Moving to Florida assistance thread.

[jsoren11]

So I need help! Wife and I are Ultrasound Techs in Colorado. We want to move to the magic so bad and finally have decided to do so in 5 years.(we have a plan).
so barring price increases, how much will we spend for 6 kids and ourselves to have annual passes to all three big resorts, (WDW, Uni, SeaWorld)?
What would be the best place to live close and possibly be able to see nightly fireworks in the distance, and also not die in traffic in commute to Orlando every morning?
What are proprty taxes and auto registration fees like in florida?
finally last question.... What would be the best route to take in my life to assure that when I retire from the medical field, I get to spend one day a week running the Dumbo ride as a volunteer, or paid, dont care, just always have wanted this!
thanks podcasters for your help!! I know i'll get the best info here over the next five years cause you all are awesome!!

 

[ratherbeatdisney]

No.

 

[jsoren11]

no?

 

[safetymom]

You will love it in Fl. It sounds like you have a look of research to do before you move. My suggestion keep in mind that you don't want to use I-4 for your daily commute to work. Find someplace to live where you can avoid I-4 during rush hours.

 

[alebisi]

I don't live in Florida so I really can't help that much, but I just wanted to say congratulations on that! Sounds like a good plan! I'd love to live in Florida! Let us know how things are working out! Good luck with everything!

 

[MAGGIED]

I am jealous!!!!

 

[PeterPan09]

I moved a year and a half ago and I don't regret it at all. I lived in NJ for my entire life and gradually my family started heading south. My cousins and aunts went first, then my parents and finally I was up there by myself-spending thousands of dollars a year to come down for the holidays. Finally after Christmas of 2007 I said "I'm not doing this anymore!" put the house on the market and left.

The most important issue is employment. I brought my job with me and worked at home for nearly a year, until my company had layoffs due to the economy. Once I got laid off, I got a fast education in the difference between FL salaries and NJ and how tough it is to find a job here. I have a temp job now, and I will be starting a permanent one in about a month-but at a FAR lower salary than I was making. I advise anyone planning a move to have a reserve savings and be ready to adjust your style of living if necessary-and the best plan is to have a job before you start packing. I second Kathy's comment-stay AWAY from I-4 if at all possible. During peak tourist visiting times you spend your life on that dang highway.

As far as the theme parks, I think the FL resident deals are pretty good. All of their websites list the FL resident costs for passes. Busch Gardens and Sea World seem to give you the most bang for your buck, but I do have a Disney AP and will soon be getting one from Universal.

Location....well, I live in Clermont and if you chose the right neighborhood in my town you can see the fireworks from your house.

Disney hires a lot of retired folks, I've met plenty of them there and some of my parent's friends work there. They love it.

 

[safetymom]

I live close enough every night to hear the fireworks. I would have to go up on the roof to see them. I can tell time in the evening by the fireworks.

 

[PeterPan09]

I live close enough every night to hear the fireworks. I would have to go up on the roof to see them. I can tell time in the evening by the fireworks.

I do that too!

Of course, when they change the time it throws me off my schedule...

 

[mainegal]

Do the neighbors ever get annoyed at the sound of fireworks every night?

 

[PeterPan09]

Do the neighbors ever get annoyed at the sound of fireworks every night?

When I moved down here the rental/real estate agents made it clear if you were close enough to the theme parks to hear fireworks so you know going in. At my place you hear them, but it's a sort of thumping sound, I'm not close enough for the real BANG, BANG, BOOM sound. I'm not sure I'd want to be that close.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I would hold off on buying 8 annual passes to every theme park in Florida.

In my first year here...I had a pass for Disney, Pleasure Island, Universal, Sea World etc.

It's not long after you arrive that you realize that living here is not the same as vacationing here. When you live here...you have work, school, laundry, yard work, grocery shopping etc. Life intrudes. Ask yourself a question....how much rime do you have in your current life to devote to something that's just fun. With your current responsibilities.....could you drop everything and run off to a park every day. What about on your day off from work?

I pay about $49 to register my car every year...but that just went up after I registered last year. You have to register your car each year by the last day of the month of your birthday. Mine is April, so I'm niot sure what my new rate will be.

Folks have given VERY VERY Good advice. Try to make absolutely certain that you insure that you do not have to use I-4 during rush hour. I realize that it's hard when you have to find a place to live and a job....but if you can avoid this.....you will have a much happier day. I-4 becomes the worlds longest parking lot.

I'm not trying to discourage you. I LOVE living here.

Oh yeah.....dont mover here in the spring. You dont want your first months in FL to be in 100 degree range.

 

[PeterPan09]

I would hold off on buying 8 annual passes to every theme park in Florida.

In my first year here...I had a pass for Disney, Pleasure Island, Universal, Sea World etc.

It's not long after you arrive that you realize that living here is not the same as vacationing here. When you live here...you have work, school, laundry, yard work, grocery shopping etc. Life intrudes. Ask yourself a question....how much rime do you have in your current life to devote to something that's just fun. With your current responsibilities.....could you drop everything and run off to a park every day. What about on your day off from work?

I pay about $49 to register my car every year...but that just went up after I registered last year. You have to register your car each year by the last day of the month of your birthday. Mine is April, so I'm niot sure what my new rate will be.

Folks have given VERY VERY Good advice. Try to make absolutely certain that you insure that you do not have to use I-4 during rush hour. I realize that it's hard when you have to find a place to live and a job....but if you can avoid this.....you will have a much happier day. I-4 becomes the worlds longest parking lot.

I'm not trying to discourage you. I LOVE living here.

Oh yeah.....dont mover here in the spring. You dont want your first months in FL to be in 100 degree range.[/QUOTE]

Oh YES-very good advice!! I moved in September, and I recommend that time of year highly. It was still kinda hot, but the trend was to get cooler. By the time my first summer came around, I was ready.

 

[jpeka65844]

Sometimes I wish I had the nerve to just up and move to a new place. Leave all my old stuff behind (not my family, of course....) but all the trappings that make up my life (house, car, posessions). Pack like I'm going on vacation and leave the rest behind.

What a fresh start!!!!

 

[PeterPan09]

Sometimes I wish I had the nerve to just up and move to a new place. Leave all my old stuff behind (not my family, of course....) but all the trappings that make up my life (house, car, posessions). Pack like I'm going on vacation and leave the rest behind.

What a fresh start!!!!

It took me YEARS to get up the nerve, and now my only regret was that I didn't do it sooner. I lived all my life in a 10 mile radius from where I was born, except for college. Moving 1000 miles from that was a leap-even though I already had family here.

 

[jsoren11]

OK, no I-4.
I was just curious if anyone on these boards works in the medical field in Florida and knows how the salaries compare to Colorado..
We are looking 5 years out, so it could be completely different than it is now... Wife and I also have toyed with the idea of a company of our own to start and bring to the Orlando area.

What is the area between Orlando and the space coast like? Is it an easier commute into Orlando or is it like Denver, where everything east of town is crap?

The Winter Garden area also has appealed to us so far in our "web" searches.

As far as time to enjoy everything.. We get so depressed living in Denver where everything closes at 7pm for the night, (even on the weekends)!
We would love to be close enough to the parks to just go for a walk or enjoy the magic after work.
Is it fairly reasonable to get into like.. Sea World on a one day Florida resident pass? cheaper than online prices?
we probably wouldnt need annuals for Sea or Busch.

 

[BridetobeDisney]

We are planning the same thing in five years so thanks for asking this. We are currently 6.5 hours from Disney so we know about hot summers, humidity etc. I wish you the best!!

 

[MainStreetFireman]

My DW and I talk about this all the time. The biggest problem is that all of our family lives up here. Beyond that, there is NYC, which we have a love/hate relationship with every day.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know where I would find frank discussion about working for/at WDW? I know there is a CM board. But what about people considering a move or a specific job at WDW? TIA for any help.

 

[WDWtraveler27]

that there is a mighty long time from now!

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

There is a little town called Apopka outside of Orlando. My exhusband and I spent a long period of time there about6 year sago. We could see the fireworks from where we were staying, but trafficwasn't too bad. I always thought if I decided to move in the area that is the first place I'd try.