Old Town, Kissimmee

In this guide, you'll find everything you need to know to plan your visit to Old Town in Kissimmee.

Located just 6 miles from our villa, on US 192 is the tourist attraction called Old Town, Kissimmee. It first opened in 1986 as a recreation of an old Florida town and houses around 70 unique shops, restaurants, bars, attractions, and rides spread over 18 acres. It is currently operated by The Travel Corporation.

Old Town in Kissimmee is a charming yet kitsch and wacky destination that blends nostalgia, entertainment, and a touch of small-town charm. As you step foot into Old Town, you are transported to a bygone era, where classic Americana meets modern-day fun.

Old Town's main attraction is its iconic brick-lined streets and vintage storefronts, reminiscent of a simpler time. It is laid out with a main street, divided into four blocks with cross walks between each block. By walking down the cross walks you can access the Fun Spot America, Kissimmee attraction.

Strolling along the avenue, you'll find yourself surrounded by quaint storefronts and many unusual shops. The architecture pays homage to the past, with its rustic facades and vintage signs that evoke a sense of nostalgia. From clothing boutiques to souvenir shops, there's something for everyone to explore and discover.

Right next door is the midway-styled theme park, Fun Spot America Kissimmee, with fairground and thrill rides as well as multi-level go-kart tracks.

It costs nothing to visit Old Town or the neighbouring Fun Spot but you can buy tickets for some attractions and rides. Old Town is open from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. each day but hours may vary for some of the rides and attractions.

Note that Old Town is one of the pickup points for the Mears shuttle bus to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

With its delightful blend of retro charm and modern conveniences, the shops at Old Town Kissimmee provide a unique and enjoyable shopping experience.

For those guests thinking of visiting the main theme parks, there is a Welcome Center where you can pick up brochures and maps, ask questions and buy tickets.

Eating Out in Old Town

Beyond shopping, visitors can enjoy a selection of over twenty dining establishments offering a range of cuisines including grab & go locations and bars. Whether you're in the mood for classic American comfort food or international flavours, there's something to satisfy every palate.

Some of the most popular restaurants in Old Town include:

• A&W Restaurant — American Fast-Food Diner
• Auntie Anne’s — homemade pretzels, candy
• Bobby’s Garage Bar — ice cold beers, spirits and non-alcoholic mocktails in a hot rod garage setting
• El Borrego — Mexican, Yucatan Peninsula inspired dishes
• El Cilantrillo — Puerto Rican cuisine
• Flippers Pizzeria — artisan pizzas, salads, sandwiches and calzones
• Mont’s Antojitos — Mexican
• Mr. Sushi Express — Japanese, Sushi and Asian
• Nathan’s Famous — Coney Island hotdogs
• Shoney’s Kitchen and Bar — American diner with all you care to eat fresh food bar
• Southern Breeze — American, bar and pub
• Sun On The Beach — nightclub bar with themed live music nights
• Sweet Dreams Ice Cream Café — homemade ice cream, cheesecake and cookies
• Tex-Mex Express — Mexican

Old Town Rides

There are a number of rides located at the front of Old Town as you enter from Highway US 192.

As you enter Old Town via the front entrance, you will find a Fun Spot ticket booth close by. At the ticket booth you can buy individual tickets for each ride you want to enjoy (either $7 or $12) as well as the SkyCoaster and various Fun Spot passes.

There is also a handy Fun Spot ride minimum height chart so you can check if you and your family are all able to go on particular rides.

Note all prices quoted include sales tax unless stated otherwise.

The Ferris wheel ride is also included in the Fun Spot Ultimate Season Pass, Season Pass, Single Day Pass or pay-as-you-go E-Card.

Note that Morton Manor is only open Wednesday through Sunday from 6:00 p.m.

Vomatron and SlingShot

Both Vomatron and SlingShot are not for the faint-hearted but will appeal to adrenaline junkies.

Vomatron is similar to the centrifuges that fighter pilots and astronauts train on, subjecting them to high G levels. On the Vomatron there are two capsule each holding up to two riders, one at each end of a propellor and you are spun both forwards and backwards at speeds of up to 70 mph and up to 4G.

The Slingshot has a two bucket seats slung between two tall towers. It catapults you over 360 feet (109 m) into the air and you reach a speed of 100 mph (160 kph) in less than 2 seconds. As you descend you are fired straight back up again.

There is no age or weight restrictions to either ride but you must be able to fasten the seat harness and be at least 50” (1.27 m) to ride. Prices start at $25 for the Vomatron and $30 for the SlingShot. You can also buy various packages to include one or two riders, videos and T-shirts.

Both rides can also be found at Daytona Beach and there is a SlingShot ride on International Drive. More details can be found on the Old Town Slingshot website including videos (opens in a new window).

South Plaza Rides

Towards the back of Old Town you will find the South Plaza rides including the “Fun Rides” booth with rides especially for children.

There are also a number of rides operated by Fun Spot including a vintage Carousel complete with horses and spinning cups. Built in 1912 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, it is a true classic carousel.

Here you will also find the “Crazy Couch”, “Tilt-A-Whirl”, “Paratrooper”, “Screamer” and Fun Spot’s newest coaster “Hurricane”.

As well as the numerous shops and restaurants, there are also a number of attractions located on the main street including various vintage fortune-telling booths like Zultan and Esmeralda plus other old-fashioned midway style machines. Prices run from between a quarter and a dollar for the machines.

Note that the opening hours of the individual attractions varies during the week. Most attractions tend to open later on Monday through Thursday and earlier on Friday through Sunday.

Outside the Black Market Minerals store, there is the Black Market General Mining attraction where you can pan for gemstones in the special wooden water channelling chutes.

The Great Magic Hall

In the The Great Magic Hall there are magic shows where world class magicians will enthral you with their magic and illusions including card tricks, slight-of-hand and mind reading. This is great entertainment for the whole family and guests are encouraged to participate.

Each show lasts around 30 to 35 minutes as you explore a number of rooms.

You can also buy a VIP ticket at weekends which gives you two magic shows with different magicians and a 25 minute intermission in between where you receive a complimentary beverage and snack.

The ticket prices are:

• single show ticket — $10
• VIP show ticket — $33

After the show you can browse the onsite a shop where you can buy magic tricks to take home with you.

More details can be found on the Great Magic Hall website (opens in a new window). Note the Great Magic Hall closed at the end of July and the site suggests the show is moving to a new location but no details are given.

If you enjoy magic you should definitely visit the Outta Control Dinner Show at WonderWorks on International Drive.

Happy Days Family Fun Center

The Happy Days Family Fun Center is an amusement arcade for the whole family. There are over 50 video and skill games you can play on to win tokens that can be exchanged for prizes.

They include old-time favourites like the classic Skee-Ball ball roll and Big Bertha ball toss as well as modern games like Terminator, The Walking Dead and Jurassic Park.

There are special competitions and events on certain days. You can also purchase hot and cold drinks as well as food all under the one roof.

Game ticket prices vary depending upon the number of credits you buy.

Xtreme Ninja Challenge

The Xtreme Ninja Challenge is an indoor obstacle course where you can test your strength and endurance. Obstacles include rope climbs, ring swings, crawl bridges, giant donuts and horseshoes and ends in an 11 foot (3.3 m) high wall.

It is suitable for both adults and children and tickets are $15 plus tax per person for 20 minutes. It can also be booked for birthday or team building events.

More details can be found on the Xtreme Ninja Challenge website (opens in a new window).

Hangman Challenge

The Hangman Challenge is a simply game, hang from a pull-up bar for a specific length of time and win cash money. It is found next to the Sun on the Beach bar.

It is $10 to enter the challenge and if you can hang for at least 100 seconds you win $50 cash and if you can last the full 2 minutes (120 seconds) you win $100 cash.

You are free to have a test try before parting with your money.

Mortem Manor Haunted Attraction

Most of the major theme parks celebrate Halloween but at the Mortem Manor Haunted Attraction you can visit a haunted house all year round. It is the only year round haunted attraction in the Orlando area and has been named one of the “Scariest Haunted Houses in America” by the Travel Channel.

Set across two floors, the walk-through house features live actors, state of the art animatronics, spooky creatures and special effects. The back story is that it was once owned by the Mortison family who collected rare and ancient macabre artefacts. They disappeared under mysterious circumstances and new sinister beings have taken up residence.

Whilst walking around the house, if you find it too intense, you can chicken out and someone will then escort out.

Understandably it is not recommended for children under the age of 12.

Admission to the haunted house is $18 plus tax person. For $30 you also get admission plus a souvenir T-shirt (sizes S to 4XL).

An optional extra used to be the “Be Buried Alive” experience in the Last Ride Burial Simulator but that does not appear to be available at the present time.

The separate Post Mortem Horror Bootique store next door sells haunted Halloween themed masks, clothing including T-shirts, pumpkins, pins, badges, gadgets and various licensed products like Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion” and “Ghost Busters”.

The house opens at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

More details can be found on the Mortem Manor Haunted Attraction website (opens in a new window).

After indulging in some retail therapy and a delicious meal, visitors can take in the sights and sounds of Old Town, with its classic car shows, live entertainment, and vibrant street events that often take place.

Live entertainment is a staple of Old Town, with a variety of performances and shows taking place throughout the week. From live music and karaoke to magic acts and street performers, there's always something to captivate and entertain visitors of all ages.

You will often find special offerings on St. Patrick’s Day, 4th of July, Halloween, Christmas, and New Year.

Car enthusiasts and casual visitors alike can admire the gleaming chrome and polished paintwork and hear the rumbling engines. It's a captivating sight that transports you back to the golden age of American automobile culture.

Live Music

There is live music most Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays plus Karaoke some nights. The genres of music offered range from country to rock to pop.

Southern Breeze host Latin Fest on the first Sunday of every month where not only you can enjoy Latin American music on the Old Town Stage, but also their food and culture.

Parking at Old Town

There are around 600 onsite parking places located around the perimeter of Old Town but it does get busy especially on special event nights and at weekends.

Parking at Old Town itself is free but be careful. We were eating dinner at Denny’s across the street one Saturday evening and a couple of tow truck drivers came into the restaurant to check that all the cars in the Denny’s car park belonged to the patrons. As we left the restaurant, two cars were being towed away! Most likely the guests had left their cars in the Denny’s car park and then crossed the road to spend the evening at Old Town and Fun Spot.

For more details on Fun Spot visit their website (opens in a new window).