Every time I visit Orlando, a visit to Belz Factory Outlets is always scheduled – even if it’s the morning we are going home!
It is located just across the I4-Kirkham Road interchange from Universal Studios – but you will see many billboards with directions. When you arrive, get a map as there are some good discount coupons on this.
There are approx 170 outlet stores located in two Malls and four separate annexes. It is open until 9pm every night apart from Sunday when it closes at 6pm.
I have my favourite stores and will outline some of these and list where I have felt that there are bargain buys available.
Mall 1 – When time is limited, I do not visit this Mall as I only really find that the Disney Character shop and Universal shop have bargains to offer, having good “seconds” or last season gifts which are great for presents to take back home.
Footlocker often have a good sale with trainers (sneakers!!) at good prices. You will often find that trends differ in the US and what is fashionable in the UK is last season in the US, so you can great bargains and half the plane will have new trainers on!!
A Gap Outlet here and these are always worth a look for T-shirts and shorts and of course the jeans are fair cheaper here than in the UK – you will also find his with Levis (look out for offers on 501s – buy two pairs for $55).
Mall 2 – This is the better of the two indoor centres. There is also a carousel ride for the children ($1) and an adequate food hall, you can get cookies for the kids and beer for the adults!
Great shops here for Villa Owners, ie kitchen and household outlets.
Good children’s shops are Osh Kosh, Buster Brown and another Character warehouse full of sweatshirts and t-shirts etc and great dressing up clothes at reasonable prices. Guess have an outlet here, London Fog sell good price outdoor coats and I have bought beautiful children’s coats for $20 in the past.
Adidas is here but I find it quite expensive in the US compared to Reebok and Nike outlets. Umbro is also in this Mall.
Great shoe shops – Etienne Aigner, Birkenstock, Rack Room shoes and Bass to name a few.
Lots of jewellery shops but I don’t ever visit these but friends have bought great diamond pieces at what they felt were wonderful prices.
A fabulous Levi outlet here and worth a visit for kids and adults. Be careful and try on each pair you buy as the same size jeans can really vary in this shop. Have been asked to buy jeans for people at home before and purchased the size I was asked for and they just didn’t fit and when compared to their UK bought ones, they were completely different.
Brilliant Toy Liquidators shop here and this can keep the kids quiet for hours – good priced toys and some bargains available if you look carefully.
Off to the Annexes:
Annex 1
Nike Superstore – fantastic and huge store with everything you could need. Can often get good winter gear in the summer (I have bought sweatshirts for $14 before now). Always tend to have some kind of beach shoe available at around $9 and toddler trainers start at around $14 and juniors at $24. Many many Nike stores around Orlando and although have a lot the same clothes etc in them all, they do have different offers in each store.
Timberland offers great prices on shoes, sweatshirts (around $24) and socks etc. Kids clothes are also available here and far cheaper than in the UK.
Tommy Hilfiger is far more popular in the US than here – it didn’t really take off here and for that reason, never seem to find many bargains in their outlets stores, but of course they are much cheaper than here in the UK. Kids socks wash wonderfully but I bought these in Marshalls (US version of TK Maxx). Nice handbags available here.
Annex 2
Calvin Klein. Fabulous for bags and underwear – great prices on T-shirts but again Marshall's do a lot of CK at a little less. Never found many kid’s bargains here.
Annex 3
Liz Claibourne – this is amazingly inexpensive compared to UK and my mother always spends an hour in here and emerges with numerous bags. Handbags, purses and belts are very cheap in comparison.
Annex 4
Reebok – you will see coupons for Reebok everywhere – pick these up – it tends to be “spend $65 and get $10 off” – which is easily managed as they tend to have an ongoing offer of “buy one, get the other half price” – so trainers are very reasonable here. Socks again very hard wearing.
Rockport – attached to Reebok and at one time, you could buy all the boots at great prices but they have realised that the British will pay for these now as they are over £130 over here – but they are still cheaper.
To sum up, Belz is worth a visit, a bit dated now and there are more exclusive outlets being built, but it is worth a visit as I think it tends to have better bargains available. Next to Belz is the Designer Outlets and this is a must.