We all have that one friend who is a die-hard adrenaline junkie who loves to discover their next greatest adventure. That friend is me. This feature is all about uncovering Lake Nona and Orlando’s greatest activities, especially if you enjoy living life on the edge!
In our December issue, I braved through freezing temps to witness a show made of ice, and this month, I decided to keep the whole wintery ice theme going with ice skating. While I feel most Floridians prefer going when it’s a hot summer day, I prefer going when the temperature begins to drop and we finally get the winter experience. Yes, I’m saying I look forward to the windy, freezing nights where one’s face turns numb. In all honesty, blame the stylish winter outfits that take up too much space in my closet.
As a young adult who grew up in the Nonahood, I struggled to find one of my favorite activities, ice skating, anywhere nearby. After a decade and a half, there are still only two ice skating rinks even remotely close, with the closest one being about 30 minutes away. Let’s see which rink skates to the top.
The Ice Factory of Central Florida
2221 Partin Settlement Rd.
Kissimmee, FL 34744
The Ice Factory is about 30 minutes from the Nonahood. The location offers two different-sized rinks for skating, although one is so small that you wonder what its purpose really is. Before I hit the ice, I grabbed a quick snack at the concession stand: nachos and fried pretzels. The nachos were okay, but let’s be real – you could quickly taste the plastic bag the cheese came from. I was done after one bite. All my fellow Nonahood staff know how much of a cheese connoisseur I am, so that may come as a shock. As for the fried pretzels, they came out a bit burnt and were coated with cinnamon sugar. I ordered them not knowing exactly how it would be prepared, but I was thrilled to see the cinnamon-y goodness. Although I ate most of them, I’d say it was a pretty mediocre attempt at mimicking Auntie Anne’s pretzels. It was typical concession food.
Unfortunately, the night I went to skate was one of the public skating times for the studio rink (the smaller rink). When I say it’s small, I’m not exaggerating. Guys, it’s honestly a waste of space unless it was used specifically for little kids or for skating lessons for those who’ve never had the pleasure of blade meeting ice before. The sad part is that the main rink, which is NHL sized, is more than half the size of the studio rink.
It appeared the studio rink was neglected compared to the main rink, as there were several chips in the ice and it just couldn’t hold its own next to the larger arena. I couldn’t help but think what would happen if too many people showed up to the public skate and the studio rink was the rink scheduled to be used. I’m not sure how you could get more than 15 or so people on that rink at the same time and still have it be safe. Luckily, there were only about seven others there that night.
As far as pricing, admission ranges from $8 to $12 depending on the time and day. Sometimes, skate rentals are included. Otherwise, skates are $2 to $5 more depending on what type of skate style you prefer (figure skate, hockey skate, padded, etc). Skate sessions range from about two hours to four and a half hours, again, depending on the day and time. This equates to a pretty good deal, but only if you can skate on the main rink.
For those of you who are like me and have a shoe size which is a half size (ex: 10.5), you might run into a problem. The Ice Factory does not carry half sizes, meaning you will either be stuck with a skate that is too small and crushes your toes or you’re left with the other risky option of skates that are too big and result in a loose skate and a far greater risk of falling, twisting/breaking an ankle, etc. I chose the larger skate and was nervous I was going to hit the ice plenty of times, but I never fell. (Shocking, I know. I fell only once for a photo, I swear!) When the skates don’t fit right, let me tell you…you won’t be getting far or going fast. Successful and fun skating is all about finding the best-fitting skate, and for me, hockey skates are the way to go. I didn’t notice any lockers, so leave any personal items at home or with a non-skater, otherwise you leave them out in the open hoping no one takes them. I might have gone around the baby rink 50 times or so before my ankles really started to hurt from the lack of support, and I called it quits.
Overall, I’d say The Ice Factory is more kid-friendly and also is for those who aren’t completely involved in the whole ice sports scene of figure skating and hockey. Just because it’s a bit closer doesn’t make it better.
RDV Sportsplex Ice Den
8701 Maitland Summit Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32810
RDV Sportsplex is about 45 minutes from the Nonahood. Although it’s a bit farther than The Ice Factory, I would say it’s worth the trip. RDV is a much larger facility with two full-size NHL skating rinks and much more to offer for those looking for activities other than ice skating or playing hockey. RDV offers one hour and 45-minute skate sessions about one to two times a day depending on the day of the week. Admission costs $7.28 (tax not included) for regular skate sessions and admission for Friday and Saturday night sessions is $10.10 (tax not included), with skate rentals $3.75 plus tax.
The only downside to the day for me was that RDV, like The Ice Factory, did not have half-size skates. You might begin to realize how this can be a problem. I tried on two pairs of figure skates, which seemed to run small for me, before asking to switch to my preferable hockey skates. The employee recommended I go a size smaller than my usual shoe size with these as they tend to run larger. He was right. I guess the third time really is the charm! And I was beginning to get embarrassed constantly having to exchange for a larger size. At last ready with a skate that felt snug, I could finally skate to my full potential today! The employee at the skate pick-up offered to help lace up my skates to maximize the fit, but Van came in to save the day. Did you know our very own Vanessa Poulson has figure skated most of her young life?! Neither did I.
For 50 cents each, RDV offers lockers to hold your belongings while you are skating – but you must have quarters. Just a heads up to future visitors, they don’t give you cash back. There is an ATM on site, but I’m sure there’s a withdrawal fee. The same employee kept saving the day, offered to keep our purses behind the skate counter and said our shoes would be fine pushed underneath the bench. (Note: This is not something they usually offer to do. I think it was just because it was a slower day of business.)
So, off we went to hit the ice and I took off, leaving Van in the dust. She looked like a baby giraffe learning to walk! HAHA! In her defense, she just shipped her figure skates off to Michigan, and rental skates do not compare. It was too bad, though…I was ready for her to embarrass me, but instead I was left to make a fool out of myself. What else is new? Needless to say, as the breeze whipped through my hair as I glided down the ice, I felt like I was in a trance. I had been waiting for this ice skating moment for the longest time. I knew I had it in me to skate quickly. I became so hot that I actually took off my beanie and jacket and was still warm. I think I was just skating a little too hard. After an hour and 15 minutes, I could have kept skating, but Van was hungry and so off we went to grab some grub. I made a quick stop at the Bear Bites Concession Stand to see what they offered and ended up walking away with some delightful and whimsical cotton candy. I’ve always been a fan of the pastel sugary clouds.
Since RDV is a massive athletic facility, a short walk away from the Ice Den is a Nature’s Table. During that quick journey, you pass tennis courts, the Orlando Magic headquarters, a gym and more. At Nature’s Table, I ordered a Baja turkey panini featuring an avocado-jalapeño mayo, which was pretty good, but not as flavorful as I had expected. I also ordered a side of pasta salad and a Cocolada smoothie, mixing two of my favorites: banana and coconut! The smoothie was delicious! Van ordered a Mediterranean salad with a cherry limeade Starbucks refresher and a brownie, and she was pretty happy as well.
All of this skate talk makes me want to get back into speed skating and hockey. Yes, I used to play hockey and speed skate when I was younger, but neither were on the ice. I’ve been wanting to upgrade to the ice for awhile now. I think it’s time (and long overdue) for the Nonahood to get its own ice skating venue. I can see a venue like RDV really booming in our area. Shall I form a petition to bring something like that to the Sports and Performance District? Fingers crossed one is in the future development plans. I’d be there several times a week!
So there you have it, RDV Sportsplex reigns champion in my opinion, and Nonaventure avoids breaking the bank (and ankles) to keep the winter spirit alive before the hot and humid weather returns.
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