts go
on the block. A dress Glenn Close wore as Cruella De Vil in
102 Dalmatians
sold
for $5,000, a Dumbo car from the ride at WDW earned $9,000, and the Porsche
from the Disney movie
The
Kid
fetched $77,100.
8
2
ORLANDO AREA OUTLETS & MALLS
FACTORY OUTLETS
Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores
The three dozen or so outlets here include
Aéropostale, Big Dogs Sportswear, Carters, Hard Rock Outlet Store, Eddie Bauer Outlet,
Ecko Unlimited, Liz Claiborne, Fossil, IZOD, Nine West, OshKosh, Converse, Nike,
Reebok, Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen, Gap Outlet, and the only Old Navy Outlet in
the area. Savings can reach 75%, but most deals are much more modest. The plaza itself
is very tasteful and inviting with a Mediterranean flair, and the location, just between the
I-Drive and U.S. 192 areas on the lower end of Apopka-Vineland, means you can easily
get here without having to face too much traffic (especially as 54 area hotels offer free
shuttle service here). This outlet center is a bit quieter and more relaxed than the Pre-
mium Outlets (see below), but its selection of shops is far smaller. It does, however, have
a nicely done food court area for a quick bite, a small children's playground, and even a
salon if you are in need of a new do or a manicure.
15591 S. Apopka-Vineland Rd.
&
407/238-9301.
www.lbvfs.com.
Orlando Premium Outlets
Finds
This 440,000-square-foot outlet center
offers shoppers the atmosphere of a beautiful outdoor shopping mall filled with landscap-
ing and natural lighting. It's inviting instead of outlet-ish. It's billed as Orlando's only
upscale outlet and is by far the best choice for a great shopping experience in Orlando.
It currently has 150 tenants, including Disney outlets, Coach, Donna Karan, Kenneth
