Orlando’s Flea Markets: Well Worth A Visit

By Mark Whichard

You’ll be surprised to know that one of the most heavily visited attractions in Florida is simply an old-fashioned flea market in Orlando. If you love flea markets then a one-day visit to Orlando’s best flea markets will provide you with as much fun as a day at Disney World, not to mention some bargains and unusual items to take home.

The biggest of the Orlando flea markets, and perhaps the biggest in the entire United States, is Flea World. It is located between Orlando and Sanford on Highway 17-92 and is open only on the weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Each weekend 50,000 visitors come to this market which houses 1700 booths. The market is both outdoor and indoor and the indoor portion is air-conditioned.

In addition to the shopping opportunities here, Flea World is a bit more than a flea market. The market features an entertainment pavilion with circus acts, magic shows, exotic animals and acrobatic shows which are performed whenever the market is in operation. Adjoining the flea market is Funworld, featuring go-karts, bumper boats, bumper cars, miniature golf, 15 adult rides and eight children’s rides, a 250 game arcade, and a birthday party restaurant.

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The location and contact information for Flea World is Hwy 17-92, Sanford, FL 32771. (407) 330-1792.

Another popular flea market is Maingate Flea Market which is near to Disney’s main gate (and hence the name of the market) on the 192 Highway. The market is near an Orange Gift Store and merchants sell from 400 booths. You can get a variety of goods including delicious ethnic food specialties. The market is located at 5407 Irlo Bronson Highway (Highway 192) in Kissimmee. The telephone number is (407) 390-1015 and the opening hours are 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily

The last of the big daily flea markets is the 192 Flea Market Outlet located at 4301 West Vine Street (Highway 192) in Kissimmee. This is the original flea market of this area and you will be able to choose from 400 booths. If you want to get budget priced Orlando and Disney souvenirs, this is the place to find them. The contact telephone number is (407) 396-4555 and the market is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

If you are prepared to travel a bit further out of Kissimee, then don’t miss the Osceola Flea & Farmers Market located at 2801 East Irlo Bronson Highway (Highway 192) between Kissimmee and St. Cloud.

As its name implies, you will find fresh produce at this market as well as 900 booths selling Disney souvenirs and everything else you can imagine. In addition there is a garage sale section where people sell their household junk (as opposed to the other booths which are run by merchants). You can get more information at Information: (407) 846-2811 and the hours are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..

These are just some of the flea markets in the area. When you reach Orlando take a look at the local newspapers and you will find some more. Some people say that you can save 30% by shopping in the flea markets, as opposed to the shopping malls of the area. This of course depends on what you are buying. If you are diligent you will find some real bargains and have a lot of fun as well.

About the Author: Mark Whichard writes frequently about Orlando tourism. He is the proprietor of

disneyhomerentals.com

and

qualityvillarentals.com

. Visit his websites for great deals on Orlando villa rentals and rental homes near Disney World.

Source:

isnare.com

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