If your family is considering a move to Windermere, Winter Garden, or Dr. Phillips, you’re probably curious about the local shopping situation. Whether you love malls or can’t stand them, you’re bound to end up at them at least every once in a while. Either way, the good news is that there are lots of quality malls in Orlando and its immediate surroundings.
In fact, after the theme parks, Orlando’s indoor and outdoor malls and its outlet centers are probably the biggest tourist draw to the region. The city is famous for its large, diverse shopping destinations.
Here’s a quick look at some of the major indoor and outdoor malls in Orlando and the Orlando metro area. They’re all under an hour’s drive from the above-mentioned locations.
Altamonte Mall
Located in Altamonte Springs 11 miles north of downtown Orlando, this is a popular shopping destination just outside Orange County. About 35 to 45 minutes from Winter Garden, Windermere, or Dr. Phillips, this is a large indoor mall that also has extensive additional shopping and dining options all around it.
Fashion Square Mall
Orlando’s oldest indoor mall is just north of the city’s downtown. It’s a convenient stop if you work in or around downtown. As of this writing, though, it’s undergoing major redevelopment. Some of its anchor stores have closed and been demolished. Fashion Square Mall will be redesigned to attract more retail and possibly to add other elements. However, ownership and plans have changed recently, so we can’t say more right now.
Florida Mall
Florida Mall is located at the intersection of Sand Lake Road and Orange Blossom Trail in South Orlando, approximately 25 to 35 minutes from Dr. Phillips, Windermere, or Winter Garden. It’s the biggest indoor mall in Central Florida. The Dining Pavilion is a nice feature, with more interesting, higher quality eateries than a typical mall food court.
Mall at Millenia
For a decidedly upscale shopping experience, visit the Mall at Millenia. It’s only about a 20-minute drive from Winter Garden, Dr. Phillips, or Windermere, right off I-4 around 7 miles south of downtown Orlando. Head here whenever you want the most famous names in designer brands and as elegant an indoor mall experience as you can find in Florida.
Seminole Town Center
This is one of the most popular Central Florida malls outside Orlando. It’s immediately off I-4 in Sanford, about 45 to 55 minutes from our stated locations. There are over 125 stores and places to eat, plus the area all around the mall is covered with additional shopping and dining options.
Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves
Right in Winter Garden, only about 10 to 15 minutes from Windermere and Dr. Phillips, there’s a large outdoor mall called Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves. It’s a pleasant place to stroll around, offering nearly 70 retail stores and professional service providers, plus a few dozen places to eat.
Waterford Lakes Town Center
You’ll find Waterford Lakes Town Center in East Orlando, right near the University of Central Florida (UCF) campus. This massive open-air mall has more than 100 places to eat and shop. It just takes around 35 to 45 minutes to drive there from Windermere, Dr. Phillips, or Winter Garden.
