Oviedo Mall — Attraction in Oviedo

Stopped here while me and my girlfriend were looking for things to do around the Oviedo area. We were both excited about the idea, since she had only been one time in the past as a child. The entrance and main road into the mall is beautiful and easy to get into. Upon entering the road you're greeted with the typical American strip mall experience with some type of big clothing store (in this case it was Dillard's) and a very nice looking entrance with automatic doors. But when those doors opened, I saw something I've never seen ever.

I don't know how to describe this mall. It feels like something stuck in time or something from a video game. The food court is smack in the middle of a bunch of tiny blocks of water and fountains that you have to take stairs to get to. When you walk further down, you realize that not one store is anything like you'd see in a typical mall. Typically malls have big name retail stores people are familiar with, as well as smaller stores that are still familiar to some. I'd say 90% of this mall is strictly small businesses. Me and my girlfriend were initially confused, but we now realize we found a real hidden gem of a community center. There's a huge regal cinema upstairs and on both sides small businesses are everywhere. Our first stop was a tiny shop selling memorabilia and collectibles you would only find online. We walked a little farther down and came across a shop called "Malarkey" selling various pins and earrings and all sorts of art collectibles. The lady inside was very nice and even offered us an invite to any of her events at the store! My girlfriend bought a small jacket pin from her and she bagged it in a very nice bag and gave us her business card in case we ever needed it. Walking further down the mall, you encounter an arcade, a card store that also hosts events, and strange 'Mystery' vending machines scattered around the whole mall which really made the place feel like something straight out of GTA. The entire mall felt like a parody if I had to describe it, after seeing malls with the same stores for my entire life.

The Dillard's seems to be on its last limb, with empty upstairs sections and nobody but workers inside. Despite this, the workers greeted us with respect and everybody there seemed very nice. We both really enjoyed our trip to the Oviedo mall and would recommend it to anyone looking for a change of pace from typical American malls....

IF YOU’RE OLD AND NEED AN EMPTY PLACE TO WALK INDOORS THEN THIS PLACE IS FOR YOU! Edit: this mall is a not a "gem" I love going to malls and hate going here. It looks like it’s from the 80s and sounds like it (constant 80s sound track). I drive half an hour to Florida mall or millenia rather than go here! There are no stores besides a miniature bath and body works with the rudest employees they told me to figure it out myself when I was asking for a specific product 🤨 the mall itself it fairly dirty I avoid having to go to the bathroom here. There's nothing to eat especially for vegetarians. Zero upscale stores but they have antique stores and book stores if you're one of the few people out there into that. District kids also not a gem it is run down with mostly toys that need new batteries or are missing pieces. I love going to movie theaters but this place has never been updated so I will never step foot into it it’s 2022 get reclining and reserved seats. The kids play area was a cute idea but it’s usually overcrowded due to nothing else to do in the mall and there’s older children climbing on the barriers of it and jumping over infants it’s ridiculous I’d rather be outside in the heat. Many stores are boarded up as seen on the exterior of the mall and trying to enter and exit the mall is like a weird maze.

I have a 9-month-old that can't even play here because there are who knows how old children in here six and up jumping yanking things out of my 2-year-old's hand etc. Meanwhile the parents eat their donuts and do a workout class while their children called mayhem. If you're going to have an age limit enforce it. Thanks for ruining one of the few indoor activities...

This review is for the Oviedo Mall Santa Treasure Moments Photography experience.

The Oviedo Mall hosts this company a few times a year. This year I had a very poor experience.

First I made reservations and purchased a Santa package online. I had to reschedule due to my daughter being sick. They say you will get a cancellation fee if you don't reschedule before 24 hours. I say this because there is NO support for paying customers. No phone, no email listed. The form they give you to contact is not monitored by anyone. So, I went ahead and bought another package for a new time because my daughter would have been so upset.

When we got there the reservation line was longer than the walk-in line!! Multiple families were complaining. We had to wait over an hour past our reservation to be seen. The lady who takes the pictures, who is also a.manager, spends too much time talking and some photos were taking 15 min! We did ours in less than 5 min.

Now it has been over 1 day and no pictures are coming up for my account. I tried their form and an email I received AFTER the experience and no response yet.

Calling Oviedo Mall number offers no option to talk to anyone about this. The option for general info went to their marketing director's voicemail.

Oviedo mall I want to pull for you but you need to hold your vendors to a higher standard. Or people like me will not come back and give business to them and the mall. At least you've lost our families Christmas photo business and visits now.

Update: The photos came the next day so I've added a star. Still no messages back from my form...