A Disney Relocation

[TacoBaco]

How many Disers have up and moved to Florida, just to be closer to the magic? Any regrets? Knowing now, what you didn't know then, what might you change or do differently?

 

[safetymom]

I did. If I had known how great it was living close to the parks I would have done it years earlier!!!! No regrets. The magic is till there for me every time I visit the parks.

 

[OKW Lover]

Haven't done it yet but hope to do so by the end of the year. I just retired (after 39 years) and am ready to leave the New England winters behind me. My wife and I are both big Disney nuts (visiting 4+ times a year) and expect to find a place near WDW, but not so close that we are in a heavily tourist influenced area.

 

[tink1953]

we also hope to retire near the mouse next year!!
I can't wait to be so close to the magic

BArb

 

[TacoBaco]

I did. If I had known how great it was living close to the parks I would have done it years earlier!!!! No regrets. The magic is till there for me every time I visit the parks.

WOW,,, thanks for that. Although I don't currently get to visit Disney as often as I like, I do consider myself a bit of a Disney nut. I currently reside in Ohio, and I am getting ready to put my home up for sale, and move into the Orlando area. I'm terrified, and excited all at the same time. I've never done anything like this before.

Any tips, or suggestions?

 

[2girlsmom]

While I didn't move here JUST for WDW, I did move to Florida last year, and the parks were part of why Florida was where we moved, but in my case my entire family (brother, sister, parents and my dh & I) moved to florida within one year's time. I will say, unless you are financially able to be retired, it is HARD to find jobs here still. I transferred with my job and my sister got hired by Universal, but both our husbands had months of looking before finally getting something, and in my husband's case, took a HUGE paycut to get something, doing pretty much the exact same job (electronics for county government) for roughly half the pay he was making in Iowa. So that is definitely something to consider. Also traffic is very different here than in many places around the country, so be prepared for drives of 20 miles to take 1 hour or more, depending on where you are and where you need to go. We live in the Tampa Bay, my sister is in Kissimmee. We both work approx 20 miles from our homes. My drive routinely takes between 45-90 minutes, and hers varies from 20 minutes in low season (to the park, approx 18 miles) to 90 minutes (to her offices, approx 23 miles) during Easter week, for example.

Having said all that, I LOVE Florida, can't imagine moving back to the cold again, love being able to hit the parks whenever we want, go to the beach, etc.

 

[disneygal29]

This is my dream for retirement!!! My husband wants to move to Montana! I told him to have fun...I'm headed to Disney to be Mrs. Potts Hope it can work out someday!!!!!

 

[PLibster]

Moved 10 minutes from Disney on March 28 this year. It has almost been a month and we love it! Hubby is working at Downtown Disney and I am a home-based TA specializing in Disney Destinations!

It was always a dream of ours to move to Florida and we love Disney so much that we just had to make it happen! Work was awful for my hubby in SC, so it was time to make the move. We didn't do it until jobs were secure and neighborhoods were searched. Gotta be smart!

 

[TacoBaco]

Moved 10 minutes from Disney on March 28 this year. It has almost been a month and we love it! Hubby is working at Downtown Disney and I am a home-based TA specializing in Disney Destinations!

It was always a dream of ours to move to Florida and we love Disney so much that we just had to make it happen! Work was awful for my hubby in SC, so it was time to make the move. We didn't do it until jobs were secure and neighborhoods were searched. Gotta be smart!

That's defiantly the plan, did you find it hard to secure jobs when you couldn't interview for them on site?

 

[Brian_WDW74]

This isn't really a Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies issue, so I've moved this thread to the Theme Parks Community board.

 

[TacoBaco]

This isn't really a Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies issue, so I've moved this thread to the Theme Parks Community board.

Sorry

 

[TacoBaco]

Wait, MOD, How bout just the Community thread, instead of the Theme parks community thread. Cause now I just feel buried under a bunch of games, and photos. Sorry, please and thank you!

 

[Jhuff8181]

How far did you move?

How close to WDW are you now?

Do you go to the parks more often?

Do you stay at WDW resorts more often?

Do you have any regrets?

Just curious, thank you.

 

[SydneyJoLynn]

I have moved closer, [but keep in mind, I work in the parks.]

I had previously lived closer to UCF, which is about 45 minutes away from the property. Ever since I've moved, I have gone to the parks and property much more on my time off. I haven't found a reason to stay in the resorts though. Instead, I'll book dining reservations in the resorts, or visit them for the entertainment. [Or visit Poly to watch Wishes!!]

No regrets. I can hear the finale from illuminations if I listen carefully enough outside. It's very faint, but to think that I'm just over 8 miles from Disney...

 

[jaiwin]

I have moved closer, [but keep in mind, I work in the parks.]

I had previously lived closer to UCF, which is about 45 minutes away from the property. Ever since I've moved, I have gone to the parks and property much more on my time off. I haven't found a reason to stay in the resorts though. Instead, I'll book dining reservations in the resorts, or visit them for the entertainment. [Or visit Poly to watch Wishes!!]

No regrets. I can hear the finale from illuminations if I listen carefully enough outside. It's very faint, but to think that I'm just over 8 miles from Disney...

Would be ok to ask what town you live in? Or what areas you would pefer, or want to stay away from. My family is considering moving down there from Indiana ourselves and arent real familiar with Orlando area. We would love to find the perfect area, but I guess I cant live in the Magic Kingdom can I

 

[mesaboy2]

Would be ok to ask what town you live in? Or what areas you would pefer, or want to stay away from. My family is considering moving down there from Indiana ourselves and arent real familiar with Orlando area. We would love to find the perfect area, but I guess I cant live in the Magic Kingdom can I

What's your budget?

 

[World Showcaser]

What an interesting topic! I do hope to move to FLA someday...some day. sigh.

 

[DebbieW]

Yes. I spent at least the last 10 years of my career planning to move to Florida so that I could work at and/or visit Disney whenever I wanted. We moved from Ohio and have been here for 14 months.

We currently live in a beautiful apartment complex that is basically at the corner of 192 West and Route 27. We are roughly 6 miles from Walt Disney World. It takes 20 minutes to drive there on a good day, which is almost always the case. On a couple of occasions I've run into traffic that has extended the drive time.

My husband is currently living my dream. He got a job at Disney. I am semi-enjoying not working. It has taken me quite a while to decompress after working for 35 years. I just recently put my application in to work at Disney. I could stand to lose 20 pounds so I don't look stuffed into whatever costume (uniform) they make me wear, which is another reason I've put off getting a job there. I know that sounds stupid....what can I say! LOL. Losing 20 pounds is proving to be more difficult than I anticipated (I love to eat), so I'm just going to forget about it and get a job at Disney, like I've always wanted to do.

We do not stay overnight at the resorts because we have two little dogs and they've never been boarded. We just enjoy being able to go over to the parks whenever we want and we come home when we're done.

I have no real regrets. Both of my daughters are grown and on their own. It was difficult to move so far away from them, but that's the way life goes. One of my daughters recently gave birth to twins, so I have two grandchildren that I probably won't get to see very often. I do regret that. But again, there's no guarantee that she would have stayed in Ohio even if I still lived there.

Debbie

 

[SydneyJoLynn]

Would be ok to ask what town you live in? Or what areas you would pefer, or want to stay away from. My family is considering moving down there from Indiana ourselves and arent real familiar with Orlando area. We would love to find the perfect area, but I guess I cant live in the Magic Kingdom can I

I'm living in Hunters Creek. It's nice. I think it was recently named #21 out of 100 cities or something, which is great for resale. Haha..

 

[saxman]

This thread's got my interest.