Moving to Orlando (FL DISers, need your tips!)

[Massy]

Hey there!

I decided to mive to florida around the beginning of 2017! I really need some local folks to help me out with some advice. Im plannin to move from nyc to orlando (winter garden) and stay with a friend (she just moved there) until i get a car and a job. I just became a mommy and im planing to leave the baby with my mother until im set in orlando. My questions are:

-is winter garden a good area?

-should i get the car or the job first?

- what kind of job can i get with a AA in travel and tourism? (6+ of experience in the hospitality world)

-what other suggestions do you have for me?

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

The area that falls under the Winter Garden zip code encompasses a few different types of areas. Some of them are nice, some of them are less so. Downtown WG is supposed to be good (I've never bothered to go there but this is what I've heard), and the suburb-y area I live in is nice, but some of the area in the vicinity of West Colonial Drive is a little rougher. My gym and pharmacy are both up there and it's not nearly as bad as some places I lived in NYC, but I like where I live now better.

There's not a lot of public transit down here - Lynx isn't totally horrible if you live where it goes, but it doesn't even remotely compare to NYC's transit system. So, you'll probably need a car to even get a job, unless you've got someone willing to drive you around.

What kind of job you can get probably depends on what kind you're looking for. I have co-workers at Disney with master's degrees doing the same job as I do, so I wouldn't count on an AA taking you too far. (I don't mean to be rude by stating this - I don't have any college degree.)

 

[Nayan]

Biggest suggestion, don't move down here. Not saying it to be mean, but the reality is that T&T folks are a dime a dozen down here and if you plan on supporting yourself and a child with wages being as low as they are for that type of work you'd be better off staying where you're at.

 

[minnie56]

I'm in Canada but moved to Florida some years ago...we lasted a year.
It's one thing to vacation there and in fact we had owned a condo the for many years and spent a lot of time there so thought we had it well thought out.We weren't prepared to take the drop in our lifestyle that definetly would have ensued and the mediocre education our girls were receiving.

 

[aquabone1109]

I'm in Canada but moved to Florida some years ago...we lasted a year.
It's one thing to vacation there and in fact we had owned a condo the for many years and spent a lot of time there so thought we had it well thought out.We weren't prepared to take the drop in our lifestyle that definetly would have ensued and the mediocre education our girls were receiving.

Exactly. Before my wife and I got married, we bought a townhouse in downtown Celebration. We thought we would be living there for a long time and never considered leaving. That lasted 2 years and we got out. We still own the place in Celebration which is rented out now. We headed down to South Florida, bought a home and started a family. Now we are in North Miami. Never again will I live in Orlando. Vacationing there is not bad but living there is horrible. Also, I noticed that the wages in Orlando are a lot lower than other areas of Florida. Out of College with a masters I was offered barely $10 an hour working in IT for Disney.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

. Vacationing there is not bad but living there is horrible. Also, I noticed that the wages in Orlando are a lot lower than other areas of Florida. Out of College with a masters I was offered barely $10 an hour working in IT for Disney.

Sorry your experience was bad, but that's kind of a harsh, broad brush to paint all of Orlando with.

For the OP, I wouldn't recommend moving here unless you've secured a good job and own a car. Hospitality jobs here generally start at $10/hour, sometimes a little more if you're working front desk at a nice hotel. If you have any previous management experience you could move up but again, in the hospitality industry wages are very low. I can't imagine supporting oneself and a child on $10/hour.

 

[aquabone1109]

Sorry your experience was bad, but that's kind of a harsh, broad brush to paint all of Orlando with.

For the OP, I wouldn't recommend moving here unless you've secured a good job and own a car. Hospitality jobs here generally start at $10/hour, sometimes a little more if you're working front desk at a nice hotel. If you have any previous management experience you could move up but again, in the hospitality industry wages are very low. I can't imagine supporting oneself and a child on $10/hour.

Just being honest. People picture moving to Orlando with jobs waiting for them. They go to the parks every weekend, go to downtown disney and do all the tourist stuff. End up slaving at a $10 an hour job barely making it and being disappointed not being able to have the disney experience. Should have a job, car and living arrangements made before moving to Orlando. Also be careful where you live. There are some shady aread all over Orlando, Kissimmee area.

 

[diznygirl]

Exactly. Before my wife and I got married, we bought a townhouse in downtown Celebration. We thought we would be living there for a long time and never considered leaving. That lasted 2 years and we got out. We still own the place in Celebration which is rented out now. We headed down to South Florida, bought a home and started a family. Now we are in North Miami. Never again will I live in Orlando. Vacationing there is not bad but living there is horrible. Also, I noticed that the wages in Orlando are a lot lower than other areas of Florida. Out of College with a masters I was offered barely $10 an hour working in IT for Disney.

Howdy former neighbor. Hope you guys haven't had to deal with the rebuilding of your townhouse that others downtown have had to deal with.

Yes, wages are lower. Truth. And there is too much homelessness. Truth. So many people come down here expecting it will be easy to find a job and live their "dream."

Hey there!

I decided to mive to florida around the beginning of 2017! I really need some local folks to help me out with some advice. Im plannin to move from nyc to orlando (winter garden) and stay with a friend (she just moved there) until i get a car and a job. I just became a mommy and im planing to leave the baby with my mother until im set in orlando. My questions are:

-is winter garden a good area?

-should i get the car or the job first?

- what kind of job can i get with a AA in travel and tourism? (6+ of experience in the hospitality world)

-what other suggestions do you have for me?

Stay home with your baby.

 

[book_junkie]

Hey there!

I decided to mive to florida around the beginning of 2017! I really need some local folks to help me out with some advice. Im plannin to move from nyc to orlando (winter garden) and stay with a friend (she just moved there) until i get a car and a job. I just became a mommy and im planing to leave the baby with my mother until im set in orlando. My questions are:

-is winter garden a good area?

-should i get the car or the job first?

- what kind of job can i get with a AA in travel and tourism? (6+ of experience in the hospitality world)

-what other suggestions do you have for me?

Do not move ANYWHERE unless you have a guaranteed job.

 

[lakelandgal70]

Do not move ANYWHERE unless you have a guaranteed job.

This times 100. And be prepared for lower wages depending on what industry you work in. So many people vacation here and think that it would be awesome to live here but honestly, this is just my opinion, Florida isn't all pixie dust and rainbows. Do your research before you come down here. There are better places to live in Florida than Orlando area. Again this is just my opinion and I have been living here 40 years.

 

[pocomom]

Hey there!

I decided to mive to florida around the beginning of 2017! I really need some local folks to help me out with some advice. Im plannin to move from nyc to orlando (winter garden) and stay with a friend (she just moved there) until i get a car and a job. I just became a mommy and im planing to leave the baby with my mother until im set in orlando. My questions are:

-is winter garden a good area?

-should i get the car or the job first?

- what kind of job can i get with a AA in travel and tourism? (6+ of experience in the hospitality world)

-what other suggestions do you have for me?

10 months is enough time to thoroughly research your decision. I would both start saving money now, buy a car before you go or have the money saved up ahead of time and find a position and have an idea of what your housing options will be. Create a budget and see if your plan is feasible. Will you be able to pay for childcare, housing, car insurance/maintenence, eventually on a realistic salary for the area?

 

[LiveYourLife]

Interesting first post.

If this is true, my advice would be for you to stay in your hometown and provide a stable/secure life for your new baby there. Orlando is not going anywhere.

As I said, interesting.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Do not move ANYWHERE unless you have a guaranteed job.

This cannot be said loud enough.

 

[FINFAN]

Do not move ANYWHERE unless you have a guaranteed job.

WITH health and dental insurance, there is a baby ~ or at least pays enough to cover policies OOP. Have at least 1 years living expenses in the bank. I love Florida, I still hope to move there one day, but the right job scenario has not happened for my DH (a reasonable one that doesn't mean cutting his salary/benefits to beans for his experience~ he has worked HARD to get where he is, not gonna ask him to give that up ) we got close , but the additional HO insurance and HOA fees for areas we we interested in on top of the cost for the home~ were affecting the quality of lifestyle we hope to have (as in ACTUALLY retiring before death lol). It's not our plan to move there and be stressed more than here, lol. I get it though, there is something about FL for me, it is home and one day I will get back to it. Good luck OP, many have done well moving to FL~we don't know what your circumstances/living situation is like currently, making the move could be better or worse. Lots of good advice on this thread, FL is one of those states that a lot of people move to , and from.

 

[Massy]

Not orlando...hmmm miame is best?

 

[Wailea]

I've lived in Orlando for about 20 years. You WILL need a car in Orlando. Not having one is really not an option here, especially with a little one. Also, as stated several times above, expect about $10/hour, which sounds about right for a hospitality job (hotel/park/customer service/call center) unless you have tons of experience in a managerial position and are lucky enough to find an opening. I also want to mention that while wages here are pretty low, childcare is VERY pricey and will take a big chunk of your paycheck. You definitely want to take that into consideration.
I love living here but people do need to be very realistic and do the math before moving. See if $10/hr, minus car payment/maintenance, gas, insurance, utilities, tolls, food, rent (average $900 for a 1 bedroom), daycare etc... is feasible. Sadly it is not.

 

[Nayan]

Not orlando...hmmm miame is best?

Miami is worse. Even more expensive than O-Town. I still think you are much better off staying where you're at. I know it's not what you want to hear, but honestly with no job, car and a new baby, moving here would be one of the worst things you could do.

 

[book_junkie]

There's also the fact that you're going to have to pay for housing and prove income before you get a job, if you don't have one waiting. In almost all the complexes you can't just crash in an apartment for an unlimited amount of days- doing so will violate your friend's lease and can get her fined or kicked out. So you'll have to be added on and prove your credit and income.
And get a car and the added expense of gas, maintenance and upkeep of said car. Plus your share of utilities. Plus groceries. Plus clothing, because if you're not working a job that has a given uniform, you're going to need required clothing, and FL weather is completely different than NY.
And have you actually talked to your family about your planned move next year, and your plan to leave your infant (as that is what the baby will still be) with them? Do they want and can they take care of the additional full time burden of your child? And are you prepared to be hundreds of miles away from your baby, your family, and your support system?

 

[Massy]

Lol well yeah..im super aware of the money and other basic things. I think my plan and my support are strong enough to move...but not sure if orlando is the best choice. Your advices were helpful! Im definitely not staing in NYC (great city is just not the best to raise my child

 

[Massy]

There's also the fact that you're going to have to pay for housing and prove income before you get a job, if you don't have one waiting. In almost all the complexes you can't just crash in an apartment for an unlimited amount of days- doing so will violate your friend's lease and can get her fined or kicked out. So you'll have to be added on and prove your credit and income.
And get a car and the added expense of gas, maintenance and upkeep of said car. Plus your share of utilities. Plus groceries. Plus clothing, because if you're not working a job that has a given uniform, you're going to need required clothing, and FL weather is completely different than NY.
And have you actually talked to your family about your planned move next year, and your plan to leave your infant (as that is what the baby will still be) with them? Do they want and can they take care of the additional full time burden of your child? And are you prepared to be hundreds of miles away from your baby, your family, and your support system?

Im thankful you took your time to think about evey detail! Im an adult and im aware of all of this...im already in the situation. My questions are about orlando...not about life.