Anyone live in Orlando?

[Conservative Hippie]

Does living in Orlando make WDW a little less magical? DH and I really want to move back to FL in the next year or two, and DH is hung up on moving to Orlando. He wants to go to WDW any time he wants. I think it may take away from some of the magic--for one thing, staying in the resorts is a big part of the fun for me. I think a few hours away is still close enough that we can pop in for weekend every once in a while. What do you think?

 

[Aimeedyan]

My mom moved to Orlando a few years back to work at WDW... I will say that it's not really magical to her anymore, though she enjoys visiting it. It's not a destination or a vacation, it's just a local park. You know? Course working there plays a huge role in that.

I think part of the "magic" for DH and I is the planning, saving and budgeting, taking off work, choosing the hotel, picking out restaurants, and counting down the days. You lose that when you live there and it becomes more of an everyday thing. But that may not matter to you.

I think a few hours away would be a great compromise if you want to be closer without being too close. Others might think differently, though, just speaking from what my mom has experienced =)

(I will say that living in Orlando rocks for family who like to visit, LOL!)

 

[kerrynic78]

My DH and I went to Epcot tonight and I told him that the one thing I miss about not living in Orlando is staying at one of the resorts. That was one of my favorite things about the trip and I do miss it but Disney is no less magical for me. We have decided instead to just take a weekend once in a while and stay at one of the resorts.

 

[basas]

Remember, Disneyland is in many ways a locals park with something like 600,000 AP holders in Southern California. These folks don't find the park any less magical. Of course, the experience is different and you loose out on the countdown part, or the hotel part...but you gain new things too, like being able to 'pop in' whenever you want, go just to wind down, or even just visit to ride an attraction or two.

I'm not a local, but I sure wouldn't mind living in Orlando!

 

[Feralpeg]

I live ten minutes from WDW property. While it is different living nearby, I can't say that it isn't still magical. It is magical in a different way.

Before moving here, I was always in commando mode trying to do everything on our vacation. I don't have to do that anymore. For instance, today I sat for about an hour at a table in between Ghirardelli and World Of Disney at DTD. I sat there and watched the kids playing in the water being spit by Stitch. It was great. They kids were having so much fun. I particularly got a kick out of an older lady who unknowingly walked under Stitch. He spit right on top of her head. She looked up trying to figure out what cloud had just rained on her.

I had lunch at MGM with DD. Yesterday, we went to AK long enough to do some shopping and ride Kali.

We do just what we want to do and then we go home. If it is too hot or too crowded, we just go back another day.

No more commando for me. I take the magic my way.

 

[safetymom]

It's still magical for me. I agree it is different now. I have the time to see the small things now.

I still get goosebumps at different Disney events.

 

[Quinn222]

You could always stay a weekend in a resort too. It's be a nice splurge and since you'd only stay a couple of nights you could probably afford to stay anywhere you wanted to.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Personally, we're tired of Orlando. We've lived here our whole lives, and are living less than 5 minutes from the parks. We're moving a little further away in 2 weeks (heh, only 10 minutes away then!), and we are SO GLAD that there will be less tourists.

We've discussed how wonderful it must be for people to come here on vacation, and do something like this once a year. For us, it's an every weekend thing. And while it IS nice to have it right here...it gets a little tiresome...and boring. To us, anyways.

What's also a little hard is the fact that a lot of the memories that I have as a child had to do with WDW, but so much of the parks have changed, it really isn't the same. It's a little heartbreaking in a way.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I live ten minutes from WDW property. While it is different living nearby, I can't say that it isn't still magical. It is magical in a different way.

Before moving here, I was always in commando mode trying to do everything on our vacation. I don't have to do that anymore. For instance, today I sat for about an hour at a table in between Ghirardelli and World Of Disney at DTD. I sat there and watched the kids playing in the water being spit by Stitch. It was great. They kids were having so much fun. I particularly got a kick out of an older lady who unknowingly walked under Stitch. He spit right on top of her head. She looked up trying to figure out what cloud had just rained on her.

I had lunch at MGM with DD. Yesterday, we went to AK long enough to do some shopping and ride Kali.

We do just what we want to do and then we go home. If it is too hot or too crowded, we just go back another day.

No more commando for me. I take the magic my way.

Same here! My parents just came down to visit and my Dad was convinced that we'd tire him out while doing Disney because he's never known any other way. He was shocked at how mellow we are now. He had a great time, just going over for a couple hours and leaving when it was too hot or crowded.

Right now we're only a few miles from Animal Kingdom but in 2 weeks we're moving to Clermont. While I've enjoyed being next door to the World, I am looking forward to still being close but in a more residential neighborhood, it'll be the best of both worlds for us. We'll be a little farther away from Disney but much closer to DH's work and all the kids activities.

I don't miss staying at the resorts at all, I love coming home and sleeping in my own bed. If I want a "resort fix" we'll go over and eat at a restaurant/food court and then walk around for awhile. The magic is still alive and well and even better for us since the move.