Living close to WDW

[AParkMark]

We just bought a place close to Disney and will be moving there in a few months. We are huge Disney fans and go quite often now. I was wondering if anyone else has moved to the Orlando area as a Disney fan and either ended up not liking it as much or was it as great as you thought it would be? Thanks for your help.

 

[skychica]

Hummmm, I have wondered the same thing. We thought about moving closer but I think part of the wonderful thing about Disney for us is by the time you get on a plane and get there you seemed to be in a different world. Pardon the pun!

I am also interested to see what others have to say!

Good luck on your move!

Alicia

 

[Beth]

We don't live <i>quite</i> that close - we're a little less than an hour away..

But we've been going over quite frequently since we joined DVC in 4/97.

One thing that helps - we buy the Seasonal Passes - so we have quite a break from early June through early September which, truly, is not when we would want to visit the parks, anyway...

Actually - my DH is going through a bit of burnout right now... He's not as big a fan as I am.. But we were last there the first week of February - and I am dying to get back!! I'm seriously considering riding over after work Saturday afternoon just for a few hours - to get "recharged."

As far as "losing the magic" - we STILL feel like we're a world away when we go over to stay.. Even though we're so close to home - it still really relaxes us to go over there and stay for a night or two!!

 

[DVC Nut]

The first year I lived here was great. What could get any better than being a few minutes away from my favorite place on earth? Now having lived here for quite a few years, it has kind of lost its magic. You find yourself not wanting to wait in a line of any sort thinking "I have a pass I can use whenever, I'll just come back when its not busy". I tend to stay out of tourist areas on my days off now. Hopefully you'll find a happy medium between "the real world" and "fantasy land". Welcome to the neighborhood!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I have to say that 4 hours is "perfect"! Far enough that it is a "trip" but close enough to do more frequently. We are going to get seasonal passes in May !

 

[Serena]

I don't have an answer but welcome to the dis.

 

[eeyore0062]

We are moving to within 30 minutes of Disney this summer. Will I get tired of it?... I certainly hope not! Will I go all of the time... no, but we will go pretty often. There are so many things to do in Central Florida, and I don't want to burn out. We did that with Busch Gardens Williamsburg here in VA.

I cannot wait to move to Florida... not so much because of the tourist areas, but because of the warm climate. I am always happier where it is warmer!

 

[FOJMO]

We moved to FL 13 years ago. First we were about 45 minutes from WDW, now we live near Tampa, about an hour away from WDW.

The first year we were here we bought annual passes. The second and succeeding years we tended to get Florida Resident passes, which are good for most of the year, except the summer and the peak tourist seasons (Christmas, Spring Break, Easter, etc.)

Now, if you live very close to WDW, you will tend to get a lot of visitors from where you came from or where your family and friends live. They will sometimes stay with you, but most times we had people wanting to stay right on WDW property. We usually met up with them and spent time with them at the park or met them for dinner.

I think you will get a BIG benefit if you become Disney Vacation Club members! For the first 5 years we had DVC, we got passes to the park for the time we spent at the Vacation Club Resorts, but that ended in 1998. But even without the passes, you can benefit by just being able to drive there and stay a weekend at one of the resorts if you wanted to. Or, get the Vacation Club Resort and have family join you in a larger unit and make a reunion of it.

The biggest benefit about being close enough to go often to WDW is that you DON'T have to feel as if you only have a limited amount of time and have to cram everything in! You can take it as leisurely as you want, knowing you can easily return another time to catch what you didnt' see. Or, if the weather turns out badly, you can leave and know that you're just a short drive away!

Anyway you look at it -- you're "home".

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by eeyore0062
There are so many things to do in Central Florida, and I don't want to burn out. We did that with Busch Gardens Williamsburg here in VA.

LOL! Last night I dreamed that I moved to VA! My sister lives there. I live about 3 to 3.5 hours from WDW. I'd like to be a little closer since I find that drive a little long. But if you live in the area and don't go too often, I would hope you wouldn't get burned out.

 

[Ilove8Trax]

I lived very close to Disney for about 5 months when i was on the WDW College Program (I also worked there). I rather liked it. I am such a huge Disney lover and being able to go to Beaches and Cream to eat or go for a jog around the Boardwalk, Swan Dolphin, YC/BC area whenever i wanted, was wonderful. The only thing that i hated was the traffic (especially on I-4 in the morning and afternoon) and tourist who pulled off some amazing lane changes while driving around lost. Besides that, the weather in the winter was wonderful. I always wish I was back there. So wish that i was right now

Also wanted to add that i agree with an above response about waiting in lines. Disney can get very annoying if you visit on a very busy day. I easily get cranky with the streets being packed. I also will not wait in any line longer than a half hour. It's not worth it to me, even now not living there any longer. Also, i went to the MK so many times last winter that i got burnt out from it, but i'll always love it!!

 

[montessori]

Welcome AParkMark,
I'm not sure how it would affect me to live VERY close to DW.

We are a three hour drive away, the drive is easy enough and doesn't bother us at all.
We love being able to escape the real world for a couple of days and we love the Disney Resorts almost as much as the Disney parks.
If we lived right next door, I'd have a hard time justifying the expense of staying over in a resort.
If money was no object, and we could continue to spend numerous weekends at a Disney Resort throughout the year, I don't think I'd ever tire of it.
I guess, for me, that would be the only drawback to living too close...not staying over in the resorts.
Otherwise, I don't THINK I'd lose my enthusiasm for DW, it would be great to just hop in the car and go do SOMETHING at Disney World!
It will be interesting to hear from others who do live that close.

Best of luck to you!

 

[FOJMO]

Originally posted by montessori
If money was no object, and we could continue to spend numerous weekends at a Disney Resort throughout the year, I don't think I'd ever tire of it.
I guess, for me, that would be the only drawback to living too close...not staying over in the resorts. /B]

That's the beauty of the Disney Vacation Club! For the money you spend on resorts (full price), you can invest in the DVC and get to stay for reasonable amount of points. AND you can also use your points to stay at other DVC resorts, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Disney Cruise Line and numerous hotels and resorts through the US, Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, etc. etc.

I know I digress from the subject on this thread, but I can't help expounding on the Disney Vacation Club. It's the best thing we ever did!!!!

 

[Carol]

We have asked to get transferred to the Orlando area through my husband's job. We have talked at great length about this very thing. Living in the area that you vacation, could take all the joy out of it. As montessori said, living so close wouldn't justify staying at a resort, and we do love that part of our vacation. Almost as much at the parks. We are very interested in others opinions. The other night after dinner, my husband asked if I would like to go for a walk around Epcot. We both smiled at just the very thought of it.

 

[Otimon]

We live close, work there, and love every minute of it!

 

[montessori]

Originally posted by Carol
... The other night after dinner, my husband asked if I would like to go for a walk around Epcot. We both smiled at just the very thought of it.

Aaaahhh.

 

[kylara]

I literally live right around the corner from Disney. I have lived in the area for over fours years and still get my AP. I have noticed that I do not go as much as when I first moved here..at least not for the whole day like I did for vacations. I am more apt to use my AP to go for a couple of hours to hit a few favorite rides, head to Epcot in the evening to go to dinner and wander around, things like that. It hasn't lessened the magic of the place, it is just that I know I can see things at my own pace, rather than try to fit it into a weeks trip.

 

[Pig Pen]

Kylara - that sounds like my idea of heaven.

We are considering a move to FL. My parents have a large piece of land between Orlando and Ocala and want us to move down. We would be about 50 minutes from WDW. It would be nice to go for dinner and an Epcot walk once a week!

 

[marlasmom]

we now live about 35 minutes away. We bought Florida resident seasonal passes because we really would not go during the blackout dates anyway - too hot and/or too crowded. We always went during November, December, January, February March anyway. I love it more and more.

 

[eeyore0062]

Pig Pen, that area between Ocala and Orlando is beautiful. Hope you take your parents up on their offer!