The Florida Mall
4.5(48K)google
3.6(433)yelp
DowntownFamily
Overview
As Central Florida's largest retail shopping destination, The Florida Mall is a monumental commercial complex that welcomes millions of international and local visitors every year. Spanning nearly 1.7 million square feet, the mall features an world-class directory of over 250 experiential retail stores, major upscale department store anchors, and global flagship dining concepts. Beyond apparel, the mall serves as a comprehensive entertainment destination housing unique family attractions like the massive Crayola Experience and a sprawling, international dining pavilion.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 3-5 hours
Best TimeAn excellent indoor shopping destination year-round. Arriving before 11:00 AM from Monday to Thursday ensures shorter lines at major department stores like Macy's and the Crayola Experience, with a relaxed dining terrace environment.
Getting ThereSituated at the intersection of South Orange Blossom Trail and Sand Lake Road. Accessible via Lynx bus routes 7, 37, or 42 directly to the mall's transit hub. Drivers will find expansive, complimentary wrap-around surface parking.
Travel Tips
- This is Orlando's largest enclosed mall with free surface parking. Lots fill rapidly during peak weekends and holidays; park in well-lit areas near JCPenney or Macy's. Never leave luxury shopping bags visible in your back seat; lock everything in your trunk to prevent smash-and-grab thefts.
- The central Dining Pavilion experiences extreme congestion between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM from tour groups; delay lunch until 3:00 PM to bypass long queues. If ordering app food like Uber Eats, drivers are barred from entering; you must walk out to designated property entrance drop zones.
- During retail sales, double-check individual store return policies; clearance items are frequently marked Final Sale and are strictly non-refundable. Out-of-state and international visitors should visit the Simon Concierge desk with their ID/passport to unlock digital VIP coupon savings before shopping.
Reviews
Positive
- As Orlando's largest traditional enclosed mall, it features full mainstream brands with powerful indoor A/C, removing worries about Florida's rain or sun.
- The massive Food Court gathers diverse budget fast food options; bench seating is plentiful, and trash cans and restrooms are kept very clean.
- The mall houses a Lego Store, M&M's World, and Crayola Experience, making it perfect for families seeking comprehensive entertainment and leisure.
- The location is superb, surrounded by thousands of free open parking slots; multiple Lynx bus public transit lines stop directly here, giving max convenience.
Heads up
- This is a standard department and fast-fashion mall with zero Tier-1 luxury brands; shoppers seeking high-end designer names will be disappointed.
- On weekends or Black Friday sales seasons, tourist density explodes; the mall gets packed with crowds, and checkout lines in popular stores take half an hour.
- The mall is massive, yet multilingual navigation signs and multimedia directory screens at crosswalks are mediocre, making walking exhausting.
- Surrounding traffic gets heavily gridlocked during peak hours; though parking is abundant, spots near the entrances are impossible to find, forcing long walks.