How safe is the surrounding area of Orlando?

[avanem5791]

My parents are really upset and think it is too dangerous for a 19 year old girl to travel and live in Orlando, FL without "parental" supervision

Is any of the surrounding areas of Disney bad? Has anyone had any trouble with gangs?

Any information would help..

I need to console my parents in some way! ):

 

[Meg13]

I moved down there for my CareerStart Program two weeks after I turned 18; I never had any problems whatsoever. I'm not the most social type, so any time I actually left the apartment complexes to go anywhere, I was in a large group. I can't remember any of my friends on the program having problems with "bad parts of town", either.

 

[BabySimba]

I'm 18 and my parents are hesitant about me going as well. Especially since it would be my first time living "alone" and they'd be in Canada while I'm in Florida. But honestly, nothing outside of Disney really interests me in Orlando. Like Meg, I'm not the social type. I also don't like being outside after dark.

I'd say the best bet is to a) travel in groups and/or b) stay on Disney property. You should probably stay on Disney property at night time too. So don't go to bars and clubs after dark since there will probably be some weird people hanging around there who will most likely be drunk and looking for company.

I'd also suggest staying away from places like Old Town. Some people love going there, but I've heard lots of sketchy things go down in that part of Orlando.

 

[piratechick]

Orlando is just like any other city. There are bad spots, but you can tell where it is typically by it's state. Also, Disney is not close to any of it. Disney is located more outside of Orlando in the rural area. The apartments where the cps live is the same way. They are in a rural/suburban area as well. We are actually more in the tourist area actually. Its mainly just tourist that visit that area. Its surrounded by restaurants and hotels and not a lot of homes (only vacation homes and apartments). Vista Way is just down the street from the entrance to Downtown Disney and Patterson and Chatham are right along International Drive where Seaworld and a lot of stores and restaurants are located. In my last two programs, I had never once accounted any bad areas. The CP apartments have security as well. No one is allowed in without an ID stating that you live there and any guests must be signed in by a CP. If you go on Google maps, you can look at the Vista Way Apartments by satellite map and it's surrounding area to see how it looks like.

 

[cameronwdwcp]

haha, how coincidental. yall are in the same issue i am with my parents saying that it's not safe.

 

[YesIStillLoveDisney]

I have had similar conversations in the past with my parents starting with my senior year of high school when I decided to spend the entire summer after (and I was still 17 until the end of August) working at an amusement park in Ohio. It all came down to my dad finally telling my mom that if they didn't let me grow up and learn to take care of myself now when was a good time to start?

Frankly, I lived in slum housing and their company housing was not exactly safe. Disney is completely different though and if ever there is a case for my dad's argument, Disney would be it. I went for my program after a year of living at school and I have decided that I was a whole lot safer at Disney. Not that my school is unsafe in any way but Disney is really structured and probably the most controlled freedom your parents are going to find. If you can't manage to live on you own and take care of yourself when you have mandatory check ins o make sure that you are keeping your apartment reasonably clean, have security 24/7 both at the gate and walking around, etc, you would probably have a hard time taking care of yourself anywhere.

Just don't be dumb and use the same common sense you would even at home. Don't park in the back of the Walmart parking lot at 2am ). If you HAVE to go then, park up front by the doors), don't be wandering and walking around late at night (I don't count Disney property in this), and preferably if you drive into an area that seems shady, get out!

I came from a pretty sheltered, suburban, boring town so it isn't as if I worried about things too much at home but as long as you have some common sense you should be fine.

 

[Iris]

My parents are really upset and think it is too dangerous for a 19 year old girl to travel and live in Orlando, FL without "parental" supervision

Is any of the surrounding areas of Disney bad? Has anyone had any trouble with gangs?

Any information would help..

I need to console my parents in some way! ):

My daughter went down for her program last fall a few weeks after she turned 18 and was one of the youngest ones there. While I have issues with Orlando itself, I had no worries about her going down for the program knowing she was going to be at Disney Housing. All the complexes are gated and you must be signed in by a participant in order to gain entry into the complex. Random people off the street are not allowed to enter.

She lived at Vista Way in the fall and now lives in Chatham and I feel quite secure that she is pretty safe. As others have mentioned, if you travel outside of the Disney area, it is a good idea to go in groups. Most of the time they stay on property anyway so it really never becomes an issue.

She is far from home but I know that she is pretty safe where she is.

 

[robinsonsfan]

I guess this all has to do with where one has grown up. I lived a good portion of my childhood in New York City, and honestly its not as bad as the media and other people make it out to be. If you can spot the "bad" neighborhoods, then just stay away. If you see someone being loud and obnoxious or under the influence, just stay away from them.

However, Disney itself is not in Orlando, like it was said before. I plan on exploring parts of Florida when I am down there, such as Tampa Bay, and maybe a day trip down to the Florida Keys, since I'll have my car down there. I love Disney, but staying on property for all 7 months, I think I would go insane! But thats just me!

 

[grlwonder]

Disney is not exactly in Orlando, it's in Kissimmee. My parents are also worried about this question which is why they don't want me to do the CP, amoung many other things they are concerned about. Disney cares about the safety of their workers. I think the people who really go outside of the Disney area to Orlando are probably going for clubs and bars, and they have to be careful in the middle of the night. I am not a person that goes drinking and dancing, so I would most likely stay in the Disney area. It's probably like a college campus with police near by to make sure everything is okay.

 

[Dreamstuff]

I guess this all has to do with where one has grown up. I lived a good portion of my childhood in New York City, and honestly its not as bad as the media and other people make it out to be. If you can spot the "bad" neighborhoods, then just stay away. If you see someone being loud and obnoxious or under the influence, just stay away from them.

However, Disney itself is not in Orlando, like it was said before. I plan on exploring parts of Florida when I am down there, such as Tampa Bay, and maybe a day trip down to the Florida Keys, since I'll have my car down there. I love Disney, but staying on property for all 7 months, I think I would go insane! But thats just me!

I live in The Bronx, NYC. Orlando is all bunnies and sunshine in comparison.
Mind you the Bronx isn't even dangerous, it's all about people's perceptions.

 

[robinsonsfan]

I live in The Bronx, NYC. Orlando is all bunnies and sunshine in comparison.
Mind you the Bronx isn't even dangerous, it's all about people's perceptions.

Exactly my point! That's why I put "bad" in quotes, because its whoever perceives it as "bad"!

 

[Woodskeeper]

Disney is not exactly in Orlando, it's in Kissimmee. My parents are also worried about this question which is why they don't want me to do the CP, amoung many other things they are concerned about. Disney cares about the safety of their workers. I think the people who really go outside of the Disney area to Orlando are probably going for clubs and bars, and they have to be careful in the middle of the night. I am not a person that goes drinking and dancing, so I would most likely stay in the Disney area. It's probably like a college campus with police near by to make sure everything is okay.

Hehe, I know Orlando is getting all this bad rap for being dangerous, but to be honest, Kissimmee is worse... Luckily, Disney is in neither. It's in a small small suburb between Kissimmee and Orlando called Lake Buena Vista, which Disney owns. If you stay in the Disney area, you should be fine.

If you do venture out (which you should, because Orlando is REALLY awesome) just be smart about it. Orlando got the title "most dangerous city in America" because we had a high number of crimes, but the majority of these crimes were personal and not random. They were because of drug deals, bad relationships, etc. If you're not into that "scene" then Orlando is perfectly harmless.

Sure there are a couple areas you should stay away from, but what city doesn't have those areas? If you want to PM me I can suggest some really cool places to check out

 

[littlewitch34]

Honestly, Disney is super-safe. Don't venture into unsafe areas of Orlando. Every city has safer and less safe areas. Don't go into places that area really sketchy. It's safe, especially considering how often you're actually on Disney property in the program. This week I was off-property twice. I went to the Florida Mall (safe) and then Walmart (safe, except for all the people who don't know how to push their shopping carts! My ankles hurt!) The rest of the week, I've been on property at my apartment, or at work. I don't work in the parks, but I feel totally safe at Downtown Disney, walking to the bus stop at night after work, even at midnight or almost 1 AM.

 

[Woodskeeper]

Honestly, Disney is super-safe. Don't venture into unsafe areas of Orlando. Every city has safer and less safe areas. Don't go into places that area really sketchy. It's safe, especially considering how often you're actually on Disney property in the program. This week I was off-property twice. I went to the Florida Mall (safe) and then Walmart (safe, except for all the people who don't know how to push their shopping carts! My ankles hurt!) The rest of the week, I've been on property at my apartment, or at work. I don't work in the parks, but I feel totally safe at Downtown Disney, walking to the bus stop at night after work, even at midnight or almost 1 AM.

Well... the Florida Mall is great! But it's really not that safe at night... it's on OBT (albeit the safer side of OBT) which is popular for drug deals and hookers, but only at night.

 

[Lady SnowElla]

My daughter went down for her program last fall a few weeks after she turned 18 and was one of the youngest ones there. While I have issues with Orlando itself, I had no worries about her going down for the program knowing she was going to be at Disney Housing. All the complexes are gated and you must be signed in by a participant in order to gain entry into the complex. Random people off the street are not allowed to enter.

She lived at Vista Way in the fall and now lives in Chatham and I feel quite secure that she is pretty safe. As others have mentioned, if you travel outside of the Disney area, it is a good idea to go in groups. Most of the time they stay on property anyway so it really never becomes an issue.

She is far from home but I know that she is pretty safe where she is.

Does she prefer Chatham to Vista Way? Was one easier to get to shopping etc than the other?

I sent you a PM with a couple parent questions? Thanks

 

[WVTinkGrl]

It sounds like some of you really know the area. Would you happen to know of any apartments off disney property. I'm married and my husband isn't eligible to do the college program, so I need to find someplace to live.

 

[indianabrit]

My hometown is Laredo, Tx. It's on the Mexican border so there are always cases on the news of people getting kidnapped, shot, stabbed, etc.

I never really worry about safety because I always use my philosophy: If you are looking for trouble... you WILL find it. I imagine this is the same far all "dangerous" or "bad" places.

But as for safety advice? The best things to remember would be:

-ALWAYS use the buddy system
-Get familiar with your new area.
-ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings. This includes people in your surroundings.
-Never go with strangers. EVER.
-Leave contact information with your roommates (parents #, your #, etc.)

 

[MinnieLu]

Hi! I was a CP in fall 03 and lived in Chatham then I actually moved back down to Orlando in 04 and was a CM living right off property for about 3 years. I hope I can give you some useful info about the area. First of all, the area right around Disney is not dangerous. Of course you should use common sense like you would anywhere else, but it is a pretty area and there are a lot of families living there. As you drive down I-Drive toward Universal it gets a bit shady, but still not bad. Downtown Orlando and areas near the Florida Mall aren't wonderful, but again, just use common sense. Gangs and people like that don't venture out to Lake Buena Vista- there really isn't anything there for them (especially since they closed PI)

When I was a CP, my friends and I never ventured far from Disney Property and I didn't know many people who did. There are plenty of restaurants and activities in the immediate area and plus, you get discounts at most places on Disney property and since you aren't exactly going to be making a ton of money, that's where you spend your time.

I hope your parents let you go, it was one of the best experiences of my life. Really, the only trouble I saw CP's get into, they caused themselves (drinking underage, missing work etc.)

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Like I said, from living down there, I am very familiar with the area and what goes on.

 

[MinnieLu]

It sounds like some of you really know the area. Would you happen to know of any apartments off disney property. I'm married and my husband isn't eligible to do the college program, so I need to find someplace to live.

535 (Apopka Vineland Rd.) runs along Disney property. There are quite a few apartment complexes there. I have lived in both Alexandria and Parc Vue and I know a lot of other CMs live there too. If you go a little further out (Hunter's Creek, Davenport, etc.) you usually can find more economical places to rent, but the drive is a little longer.