Planning mall visits - new database

[Jedi_Angie]

DH, otherwise known as 'pet software engineer', has been a busy boy, and has designed a database to help with shopping planning in Orlando. You can find it here...

http://ccgi.yavin4.free-online.co.uk/mallStores/viewMallStores.php

It currently lists ten malls in and around Orlando and the stores they contain, according to their websites. There are links to each of the malls' websites, and we're currently trying to put in links to as many stores as possible (although this is a big task, as you can imagine!).

You can currently select the malls you're thinking about or planning to visit and ignore the rest; you can also look for specific stores as they're listed alphabetically.

And now we need your help - could you please take a look and let us know if you have any problems viewing the database. We're also looking for suggestions and ideas for improving it (not guaranteeing said improvements will happen!), and if anyone has been over recently and knows certain stores have closed or opened (or new malls have opened), could you please let us know via this thread or via the email link at the bottom of the page ('send comment').

DH has done this out of the goodness of his heart (and his love of a bargain - he is from Yorkshire!), and we'd really appreciate some feedback. :grin:

[Ros & Jim]

You may wish to consider adding this mall which is fairly new -

http://www.wintergardenvillage.com/

We visited it last month and also ate there a couple of times.

[Jakey rowling]

Wow, now that's a labour of love, well done to the man :thumb:
It works well for me, navigated the menus no probs.
But it's a lifetime's work now to maintain it. :smile:

You could add the Oveido Marketplace
http://www.oviedomarketplace.com/html/storedirectory.asp

One useful feature if possible would be to filter the shops by mall, so that you can easily get a mall directory.
Maybe just a direct link to the mall directory would do.
I know that's being picky but he's a softie, just update his requirements. :D

[merkat]

Brill idea! well done, just not sure if i'll be able to use it might not be going this year! fingers crossed! x

[Jedi_Angie]

Oops - put thread on wrong board! :blush:

You may wish to consider adding this mall which is fairly new -

http://www.wintergardenvillage.com/

We visited it last month and also ate there a couple of times.

Will have a look and suggest it to DH. Thanks - this is exactly the kind of info we need. :)

Wow, now that's a labour of love, well done to the man :thumb:
It works well for me, navigated the menus no probs.
But it's a lifetime's work now to maintain it. :smile:

It's taken a while to get it to this stage, partly because he's building in the management features as he goes. I'm not very technically minded, but even I can do ticky boxes! :)

You could add the Oveido Marketplace
http://www.oviedomarketplace.com/html/storedirectory.asp

Again, we'll check it out. It's interesting hearing about new malls, as we tend to stick to the 'old faithfuls' ourselves.

One useful feature if possible would be to filter the shops by mall, so that you can easily get a mall directory.
Maybe just a direct link to the mall directory would do.
I know that's being picky but he's a softie, just update his requirements. :D

You should be able to do this already - it's not very fancy, but if you look at the top of the page there is a list of the malls with ticky boxes beside them. Deselect the malls you don't want and then hit refresh - you should get the mall you want on its own. Mind you, that still has shops listed alphabetically - do you mean just one long list of the stores in that mall, without the blank spaces? I will speak to DH, although I think the links to the malls' websites should have store directories. Good idea, tho'! :grin:

[ERICSMUM]

I've just had a quick go and it was perfect - I could even access the maps and directions from the individual websites for shops/malls.

I will save this for my next trip.

Thanks

Linda :thumbs-up

[FLGirl-UKNow]

Nice Job!

Two other places you should consider are:

Seminole Towne Center (http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=122) - This is a mall roughly 15 minutes from Sanford International Airport and is less than 5 minutes off of I-4.

Waterford Lakes (http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=394) - This is a shopping complex and not an enclosed mall (sort of like The Loop). This is a good option if you are going to Cocoa Beach or over to KSC and don't need the full day. All of the big names are here and it is one of my favorite places (and my DH's family loves it when they come over to visit)

The other option (which I think would complete your list as far as malls are concerned) would be to add West Oaks Mall (http://www.westoaksmall.com/html/Index2.asp). This mall is on West Colonial (also known as S.R. 50) and is a great mall if you want to get away from a busy mall or a mall that is more tourist driven. This one is actually preferred by my DH since we moved over. There is a cinema at the mall and there is loads of restaurants around the mall.

Since I grew up here I should be able to answer most of your questions so let me know if I can be of help.

[Jedi_Angie]

Thanks for the comments. :)

West Oaks mall should already be on there, on the far right hand side (unless there are two with the same name!). I'll mention the others to DH. Always handy to have a local there to check our info - all we've got to go on are the websites and our memories! :grin:

[FLGirl-UKNow]

Sorry for that....I see it on there now.

[shirley]

how long has the fashion mall on east colonial dr beeen opened, we like a visit to the west oak, due to us being there when it opened in oct 1996 our 1st experience of shopping usa style lol shirley
ps what a great guide gold star to your DH

[sunsetlakes]

Great Job. Must have taken an age to do. All opened up ok except that I had to scroll right to see everything. Probably a screen resolution issue (can't please everyone).


Maybe just a direct link to the mall directory would do.
I know that's being picky but he's a softie, just update his requirements. :D

If you click the Mall links it will take you straight to the Mall itself.


One useful feature if possible would be to filter the shops by mall, so that you can easily get a mall directory.

Would be a good idea.

[FLGirl-UKNow]

how long has the fashion mall on east colonial dr beeen opened, we like a visit to the west oak, due to us being there when it opened in oct 1996 our 1st experience of shopping usa style lol shirley
ps what a great guide gold star to your DH


If I had to guess I would say it would be the mid-late 70's when it was built. MAYBE early 80's. I remember being a little girl and that being the only mall we had to go to outside of a tiny shopping center now known as Winter Park Village. The big mall that took everybody by storm was the Altamonte Mall and for many years Fashion Square and Altamonte Mall were the happening places to be.

Across from the Fashion Square mall use to be a Navy Base. Orlando was the home to one of the Navy's Nuclear Power Schools and when it closed down that area of town sort of aged and it hasn't been until recently that they've started to revive it. Baldwin Park is almost a carbon copy to Celebration. It has the same type of feel to it.

[SusieK]

Wow Angie, that's brilliant! Tell DH a huge thank you from me.

[sharon0001]

this is BRILLIANT! Thanks so much, I'll be using it when I go on Monday!!!! :)

Thanks!

[nickyp35]

Thank you! This site is fantastic

[Jedi_Angie]

Many thanks for the positive comments and suggestions for improvement. The database is still very much at the development phase - there's lots to do!

We've added more malls and DH was messing about with the coding last night, so hopefully you can now select certain malls and you'll only see the stores at those malls, rather than all the stores. You still have to 'click' through the alphabet, though - I think it'll be useful to see all the stores on one page, as an option.

It's been really interesting adding all the store internet links (my job!), and I think there'll be a few stores I'll plan on visiting that I don't normally bother with. :)

[Zak's mum]

This looks extremely useful - will have a good look later once have fed the hungry hordes!!

Big 'thank you' to your DH for undertaking this - he must really enjoy this type of thing :d:

[Jedi_Angie]

Big 'thank you' to your DH for undertaking this - he must really enjoy this type of thing :d:

:d: I'm not even going to go there... *cough* obsessive *cough*

:D

[KK_Cat]

:d: I'm not even going to go there... *cough* obsessive *cough*

:D

:pgig: :pgig: Very good :D

This is fantastic! I've been playing around with it for a few minutes & it's very easy to use and understand. Great job, thanks to your DH, now in My Favourites & I'm passing link onto my SIL who isn't a DIBBer but loves Orlando.

The only thing that I found when looking at it was that JC Penney is missing from The Loop, but there is a JC Penney there (it's not on The Loop website as it's in the new part called Loop West. Opened around Oct 07 I think, I was in it in Dec 07).

[loadsapixiedust]

That's brilliant! Well done your clever DH. He'll have his work cut out keeping it up to date and you'll need to have a lot of trips over to check it's accurate ;)

[TopFloridaFan]

The database is still very much at the development phase - there's lots to do!

Brilliant! :grin:

Any chance you can please post on this thread when you update your site?
Thanks

[Jedi_Angie]

Thanks! :)

I'm sure there will be some updateage over the weekend, even if it's just me adding in the store links.

I think we'll have to add a disclaimer too - we'll do our best to keep the database up to date, but we're only human (and on the wrong side of the Atlantic, to boot!). That's why we need the help of the Dibb, to let us know if they spot any new stores/malls or ones that have closed.

[Jedi_Angie]

Just to let you know, there are now fifteen malls on the database (I didn't even know there were fifteen in the area!), and we're getting concerned it's getting a bit crowded. Current thoughts are to add cookies so that it remembers your selection of malls from your last visit, so that you don't get all 15 every time.

Still at the 'adding links' rather than 'prettification' stage. :)

[vinamtaylor]

Great idea. I'll be making good use of this for when we go in a few weeks time.

[dannyryan007@h]

http://www.orlandoinfo.com/uk/magicard/index.cfm
this web site offers some great discounts on some of these malls

[mozzchops]

I put this on the wrong thread last night but it should have been here.

If you were going to visit two or three of these outlet malls which ones would you visit? For great savings or great choice for all the family. Please give reasons why.

Many thanks.

[Super Ali]

WOW, thats brilliant, my DH must have read this yesterday ;) when i came home from work he said he had saved something in my favorites, it was your link, it will be a great asset to our holiday, great job.

[NAGS]

Just having a wee play and it looks great.

One suggestion (do not think it's already there) is perhaps an area map which shows location of each mall, may help folks decide which mall to visit dependant on villa/hotel.

Know each mall website will have maps but just a suggestion, something similar to the villa location map on here would be ideal IMO.

Cheers

[Jedi_Angie]

One suggestion (do not think it's already there) is perhaps an area map which shows location of each mall, may help folks decide which mall to visit dependant on villa/hotel.

Excellent idea - I shall pass it on.

:grin:

[littletrev]

A big thanks to your DH, it will make the planning of shopping trips a lot easier. :grin:

[Floridafan]

This is absolutely great - only problem now is have I got enough time to do all this shopping?

[Thewens]

Fab thanks :)

[Aandall]

Fantastic , thankyou. We shall certainly make use of this!

[catlady]

What a great job! and really useful too! :thumbs-up


I personally would love a list type page, just with the names of all the shops in each mall on a single page I could print out and take with me! That way I can plan and target my shopping dash more thoughly, as no one else ever wants to go!! :cry:

[LlMEY]

This really is a brilliant job - BIG thank you to you and DH, very VERY impressive!!!

[disneyholic07]

A big thanks to your DH, it will make the planning of shopping trips a lot easier. :grin:
NOT SURE IF I SHOULD THANK HIM OR HIT HIM :erm: JUST HOPE THE WIFE DOSENT FIND THE LINK TO THE MALLS I WILL NEVER GET HER OFF THE DIBB

[Florida Mel]

Mmmmmmmm shopping :tounge: Great idea greatly appreciated :wave:

[Jedi_Angie]

Now has a map so you can see where all the Malls are. Hopefully add a driving directions feature some time soon.

[TopFloridaFan]

Thanks for all your time and effort Jedi ;)

[kissimmee girl]

Excellent idea especially for first timers. All those malls can be overwhelming.
Thanks for the time and effort put in.

Does anyone know where the playmobil shop has gone to?

[TopFloridaFan]

Is it possible to have a link to this from the homepage:confused2

Thanks

[marialouise]

that is seriously amazing!!! im so impressed at the time and effort and how useful it is!! that is jus the sort of thing i have been looking for!!

as others have said - how will i fit in all the shopping!!!??

[TRACEYA89]

This is very helpful and thanks for your hard work!

[Garfield]

Fantastic! thanks for that, I was just going to ask where I could buy some Converse for my daughter, but the info's here - fab :grin:

[redjack]

Many thanks for the site what a great idea and it is now safely stored in my favourites

Jackie

[storm]

just a little note to make you all jealous !!!!!!!!
We get to go on holiday with the DH ( and his lovely family) who put the info together and yip its fantastic !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .
they showed us a great time on our 1st trip to "the mouse" and we doing it all again in 96 days .cant thank them enough xxx