Areas to avoid in Orlando (Kissimmee, Pine Hills: crime rates, neighborhoods, community college)

[itsajourney]

This is something that no one affiliated with the tourist/convention industry in Orlando wants to hear or see posted on the internet. I am not a doomsday naysayer. In fact, I prefer to think positively at all times and like to make the best of situations.

I have had 5 years experience working in the so-called tourist areas of Orlando. I have worked for Disney, have worked in hotels in Lake Buena Vista, and worked at a hotel within 2 blocks of the Convention Center. All tourists and residents should know that these are by no means crime free areas. Neither are these areas that you need to be overly concerned-but these are all areas that one needs to be alert, be smart, and be aware of what is going on around you. The same applies to the area around Universal Studios.

Do not be fooled into thinking crime does not exist at Disney--it does. I have seen people arrested in the Magic Kingdom and Downtown Disney. My van was broken into while parked in the guest/visitor parking lot at the Magic Kingdom. People have been assaulted on rare occassions in Disney World also. I would never feel at risk at Disney--but there are occassional "incidents"--which are usually not ever publicized.

I worked in nice hotels at both LBV and Convention area. The truth is that there is actually a fair amount of theft and vehicles being broken into at both locations. The thieves know this is tourist heaven. With tourists come money and valuables. If you leave anything in your car, it's just plain stupid to do so. People have been assaulted-esp. in the International Drive area. On rare occassions there is armed robbery and assault. I never let fear take over and rule my actions, but I definitely was very aware of what was going on at all times. At the front desk, I would always be a target for robbery--esp.at night. The hotel I worked at by Convention Center had vandals smash the vending machines 2 nights in a row. They stole the money and the contents of the machines.

I feel safer walking in my own neighborhood, alone, at night--than I would feel walking in many areas of I-Drive and Lake Buena Vista. If you are on the main I-Drive street, you will be fine. Just be more alert when on smaller side streets and in parking lots. Disney has so much security, that I would never worry there--but it doesn't mean your valuables won't disappear.

After posting this I realized that I did not include Hwy 192 also known as Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway. This is a whole different ball-game--mostly older and run-down hotels, shops, etc. Not dangerous, but definitly know what's going on around you here. Gosh, and now I am thinking about the area around the airport--Semoran Blvd--same as 192. Be very aware here.

I also lived in Davenport--tourist heaven as far as rental homes go. Polk County Sheriffs Dept had their own task force at one time a few years ago investigating thefts and break-ins in this area. These rental homes are totally furnished. Add in the tourists, many of whom are international tourists--and it was an on-going problem area for theft.

Also, my statement above that I did not let fear take over and rule my actions is actually NOT true. After the hotel vending machines were smashed and broken into two nights in a row, I quit my front desk job. I felt that these people were pretty brazen to smash vending machines with cameras in hallways and guests present in rooms just a few doors away. Those machines are NOT easy to break into. If they were bold enough to do the above, they were working their way up to something bigger. It was almost like a test to see what they could get away with. Believe me, working at the front desk, I wasn't paid anywhere near enough money to risk my safety.

[annerk]

True, there is a lot of petty crime in the tourist areas. But there is a very low percentage of assualts given the number of people through those areas on a given day and I can't think of any murders (that weren't drug related) in the tourist areas recently. I've never had my car broken into, although I'm careful to not leave anything out in the open worth stealing. In fact the only things in my car are an umbrella and sunscreen for the windshield. Nothing worth breaking in for. Most peole who ahve thier cars broken into ahve left items like iPods, cell phones, GPS navigators, luggage, GameBoys, etc. in plain sight. Well duh.

No matter where you are you need to always be vigilant. But I feel a lot safer walking to my car leaving House of Blues at midnight than I would walking down Parramore Avenue, or standing in the intersection of Americana and Rio Grande at midnight.

As far as the short-term rental communities, in my opinon they scream "BREAK IN AND TAKE IT ALL" to me. People staying there don't know their neighbors and won't recognize a strange vehicle in the driveway--as there's a constant flow of them, are gone all day, and often don't follow common sense abotu not allowing others to piggyback through the gates after them. I ahve cautioned many people about them and that a community with short-term rentals isn't the palce you want to live full time.

There are some "tourist areas" that are sketchy--the north end of I-Drive, the east side of Irlo Bronson, but overall they are pretty darn safe.

[orlandoyankee]

I would be very mindful of the mall areas especially Millenia Mall and Florida Mall. Both of these shopping areas are full of tourists. Also, the outlet stores off of I-Drive.

Originally Posted by annerk

True, there is a lot of petty crime in the tourist areas. But there is a very low percentage of assualts given the number of people through those areas on a given day and I can't think of any murders (that weren't drug related) in the tourist areas recently. I've never had my car broken into, although I'm careful to not leave anything out in the open worth stealing. In fact the only things in my car are an umbrella and sunscreen for the windshield. Nothing worth breaking in for. Most peole who ahve thier cars broken into ahve left items like iPods, cell phones, GPS navigators, luggage, GameBoys, etc. in plain sight. Well duh.

No matter where you are you need to always be vigilant. But I feel a lot safer walking to my car leaving House of Blues at midnight than I would walking down Parramore Avenue, or standing in the intersection of Americana and Rio Grande at midnight.

As far as the short-term rental communities, in my opinon they scream "BREAK IN AND TAKE IT ALL" to me. People staying there don't know their neighbors and won't recognize a strange vehicle in the driveway--as there's a constant flow of them, are gone all day, and often don't follow common sense abotu not allowing others to piggyback through the gates after them. I ahve cautioned many people about them and that a community with short-term rentals isn't the palce you want to live full time.

There are some "tourist areas" that are sketchy--the north end of I-Drive, the east side of Irlo Bronson, but overall they are pretty darn safe.

[annerk]

Definitely FLorida Mall for car break-ins, but again it's often people who leave stuff in their car. My car was right next to one broken into a couple of years ago. As I was walking out the owners were giving a statement to the police about what was stolen. Uh, an iPod and a credit card that had both been in plain sight. Duh.

My car was untouched.

[mongoslade223]

Originally Posted by annerk

Definitely FLorida Mall for car break-ins, but again it's often people who leave stuff in their car. My car was right next to one broken into a couple of years ago. As I was walking out the owners were giving a statement to the police about what was stolen. Uh, an iPod and a credit card that had both been in plain sight. Duh.

My car was untouched.

Most crimes in the tourist areas are crimes of opportunity. A little common sense in those areas and alertness and you will be fine.

[Pete C]

Leaving anything in plain sight in your car is insane in any big city. It WILL be broken into in a parking lot. In my condo parking lot in a quaint suburb of Atlanta I left my laptop in the footwell of my car ONE night...ONCE in 5 years of living there. I woke up to a smashed window and no more laptop. That's all it takes...do not ever leave any cash or bag in sight, no matter how trivial it is. My buddy had his laptop stolen in Buckhead in just 10 minutes walking into Home Depot, in broad daylight!!

[douknownam]

Originally Posted by Wilshire81182

Some secondary areas to avoid are Azalea Park/Goldenrod (32807 and 32822), downtown Kissimmee area (34741), South Apopka (32703), Union Park (32825), Lockhart (32810) and there are some areas of Sanford to avoid (32771) but not that whole zip code is bad.

When I lived there, the Union Park area was quite safe... I guess 15 years is a long time that has passed... Just sad to hear that.

[Wilshire81182]

Originally Posted by douknownam

When I lived there, the Union Park area was quite safe... I guess 15 years is a long time that has passed... Just sad to hear that.

The 32825 area has nice and bad areas. I think Rio Pinar and Andover are passable, while actual Union Park around Valencia and East Colonial are pretty rundown. The prime example for me is the closed Whistle Junction restaurant that is now plastered with tons of graffiti! I think these areas are part of why there are issues in parts of Waterford and the surrounding areas.

[robert999]

Stay in Disney world area and you will be safe. Recent story in news yesterday a taxi cab driver picked up a lone female passenger on International drive (Major tourist corridor 2nd to Disney world) and sexually molested her before dropping her off at her home???

[annerk]

Originally Posted by robert999

Stay in Disney world area and you will be safe. Recent story in news yesterday a taxi cab driver picked up a lone female passenger on International drive (Major tourist corridor 2nd to Disney world) and sexually molested her before dropping her off at her home???

Hmmm, I missed that one--where did you see it? Wonder if it was ametered cab or a gypsy driver?