Mall of Milennia and Florida Mall, plus the World's Best Outlets

Fantasy Time at Mall of Milennia

2011-10-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

Have you been a good girl lately? Here's a quick but amazing birthday or holiday trip to Mall of Milennia that will fill your trunk with loot but cost less than a single Luis Vuitton bag.

Start at Tiffanys. Head to the back wall for a stunning pair of sunglasses. These big Rachel Zoe style shades are on billboards all over America; and they are more gorgeous in person if that's possible.

Next stop, Victoria's Secret. Buy the newest featured bra and panties in a gorgeous but totally impractical color or print (leopard anyone?.) Feel glamorous and sexy.

Then Brighton. Buy a great small bag for city travel, art shows or evening wear or a black or tortoise silver-trimmed hair bangle. Whatever catches your eye. Something for everyone and it's all pretty and reasonably priced. The customer service is great. Btw Brighton will send you a new purse if yours breaks, even years later.

Now for another highlight, an American fave and my new cheap chic obsession. Michael Kors. You must have the fabulous big gold watch featured in VOGUE and everywhere else. It comes in several sizes and styles, so you can pick the one that works best for you. Then, shoes. For about hundred dollars, you'll get a Jimmy Choo- like high. Take the stylists recommendation and be daring!

Note: Don't buy purses at MK. They are boring. You'll do better at Bloomingdales or Neiman Marcus if you like names on your purses.

If you have time, also at Neiman Marcus, get a Trish McEvoy makeover. You'll look pretty, natural and ten years younger. Plus, you'll have a pretty makeup planner that holds the whole look to take home. Makeup planners make your life easy and your man happy, especially when space is at a premium like on a cruise.

If your date or sponsor is a good cook, humor him with a stop at Williams Sonoma to savor the seasonal offerings and buy him a spatula or something. If he's not a cook, the espresso machines at Bloomies are a cool diversion.

Top off a great trip to Mall of Milennia with a Starbucks stop or maybe some Godiva or Lindt chocolate. Now that's a sweet day.

Love Pandora? Get the look for less at Mall at Milennia

2011-09-01T07:34:00.000-07:00

Check out Landau near the food court at Mall at Millennia for great "like the real thing" versions of your fave designer jewelry.

Ambrosia is Landau's new Pandora-style collection. All frequent customers received a mailing that a $75 dollar bracelet is on sale for 20 something dollars.

Landau gets new styles all the time, so their clearance items are usually fresh styles! If you hit on a good day, there will be bowls of earrings marked down to less than $10. When you wear them, you will get compliments all day long.

Like Tiffany Celebration rings? Landau has a collection that is so good that it fools the jewelers. Seriously, I get compliments in jewelry departments all the time! The key is to use the CLEAR stones. Ask one of the great managers there for her ideas on the best combos. That's what I do.

On the same note, there is a great table full of affordable bracelets designed to wear as multiples. You can do a David Yurman style or just express yourself!

If you have an event, bring in the dress you just scored at Mall of Milennia! Landau will hook up up with a whole ensemble to go with it for a fraction of what you'd pay elsewhere. They'll "style" you. It's fun!

Celebration

2011-08-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

Looking for a stress-free, low cost wonderful afternoon near Disney? Celebration fits the bill.

Celebration is Disney's charming anywhere USA town that was built from the ground up in the mid-80's. People came from all over the country to be in a lottery just for the chance to purchase a home in the town. The idea (a dream of Walt's) was that this would be a place where children could ride their bikes safely, a bit of a utopia. Disney is no longer involved but Celebration thrives as a gorgeous town with a lovely lake-front city center and golf course. It's quite large with its own high school.

For children, there is a wonderful outdoor fountain to play in (like the one at the Marketplace but smaller), a lakefront walk (great for strollers), good casual restaurants with outdoor seating and a fun bakery. You can grab a latte at Starbucks or relax on their outdoor patio before you stroll the shops on the main street.

There is a large Columbia restaurant in Celebration. A very popular standby based in Ybor city in Tampa, you can enjoy a leisurely Spanish-Cuban meal here... It's fun and different, kid friendly. Great for large groups.

Celebration dresses up for the holidays and has "snow" once a week. It's a kind of soap bubble concoction that comes down on cue to absolutely enchant the kids. Drive around and look at the lights in the neighborhoods... it's magical!

Mall at Milennia for Kidz!

2011-08-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Orlando's premiere shopping destination, Mall at Milennia. Think it's too fancy for kids? Think again. There's enough to keep them happily entertained for hours. Without lines or gate charges!

Park near the Mall at Milennia food court upstairs or Neiman Marcus downstairs. Why? Great fountains in both places! Plus the best central locations with lots of spaces. Don't make the usual visitor mistake and park by Macys, which is always bustling, but stuck at the end of the less interesting and upscale side of Mall of Milennia.

Upstairs by the doors in the center of Mall at Milennia, there is a large outdoor fountain and then, voila, you are in a huge food court. There are immense, clean bathrooms on your left with changing tables and room for strollers. Plus full length mirrors that are fun for toddlers to watch themselves in! If older kids or men are waiting for the rest of the family, they can sit on comfy benches outside the restrooms and play with their cell phones.

If you park downstairs, walk to the right of Neiman Marcus, past the outside patio of Brio restaurant to the bank of doors and enter here. (Neiman Marcus is not kid friendly, despite the great service, it's just too quiet!) Inside these doors you'll find a gorgeous long fountain with a small bridge through it. There's lots of seating on the flat granite on the side of the fountain and kids are always running around. It's prime people watching, too.

If you have a little money to spend and aren't in a hurry, put your name on the waiting list at Cheesecake Factory. One person can stay and wait while the others do whatever. Kids of all ages LOVE this restaurant. The menu is extensive, the food is delicious and the desserts are amazing. It's noisy and fun, perfect for large multi-generational groups.

Brio is also bustling; and the food is very good. An upscale experience with an open kitchen, white tablecloths and attentive service at the same prices as Cheesecake factory. More bistro than Italian, there's also a nice bar here if someone wants to catch the game or just needs a break. If you're a healthy eater, you'll find wonderful chicken (a house specialty), fish and salads here. Locals love Brio for casual meals. Sit outside if the weather is nice.

Past the downstairs fountain are stairs, elevators and escalators to the Mall at Milennia food court above. You'll find Starbucks upstairs and downstairs.

Upstairs, at the entrance to the Mall at Milennia food court are two VERY child-friendly, reasonably- priced restaurants, Panera Bread on the right and California Pizza Kitchen on the left. Panera has great pastries and bagels, which they toast on request and sandwiches/soup. Plus very good coffee. California Pizza Kitchen has, well, pizza, and other good lunch or casual dinner fare.

Looking for free food to fill up hungry pre-teens? They'll love walking the Mall at Milennia food court to get free bourbon and sesame chicken samples. Sometimes they can get smoothies, cookies and garlic bread too! It's fun and filling.

For a quick sweet treat for all, hit the Lindt store inside the mall, just past the Mall at Milennia food court. With a great selection of individual pieces of chocolate and chocolate bars, satisfy everyone for a ridiculously small amount of money. Gift shopping? Snag a charming seasonal gift or cute wrapped item (Santa, Bunny, etc.) to add to a basket or wrapped package.

Mall at Milennia stores kids love

Here's a list to get you started. Add your faves.

Electronics
Game Stop for video games, FYE for popular culture items, including music, videos, posters, etc., the Apple store for... Apple, the Sony store for... Sony, Urban Outfitters for cheap accessories and room gear

Cool Clothes
Guess, Hollister, Bebe, Juicy Couture, Anthropology, Bloomingdales, Pink at the huge Victorias Secret, Urban Outfitters (again), Forever 21 (immense store!)

Miscellaneous
Williams Sonoma for kids that cook (and free samples), Museum Store for smart kids, Pottery Barn Kids, Brookstone

Special note
Dylan's Candy Bar in Bloomingdales (Ground Floor to right of inside mall entrance) is fun for everyone!

Kids LOVE Florida Mall

2011-08-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

Going to Florida Mall with your Kids?

Drive around to the BACK of Florida Mall and park near Macy's. This is the newer, more upscale side of the mall. It's also home to the nicer stores and the best attractions.

First and foremost, don't miss the M & M Store! Kids love this. They will talk about it for weeks!

Then walk to Adrenalina to see locals surfing in the surf tank. Really, an actual surf tank in a store in the Florida Mall. It's a great surf store, too, with a huge selection.

Looking for adorable all-American mini-prep clothes? Hit the large Abercrombie & Fitch Kids store. Make sure you go to the right one.... Florida Mall is so huge that there is a separate A & F store for teens too!

For young children and pre-teen girls, Build-A-Bear is a must see. There you can watch or participate in building a personalized stuffed bear or dog or rabbit or... whatever. They are all adorable and a great keepsake from Orlando. You can build a cheerleading bear or a Yankees fan bear or... you get the idea. They have tons of accessories, too. My fave is the mini-cell phone. Every bear needs one.

A highlight for the teenage girls (and their Moms) is Sephora. Make-up heaven with great cult brands like MakeUp Forever and Nars, plus upscale standbys like Dior and Chanel. Makeovers are FREE. It is located is right next to the M & M Store in the new part of Florida Mall.

Hungry yet? Or just need caffeine? Head to the middle of the mall for the Florida Mall food court. It's international and fun with lots of great food choices, but- warning- it is noisy. Perfect for kids, awful for a date or a serious convo.

Near the food court, teen boys can check out Gamestop for the latest video games.

Now for that latte, there is a Starbucks by the Florida Mall food court. Even better, there is a wonderful little Euro-cafe-stand attached to Nordstrom. Yummy, they have snacks and a few sandwiches too. There are also cute white tables in the mall there, so if your baby is sleeping quietly, you can relax in a quiet sunny spot in the AC. Or you can just let the tribe run around for a while, since there is plenty of space and it's a relatively quiet part of the mall.

For a sit-down lunch or dinner, try Buca de Beppo between Macys and Nordstrom. Famed for huge portions, it's very casual and fun for large groups. Not a date spot, but a fun time with good food.

Nordstrom also has a lovely undiscovered cafe on the second floor. Food quality and service are very good. Children are welcome. You can even get a nice glass of wine.

Have fun in Florida Mall!

Disney Marketplace: No lines. Kids LOVE this place.

2011-08-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

Looking for some cool Orlando-only attractions that don't cost anything? This is the first in a series on local favorites that are great for kids. Today's discovery is Downtown Disney Marketplace

Disney Marketplace is always a low stress, fun place for families. Imagine an attraction where you can experience the Magic without lines or turnstiles!

Don't park by Cirque de Soleil or House of Blues. That is the wrong end of the complex, literally miles from the child-friendly party of Downtown Disney. Drive to the other end of the parking lot for "Disney Marketplace".

Locals visit the Marketplace for the Lego store which has a great outdoor play area, the Ghirardelli soda fountain and Ice cream parlor (chocolate ice cream- amazing) and the huge Disney toy store, which features a giant Mr Potato Head and myriad versions of Disney toys.

Need a break? Sit and enjoy a cool drink at tables by the lake while the toddlers run around. Moms love this!

If your children are older, there is a HUGE fountain where they can run in and out of the water. Trust me, you will have to pull them away, they can do this for hours! Luckily, there is a great Disney food store right next door for the inevitable hunger that strikes after this type of action.

If you want to splurge a little and you have time, put your name on the list at Rainforest Cafe. For elementary school-aged kids, this place is magic. You have to eat anyway, right? The animatronic animals and simulated rainstorms are great. The food is good, too and they have a full bar, great for weary parents. The bar is large and usually uncrowded compared to the very popular restaurant, a good spot for Dad to watch the game if the vacation coincides with the playoffs in his favorite sport. Finally, even if you don't eat at RC, check out their gift shop. Lots of fun items, especially for pre-teens.

Seasonally, the Marketplace dresses up for holidays and there are events for children. If you are here for the holidays, don't miss the Christmas shopping and decor.

Be Cool at Mall of Milennia

2011-08-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

For a nice afternoon that costs you nothing unless you succumb to wiles of the retail genie, hit the gorgeous Mall of Milennia.

Park at Neiman Marcus.

Walk through the ground floor, admiring the men's and women's jewelry and then the cosmetics, shoes and fragrances. It's a short but enjoyable walk through to the mall.

If you love art and beautiful things or need to hit the restroom, take the escalator upstairs at Neiman's. The restrooms are in the back on the left, the "gallery" is on your immediate right. The collections change seasonally, but always lots of beautiful things to inspire creativity and desire.

Once you get to the mall, head left for Bloomingdales. On the way, there are lots of nice stops, including a Pottery Barn Home store.

New at Bloomingdales, on the ground floor past cosmetics, is a Nespresso gallery. Here, handsome men will demonstrate how the machines work, making real drinks that taste like Italy. It's the best free show around.

This store has good service in all departments. Need free styling advice for an event or an interview? Want to try the latest perfumes? Just ask.

Head back to the center of the mall by leaving the second floor of Bloomingdales. You'll pass lots of upscale labels. Some local faves are Tiffany and Gucci. New arrivals are Juicy Couture and Michael Kors. Don't be unnerved by the security guards, just act like you belong there.

The food court is in the center of the mall on the second floor PAST where you entered through Neiman Marcus. There's a Starbucks upstairs and one downstairs. If the lines are too long at Starbucks, head to the back of the food court for Panera Bread, where you can get very good coffee with a bagel or pastry. Note: the restrooms in the food court are extensive and clean.

The other half of the mall, while very nice, is not as upscale or entertaining. If you need something in particular, there are lots of everyday stores that may have it- Ann Taylor, Bath and Body Works, Kenneth Cole, (a huge 3-story) Macy's, etc. There's an Urban Outfitters and an enormous Forever 21 across from the food court.

Enjoy!

Mall of Milennia Update

2010-11-14T21:13:00.000-08:00

If you are in Orlando on vacation, make sure you leave time for a visit to Mall of Milennia.

A favorite destination for locals and visitors alike, this is an attraction that everyone enjoys.
The anchor stores at Mall of Milennia are a huge Macys, a great Neiman Marcus and a trendy Bloomingdales.
In between, you'll find everything from a wing of luxury retailers including Tiffany, Gucci and Lous Vuitton to upscale home stores Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma to clothing boutiques like Lucky Jeans and IZOD.
If you crave some caffeine or a snack, there are two Starbucks in the center of the mall on both levels. In the back of the food court (also located in the center of the mall on the second floor), you'll find Panera Bread, where you can get great coffee and coffee drinks as well as a bagel or sweet treat (try the sticky pecan rolls and big cookies) to go with them.
On the other side of the food court from Starbucks, you'll find the Lindt chocolate store. Buy a truffle or a dark chocolate bar to enjoy as you stroll the mall.

True Religion Outlet! New in Orlando!

2010-05-19T16:42:00.001-07:00

The True Religion outlet has arrived in Orlando. If you are a fan of these uber-flattering jeans, come to the Premium Outlet mall for the latest styles.

Juniors and Jeans at Vanity Fair!

2010-03-16T07:04:00.000-07:00

Don't miss the Vanity Fair outlet in Kissimmee. This HUGE outlet is full of surprises, including the complete line of Lee Jeans for men, women and children, Jansport backpacks and accessories and department store-style junior clothes.

Looking for lingerie for a steal? You'll find lots of it here. Brands include Marilyn Monroe, Delta Burke (great quality shapers, you go girl!) and of course, Vanity Fair. Teen alert- you can find racks and racks of cotton cuties,Victoria's Secret Pink look-alikes, here too.

Best of all, the Junior Department is awesome. LOTS of date-worthy jeans and tops and toppers for practically nothing. The selection changes all the time so stop by often.

Location: 1567 South Apopka Vineland Road (SR 535) at the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores. LBVFS is an easy to shop, low-stress outlet mall with small versions of many of the big guys- Gap, Reebok, Nike, etc. There is also a cute little food court with a fountain and outdoor seating.

True Religion is coming to Premium Outlets!

2010-03-03T06:30:00.000-08:00

Desiring those $200 Billy jeans with the flap pockets, but don't want to pay the high mall price? Starting in early May, you can score a pair at the new True Religion outlet in the Premium outlet mall.

In the meantime, try Neiman Marcus Last Call or the Saks outlet in the Prime outlet mall.

New at Milennia- Fast Fix Jeweler

2010-02-27T13:28:00.000-08:00

At Mall of Milennia, get your broken necklace fixed and a new battery put in your dress watch while you shop. Buy a watch or bracelet in the mall, take it down there and get the links taken out to wear your find right away.

Next to Bloomingdale's on the lower level, you'll find the Fast Fix store. The staff is courteous and the work is done quickly and expertly.

Don't miss Florida Mall!

2010-02-17T17:07:00.000-08:00

Florida Mall is great fun for a day trip. Here are some highlights, and there are many more!

Adrenalina- Huge surf shop with "indoor surf experience" (wave tank). If you are lucky, you can watch the resident hot guys surf (think Abercrombie guy on a board).

Build A Bear workshop- Younger children and tween girls love making custom bears and other stuffed animals like bunnies and raccoons. There's a great selection of accessories to personalize the toys, so the result can be unique as a cheerleader soccer bear with a cell phone.

M & M store- Huge store devoted to the ubiquitous candy. Something for everyone including clothes, toys and race-themed items. Plus an M & M buffet where you pay by the pound.

Sephora- Cult favorite cosmetic, hair and skin care brands including Makeup Forever, Fekkai and Perricone and many more, plus the latest fragrances for men and women. Great assortment of makeup brushes and cases. Always something new. Find great gifts in any price range. Grab something new to slip into your suitcase.

Teavana- High quality loose tea of all kinds plus tea accessories, including teapots and strainers. Always has cold and hot teas too sample.

Saks Fifth Avenue- Orlando's only Saks. Great for cosmetics, costume jewelry, womens status accessories and purses. Don't miss Armani makeup counter by the mall entrance, staffed by talented makeup artists. Pure genius and very low pressure.

Nordstrom coffee shop- between Nordstrom and the mall, a quick serve coffee shop with friendly service, good quality coffee drinks, some cute coffee-themed gifts and snacks.

Nordstrom- Perfume, shoes and accessories departments. All three are located right by the mall entrance, great if your feet are already tired. Kudos to the Nordstrom buyers manage to find shoes, jewelry and hair accessories that are unique and stylish, yet affordable. You can get a large custom sample of any perfume even the very latest exclusives.

Florida Mall- the best restrooms.

2010-02-17T16:43:00.000-08:00

Florida Mall has nice clean bathrooms in:

The M & M store

Nordstrom

Sax Fifth Avenue

Note: The public bathrooms get too much traffic and locals avoid them.

Mall of Milennia restaurant scoop

2010-01-10T18:33:00.000-08:00

Having dinner at the Mall of Milennia on a weekend night (including Sunday)? Beware the long waits for tables. But you can avoid this if one of your party signs up ahead of the time you want to eat.
He'll get custody of the buzzer. The rest of you can shop. If the stated wait is 40 minutes (as it was for a booth tonight at Cheesecake Factory), you can safely leave the restaurant for the first 30 minutes... No sense wasting good shopping time.

Don't miss Neiman Marcus After Christmas Deals!

2010-01-10T18:30:00.000-08:00

Covet the pricey goods at Neiman Marcus? Right now, there are lots of bargains from 50 to 70% off. Sale ends Thurs. If they don't have your size in an item, they will look for it in the other stores. (Try that at Macy's.) There is still a good selection of gorgeous Christmas ornaments and decorations left this year, unusual for so late in January.

Also, Williams Sonoma has a sale table in the back with great china, linens and misc. items.

Florida Mall sales

2010-01-09T14:35:00.000-08:00

After Christmas bargains at Florida Mall include:

The Calendar store (near the Macy's entrance) -50% off for all calendars.
Harry and David has gift box pyramids less than half off.
Williams Sonoma has some great Christmas items on sale, including linens and candies. I scored a two-piece $28 caviar server/chiller for $5.99. Check out the Emile Henry bowls and plates.

Florida mall deals for women:

Sephora will give you sample containers of any foundation or cream in the store. Don't waste you $$ on things you may not like any longer.
The famous Armani foundation is available at Saks Fifth Avenue. Armai also gives out generous samples. If you think all foundation is the same, you'll be so pleased!
Banana Republic always has sale items at great prices. Currently they have boots and jewelry marked down as well as the usual clothes. If you like their fragrances, they have 3 small bottles for $20.
Bed Bath and Beyond has a 70% off sale and they have lots of inventory left.

Fun for Kids in Milennia Mall

2010-01-07T09:17:00.000-08:00

A few fun spots for the little one's in Mall of Milennia.

The fountain in the front (inside) between Brio and Cheesecake Factory. This is a long low fountain with a small walkway (a bridge if you are under 5 years old!) and long bench sides that make great seats. Let the little ones walk around for a few minutes while you rest. They'll love it.
Dylan's candy store in the lower mall entrance to Bloomingdales. They have candy by the pound and other treats. This is the most fun that kids can have for under $5 anywhere.
The food court. Cookie samples at the cookie stand on the front right and lots of chicken samples everywhere. Get a drink and you are done, you don't even need to eat... Pre-teens love this.
Starbuck's in the center of the mall, one upstairs and one downstairs. If the line's not too long, you can get great homemade-style chocolate milk and hot cocoa. Not for small kids, but great for older, pre-coffee children.
Truffles or candy bars at Lindt next to the food court upstairs. If your kids like chocolate, they will be happy to CHOOSE their favorite bar or truffle. Truffles are under $1. Great white and dark chocolate selections here, too. (Moms- Try the mint-infused dark chocolate bar.) Lindt stores are very child-friendly, especially near the holidays. Not: Godiva is not.
For meals, Panera and the food court (upstairs in the center) are both cafeteria style, so no long waits for service. If you want to sit down, Cheesecake Factory is nice and noisy, perfect for large parties with kids!

Mall of Milennia tips

2010-01-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Here are some tips to save time and have more fun at Mall of Milennia. It's a great place to shop! Don't miss it.
Parking
Park in front of Neiman Marcus, as close to the center entrance of the mall as you can get. That is on the right side of the Neiman lot, when you are facing the mall. Walk thru Neiman's when they are open. Enjoy the nice jewelry, try some perfume or get makeup samples from Chanel and YSL. If the store closes or you go to one of the restaurants in the center, your car will be right there, accessible from the center mall entrance.
In the back by the food court is another good centrally-locates spot. Since there is no direct store access there, you can usually find a space close-up. On the way in or out, you can grab a beverage at Panera or Starbucks. The kids can eat their fill of free chicken and cookie samples, maybe even sample ice cream or a smoothie. At Lindt chocolate, they will often give you a free truffle as well.
If Macy's is your sole destination, park in the BACK. Everyone else parks in the front.

Restrooms
Food court bathrooms are the best- upstairs right in the center of the mall- huge and clean. Big counters for grooming and a place to change the baby. Finally good mall planning! If you are too tired to go upstairs (it happens!), go into one of the restaurants. They always let you use the restrooms.
If you have a little one, in the back of the food court, Panera has a single bathroom with a quiet baby-changing table. Panera also has free ice water cups and nice clear cold water for the little ones.
If you are in Bloomingdales, there is a nice restroom on the first floor in the mens' department.

Coffee
When the lines at both Starbucks are ridiculous, go to Panera in the back of the food court. They have lattes and all that, but the best bet is to get a dark roast for less than 2 dollars put in some half and half so you don't miss any quality shopping time waiting around for a drink...

Makeup Counters

Overall, the makeup artists at Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales are better than at Macys. They are actually makeup artists and they have a lot more time to spend with you... Ask to try the limited edition fragrances, which debut at these stores before they are widely available. ALSO, Chanel has foundation samples now, so take a few home to try before you buy. Will save you lots of money!

Hit the outlet malls NOW!

2010-01-03T07:58:00.000-08:00

It's a great time to shop at the Orlando Outlet malls. The holiday crowds are gone and the stores are working hard to get your attention with discounts and deals galore.

Christmas Decor Newsflash- 50% off at LOWES

2009-12-17T08:39:00.000-08:00

Lowes is in the process of marking down ALL of their Christmas decor, including lots of live plants in the garden center.

Lowes has lots of artificial trees at great prices, outdoor and indoor decor, plus gorgeous healthy poinsettias, rosemary "trees" and planters.

Happy Holidays!

Fit in holiday shopping with extended mall hours!

2009-12-14T18:36:00.000-08:00

Don't forget that most of the malls are open at least until 10pm. Many stores are open until 11:00 or 12:00pm on weekends!

Shopping the extended hours makes sense. The stores are empty and you can stop off on your way home from dinner or work or... whatever. Perfect for hitting and running in for that last-minute gift.

Holiday Shopping TIps

2009-12-01T10:49:00.000-08:00

Here are some great shopping tips compliments of the Chelsea Premium Outlet Centers

Check off your gift list now: You are shopping for your friends and family, right?

Wear comfortable shoes: You never know how many bargains you may be running after.

Wear layers: The chilly December air in most cities may nip at your nose while you shop the center, but the stores will likely be warm with excitement.

Do your bargain hunting homework first: Visit each center’s website to print a list of all the store sales and promotions and decide which stores you want to visit first.

Map your day before you go: Print a map of the center and determine your plan-of-attack to save time (available online on each center’s web page). Plus, determine where you want to park ahead of time.

Shop extended hours: For your convenience, most centers are offering extended hours.

Bring a friend and tag team shop: There may be lines to get into some stores, so stand in separate lines and see who gets to the front first. This also works when the check-out lines are long. Be sure to bring your cell phones.

Bring your sense of humor: Smile your way through the crowds and enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

Black Friday at Premium Outlets!

2009-11-26T12:58:00.000-08:00

The outlets at the Premium outlet mall are having storewide sales from 30% to 50% off of EVERYTHING in the store starting midnight tonight. Some, like Nautica and Puma are already into their sales.

Get there ASAP for the best selection!

NEW Flea Market in Dolly Parton Stampede building

2009-11-25T22:02:00.000-08:00

The new flea market is OPEN. It's located next to the Prime Outlet mall near Lake Buena Vista and Disney.

Although some of the booths remain vacant, this market is worth a stop. It will take you about an hour to get through it... The entrepreneurs in the market are varied and there are some very good buys on accessories, toys, costume jewelry, sunglasses and more. There is also a good "dollar" store that sells "advertised on TV" items for a steal.

If you want to try the latest technique in tooth whitening, there are several booths offering intro specials. You can get it done for $70 here or pay $100 to $150 elsewhere.