Anywhere unsafe to go to at night in Orlando area

[sunny guy]

In the end it's just about been sensible.There are areas in Orlando where you would not get out of your car in the early hours just the same as anywhere else in the world and they are usually obviouse to the naked eye. I don't know of any real problems in the main tourist areas,it's more if you go slightly of the beaten track.

[marion]

Just be sensible and take blott's advice.

I have never had any problems when I have visited Florida.

I was out in Florida on my own for 2 weeks last May and I must say as a lady travailing along I had no problems at all

[musicmaker2904]

from my (pretty limited) experience Orlando is a pretty 'safe' feeling place, just don't do anything you wouldn't do at home as far as stopping at night etc. goes.

As was mentioned it feels a lot safer than London, and I'd sooner be in one of the touristy areas of Orlando at night than ANY area of my home town! (nottingham)

Th parks are also very safe feeling, although Busch Gardens I found slightly strange as people were allowed to drink and smoke which I disagreed with considering all of the children around, but thats just my opinion...and thinking about it has little to do with safety, just overall feeling and impression.

The only time I've ever felt wierd in Florida was when we went to Tampa to visit Busch Gardens and got lost big time! we ended up on a street full of erm..."unsavoury" shops and were very very lost and slightly worried, but hey, that was our own stupid fault!

I was also told once that the rental cars in Florida have a 'tell tale' number plate, meaning that tourists can be easily noticed, don;t know if this is just rumour.

either way, you'll be just fine in most of orlando, so I wouldn;t worry too much at all!
Alex

[blott]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by musicmaker2904
I was also told once that the rental cars in Florida have a 'tell tale' number plate, meaning that tourists can be easily noticed, don;t know if this is just rumour.[/quote]Many years ago, this was true but it hasn't been so for at least ten years. All rental cars look just the same with the same sort of registration plates as everyone else's cars.

[JayCee]

The area around the Florida Mall can be abit shady in the evening. Orange Blossom Trail is known locally as the place to go for drugs and prostitutes so its obviously worth avoiding (Unless thats what your after).

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

I think that's actually a bit further up OBT than the Florida Mall.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by JayCee
The area around the Florida Mall can be abit shady in the evening. Orange Blossom Trail is known locally as the place to go for drugs and prostitutes so its obviously worth avoiding (Unless thats what your after).
[/quote]

[Rocco]

Downtown Orlando is ok, but locals will tell you its a bit of a dive in reality. And another fascinating fact, my husband was speaking to a police officer in Davenport one night outside the 7/11 and he told him that in actual fact crime rate in Kissimmee is pretty high.

Bearing in mind of a few children abducted from their beds in mobile homes this year, I would always advise to lock windows and doors etc before going to bed.

Places to avoid locally? Well Eatonville is one, Pine Hills, parts of Tampa, Lakeland, there's a few.

Try not to get carried away with feeling 'oversafe' here because you are on holiday, because in actuality, living here and knowing local areas for what they are, you do learn the difference.

PS I don't believe the cars have the tell-tale plates anymore. They mostly used to but not anymore, I think they stamped that one out because of the crime rate associated with it.

[taylona]

I think Blotts advise is very good wherever you are. Many, many years ago my husband and I were on business around the Bayside area of Miami. It's quite touristy and busy at the weekend so walking back by a park was not a problem. However, we did it on the Monday night when it was very quite and we felt unsafe. Ended up running part of the way! [msnscared]

When we got back to the hotel we both looked at each other and wondered why on earth we'd gone that route so late. We were/are well travelled and wouldn't have done this in London or near where we live. Why do it elsewhere? We simply hadn't given it a thought! [msnembarrased]

[Badger]

I think that if you are sensible there will be no problems in the Orlando area. We once took the wrong turn and ended up in downtown Orlando, we knew straight away that we shouldn't have been there. It was an unsavoury area but not the sort of place that tourists go shopping anyway, just my map reading abilities. We were once driving past Old Town late at night and I saw a police officer with someone spreadeagled across the bonnet and he had his gun drawn. Didn't hang around. About ten years ago we were in Fort Lauderdale having flown Freddy Laker! We were up at around 4.00am and couldn't sleep so we went for a walk along the seafront. We were hungry and saw a security guard at a car park. I went to ask him if there was anywhere we could eat at that time in the morning and as I approached him he ran away??
Got back to the hotel and enquired if we should be out and about at that time and we were told emphatically.. NO.
Also saw a police chase in downtown Fort Myers once, ended up with the suspects crashing right in front of us, the two occupants got out and ran off followed by the police officer and his drawn gun, again didn't hang around!
To be honest if you stay in the tourist areas you will be fine, just don't venture to the unlit out of town places. I feel safer in Orlando than I do in Cardiff city centre.

[flyrr100]

Don't advertise you are tourists. I know it's not easy, but try to avoid the Disney bags over the back seat. If you are walking or taking busses, stay in well lit crowded areas.
Don't get into any road-rage incidents. Remember, us Americans have the right to carry hidden weapons. And those who don't have that right usually do anyway!
Store and mall parking lotts can be a little scarey at night. Try to park up close to the store or the mall. Most malls have security in the parking lotts.
Like most of the folks said, Orlando's tourist areas are pretty safe. Downtown Orlando sucks. There isn't much there. There's some nasty neighborhoods. Emphasis on Hoods!
You'll have a blast.