Step back in time at Old Town USA

If you are in the mood for some old-school family fun, then take a break from the main theme parks and step back in time at Old Town USA, a fantastic recreation of a classic Florida town, just minutes from Disney!

Located just off the US192, Old Town encompasses 18 acres, featuring a great range of shops as well as a host of restaurants, rides and attractions, including America’s longest-running weekly car show! So why not take a stroll through the tree-lined brick streets of Old Town in Kissimmee? This is the perfect way to experience a throwback to a time in American history when people enjoyed a slower pace of life and an emphasis was on family-friendly fun – with the benefit of smaller crowds and shorter queues!

2019 marks a special year for Old Town; in April, two years of renovation and expansion came to an end, and the site held a grand reopening. This multi-million dollar refurbishment has added a whopping 12000sqft of retail and restaurant space to the site, as well as a renovation of the existing area as a whole. For over 30 years Old Town has been delighting visitors who are looking for something different to do in Florida. Fortunately there is plenty here to keep everyone busy during the day and evening, including free live entertainment, car shows, karaoke and family movie nights on a big screen! Parking at the site is also free, though on Friday and Saturday there is a $10 charge per car, and some special event days may also incur a charge.

Old Town is conveniently located next to Fun Spot USA, the only family-owned theme park in central Florida, where among the many rides and attractions you can experience the world’s highest skycoaster – at a lofty 300ft tall! As with Old Town, entrance to the site is free, and you pay-as-you-play, though if you plan to go on a few rides it’s better to buy the Single Day Fun Pass as this will work out significantly cheaper (the Skycoaster ride is however an additional upgrade). Contact Debbie’s Villas on 01892 836822 for our current ticket prices.

As you roam around Old Town, enjoy the old-fashioned architecture and storefronts, then stop-off for a spot of shopping or a bite to eat, before heading into one of the attractions that are bound to appeal to everyone!

Ticket to ride

Take a spin in one of the 18 gondolas of the iconic Ferris Wheel, imported from Italy as a part of the renovations. The wheel towers 86ft above the site and offers breathtaking views across Kissimmee. If you are at Old Town in the evening, remember to look at the ferris wheel as the sun sets – it will light up with over 6000 LEDs!

Keep the kids (big and little!) entertained at Happy Days Family Fun Center; there are over 50 video and skill-based games for you to try your hand at in this arcade where everyone can get involved! Afterwards, test your hand-eye coordination over at Rootin & Tootin’s Shootin’ Alley, and take careful aim at the zany targets! Hit the spot and make the cowboy boots walk, chickens squawk and their 1949 pickup truck ‘Gater’ talk!

Celebrate the art of illusion over at The Great Magic Hall for one of the daily shows – 3pm, 7pm and 9pm, and prepare to be amazed. Be a part of the magic as you move from room to room and see if you can work out how the trick is done. You can even head to the gift shop afterwards to pick up some tricks to take home and impress your family and friends!

If you are feeling brave, then head into the haunted house attraction, Mortem Manor! This is open nightly from Wednesday until Sunday, and we looked at the attraction in more detail back in our Halloween blog. Named one of the scariest haunted houses in America by the Travel Channel, this is definitely the place to face your fears!

Shop till you drop

If you are interested in the shopping opportunities at Old Town, you won’t be disappointed! From clothing and accessories, to gifts and souvenirs you’re bound to find some items to take back home!

Unleash your inner hippy at the Groovy Store with a collection of psychedelic colours and patterns, or prepare to hit the beach with some clothes and accessories from Saltwater USA. You can even find something for the rocker in your family at Skully’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Experience, where there is a great range of band and concert T-shirts, as well as jewellery and accessories. There are plenty of shops to pick up some unique gifts, why not look in Annie’s Gifts for a selection of Disney-licensed products, and Florida souvenirs? Black Market Minerals is the perfect place to pick up some special jewellery or gemstones, or head into Extreme Woodcrafts Gift Shop for a collection of handmade souvenirs.

If you are making memories that will last a lifetime during your holiday, and you are keen on tattoos, you might want to get a permanent memento of your trip†. Head over to Ink Spot Tattoo to make an appointment! For something less permanent, but equally personal, consider getting a family photo with a difference from Old Town Portrait Gallery. Dress in the costumes of people throughout history for an antique-style photo – how about being the family of a Civil War soldier, or a 1920s mobster?

† Please note that the legal age for getting a tattoo in Florida is 16, providing the child is with their parent or guardian, and they can show government-issued ID to prove it.

Food for thought

After all of that shopping and fun, you might want to grab something at one of the many eateries around the site. From full-service restaurants to fast and casual food, there is something to tempt everybody’s taste buds! Scheduled to open in early summer, Nathan’s Famous is coming to Old Town, and will offer their world-famous beef hot dogs, as well as a menu of chicken, burgers, fries and even fish and chips! If you are in the mood for something a bit lighter, then stop off at the Downtown Deli for some yummy nachos or gyros (a Greek kebab-like dish), or grab an 8” sub sandwich from Jimmy John’s. You can even snack on a selection of nibbles from Go Nuts!, as you walk around the streets. If you want to sit down and relax while you eat, then stop off at El Borrego, a Mexican restaurant which offers a wide variety of Mexican and Tex-Mex options.

If you are in Old Town on a Tuesday, don’t miss out on the two-for-one Taco Tuesday offer!

A new addition to Old Town is Frogger’s Grill & Bar, which specialises in wings and pizza, where you can watch some sport, play pool or darts and enjoy a drink. If you are in the mood to celebrate, pay a visit to Sun on the Beach, where alongside a meal, you can party into the early hours with live entertainment seven nights a week!

Start your engines!

A major draw to Old Town is the free weekly car and motorbike shows, with the two main events being held on Fridays and Saturdays. Wednesday evenings see the return of the Wednesday Night Car Show, which is a more low-key event, but features an interesting range of cars and trucks on display every Wednesday. The schedule is here so if you have a specific type of vehicle you are interested in, remember to check it out. If two wheels are more your thing, then you aren’t going to feel left out! Even three-wheelers are welcome on Thursday’s Bike Night, where all manner of bikes line the streets of Old Town between 6 and 11pm! If you are a big fan of muscle cars, then head to the Friday Night Muscle Car Show and Cruise, where a range of them are on display from late afternoon, before they power their way along Main Street at 8:30pm. If you love classic cars, you are in the right place as every Saturday show-quality antiques and hot rods from 1983 or earlier are on display around Trophy Row from 1pm, before driving in a parade along Main Street at 8:30pm. The Saturday Nite Car Cruise is America’s longest-running weekly car show and cruise, celebrating its 29th anniversary this year.

One is amused!

Gather together all of the family for a fantastic Sunday evening’s entertainment out under the stars, as you watch a free film on the big screen, though this event is weather-dependent as it is in the open! You’ll want to bring a chair with you, and grab some snacks from the Old Town Shop, for a viewing of these films through to the end of August. With 80s and 90s classics like Labyrinth and Clueless, as well as more recent box-office hits, such as Trolls and the Minions movie, there will be something for everyone to enjoy!

Impress with your vocal talents at the weekly Tuesday night karaoke session over at Trophy Row Stage between 7 and 11pm, or if you would rather hear someone else sing; check the stage schedule for a host of acts who will be impressing the crowd!

There is plenty going on over at Old Town, and with a great range of free entertainment, it is certainly worth checking out! Gather together all of the family to enjoy a slice of traditional Florida and some old-school fun away from the theme parks. Have you ever been to Old Town? What would you recommend visitors check out? Get in touch – we’d love to hear from you!

Opening hours:

• Old Town is open daily: 10am - 11 pm
• Old Town Restaurants: 11am - 11 pm
• Old Town Shops: 10am - 11pm

Location: 5770 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee, FL 34746