New I-Drive attractions and Festival Bay makeover

[boy3365]

Originally Posted by MAniacTHW

I think the biggest problem it has is trying to diversify itself from Millenia, which is right around the corner, the outlet malls, which are right across the street, and Florida Mall, which is right up the road.

And that's the problem and the main reason I believe Festival Bay failed. There are too many shopping venues in that little area.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by floridamove

Attachment 155177 Wow what a place. Just walking around the area is enough too. Also went to icebar recommended by someone here. Thanks

It IS extremely beautiful.

[0nyxStation]

Originally Posted by doom1001

The north end would need a huge influx of nice new hotels,restaurants and attractions along with some street enhancements and improvements for it to significantly improve.Just compare the street itself south of Sand lake and north of Sand lake,north of Sand lake its super narrow,no medians and very few trees,that alone will never compare to the strip south of Sand lake.On the north end even the properties themselves are just more crammed into their lots.It's amazing the difference of how much better everything looks when you have more space and nice landscaping,even the businesses seem to suffer more on the north end,there are several hotels and businesses that if it were up to me would have a date with the wrecking ball.Didn't the Wyndham on the SE corner of I-Drive and Sand Lake tear down part of their hotel to build some of the new restaurants going up alongside the Orlando eye,kinda the same thing needs to happen on the north end,somebody with money needs to come in and redevelop the area,the Skyscraper project is a good start.

The night I was on I Drive it was definitely south of Sandlake Rd. We actually took Sandlake to get to I Drive and once we made that right thats when it was like a whole different world. I didnt get a really good look at everything, I was mostly people (read women) watching. Checking out the scene. Im not exactly sure where the action ends on the south end, but Sandlake is definitely the Welcome Mat of the I Drive corridor from what I saw when I was there.

[boy3365]

Originally Posted by BlackPeach2

The night I was on I Drive it was definitely south of Sandlake Rd. We actually took Sandlake to get to I Drive and once we made that right thats when it was like a whole different world. I didnt get a really good look at everything, I was mostly people (read women) watching. Checking out the scene. Im not exactly sure where the action ends on the south end, but Sandlake is definitely the Welcome Mat of the I Drive corridor from what I saw when I was there.

I-Drive south of Sand Lake is the prettier and newer side of I-Drive. The action ends a little south of the Convention Center with Sea World being pretty much the absolute end of the attractions. However, there is still a lot of undeveloped land on "International Drive South." I'm sure that'll be gobbled up as the economy improves.

I don't go down I-Drive much, but it's amazing that every time I go there, there's always something new or something in the works.

[doom1001]

I take I-Drive south to 536 to go between I-Drive and Disney all the time,south of the convention center you have Sea World,Aquatica and Discovery Cove,south of those you have a few more hotels,a good amount of time share resorts with some golf courses,some apartments,restaurants.Then you come to the area around the Premium outlets which has a good amount of restaurants and a Publix,from there to 536 you'll see undeveloped areas,once you turn right on 536 you have the Caribe Royale and the Buena Vista suites,you keep going straight you're in Disney property in less than 5 minutes.

[0nyxStation]

Originally Posted by Rolo555

What needs to happen is to fix the traffic nightmare along I-Drive.

Some of that could be fixed with elevated mass transit in well planned locations. You are right traffic in the I Drive District definitely needs a 2nd look.