moving to orlando

[wamskim]

After living in Ohio all my life, I'm ready for somewhere else and we love FL! We're moving there in 3-08.

 

[BetsyinFL]

I grew up in Haines City...just a bit from WDW. I loved living in the area....but housing prices have gotten crazy and when my dh retired friom the military we decided to live in GA. I miss the parks....but we are close enough to visit often.

The housing in Celebration has actually dropped a bit since there's so much for sale. It's still isn't cheap, and there is more crime than the Philly burbs where we moved from, but the weather makes up for a lot!!! I honestly can't imagine living any where else!

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Here in Iowa they are calling for a high of 9 degrees tomorrow so I wish I already lived in Orlando. BRR!!!!

 

[Disney1976]

Initially sounds GREAT! But then...where would I go on vacation??? It wouldn't seem as special b/c we would be there all the time.

Exactly! When I lived in NJ, I dreamed of living in Orlando/Orlando area, and now that I do and I visit frequently, it just doesn't feel the same. Sure, I love being able to go often, and experiencing just about every special event/party that Disney offers (Food & Wine, P&PP, etc.) but it never feels like a vacation, because it never is -I'm there for a day, then gone. I suppose I could book a room for a week and go, but it's hard to justify the cost when you live so close.

And the crime isn't isolated to just one area of Orlando. Sure, there are nice areas to be had, though many of the nicer areas tend to be very pricey when it comes to homes, and I don't know about now, with the downturn in the market, but rental rates for apartments are high. Pay however, is still low. There's still a misconception that things in the South are cheaper, and that's not true. It doesn't help that the two biggest employers in Central Florida are Disney and Wal-Mart, neither of which is known for paying high salaries for the majority of their positions.

I moved out of Orlando a litter farther away because I couldn't take the growing crime and drug problem (every day the news had stories of violence) and a police department that seemed unable to do anything to slow it down. Orlando has already had about 6-7 murders this year. The first happened minutes into 2008.

I think anyone considering moving to Orlando needs to think carefully about this and not be clouded by the "magic", because there's a lot more to Orlando than the mouse. I moved here for school, and now have obligations in the area. If I was living someplace else, I would have to think long and hard about making the move.

Just my .02

 

[daisyduck123]

I would love to live right in celebration!

That's what I plan on doing!!

I've got relatives that own a few condos there!!

I'll have to wait & see though....I probably won't be retiring for another 12 years.

 

[floridalaurie]

We moved from MA to SW florida 2yrs ago. We are only a 3hr drive to WDW and have made several weekend trips. When we go, we leave on Friday and return on Sunday. It is great to be able to go and feel the "magic". We always stay at least 2nights so it does feel like a mini vacation. My kids want to stay for a week next time so we'll see!!

 

[nicolita3]

Exactly! When I lived in NJ, I dreamed of living in Orlando/Orlando area, and now that I do and I visit frequently, it just doesn't feel the same. Sure, I love being able to go often, and experiencing just about every special event/party that Disney offers (Food & Wine, P&PP, etc.) but it never feels like a vacation, because it never is -I'm there for a day, then gone. I suppose I could book a room for a week and go, but it's hard to justify the cost when you live so close.

And the crime isn't isolated to just one area of Orlando. Sure, there are nice areas to be had, though many of the nicer areas tend to be very pricey when it comes to homes, and I don't know about now, with the downturn in the market, but rental rates for apartments are high. Pay however, is still low. There's still a misconception that things in the South are cheaper, and that's not true. It doesn't help that the two biggest employers in Central Florida are Disney and Wal-Mart, neither of which is known for paying high salaries for the majority of their positions.

I moved out of Orlando a litter farther away because I couldn't take the growing crime and drug problem (every day the news had stories of violence) and a police department that seemed unable to do anything to slow it down. Orlando has already had about 6-7 murders this year. The first happened minutes into 2008.

I think anyone considering moving to Orlando needs to think carefully about this and not be clouded by the "magic", because there's a lot more to Orlando than the mouse. I moved here for school, and now have obligations in the area. If I was living someplace else, I would have to think long and hard about making the move.

Just my .02

ITA with this post! I have lived here in Orlando for the past 2 years and cant wait to move in July! I have had enough with the high cost of living here, wages that dont compare and the horrible crime. I dont even feel safe leaving my apartment going to my truck. I have seen things that I have never seen before in my entire life until I moved here ( swat take downs, drug deals, and the list goes on and on...) DH and I cant wait to leave. Dont move here if WDW is the only reason. Thats my opinion.

 

[staceymay00]

Definitely not me.

I lived 45 minutes from Orlando in middle and high school, and went to UF in Gainesville for college. I went to MK a LOT as a teenager, mostly day trips. Yes, it was great to have Space Mountain and such so close but once I got into college it was not really all the magical. My husband and I went for two days in college when we were dating and never once considered going back until having children of my own. Even then we did not go for the first time until my oldest was six. Now, however, I have rediscovered the magic and am sure our family will go to WDW every 1-2 years from now on.

I also just don't care to live in FL, to be honest, for many different reasons. I have lived in a suburb of Atlanta for 13 years and love the hills, trees and great climate. Obviously the state of GA is not known for education but there are some top notch public schools in metro Atlanta. We are a fairly easy drive from Orlando but far enough away for WDW to seem like a once in a while treat. Now if I lived up north but really loved WDW I would probably want to move closer. I am originally from WI and part of me has always wanted to move back, but being too far from the beaches and attractions in FL is a negative for me.

To sum it up, I much prefer where I live now to anywhere I have ever been in FL. I know there are nice communities in FL and mean no offense to anyone who likes living in FL, but it does not fit my own personal taste for year round living.

 

[Mandy91]

ITA with this post! I have lived here in Orlando for the past 2 years and cant wait to move in July! I have had enough with the high cost of living here, wages that dont compare and the horrible crime. I dont even feel safe leaving my apartment going to my truck. I have seen things that I have never seen before in my entire life until I moved here ( swat take downs, drug deals, and the list goes on and on...) DH and I cant wait to leave. Dont move here if WDW is the only reason. Thats my opinion.

I so agree!! I'm 16 and I can't wait to move! I mean yeah, being so close to WDW and all the other fun stuff is great, but compared to all the other downers here, it just isn't worth it. I'm homeschooled, I did one year of high school at Dr. Phillips, and I hated it. The schools are just too crowded and they just can't keep up with all of the people moving here. The house prices are so high, same with the condos and apartments. After a while you get fed up with all the tourists on the road that have no idea where they're going and cause accidents, which is why car insurance is so high. And of course, the crime. Every morning you turn on the TV to the news, you hear about a new murder. It became routine for my family and I, we just expect now that there was another murder during the night every single morning. Although most of the crime does seem to take place in the bad areas, that is not always the case. They come into the nicer neighborhoods and commit crimes too. Just last week actually I was talking to a CM at Disney and he completely agreed with me, and he's been living here ever since the 60's, when it was mostly orange groves. He said it just keeps getting worse here every year. As soon as I finish schooling, I'm moving somewhere else. Things outside of the bubble aren't as nice.

 

[mom2cinderella]

It wouldn't seem as special b/c we would be there all the time.

That's what I think.

Plus I hate humidity and bugs.

Michele

 

[runwad]

EEKK NO!! I couldn't stand all the traffic and congestion. Not to mention the heat and humidity.

 

[8 Ears]

DH and myself are making plans to move down in June of 2013. OK, it seems like FOREVER but as soon as our youngest son graduates! We are looking into Haines City, Polk City, Lakeland, Tampa areas. He will trasnfer with his company, I WILL work for Disney
However we have heard not such nice things about Polk County , when it gets closer we will go down and scout it all out

Good luck to those making the move now, we are SO jealous!

How is it to work at one of the call centers in either Tampa or Orlando?