So you want to stay in Florida huh? Well why not hire a car and stay about 20 minutes from the airport in beautiful surroundings and easy access to everything without being stuck in the main hustle and bustle of Orlando?
Like that idea? Well head for Kissimmee!
Location.
Situated SouthWest ... Read review
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Advantages: Great place to stay Disadvantages: None
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Situated SouthWest of Orlando, Kissimmee is a holiday community that is mixed well with local people in a villa paradise. If you want to get yourself a decent sized villa here, you will have an inexhaustable supply of choice.
Houses with pools and nice gardens are situated in suburbia here without the dark shadows of skyscraper hotels falling on your property. This is no International Drive here!
Facilities.
Well, ... ...on the Southern outskirts of Kissimmee for £120,000!!! You would not get anything like that over here for that sort of money. My house here is a 2 bedroom Terraced House in Chelmsford with a Garage, Landscaped Garden,etc and it is worth £20,000 more than the Florida one! So prices are very cheap over there.
What is close by.
Right, the fun stuff. I will categorise it.
WITHIN 15 MINUTES.
Sea World.
Home ... more
So you want to stay in Florida huh? Well why not hire a car and stay about 20 minutes from the airport in beautiful surroundings and easy access to everything without being stuck in the main hustle and bustle of Orlando? Like that idea? Well head for Kissimmee!
Location. Situated SouthWest of Orlando, Kissimmee is a holiday community that is mixed well with local people in a villa paradise. If you want to get yourself a decent sized villa here, you will have an inexhaustable supply of choice. Houses with pools and nice gardens are situated in suburbia here without the dark shadows of skyscraper hotels falling on your property. This is no International Drive here!
Facilities. Well, imagine Orlando and them take a lot of the tack away. Tht is Kissimmee. Although well developed, it is not quite as touristy as Orlando. There are plenty of sports centres, shops, malls, restaurants, etc here. More like a typical American town than most tourist type towns in Florida.
House Prices. Well, we have looked at buying a second "home" here after 3 holidays here in the last few years. Between 3 generations of my family, we are looking at buying a 4 bedroom Villa with a pool and nice garden on the Southern outskirts of Kissimmee for £120,000!!! You would not get anything like that over here for that sort of money. My house here is a 2 bedroom Terraced House in Chelmsford with a Garage, Landscaped Garden,etc and it is worth £20,000 more than the Florida one! So prices are very cheap over there.
What is close by. Right, the fun stuff. I will categorise it. WITHIN 15 MINUTES. Sea World. Home of the famous sea creatures such as the Shamu Show (whales) Colphin Show and petting pool and one of the biggest rollercoaster in America! A great day out for all the family. Admission price is about £22.
Wet and Wild. A great waterpark right in Orlando. Loads of slides pools and rides for everyone. There is even a lazy river for the less energetic that want to float all day. Admission is about £13
Universal Studios. A movie based theme park where you can see lots of stuff, rides and just about anything from al ltrhe big Universal films of the last 75 years! Great fun and a great day out. Admission is about £20
WITHIN 30 MINS Disney World. Home of Magic kingdom and Mickey mouse. Good for children and older adults but steer clear if you are a teenager or young adult. Boring. Admission is about £24
Epcot. The world of the future is built around abig lake. Lots of tacky versions of places around the world all tailored around themed eateries of the cultures. A bit of a con I think. Admission is about £20
WITHIN AN HOUR AND A BIT Kennedy Space Centre. The home of the US space program and where the shuttle flies from . My favourite attraction. Full of history and nostalgia, it is a very interesting day out. Admission is £19
Busch Gardens. Rides galore. Imagine Alton towers but about 50 times bigger and better! Well maybe not 50 times bigger but that many times batter! There is also a zoo for those who are faint of heart! Admission is £22.
RESTAURANTS ACTUALLY IN KISSIMEE!
Medieval Times. A medieval themed dinner and dance evening and fun for all lthe family. Reasonably priced but you need tickets in advance.
Arabian nights. An "Magic Carpet" type dinner show with belly dancers and stuff. Voted No. 1 dinner show but I dont rate it. I prefer Fort liberty!
Atlantic Bay seafood Grill
Great seafood at a decent price. Its on Parkway Blvd which is easy to find. Tyr it if you like your fresh seafood.
Longhorn Steakhouse. I think they do the best steaks and you eat in the open air! ITs on the Bronson Highway and again well signposted. Reasonably priced too.
Rovers Return Pub. For you homesick people! However its an Irish bar and located in the town at Vine stret. Food but mainly a drinking hole.
PEOPLE! The locals are all friendly and more than happy to point you in the right direction. Most of them work in the hospitality industry and will no doubt treat you with respect as you are their bread and butter!
Overall. A nice place to stay and easy access to everytihng. Give it a shot!
...opinion had been written about Kissimmee particularly as it is one of the main areas that tourists stay in when they go to Florida.
Kissimmee is situated to the South of Orlando and is just 20 minutes drive from the main resorts of Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios. It is also just a short hop away from the Kenedy Space Centre.
I have stayed in Kissimmee twice over the past 10 years and both times I found the area a pleasant location ... ...reach of most places. So Kissimmee is an ideal location from which to start your holiday.
As I have stated you are never far from anything. There are plenty of places to eat, if you have a penchant towards sea food then I can recommend Captain Nemos. An all inclusive, all you can eat buffet cost just $19.99 last time I went (1999) and was exceptionally good place to eat. As the locals all seemed to congregate there too I took that as a sign of the ...
jonwhite 30.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Kissimmee
Advantages: Free parking and entrance. No crowds. Disadvantages: Buying tickets for rides.
No Disney prices here. You can just stroll down the street, go on a ride, or just hang out. Lots for all the family to do.
Everyone does Disney, SeaWorld, and Universal, when they go to the Orlando area. This can be very costly, especially for a family. Fancy a cheap few hours out, then go to Old Town in Kissimmee. You can't miss it. It has the Ferris wheel at the entrance, and that's how we would give directions. Not only can you see this on U.S.192 ... ...illuminated towers stretching up in the air 365 feet. If you are brave enough to do this ride it will cost you $25 (£16). However, just look in any of the coupon books, dozens around in shops, restaurants, etc, and you will get either $5 (£3)off or a free T-Shirt Into crazy rides of a lifetime there is also 'Skycoaster'. This is advertised as the World's tallest adrenaline pump experience. You literally fly through the air at a speed of up to 85 ...
Susie-34668 19.12.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Kissimmee
Advantages: Lots to do/see and handy for major attractions Disadvantages: Highway 192 which runs the length of Kissimmee can suffer bad traffic jams at rush hours
Ok, so Kissimmee is away from the hustle and bustle of International Drive in Orlando but don't let that fool you into thinking there's nothing to do!
As well as all the restaurants, shops, mini golf, there are other things well worth a look in Kissimmee.
For instance, head east on the 192 and take a right and go down to the lake in Downtown Kissimmee. It's so peaceful there, it hardly seems likely that 3 of the world's largest theme parks are ... ...about evenings? Old town Kissimmee is great for a wander round with a variety of fairground rides and some specialist shops which makes for a pleasant change from the vast malls. I would recommend going on a Friday or Saturday evening when they have the classic car show. Fantastic atmosphere!
Kissimmee has something for everybody but feels more homely - therefore, I'll always choose it over Orlando. :o)
**** Addition added 11/12/02 ****
I've been ...
mz_moneypenny 11.12.2002 (10.02.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Kissimmee
Advantages: Prime location for all attrations Disadvantages: can't think of any
I have used Kissimee as a base for our Disney holidays twice and couldn't have been happier. Since we where in a large party, six adults and two kids, we opted for a private villa at Indian Ridge. This is actually a residential estate in Kissimee, within ten minutes drive to Disney, and at about 3.30pm the yellow school bus drives through the estate dropping the kids back from school. If you rent a villa in Kissimee, no matter which agency that you ... ...spacious, open plan, decorated in pastel colours. They are equipt to the hilt with anything you may need. Some have their own pool with barbacue patio and pool furnature. You're in heaven. A very short drive will bring you to the main drag through Kissimee. The 192 Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway. Yes it's tacky and touristy, but isn't that what you're there for. Hundreds of souvenier shops, restaurants, attractions, hotels run rights along an eight ...
buzzz 29.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Kissimmee
Advantages: Weather, Floridian people, shops and restaurants Disadvantages: Didn,t see it in its true light, car essential
...Airport to our villa in Kissimmee at midnight in the dark and seeing the mess that hurricane charlie had left, did not inspire me with visions of paradise. However come the next day (and about 10 hours sleep), a different kissimmee appeared. Although this area had taken a battering, it was impressive to see how quick people and emergency services had rallied round to clear the mess and restore vital services.
We stayed in a 5 bedroom villa on an ... ...is the lightening storms ,which can make the night sky very impressive (only if its miles away though). Were our family impressed with kissimmee ?
Well I only believe we saw a small part of it , but it impressed us enough to book again for next year. ...
barney3 16.09.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Kissimmee
Value for Money
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
Family Friendly
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Advantages: near to theme parks, shopping, Disadvantages: none
When i went in april 2004 to the land of dramatic themeparks, and lush wildlife and rich heritage , kissimmee offers endless exitment for tourists and visitors.
The old town an attraction and combining shopping, and dining, with carousel a a giant ferries wheel ride you also can enjoy rental of helicoptor rides and airboat rides. with many hotel that give excellent service and offer free shutle service to the themeparks which are only 10 minutes away you have no problems getting to places.
You can easily walk down to the old town from your hotel whch depending were you are located you could be next door or only 5 minutes walk away.
The differant types of eating places like the pancake house and sizzlers, and an all you can eat buffet style chinese for 10 dollers open all day every day evry good if you this type off food ...
Advantages: Great fun to be had by all Disadvantages: You'll be shattered at the end of your holiday
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OVERVIEW
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