How far away do the Podcast members live from the parks?

[Vernie822]

Jeff perhaps you should be the new JL

Kidding - but I totally see what you mean. We have contemplated a FL move for a few weeks and I'm not sure if it's just another pipe dream or what, but 3-4 times a month sounds just about right!

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Yes, because there are also so many other cool places to go around there! But I can also understand the "real life" thing. I've lived in the NYC area since the early 80's, but rarely go there, unless it's for something specific, like a Broadway show or something, and even to do that, is rare. And the last time I was on the Circle Line, at the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Radio City, Central Park - or any other major tourist attractions that people come from all over the world to see - I can't even tell you!! I have tons of friends who moved to FL due to their love of Disney, and once they got there and started having to work every day, do laundry, run errands, etc. - most of them are lucky if they get to WDW every few moths or so.

 

[Accident]

I don't really view it as real life is getting in the way. It's not a perpetual vacation and everyone has their entertainment limits. We're going out a lot more than we did before we moved here but it's also still new.. What does change is the day dreaming and planning. When the mood strikes you, you don't need to sit and think about it just go and do it. Having a bad day? lots of destinations to cheer up including disney.. If an expensive party comes out and you can afford it, you can just go. you don't need to decide how to adjust a short week in orlando to fit it in and if your willing to spend that. that might be all the money you spend that quarter for going to disney. It fits into real life and sure there is days I'd rather not be working but that's making a living and happens everywhere.

I think 3-4 times a month is realistic depending on what is happening around disney (and orlando in general). because amc is so close, I can probably add 1 or 2 more times if you would consider a family night at the movies in disney springs a trip to disney. we may walk around part of springs but it's not going to springs teh same way. My daughter has more free time so she is generally doing another trip during the week for what she loves to do solo and starting to join some meetup groups that visit disney as a way to make friends with locals since we are so new here.

 

[AndyPok1]

I probably average out to about twice a month, but the other factor is that because its "always" there, you less want to go when it's crowded or hot. One of my friend's with APs made FP+ for Mine Train after work next week and night Safari the week after. Chances are, that'll be my last time in the parks until late August, except for quick visits to check out new Soarin, new Frozen, etc. Looking back at last year, I went to MK on 6/6, then EPCOT just to see the July 4th fireworks, a random MK on 7/28, and not again until October and Food&Wine.

And to answer the question (even though it wasn't directed at me, I'm pompous like that), I live 20 miles away in the center of downtown. It's about a 25 minute drive to Epcot Parking without traffic... so realistically 35. But my office is by Universal, so that cuts the drive in half. Random trips after work happen more often because of that.

 

[Anastasia Tremaine]

OK, not one of the podcasters but I can relate to the latter part of this. My wife and I are retired and we moved to a neighborhood that is just 2 miles from the castle in the MK. We visit the parks maybe 3-4 times a month. Real life does get in the way. Add to that, we've pretty much seen/done everything we care to do so its not like we have to go to the parks.

But we do have things we like to do in the parks so occasionally we look at each other and say "want to go to Epcot today?". We will then head over for 2-3 hours, sometimes longer.

This is us too. We are 35 min from the parks and I'll make fastpasses at work for the evening but if it there is a chance of rain, we'll cancel because we can always go another day. Plus, there is so much to do around central FL. We love everything about Disney - heck, I chose where I am living because of the proximity to I-4 for easy access to Disney - but we still get out to Sea World and Universal too.
-- Stacy

 

[Tonyz]

Kevin and I are 17 miles to WDW property - 17.2 miles to the Pepper Market.......

 

[ninecrayons]

OK, not one of the podcasters but I can relate to the latter part of this. My wife and I are retired and we moved to a neighborhood that is just 2 miles from the castle in the MK. We visit the parks maybe 3-4 times a month. Real life does get in the way. Add to that, we've pretty much seen/done everything we care to do so its not like we have to go to the parks.

But we do have things we like to do in the parks so occasionally we look at each other and say "want to go to Epcot today?". We will then head over for 2-3 hours, sometimes longer.

That's definitely one of the truths of living here. We're much further away - about a 1.5 hour drive, but we average about 2 visits a month. However sometimes we get busy or DH's work travel means we don't have time to get there that month.

For me the biggest change is in how we tour the parks. When we used to go once or twice a year, it was an all day affair. Now it's much more casual.

 

[Vernie822]

For those of you that live nearby, would you say you prefer living 20-30 minutes away from the parks (where you can drop in on a weeknight for dinner, or a weekend.. although I'm sure traffic is a lot during the week), or maybe 1-1.5 hours where you'd maybe only go 2-3 times a month?

(We are considering a move, not sure if we would prefer the Lake Buena Vista & surrounding area, north of Orlando like in Winter Park, or somewhere else entirely like Tampa or Jacksonville.. I've started researching jobs and cost of living, etc.)

 

[disneysteve]

For those of you that live nearby, would you say you prefer living 20-30 minutes away from the parks (where you can drop in on a weeknight for dinner, or a weekend.. although I'm sure traffic is a lot during the week), or maybe 1-1.5 hours where you'd maybe only go 2-3 times a month?

We have also contemplated that move. For us, if we aren't close enough to pop in easily, it would defeat the point of moving there. We don't want to have to plan a visit because we are an hour or more away. There are plenty of places we really like going that are 60-90 minutes from home now and we rarely get to them because it isn't convenient. For us, in this hypothetical move, 20 minutes would be the outside limit of where we'd want to be.

 

[Vernie822]

We have also contemplated that move. For us, if we aren't close enough to pop in easily, it would defeat the point of moving there. We don't want to have to plan a visit because we are an hour or more away. There are plenty of places we really like going that are 60-90 minutes from home now and we rarely get to them because it isn't convenient. For us, in this hypothetical move, 20 minutes would be the outside limit of where we'd want to be.

That's exactly what I'm thinking. We're contemplating the move for other various reasons (such as I hate getting 2 feet of snow at a time.. and when it's -10 degrees..), but I keep thinking if we're moving there we may as well be within ~30 minutes.

 

[pjweaver]

I would love living 30 minutes away, but then I compare it to another love of mine. We live 2 hours from the Jersey shore and have a house there. My wife is off in the summer, yet we only go twice a month for a few days, and even then it's a matter of doing chores and housework.

When we retire it's a big maybe, because I think an AP would only get me there a few times a month anyway. WDW remains special to us because it is a once a year trip. If I had ice cream for every meal, it wouldn't be special anymore.

I know Jackie drives a good distance to go to Disney, so maybe that makes it more special.

 

[OKW Lover]

For those of you that live nearby, would you say you prefer living 20-30 minutes away from the parks (where you can drop in on a weeknight for dinner, or a weekend.. although I'm sure traffic is a lot during the week), or maybe 1-1.5 hours where you'd maybe only go 2-3 times a month?

We made that exact decision when we moved to FL a couple of years ago. We looked for homes within a 30 minute drive to WDW. Very happy with our choice.

 

[Princess Jes]

We have also contemplated that move. For us, if we aren't close enough to pop in easily, it would defeat the point of moving there. We don't want to have to plan a visit because we are an hour or more away. There are plenty of places we really like going that are 60-90 minutes from home now and we rarely get to them because it isn't convenient. For us, in this hypothetical move, 20 minutes would be the outside limit of where we'd want to be.

20 minutes away and a spare room for Jes, right?

 

[disneysteve]

20 minutes away and a spare room for Jes, right?

Always! (note the HP reference). Heck, we had an extra room for you in January and will have it again in July. You're welcome any time.

 

[Princess Jes]

Thanks Steve!
Now it's just the airfares and spending money that I need to rustle up somewhere.
I think I'd still have to do a split stay. Can't help but need that Disney magic on site.
(Off topic, just got an email from DVC telling me that BLT is under construction during our visit so will YC I think)

 

[disneysteve]

I think I'd still have to do a split stay. Can't help but need that Disney magic on site.

Staying with us wouldn't be magical enough for you?

 

[Princess Jes]

Staying with us wouldn't be magical enough for you?

C'mon mate, you know I didn't mean it like that! I'm such a bully!
Of course it would be magical, but there's something to be said for staying in the Disney bubble, especially for those of us who travel from distant lands to do so

 

[disneysteve]

C'mon mate, you know I didn't mean it like that! I'm such a bully!
Of course it would be magical, but there's something to be said for staying in the Disney bubble, especially for those of us who travel from distant lands to do so

I travel from the distant land of New Jersey.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

He'll put a Mickey chocolate on your pillow at night, and one of those "grows in water" washcloths in your guest bath - right, Steve? As well as bringing you a sample of the ONLY area in the US that makes good bagels and pizza!

 

[disneysteve]

He'll put a Mickey chocolate oh your pillow at night, and one of those "grows in water" washcloths in your guest bath - right, Steve? As well as bringing you a sample of the ONLY area in the US that makes good bagels and pizza!

Chocolate and washcloths - check (even though I know you're not a chocolate lover)
Bagels - I can do that
Pizza - that might be a little challenging. You'll just have to take care of that in NYC.