'I visited the most Disneyfied town in America - it's sorely misunderstood'

Daily Mirror

5 days ago

As I walked through Melbourne Orlando Airport, I struggled to pick out anyone who wasn't there for Disney World or Universal Studios like me.
But that doesn't mean you have to be solely visiting a thrill-seeking theme park to travel to the heart of Florida. Or at all, in fact. Kissimmee has so much more to offer aside from being the ideal base for those heading to the nearby resorts.
The town has a particular reputation, thanks to the thousands of Disney workers who live there in homes lined with picket fences around perfect lawns. It is, at first glance, the most American of American places, a set from The Stepford Wives brought into the real world.
But it's much more than first impressions. Within a little over 24 hours, I managed to pack in a bargain-hunting shopping trip, a fun-filled game of foot golf and a bike ride tour around the stunning Celebration, with plenty of food and drink stops along the way.
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My visit started and ended at MLB, with TUI flying exclusively there from the UK. The idea is you can transit through the airport much quicker than Orlando International, where long security queues can often be the norm - although naturally you will still be surrounded by families decked out in the latest Disney trend.
While it means an extra hour's transfer time in comparison, the smooth and swift progression makes for a much more peaceful experience, which can be particularly valuable when you're travelling with excited kids in tow.
But plenty of relaxation awaits in Kissimmee regardless, and what better way to achieve that than with some retail therapy. Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets offers it in bucket loads, with a total of 165 shops.
There are 22 luxury brands for high-end options and so many bargains to be had throughout, even if the days of a pound being worth two dollars are long gone. The highlight for me was Calvin Klein, where at least 50% off across the board meant I walked out with two tees, one polo and a five-pack of underwear for just $120, or £90.
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I really could've shopped till I dropped but we headed over the road to Pinstripes for some lunch. There you'll find a spacious restaurant and bar area has been combined with bowling and bocce. While there was a little noise coming into the dining area from the lanes, the two were sufficiently separated.
It provided a good refuelling, which was needed for the next stop at the Reunion Resort & Golf Club. While far from everyone can pick up a set of golf clubs, there's family fun to be had with footgolf, although I was still very much in it to win it.
The simple concept of kicking a football in the giant hole in as few shots as possible is an easy win for anyone looking to burn off some energy and time for a reasonable rate.
As a sports fan, there aren't many more relaxing places for me than a golf course, and I was very much in chill mode when tucking into tapas and cocktails at Eleven, the rooftop bar and restaurant. It offers great food and drink and some lovely sunset views of central Florida.
As for taking in the sights on offer in the area, it doesn't get much better than Celebration. The town that Disney built genuinely feels like something out of a movie.
It's quintessentially American with a great blend of picturesque neighbourhoods and a variety of wildlife, with white picket fences for as far as the eye can see. You want to be roaming around but take as much in as possible, hence why a bike tour is ideal.
Our tour guide, who grew up in the town, was so informative and offered up brilliant nuggets of backstory both past and present - like the fact that on one street, their fences have to be a different colour to their neighbours'. But you can equally just rent a bike via your phone and travel around at your own leisure.
We had one last stop to cool off and try out some of the craft beers on offer at Celebration Brewing Company, including the utterly bonkers blueberry pie flavour, which had my taste buds in a state of flux, before it was time to wave goodbye to Kissimmee.
A flying visit meant there was so much I didn't get to see and do that I'll hopefully one day be able to return and complete. Naturally, Florida isn't going to be to everyone's taste.
The Disneyfication of Orlando and its surrounding areas is hard to ignore, and for some that'll be enough to put them off altogether. However, it's so diverse and is unique in its own right, with the man-made attractions offset by truly beautiful nature all around.
It's probably marmite in that sense, and if you're not one for humidity, you'll likely fall into the hate-it category. But it's hard not to love it all the same, and you can see why people get the bug.
My visit was in late May and therefore the temperature was reaching peak heat, so an early spring or late autumn break would make for a more pleasant trip as heading outside was sweaty work, particularly the bike ride.
Of course, I didn't visit the theme parks, but if - like most people - you are, then you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not taking in some of the surrounding areas. There's so many natural sights to see - just give the alligators a wide berth.
And given Kissimmee is dubbed the vacation home capital of the world, you're far from short of options when it comes to accommodation. Give it a go, because you might just fall in love.
Book it
TUI (www.tui.co.uk) offers return flights to Melbourne Orlando Airport, Florida from £362 per person. Price is based on two adults departing from London Gatwick, with 15kg hold luggage and 10kg hand luggage per person, plus complimentary meals and drinks. To book, go to tui.co.uk, visit your local TUI holiday store or download the app.
For further information on Kissimmee, visit: www.experiencekissimmee.com
Pinstripes Orlando: www.pinstripes.com/orlando
Price for foot golf - $30 per individual
Eleven! at the Reunion Resort Grande Tower: www.reunionresort.com/dining/eleven