Went to FL on vac and came home with a house!

[pb4ugo]

After our stay at OKW DH and I drove up to the Villages in Lady Lake to visit friends. As part of this annual visit we always cruise the different neighborhoods to visit open houses and check out other for sale signs. This was the year that we found a property that seems to fit us well. So we offered and the seller accepted!

My question now is - do we keep our DVC since we are only an hour or so from WDW? We do not need to sell DVC in order to buy the house and the member fees will not negatively impact our quality of life - so I say keep the DVC - at least until we see whether we continue to use it or let family members use it.

We will maintain our primary residence in NJ and be snowbirds in FL. I understand that we can go to motor vehicles and obtain Florida resident ID cards...which leads me to wonder if having that ID will permit us to purchase tix, etc with the FL resident benefits. Can anyone offer an answer to that puzzle piece?

Thanx

[spiceycat]

would keep it - other orlando resident have DVC too - so they don't have to put up with visitors at their home. (their words not mind)

be prepared for visitors.

yea owning in Florida - means to WDW you are florida resident now. ( I think - just bring a utility bill with your name and address florida on it)

don't count on renting it - there are alots of houses/condo for rent from owners.
www.vrbo.com

Congratulations!!! you are so brave. whenever I even think about buying something that huge must go home and consider all options.

[deej696]

Welcome to central Florida. Our economy appreciates you;) As far as the DVC goes, I would keep it. We live in Ocala, just north of you, and we go all the time. Its great to get away for a night or two during the week when the points are low. Gives us a little vacation just about every month:thumbsup2

[jodifla]

After our stay at OKW DH and I drove up to the Villages in Lady Lake to visit friends. As part of this annual visit we always cruise the different neighborhoods to visit open houses and check out other for sale signs. This was the year that we found a property that seems to fit us well. So we offered and the seller accepted!

My question now is - do we keep our DVC since we are only an hour or so from WDW? We do not need to sell DVC in order to buy the house and the member fees will not negatively impact our quality of life - so I say keep the DVC - at least until we see whether we continue to use it or let family members use it.

We will maintain our primary residence in NJ and be snowbirds in FL. I understand that we can go to motor vehicles and obtain Florida resident ID cards...which leads me to wonder if having that ID will permit us to purchase tix, etc with the FL resident benefits. Can anyone offer an answer to that puzzle piece?

Thanx

Actually, depending upon how long at a stretch you'll be spending in Fla. you should get a part time Fla. driver's license. I think over 30 days in the state and you are supposed to have one.

But make an appointment! DL offices take forever.

And yes, that DL will make you a Fla. resident to Disney.

[jamie&Greg]

Hi,
CONGRATS!! I would keep it! We live 2 hours away still own at DVC. In fact I always tell my husband i'm glad we don't live any closer or it wouldn't be such a great trip ;-) You can use your FL Res discount for tickets!! The Fl. Resident discount you get for rooms still doesn't beat DVC!

[disneynutz]

I recommend that you study the residency requirements and regulations for the two States. Mis-understood tax laws can be a real pain and expensive to settle.

[JimC]

We moved to Orlando from PA. Held on to our DVC to see if we still wanted to be members. Bought AKV and VGC and added to our BCV since moving. But we enjoy being on property and really enjoy the resorts. One thing being close does allow is to skip the weekend points. Frequent day trips are fun as well. You do know that you picked the coldest part of central Florida to winter in.

[justloveit]

Congratulations! I hope to be able to do that some day soon. DH and I often talk about this and I would plan on keeping DVC if financially possible. :thumbsup2

[Dean]

Actually, depending upon how long at a stretch you'll be spending in Fla. you should get a part time Fla. driver's license. I think over 30 days in the state and you are supposed to have one.

But make an appointment! DL offices take forever.

And yes, that DL will make you a Fla. resident to Disney.Technically that doesn't make you a resident. However, one does not need to be a resident technically to take advantage of Disney FL discounts. As a rule, a FL only DL will not quality you but tax records, utility bills with a FL address and one's name should do the trick. Still given that FL doesn't have state income taxes, it might be worthwhile changing residence.

[Buckeye Fan]

Congratulations!!! :cheer2:

As for DVC, here's another vote to keep it. :thumbsup2 If it's paid for, the annual MFs will end up being less than what you pay to stay on property, so why not? Honestly, even if we moved to Orlando, I think I'd keep mine. I LOVE being on property, and I love the resorts. Now that we own, I can't imagine not having that as part of our lives. :cloud9:

Hope you enjoy many happy years in your new home! :hug:

[carol1231]

Congratulations! We plan to do the same thing in about 10 years, but will make the move permanently. We plan to keep DVC and do weekend trips to hang out at the pools. So my vote is to keep it!

[AnnaS]

Congratulations on your purchase. We would also love to do that someday.

I would also keep my DVC at least for a few years and see how it works out (unless money was an issue). If you have more than one contract, you can always sell one or if you have only one and you find it's too many, do a small add-on and then sell the original contract.

Good luck and hope it's everything you want it to be.

[palhockeymomof2]

Technically that doesn't make you a resident. However, one does not need to be a resident technically to take advantage of Disney FL discounts. As a rule, a FL only DL will not quality you but tax records, utility bills with a FL address and one's name should do the trick. Still given that FL doesn't have state income taxes, it might be worthwhile changing residence.

So if we bringing a copy of our tax or utility bill with our FL address we should be allow to purchase a disney florida resident seasonal pass ?
Our legal residence is in NY, but we purchased a home in Estero, FL for my son to live in while attending FGCU(and for us to move into in a few years- he has a FL DL since he's in a golf program & planning on living down there once he graduates. I knew my son could purchase the FL resident pass but didn't realize we could as well.

[pb4ugo]

Thanx all for your thoughts and advice - there is so much to consider right now!

...snip...You do know that you picked the coldest part of central Florida to winter in.

But it is so much warmer than our vacation house in Maine and the frozen wasteland of New Jersey! :)

We have visited WDW and the Villages in years when the locals were saying that they were enduring the coldest winter that they can remember - and the temps felt great to us! When the weather reporters tell folks to go out and cover their plants because of the probability of overnite frost, I can only think how great it must be to have plants outside that need to be covered! :flower3:

[pb4ugo]

Technically that doesn't make you a resident. However, one does not need to be a resident technically to take advantage of Disney FL discounts. As a rule, a FL only DL will not quality you but tax records, utility bills with a FL address and one's name should do the trick. Still given that FL doesn't have state income taxes, it might be worthwhile changing residence.

If today's home inspection comes back with a favorable report, then we will have the tax bill and the utility bills to show residency! :upsidedow

And as far as that state income tax issue - I am sure that is somewhere in the back of DH's mind! We hafta evaluate that against the sr. tax freeze that we can get on our NJ property.

Oh my my! So much to sort out! But how nice to hafta do it!

[AnnaS]

Thanx all for your thoughts and advice - there is so much to consider right now!



But it is so much warmer than our vacation house in Maine and the frozen wasteland of New Jersey! :)

We have visited WDW and the Villages in years when the locals were saying that they were enduring the coldest winter that they can remember - and the temps felt great to us! When the weather reporters tell folks to go out and cover their plants because of the probability of overnite frost, I can only think how great it must be to have plants outside that need to be covered! :flower3:



My husband is due home tomorrow from visiting his parents (mil surgery). He has been in Jupiter (FL) for almost two weeks and says it's been chilly. My in-laws are snowbirds and they had to turn the heat on for the first time in the last 8 years they own (snowbirds also). They did not even know how to turn the heat on.

I think I will also take those temperatures compared to ours here - 20s (but more like teen temp. because of the wind).

Have fun with all the planning.

[jodifla]

Technically that doesn't make you a resident. However, one does not need to be a resident technically to take advantage of Disney FL discounts. As a rule, a FL only DL will not quality you but tax records, utility bills with a FL address and one's name should do the trick. Still given that FL doesn't have state income taxes, it might be worthwhile changing residence.

Every report on these boards from folks have said that a Fla. part time Driver's License or a REsident ID both worth for WDW Fla. resident discounts, but that utility bills do not any longer.

[jodifla]

Here's is another thread where the part time driver's license is discussed. Multiple people say they use it for Fla. discounts, and a cast member who works in ticketing says its allowed.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=25450960#post25450960&highlight=Florida+part+time+drivers+license

[spiceycat]

So if we bringing a copy of our tax or utility bill with our FL address we should be allow to purchase a disney florida resident seasonal pass ?
Our legal residence is in NY, but we purchased a home in Estero, FL for my son to live in while attending FGCU(and for us to move into in a few years- he has a FL DL since he's in a golf program & planning on living down there once he graduates. I knew my son could purchase the FL resident pass but didn't realize we could as well.

only if the utility bill is in your name.

if it is in your son name - forget - you can't.

you need both tax and utility bill - both must be in your name.

[dianeschlicht]

Thanx all for your thoughts and advice - there is so much to consider right now!



But it is so much warmer than our vacation house in Maine and the frozen wasteland of New Jersey! :)

We have visited WDW and the Villages in years when the locals were saying that they were enduring the coldest winter that they can remember - and the temps felt great to us! When the weather reporters tell folks to go out and cover their plants because of the probability of overnite frost, I can only think how great it must be to have plants outside that need to be covered! :flower3:

Congratulations for doing what we started to consider this year! We went up to the Villages during our trip last month to visit friends, and I was VERY tempted to buy a house just for winter vacations!

[jodifla]

only if the utility bill is in your name.

if it is in your son name - forget - you can't.

you need both tax and utility bill - both must be in your name.

I'm not sure where you are getting this info from. Bills don't work at WDW to prove Fla. residency.

Only a Fla. Driver's License (full or part time) Fla ID, College ID or Military ID work.

[spiceycat]

disney use to demand a utility bill in the owner name.

DI which some of the college kids got - would not work.

you had then to own property or at least be renting property with your name on the bills.

short time renter did not have their names on the bills.

[palhockeymomof2]

only if the utility bill is in your name.

if it is in your son name - forget - you can't.

you need both tax and utility bill - both must be in your name.

Thanks for the info..everythings in our name...he's 20:laughing: and with the job market there right now lucky he can afford his car payments

[jodifla]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=27963545#post27963545&highlight=+Florida+residence+proof

-- The following items are the only documents accepted as proof of Florida Residency:

* Valid Florida State Drivers License
* Valid Florida State issued ID Card with Florida Address
* Valid Florida Voter’s Registration Card with the Guest's name and address with corresponding photo ID
* Valid Florida University / College Student ID
* Valid Military ID stationed at one of the Florida Military Bases listed below:
o Clearwater Coast Guard Station
o Eglin AFB
o Hurlburt Field AFB
o Jacksonville Naval Air Station
o MacDill AFB
o Mayport Naval Air Station
o Miami Coast Guard Station
o Naval Support Activity - Panama City
o Patrick AFB
o Pensacola Naval Air Station
o Tyndall AFB
o Kennedy Space Center
o Homestead Air Reserve Base
o Key West Naval Air Station
o United States Southern Command (Miami)
o Naval Ordnance Test Unit in Orlando and Cape Canaveral
o Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

[spiceycat]

boy if that true - disney policy has changed big time

they didn't let military get the florida resident before - because they like college students were only temporary residents.

thanks!

[tea pot]

Congratulations... I vote to keep your DVC and remember you can use your Disney points in other places RCI...DCL etc... Dh and I hope to some day sell our home in MA and buy or rent in the St Pete Beach area but still plan on keeping our DVC... Disney is still great place for a family meet...

[Tink-n-Belle]

I'd keep it too!!!

Don't forget that if you love the beach, VB is a great relaxing getaway only about 2-3 hours away that you could enjoy.

Also, if you have visitors (and YES you will have visitors) you can use it to get away for a few days:rotfl2:

[Traveliz]

boy if that true - disney policy has changed big time

they didn't let military get the florida resident before - because they like college students were only temporary residents.

thanks!

Well I know for a fact that my (from out of state) college student daughter got a FL AP last summer with her UCF student ID.

Liz

[Dean]

So if we bringing a copy of our tax or utility bill with our FL address we should be allow to purchase a disney florida resident seasonal pass ?
Our legal residence is in NY, but we purchased a home in Estero, FL for my son to live in while attending FGCU(and for us to move into in a few years- he has a FL DL since he's in a golf program & planning on living down there once he graduates. I knew my son could purchase the FL resident pass but didn't realize we could as well.I know I saw someone recently where Disney had changed what they would accept as proof of residency which is different than technically being a legal resident. I couldn't find the info on Disney's site but I did find another listing.

To show proof of residency, you must provide any one of the following:

Florida driver's license
Florida state-issued ID card (must have Florida address)
Current utility statement with your name and Florida address along with a corresponding picture ID
Florida voter's registration card with corresponding picture ID
This one does list a FL ID which a FL only DL is also. In the past a lot of people had gotten discounts with an ID but I had seen info to suggest they weren't supposed to. Maybe this has changed. Remember every adult will have to prove residency, not just one person. You cannot be a legal resident of more than one state at a time but you can flip back and forth as much as you want. Remember Disney is nothing if not inconsistent.

[allshookup]

Congrats on your new home!!! :cheer2: My Mom lived in the Villages till she passed away last year. DH & I love it there & considered buying a place, but our DD & DS will just be finished with college when we move to FL in about 11 years. We're hoping they'll come live with us after college so no 55+ places for us. We are also hoping to buy within a few years while prices are still relatively low. We may move closer to the Sarasota area where I have relatives & we definitely plan to keep our DVC! Looking forward to driving over for a couple of days every month! :woohoo:

[jodifla]

I know I saw someone recently where Disney had changed what they would accept as proof of residency which is different than technically being a legal resident. I couldn't find the info on Disney's site but I did find another listing.

This one does list a FL ID which a FL only DL is also. In the past a lot of people had gotten discounts with an ID but I had seen info to suggest they weren't supposed to. Maybe this has changed. Remember every adult will have to prove residency, not just one person. You cannot be a legal resident of more than one state at a time but you can flip back and forth as much as you want. Remember Disney is nothing if not inconsistent.

The utility bill hasn't worked for the last couple of years, apparently.

[jodifla]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=25196594#post25196594&highlight=Florida+resident+ID

see post 8

This is a post from Cheshire Figment, who works at ticketing in Disney:



In Florida a person who spends at least 30 consecutive days in the state but is not a full-time resident (generally referred to as a Snowbird) is required to get a Florida Driver's License. Florida will issue special licenses to snowbirds that are only valid within the state and will not require cancellation of the actual resident state license. At the ticket booths we make no differentiation between a regular or special license.

[palhockeymomof2]

thanks everyone for all the great info..:goodvibes .......we visit for no longer than a week so the 30 day rule to apply for the FL only DL would not work....we'll stick with getting our AP's with the DVC discount....

[jodifla]

thanks everyone for all the great info..:goodvibes .......we visit for no longer than a week so the 30 day rule to apply for the FL only DL would not work....we'll stick with getting our AP's with the DVC discount....

If you own a home in Florida, you would still be eligible for the Florida ID card, which would work as local ID when you are there and for the WDW Fla. resident discount.


Check out
http://www.myflorida.com/

[jcf]

I was considering buying a second home there too. What areas are considered nice? What was the name of your neighborhood?

It may be a little more north than where I want to be though I prefer the Eastern side of the State. Are the summers any cooler or just as hot as the rest of the state?

[LoveBWVVBR]

Wow, that is some souvenir:rotfl2: I think you should keep the DVC initially and see if it still works for you. We live a little over an hour from Disney and we've kept our DVC until now. We're looking into selling it because we just don't need them anymore now that we can get such great DVC and Bonnet Creek trades through RCI. We still stay over at Disney plenty even living so closeby, though.

[LoveBWVVBR]

I was considering buying a second home there too. What areas are considered nice? What was the name of your neighborhood?

It may be a little more north than where I want to be though I prefer the Eastern side of the State. Are the summers any cooler or just as hot as the rest of the state?

I live in the most eastern location that you can get (barrier island), and I would have to say that our summers are cooler here than in the rest of the state. It's cooler on the barrier island than on the mainland a mile away too. It's definitely a lot hotter and muggier in Orlando than it is here.

[palhockeymomof2]

If you own a home in Florida, you would still be eligible for the Florida ID card, which would work as local ID when you are there and for the WDW Fla. resident discount.


Check out
http://www.myflorida.com/

:thumbsup2 thanks for the info...i was thinking an FL id card was for non drivers...

[Dean]

:thumbsup2 thanks for the info...i was thinking an FL id card was for non drivers...They also have a FL only DL.

[dis-happy]

Congratulations on your new purchase!!!

I think you should have a housewarming party with all your fellow DVC-DISers to celebrate! :banana:

[JimC]

Thanx all for your thoughts and advice - there is so much to consider right now!



But it is so much warmer than our vacation house in Maine and the frozen wasteland of New Jersey! :)

We have visited WDW and the Villages in years when the locals were saying that they were enduring the coldest winter that they can remember - and the temps felt great to us! When the weather reporters tell folks to go out and cover their plants because of the probability of overnite frost, I can only think how great it must be to have plants outside that need to be covered! :flower3:

LOL! That is exactly what we said before we had lived here a year. It does not take long for the body and mind to recalibrate.

[jco_direwolf]

My question now is - do we keep our DVC since we are only an hour or so from WDW?

I'd keep it. An hour is still an hour EACH WAY. For events like MNSSHP or Food and Wine, I'd rather commute back to my DVC home than think about driving an hour to a house.

Being someone that use to live in Central Fla (don't ask why I moved to New England) I would have to live within about 10-15 minute drive of maingate before I would consider selling my DVC.

I would use it differently. More overnight/3 day weekend trips, rather than week trips with a visit with my parents on the weekend.

johno

[pb4ugo]

I was considering buying a second home there too. What areas are considered nice? What was the name of your neighborhood?

It may be a little more north than where I want to be though I prefer the Eastern side of the State. Are the summers any cooler or just as hot as the rest of the state?


jcf -
we bought in the villages in the silver lake neighborhood - the "historic district"! the area is one of mostly manufactured homes with the occassional site having had that home taken away and a stick built house built there. we like it on that side of the hiway because of the peace and quiet. the other side of 27/441 hosts so many more neighborhoods and homesites as well as the two (and soon to be third town square) and all of the shopping centers. the neighborhoods of silver lake, orange blossom gardens and country club hills have no traffic except for residents and their visitors - and the number of each is far less than the other side!

we bought at the villages because of all that they have to offer - it is a golfer's paradise - but if you don't like golf, that are more than 300 clubs and organizations to join...if you are a joiner. every neighborhood area has its own adult pool, children's pool, executive golf course and a real country club that serves several neighborhoods combined. there are town square celebrations for every holiday, monthly antique car shows, market nites, and music/dancing every nite of the week. the movie theatre in each town square has a seating area in the lobby where one can come in from the heat or the cold and enjoy a beverage without even going to the movie! we couldn't find all of that in just any neighborhood in florida.

i have no idea about the summer temps there as we spend summer at the jersey shore and at the house up in maine. it would be my assumption that it might be cooler but not less humid. with the exception of the tornado that touched down in the villages a few years ago, most of the hurricanes that blow thru florida are pretty much reduced to tropical storms by the time they get to the center of the state where the villages sit.

[palhockeymomof2]

They also have a FL only DL.

:thumbsup2 Thanks for the info...just checked out the FL DMV website and saw we can schedule an appointment....now I have to talk hubby into visiting the DMV while on vacation:sad2: he's not onboard with it yet

[emememem]

We live right outside of Disney and kept our points. we've used them for Vero, Disneyland, and weekend trips to the Boardwalk just to get away. Great for treating our family from the north!!