How To Shop Like A Local in Orlando

Shopping isn’t the main reason most visitors head for Orlando; the theme parks and other main attractions have already staked the biggest claim to Florida fame in that respect.

But it’s not too far behind on the list of explanations why this part of the Sunshine State draws more tourists than anywhere else in the country. It’s also hard to miss. There are gift shops, supermarkets, boutiques, antique stores, malls and discount shopping centres almost everywhere you look.

We often joke that many of our guests arrive with empty suitcases and then gradually fill them with all-new clothes and souvenirs for the flight home. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see shoppers at the big outlet centres buying new luggage and then filling them up by immediately going from shop to shop!

And then there are the supermarkets. There are 35 Publix stores in the greater Orlando area alone, plus another 25 Walmarts – the most of any city in the US. Add in the growing number of Aldi supermarkets (13 and counting), plus Winn-Dixie (20), Fresh Market (3), Sprouts (3), Whole Foods (2) and several independent operators, and there are more than 100 to choose from. And that’s a lot of food.

Who’s Who in Orlando shopping?

With the exception of Aldi (and possibly Walmart), most names will be unfamiliar when it comes to the average British visitor, so let’s start by quickly identifying the main choices.

Walmart: THE biggest operator in the US, this is the place to come for just about everything, including groceries. Many of their stores are open 24 hours and they are truly vast, featuring garden products, electronics, tyre repairs and pharmacy items, a one-stop shop for most.

Target: Another one that tries to offer the widest range of goods, from groceries to home décor, you can’t miss the almost-as-big Target stores with their red-and-white colour scheme and target logo.

Walgreens: Essentially the equivalent of Boots, most Walgreens stores are also mini supermarkets and the place to go for things like sun tan products, cosmetics, photo printing and vitamins. The direct competition to Walgreens is provided by CVS, and they offer an almost identical range of products. You can hardly go a few hundred yards without seeing one or the other, and sometimes both!

Best Buy: This is the place to come for all your electronic needs, from large-screen TVs to iPhones and all the latest gadgets. Again, these are BIG stores, and you’ll find a dazzling array of choice.

Bed Bath & Beyond: Here’s another “big box” store that is extremely widespread, albeit not doing quite as well as a few years ago. Their stock in trade is home décor of all kinds, as well as things for the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.

Kohl’s: If you’re looking for the local equivalent of a department store, head for Kohl’s, in four locations in Central Florida. Their frequent sales often provide exceptional value, and they’re another one that is just fun to browse.

Publix: As ubiquitous as Tesco but with more of a Waitrose style, Publix are the 600lb gorilla in the supermarket business, just about omnipresent and hard to ignore. Their prices have gone up notably after the pandemic, but they are fun to browse and are extremely user-friendly, with spacious aisles and fresh sections for bakery, butcher, deli and wine and beer.

Winn-Dixie: The other big Florida-based supermarket chain, Winn-Dixie is usually a touch cheaper than Publix with almost as good a range of products. Their liquor stores (for wine, beer, spirits and mixers) often have the best prices, too.

For those with Costco membership, your UK membership is perfectly valid in Florida, and their beer and wine prices are usually even cheaper than the supermarkets.

Local shopping habits

For those who would like an authentic Orlando experience as well as a theme park-filled one, there are also some key places and tactics that will make you feel like you have got a good grasp of living like the locals.

The weekend markets are a classic case in point as these have become very big business in and around the main residential areas of the city while offering visitor appeal, too.

The markets usually run the gamut of fresh local produce, arts, crafts and even some clothing items. You’ll find food trucks at many of them and even live music in some cases, and they are very much a half-day out for many full-time residents.

We are big fans of the Saturday Winter Garden Market, which offers just about everything from 8am to 1pm each week and opens the way to a real local’s experience in this lovely suburb. Winter Park isn’t far behind, though, and also features a thriving Saturday Farmer’s Market that is great for fresh produce, baked goods, plants and more. It also puts visitors at the heart of Park Avenue, with all its tempting restaurant and café choice.

Arguably the biggest weekly market, though, at least for its extensive area, is the Orlando Farmers Market, set in the south-east corner of pretty Lake Eola Park in the heart of downtown. Open from 10am to 3pm each Sunday, it makes for a really different local experience, and you will find many residents with their dogs here each week.

Avoid I-Drive and the outlet malls

When it comes to shopping for clothes, home goods, etc, Orlandoans tend to stay away from the main tourist areas and discount centres. Instead, you’re more likely to find them at places like Winter Garden Village and the Altamonte Mall. They do visit the swish Mall at Millenia, though, as it’s simply the best in Central Florida.

Other locals’ shopping haunts include eclectic Ivanhoe Village in downtown, where the Antiques district includes both the astounding Far East antiques of Washburn Imports and the vinyl record resurgence at Rock ’n Roll Heaven, and upmarket Park Avenue in Winter Park, where the boutiques are all one-offs.

With its park area, lovely shops, pavement cafes and museums, Winter Park remains something of a “hidden” destination for most visitors, but one that quickly becomes incredibly popular once discovered, and we know Debbie’s Villas guests often make a beeline here for a “rest day” on their holiday.

The same goes for Winter Garden, where the dining options have absolutely mushroomed in recent years. Then there is the town of Sanford just to the north of Orlando, with another unique array of shops and cafes, and pictureseque Mount Dora to the north-west, which is a bit further away but in a beautiful lakeside setting and with its own shopping and restaurant profile (see our recent blog about it on this link).

One final possibility for something genuinely local is also somewhere that dovetails nicely with out villa community areas, and that is the city of Lakeland, just 29 miles down I-4. Here, you’ll find the Lakeland Antique Mall, which is a real treasure trove of all kinds of arts, crafts and bric-a-brac. Add this to your holiday itinerary and we think you’ll have a genuinely unique Florida experience.

What are YOUR favourite tips and tricks for shopping in Orlando? Tell us about them on our Facebook, X and Instagram pages.