Kissimmee: the best value base, if you have a car

What Kissimmee is

Kissimmee is a city south of Orlando and southeast of Walt Disney World. For visitors it mostly means US 192, also called Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, a long commercial road of hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops and attractions that runs east from the Disney area. South and west of it are large vacation home communities, many with private pools.

Behind the tourist strip is a real small city with a historic downtown, a big lake and a large Puerto Rican and Latin American community.

Many businesses along US 192 give their location by the numbered markers along the road, which helps when you are hunting for a restaurant or a vacation home entrance at night. The west end, near Disney, is the most touristy; the east end, toward downtown Kissimmee and St. Cloud, is more local.

Who should stay here

• Big groups: a rented house often costs less per person than several hotel rooms, and you get a kitchen.
• Budget trips: hotels along US 192 are among the cheapest near Disney.
• Disney-focused trips: the west end of US 192 is about 10 to 20 minutes from the Disney parks.

It is less handy for Universal and International Drive, which can be 30 to 45 minutes away in traffic. Compare it with other bases in the where to stay guide.

How to set it up

1. Book with care. Read recent reviews for vacation homes and confirm the cleaning fee, pool heating fee and parking.
2. Rent a car. Homes are spread out and US 192 isn't walkable over long stretches.
3. Do a big grocery run on day one. Supermarkets along US 192 and nearby main roads have everything you need.
4. Map your drives to the parks. Use I-4, World Drive or the toll roads to avoid the slowest part of US 192.
5. Keep one evening free for downtown Kissimmee and the lakefront.

Things worth doing here

• Kissimmee Lakefront Park: a long waterfront park on Lake Tohopekaliga, with a boardwalk, playgrounds, a splash pad and big sunsets.
• Downtown Kissimmee: a few blocks of older buildings on Broadway with local cafes and shops.
• Old Town: a retro-style entertainment area on US 192 with rides, shops and classic car cruises, usually on weekend nights.
• Gatorland: an old-school alligator park on the road between Kissimmee and Orlando.
• Airboat rides: several operators run tours on Lake Toho and nearby lakes; see airboat rides near Orlando.
• Dinner shows: a jousting dinner show and other themed shows sit along US 192.

Where to eat

US 192 is mostly chains and buffets. The better meals are local: Puerto Rican bakeries and lunch counters, roast pork spots, Cuban sandwiches, Colombian and Venezuelan arepas, Mexican taquerias and Brazilian places. Many sit in strip malls along US 192 and the roads around downtown. Prices are low and portions large.

If you are renting a house, the local supermarkets with Latin American sections are worth a look for fresh tortillas, plantains, tropical fruit, Puerto Rican coffee and pastries. Cooking a few dinners at the house is the single biggest way to cut the cost of a long trip.

Downtown Kissimmee has a few cafes and casual restaurants within walking distance of the lakefront, which makes an easy dinner before the sunset.

Mistakes to avoid

• Driving US 192 at rush hour. It is slow, with many stoplights; find the toll road route.
• Booking a vacation home with no reviews. Stick to managed listings with recent feedback.
• Forgetting tolls. The fastest routes to the parks use toll roads; get a toll pass with your rental car or carry a plan for paying them.
• Swimming in Lake Toho. Florida lakes have alligators; use the pool.
• Expecting a free hotel shuttle to every park. Many charge or run limited schedules.
• Staying here for a Universal-only trip. You'll spend too much time in the car.
• Leaving bags in view in a parked car at busy lots. Put them in the trunk before you arrive.