Not to be the buster of the bubble, but I have been reading a lot of "Moving to Orlando" threads lately, and I wanna just make some comments on my experience's here over the last 9yrs.
- Orlando and Tampa are VERY major cities, with LOTS of major companies located within them. The one major highway that runs through the city, I-4, can be a nightmare to drive on during rush hours, weekends, and whenever it rains. I am not being overly dramatic about this.
- The job market in this area is VERY VERY slim. Our unemployment rate is somewhere around 6%, and when jobs do open, there is a LOT of competion.
- A lot of people have the belief they will work for Disney, and it will be sunshine and rainbows. Sadly, this is not the case either. While Disney is the major employer in the area, the pay, is about $7 an hour, if that. The hours, not always the best, and getting time off, difficult at best. Universal and Sea World are no better. Please find a solid job before coming here.
- The housing may be everywhere, but many neighborhoods are plagued with forclosures. Also while we do not have a state tax, some places pay more in taxes than others. Keep this in mind.
- Learn the areas where to live. Like I said, try not to decide on an area to live, just because its close to Disney. Find a job first, then find the happy medium. I live in Poinciana, which is just outside of Kissimmee. I can get to WDW in about 30, with very little to no time on I-4. Once you find an area...RESEARCH everything you can.
Now here is what I like about living here..
- Shorts are normal about 10 months or more.
- Theme Parks are close when I need them, but burnout settles in VERY quick. I cannot handle crowds.
-2 Major airports within driving distance, meaning 2 different locations for flights out.
-2 Major cities close by
-A larger variety of stores, with more coming all the time.
-Watching shuttle launches from my front yard, and being outside when they land, getting the double sonic booms!
And a few more negatives...
- THE BUGS!!! OH MY! Scorpians, Spiders, Lovebugs, and lots of other creepy crawlys!
- The humidity. Some days, it gets like the surface of the sun.
-Bugs!
-Traffic..winter is worse, due to the snowbirds.
-Did I mention bugs?
Again, I dont want to rain on anyone's moving to Orlando parade, I just wanted people to be aware that its more than just the home of Mickey.