Moving to Florida assistance thread.

[jsoren11]

thanks Tink. Its not really a long time from now in our rapid lifestyles. Unfortunately our years are flying by so fast, 2015 will be here before we even blink. Hopefully we can slow down and enjoy ourselves during our "golden years" in Orlando.
5 years ago, 2005, seems like 5 minutes ago.

 

[PeterPan09]

OK, no I-4.
I was just curious if anyone on these boards works in the medical field in Florida and knows how the salaries compare to Colorado..
We are looking 5 years out, so it could be completely different than it is now... Wife and I also have toyed with the idea of a company of our own to start and bring to the Orlando area.

What is the area between Orlando and the space coast like? Is it an easier commute into Orlando or is it like Denver, where everything east of town is crap?

The Winter Garden area also has appealed to us so far in our "web" searches.

As far as time to enjoy everything.. We get so depressed living in Denver where everything closes at 7pm for the night, (even on the weekends)!
We would love to be close enough to the parks to just go for a walk or enjoy the magic after work.
Is it fairly reasonable to get into like.. Sea World on a one day Florida resident pass? cheaper than online prices?
we probably wouldnt need annuals for Sea or Busch.

My best suggestion is to make a trip here for the express purpose of checking out the areas. Fly down, rent a car with a GPS and check out the areas that appeal to you.

I live close enough to be able to pop over to the parks after work or on a weekend afternoon and I LOVE that. Yesterday I went to EPCOT and MK after church and housecleaning! Still got in a couple rides in each park and a nice dinner. Living here and having an annual pass removes the pressure of having to do everything-if you get in a couple of attractions it's a successful visit.

I'm on the west side of Orlando, so I don't know much about the area btw Orlando and the Space Coast. Remember WDW is west of Orlando as well. If popping over for an evening is a goal, being on the eastern side might not be where you want to go.

Sea World and Busch Gardens have something called a Fun Card. Florida residents pay less than a single day ticket and can use the pass all year.

 

[MM32830]

Sea World and Busch Gardens have something called a Fun Card. Florida residents pay less than a single day ticket and can use the pass all year.

The only drawback to the SeaWorld Fun Card is that it does not include parking. Their annual pass does.

I just checked their website and their pricing hasn't changed since I purchased my SeaWorld annual pass last year. You can buy a 1 year SeaWorld AP for $99.95 or buy 2 years for $149.95 (that's only $75.00/year). Those prices INCLUDE parking.

I have APs to Disney, Universal and SeaWorld. I just renewed my Universal AP for $119.95. It includes both the Studios and IOA and includes parking. That's a renewal rate. The first time you buy the AP it will cost more but as long as you keep renewing it, you get a substantial discount off the new rate.


___________________
Armand

 

[PeterPan09]

The only drawback to the SeaWorld Fun Card is that it does not include parking. Their annual pass does.

I just checked their website and their pricing hasn't changed since I purchased my SeaWorld annual pass last year. You can buy a 1 year SeaWorld AP for $99.95 or buy 2 years for $149.95 (that's only $75.00/year). Those prices INCLUDE parking.

I have APs to Disney, Universal and SeaWorld. I just renewed my Universal AP for $119.95. It includes both the Studios and IOA and includes parking. That's a renewal rate. The first time you buy the AP it will cost more but as long as you keep renewing it, you get a substantial discount off the new rate.


___________________
Armand

Thanks for that. I only have the Disney AP right now so I wasn't up on the particulars of the other parks. I do want to get one for Universal because I know I will want to see the Harry Potter section when it opens. I'm trying to decide which one to get since they have a couple of different AP options.

 

[MM32830]

I was just curious if anyone on these boards works in the medical field in Florida and knows how the salaries compare to Colorado..
We are looking 5 years out, so it could be completely different than it is now... Wife and I also have toyed with the idea of a company of our own to start and bring to the Orlando area.

What is the area between Orlando and the space coast like? Is it an easier commute into Orlando or is it like Denver, where everything east of town is crap?

The east side of Orlando is beginning to turn into an area that locals are calling "Medical City". The area is expanding slower than expected, mostly due to the credit crunch and the economy. Planned for the next couple of years in East Orlando in Nemours Children Hospital and the VA Medical Center as well as UCF's College of Medicine.

Depending on where you locate in East Orlando will determine the ease of commute, As others have said, I-4 can be a problem at times. I drive I-4 often and the drive can be pleasant but there are times traffic can be heavy.

On the east side of the city we have the East-West Expressway (what the locals call the 408), the Beachline (the 528) and the Central Florida Greeneway (the 417). All carry traffic from east to west (and vice versa). The 417 is the best route to take if it's convenient to where you live since it comes out near Disney. The other two routes require you to take other roads to get you to Disney.

Keep in mind all these roads are toll roads and that can add up if you use them often.

I live on the west side of the city (in Clermont) and use back roads to get to Disney. I can be at Disney in about 30 minutes with just a few traffic lights.



___________________
Armand

 

[jsoren11]

thanks for all the great info. currently my wife and I work for Centura Health which is associated with Adventist Health. We are checking our options as far as transferring down there. That would be the best option. I am a veteran, however, so even the VA would be a good choice for me.
We are so excited to look into everything.
Kissimmee is a pretty nice looking area, kind of west of Celebration, house-price-wise. Bad commute though, Clermont might work.

 

[PeterPan09]

thanks for all the great info. currently my wide and I work for Centura Health which is associated with Adventist Health. We are checking our options as far as transferring down there. That would be the best option. I am a veteran, however, so even the VA would be a good choice for me.
We are so excited to look into everything.
Kissimmee is a pretty nice looking area, kind of west of Celebration, house-price-wise. Bad commute though, Clermont might work.

I live in Clermont too and like it very much.

 

[MM32830]

I live in Clermont too and like it very much.

Me too!




_________________
Armand

 

[Sleepy]

What would be the best place to live close and possibly be able to see nightly fireworks in the distance......

Be forewarned that living close to nightly fireworks can take away from the excitement you feel for occasional fireworks. I live near several firework factories. They are tested frequently. In addition, people set off fireworks for every occassion.....weddings, birthdays, etc. New Years Eve makes any 4th of July in America look weak. It is a 360 view of fireworks for no less than an hour. Are the fireworks beautiful? Absolutely. Do they become boring? Absolutely. Now, when we see fireworks, we acknowledge them like someone would acknowledge a cloud in the sky. Just saying this in case you turn down a place you would otherwise have preferred had it not been for the lack of seeing those fireworks.

 

[jsoren11]

sorry sleepy, I totally lost track of what you were saying after "nightly". I absolutely love fireworks and could watch them every night forever. Maybe its my A.D.D.

 

[shellynn24]

Thank you for posting this. I too am trying to move to FL and I was going to post here to ask a few questions so this thread has been very helpful. For those of you living in Orlando, does living near the World take any of the magic away, or do you still feel the same magic every time you go?

 

[jsoren11]

Anyone work in the medical field in central florida?

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

"""anyone work in the medical field in central florida?""
I do! We (DH & I) moved here in Jan and I am also an ultrasound tech!!!
I am working for Fl Hosp Celebration and so far I LOVE it. We live in Kissimmee in a beautiful apt. Did not want to buy a house until we lived thru one summer.
Did you know Fl Hosp is part of the Advenist Health System? You may be able to transfer and keep your years of service, you should check that out. I think there are 7 or 8 hospitals part of the AHS here in the greater Orlando area.
Good luck with your big move!

 

[safetymom]

Thank you for posting this. I too am trying to move to FL and I was going to post here to ask a few questions so this thread has been very helpful. For those of you living in Orlando, does living near the World take any of the magic away, or do you still feel the same magic every time you go?

I still feel the magic every time I go. I average 80+ visits a year and it never gets old.

 

[PeterPan09]

I still feel the magic every time I go. I average 80+ visits a year and it never gets old.

Me too! I still get a smile on my face every time I drive through the gates!

 

[kaligal]

I wish there would be an entire podcast devoted to "I moved to Orlando."

I want to hear about before the actual decision to move, what made it reality, the moving process, what you all thought it would be like...how it differed. I remember someone (Pete?) saying he'd thought he'd walk in the parks all the time, lol. A friend of mine and I had that same conversation even before Pete (or whoever) said it.

I've driven around. I know that once you're outside the touristy stuff it is VERY flat and plain. But I want to hear more.

There just can't be enough, "I moved to Orlando and..." talk for me.

 

[safetymom]

Moving to Florida has been so much better than I ever thought it would be.

When I put my house up for sale I did what every Disney fan does. I went to WDW for a week. The first person that wanted the house bought it. I was on Mars(Mission Space) when I got the call saying the house was sold. I had to come down for a long weekend to look for a house. I looked at 30 of them and bought house number 25. I had to buy a house and move in less than 3 weeks but I did it. The house is in the perfect location and I love it. I can look out my window to see cows grazing and orange trees. When the orange trees bloom in the Spring the air is heavenly here.

Packing up and moving nearly killed me. Sorting through 27 years of "stuff" was not fun, I hate to paint and after the painting I did I never want to paint again.

The day I moved it was bright and sunny and 70 degrees in December. I live on a hill and I was so worried that the weather would cooperate. The moving van left and an hour later it started to snow. The really heavy stuff, a thunderstorm snow. It snowed all weekend. My closing was on Monday and it was a nasty day. I got my check for the house, drove to the airport, and arrived in Orlando several hours later to sun and warmth.

I love the flat of Fl. I live close to a ridge where there is rolling hills but I don't need that anymore. The scenery here is beautiful. I can be to the beach in a little over an hour. If there is a shuttle launch I can drive down and see it. If I need to take a cruise it is 60 miles away.

When I first moved here I was running around doing outside chores. I soon realized it is sunny here all the time. I wasn't used to that. I love it here. It is one of the best decisions I ever made.

My job at the time transferred with me. As long as I was close to the airport I could be located anywhere. It is so much easier getting to the airport now. No need to time my trips so I am not trying to get to the airport during rush hour.

I think my move was one of the best things I have done in my life. Right behind my late husband and my kids.

 

[PeterPan09]

My family has been in Florida for over 11 years-we're all originally Jersey people but little by little everyone has migrated South. So, three or four times a year, I went to Newark Airport, got on a plane and flew down to visit my parents and relatives. Between the rising cost of airfare, the pet sitting, the limo and the fact that I was the only one left in Jersey, I finally decided in December of 2007 that I had had enough. Came back from that trip, called my realtor buddy and put the condo on the market. It took until August, but I finally got a buyer at a decent price, packed up my stuff, loaded cats and other valuables into my Toyota and headed south.

Like Kathy, I had to adjust to the fact that the sun shines here a LOT and that I don't have to go outside everytime it does or my inside the house chores will never get done.

I brought my job with me and worked from home, but then my company had layoffs and that was the end of that. Right now I have a temp job and hopefully will soon be starting a permanent one. However, the salaries here are MUCH lower than in the NYC/NJ area and that is something you have to adjust to.

I DO walk in the parks quite often. I go after dinner or on a weekend afternoon and get some fresh air and sunshine in my favorite place. Where I live, there is a lot of traffic and businesses so walking there isn't that much fun. A short drive and I'm over in EPCOT or MK and the walking is much more attractive.

Moving to Florida was one of the best decisions I've ever made, and I don't regret it for a minute.

 

[jsoren11]

Thanks everyone for all the awesome coments. The afinity I feel for the parks and the area just reassures me everytime we talk about it that this is really what we are "supposed" to do.
Every time my wife and I speak, Florida is always in the conversation. No place has held our interest like this.
I am an avid planner / guide type person, I love to help anyone that talks about planning a Disney trip. I can't imagine how awesome it will be to have friends visit and tour them around "our area"

It would be great if both my wife and I were able to transfer with the Adventists. It would be the icing on the cake.
(as an Ultrasound tech, do you need to have a separate license to work in Florida like California does?)

I cannot imagine this being a bad choice for us. We are very excited.

Its too bad we have to wait for 5 years, but we also want to enjoy our children's last few years at home here in Colorado too. 5 years will sail by! The housing market is so much lower in Florida than in Colorado, we will be able to put a large amount down on whatever we move into in Florida. We have been looking at homes online in the area around "SPEER LAKE" just south of Winter Garden, anyone live around there?
OK ill shut up now.
Thanks everyone!!!

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

***(as an Ultrasound tech, do you need to have a separate license to work in Florida like California does?)***

No. There is no seperate license in Fl for u/s, just for rad techs.