Relocating to WDW?

[java]

On one of our trips I met a woman wandering around Universal studios and she started telling me that she lived nearby and had AP's for all the parks and just enjoyed walking around them on her days off. She looked so happy! (my DH said she was crazy that is why she looked that way) Can you tell why we'll never move down there. Maybe further south some day.

 

[nhpooh]

Hi--

My husband moved here August 2004 and kids and I joined him June 2005. We moved from Lafayette, Louisiana. I stayed for the school year as my DD was a SR and we waited until graduation before moving.

We live really close to WDW, especially MK (Summerport). We can see the fireworks from here and we still watch them, though not as often as at first. I love the FL weather and our house. The only negative about the whole experience is the rush hour traffic on I-4 if you are going to the city of Orlando (or anywhere around there). We've been here a year and have travelled on I-4 less than 10 times!

Lisa

We will be moving down after my DD graduates high school next year. She is a jr this year, my DH and I can't stand the cold winters up hear anymore. We both need that Florida .

Our best friends moved down a year ago last July, they live in Deltona and love it. Also, some friends from across the street moved down at the same time to North Port and they love it too. We have been down to visit them both and loved it very much. I also looked a house's in both towns. Not sure where we will end up, but do know we will be coming in 2007.

 

[David R]

On one of our trips I met a woman wandering around Universal studios and she started telling me that she lived nearby and had AP's for all the parks and just enjoyed walking around them on her days off. She looked so happy! (my DH said she was crazy that is why she looked that way) Can you tell why we'll never move down there. Maybe further south some day.

Reminds me of a woman I met at WDW who takes the bus to the TTC everyday and just park hops all day long. At first she seemed nice but then she started ranting and making some horrible racist comments out of the blue. I ended the conversation as quickly as possible. I still see her from time to time and I avoid her .

Anyway, I moved here a few months ago from Kansas. I was tired of the ugliness of the state, the winters and the lack of things to do. Like others, I didn't move to Orlando because of WDW, but it was a nice plus. I would have not considered Orlando if it had not been because of it.

I live 1 block from Universal Studios and 10 minutes from Disney World on a good day. It feels like the vacation that will never end.

Moving was easier than I thought. I kept an eye open for jobs that I qualified for AND that I would enjoy doing. About 3 months later I had a very good job offer in Orlando so I resigned from my other job and moved.

I don't regret it a bit.

 

[Joanna71985]

I am planing on moving to Florida upon graduation to continue working at Disney. Besides, I can't stand the cold weather.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

I agree with Sylvester. I'm on the other coast, a little more than an hour away. We've lived here for 15 years....Jersey transplants. It's always magical spending a weekend at Disney but it's not the same as looking forward to a trip when you're 1,000 miles away.....not that I would want it any other way.

now planning a trip to WDW is making sure the van has gas in it and we haven't forgotten our passes. you miss out on the initial excitement, but my wife still loves driving through the WDW entrance gates. I was at Universal recently on a day off, having a late lunch at the bar in Margaritaville. it was slow, and the bartender and I were talking. he asked me what I was doing next. I told a couple of rides on the hulk and spiderman, and I was going home. he asked me when my flight was. I laughed, and told him I just had an hour drive home. he said, "we're lucky to live here, aren't we?"

it's not for everyone, but it's the most fun I've ever had in my life.

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

The first time we travelled to Disney with the kids was in 2003 and from that very minute we decided to move to the Orlando area. Our house is on the market now and have picked out a couple of gated communities in the Davenport area. We are headed back to Disney World in April and I truly can't wait to make it a permanent trip. The only draw back is that my entire family is here in CT - so it will be hard at first...they will just have to come doen everytime they get!

 

[palmtreegirl]

I grew up in NJ and spent 1 1/2 years living in PA, we moved down to Florida this past June. DH changed careers entirely and got in a fantastic company he plans on staying with until retirement.

First we moved to Ocala because that's where DH was offered a job but we were still driving 1 1/2 hours to Orlando EVERY weekend.

So DH put in for a transfer to Orlando in mid-November and we moved right next door to the mouse in December! We'll go over to the parks just to walk around or go on a couple rides, we've never been happier.

The weather is amazing, this is the first winter that I haven't gone into a seasonal depression. The move has literally transformed our lives.

 

[PatriciaH]

I am from NY and DH is from MA. We moved last October and we are very happy. We love Celebration but it is $$$$$$ here now Everything costs as much as up North. I would have a job before I came next time. I own a pet sitting business and DH works for Marketing at WDW. I also work PT at WDW in concierge. We are making a lot less than we were up North as are most of our friends but we love the weather here and being so close to WDW. 5 minutes to property! We used to BE WDW property

 

[doombuggy]

Thank you, PatriciaH! Someone else thinks like me.

I started working for Disney in 1996, and transferred here in 2004. While I love the weather during the winter, I have a difficult time in the heat. I get bad sinus migranes if I get overheated. Since I work a F/T job in the 401(k) /pension business, I work at Disney on the weekends. Yes, that means I work EVERYDAY. Like PatriciaH said, most things here cost the same or more than they did for me back in Philly. Yes, I mean Philadelphia, PA. Back home I could get a cheeseburger and med. fries at McDonalds for $2.50, but here it's $3.50. I have to shop at Wal-mart or Super Target for reasonably priced groceries, but must go to the grocery store to buy things like my ice tea (4C), Celeste pizza and scrapple. Publix charges $2.50 for one box of two hot pockets! I can get that for $1.97 at Super Target (can you tell, where I am going today). Sorry for the rant, but life here is not always roses. Perhaps if I could just work one job (at Disney) I would like it much better. But there is no way I can make the same money there. Since I am single, buying a home has flopped for me (I tried to buy 8 different homes last summer, bidding more than the asking price & got out bid every time - except for the last one, which appraised for $10k less!).

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but the experience has not been the greatest for me. While I too live near Universal in an apt complex turning condo (theya re all over the place), I do not even feel safe in my own Metrowest apt. I felt better in Philly than I do here.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

housing and insurance can kill you here. but I don't see any difference in the day to day cost of living. we've always picked a walmart over a grocery store for everyday items. but it beats living in a place where you watch corn grow for entertainment.

 

[michvin]

After 2 trips in 3 months to wdw from SE PA area, we, as a family, have been talking about relocating ourselves to have better weather, better cash flow (no state taxes and the property taxes are lower than here...you don't even want to know what we pay), closer to beaches and of course, Disney! My husband's job is portable...as long as he is close to an airport, we are good to go. The thought, though, of selling this house and moving everything 1000 miles on our own seems a bit daunting. The kids are little so adjustment wouldn't be too bad. I would love to live at the beach up here, but it is soooo expensive to even look at a decent place, plus, I would rather be able to go to the beach all year, or most of the year, than only 3 or 4 months. I'm glad to see that we aren't the only crazed ones out here on the boards.

If anyone has advice on moving yourself that far, please let me know!

 

[chrome64]

actively searching Monster.com now

Any other suggestions!

I need to move near the mouse!

I'm about to drive 1400 round trip for the 4th time this year, my car needs to move closer to the mouse!

 

[mom2of2]

Moving 1000+ miles away is extremely difficult. I researched online, came down 3 times to check out neighborhoods and finally decided where to live. We sold it all and headed down only to find that the houses we could have afforded before were totally out of our price range now and that the schools that I visited were like a timeshare sale...all "it's a wonderful school, very small classes" to once we were registered come to find out that the kids don't have a permanet teacher and have had various subs all year long.
It's one thing to visit.....but trust me when I say this is a whole different animal.
Would I do it all again had I known what I know now? Most likely but not in the area that I am in. I love the schools that both my kids are in now so I will stay in the zone but only as a renter. Housing in this area is $400k and up for a 3/2 and with taxes and insurance it's a hefty payment and trust me again when I say Disney don't pay enough to live here. Apartments are scarce and many turning condo. House rentals are tough too since living in a short term rental area means that you could have different neighbors every week. Not to mention the fact that the short term renters really don't give a hoot if it's a school night or you have to go to work in the morning.
Nope, no state taxes but guess what they do have?? they tax everything else. There is one tax free week a year and that's just before school starts. That's it. Gas is also much higher, milk is outrageous and the list goes on.
I don't want to be a downer but please anyone looking to live very close to WDW and you have kids do your homework and then do it again and again before you leave all your family, friends, house and jobs to move to the land of mouse ears.
As they say...You can bring Northern money South.....but you can't bring Southern money North.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

Gas is also much higher, milk is outrageous and the list goes on.

so we're not the only ones paying over $4.00 for a gallon of milk? and people complain about gas prices.

 

[cranbiz]

OK, already have the house, now need a job.

In June DD graduates from HS, there will be nothing holding me back (except the job )

I just love it in FL and can't wait to get out of New England.

I know what the costs are and believe me, It's still less than MA. I'm halfway between Orlando and Daytona, housing is going up, but still affordable. My 2/1 just appraised for 135K. I bought it Sept 04 for 74K. I figure, sell it and the house up north and I should be able to get a nice 3/2 with a pool and lanai in the Volusia area for under 300K. This still leaves me near Orlando and within easy driving distance to the parks!

Actively searching Monster and CareerBuilder, Anybody need an IT pro who does a little of everything? Please!!!

 

[DznyLvr2005]

I'm a total disney lover... and I always say I want to live there! But on the other hand, I think that if I did, it would take away that magic feeling of "going on vacation" to my favorite place in the world!
It's like here... I live in Staten Island... A hop skip and jump from Manhattan (Actually just a hop really) and we NEVER go to Manhattan. If we didn't live here, we'd probably always wanna go... I don't know.. hmmm.
As long as I get to go to DW every year, I'll be sorta happy

 

[safetymom]

Last year I went to the parks 86 times. The magic still hasn't worn off for me. There is still plenty that I haven't done.

I bought a house at a very good time. Right before the big boom so my house is worth a lot more than when I bought it 2 years ago. For once I bought something at the right time. I don't think I could afford this house now.

 

[makinorlando]

Last year I went to the parks 86 times. The magic still hasn't worn off for me. There is still plenty that I haven't done.

I bought a house at a very good time. Right before the big boom so my house is worth a lot more than when I bought it 2 years ago. For once I bought something at the right time. I don't think I could afford this house now.

I agree with safetymom. My DD and I moved here 2 1/2 years ago (same thing with our house... the value of my home has almost doubled what I paid for it) and we go to WDW all the time, I think it gets more magical, as we discover more things to do and see. I could not have afforded the home I have here (in a very nice neighborhood, A rated schools, convenient shopping) in PA - I could probably not afford it now after the housing boom in the past two years). My job was portable, so my wages did not change.

We left our entire family back in PA - (I am a single mom) - mother that I am extremely close to, sister, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles cousins, and life long friends as I lived in the same area all of my life - but I was ready for a change. I get more visitors here than we ever did in PA - no not for free lodging, many stay at the resorts, and we visit at the parks. Although we are far from family my DD is thriving, and loves that she can be outside playing all year long. We can use the pool 9 months out of the year instead of swimming 3 or 4 in PA.

I hate the winter, cold windy, snowy days - yes it gets chilly here, but it does not last for three months, and most times the sun is out! I find

When we have guests in town, we are at the parks as much as we can, taking into account school and work schedules!

I love being able to decided at 4pm that we are going to spend the evening at WDW and be there by 5pm! We do this quite a bit in the summer months when the hours are longer, and the sun goes down.

I can't imagine not having it as an option! Since Thanksgiving weekend we have been to the WDW 18 times.(parks,visiting resorts/dining, Disney mini golf, DTD for shopping and movies)

I have to admit, I was only to WDW one time before we relocated here - so I have lots of time to make up for - reliving my childhood in WDW!

I decided in March of 2003 while visiting a friend who lived in East Orlando, that I wanted to relocate here. I found a house in April, and closed on May 28th - less than three months later. It was the right decision for us - I have never once regretted my move!

 

[mytwotinks]

convince my husband to move to FL. I don't think that I would want to be right in Orlando though. I want to be maybe 1 or 2 hours north. I want to be close enough that we can drive easily, but far enough away that when we go there we will stay on property! I feel like when we are going from KS we need to stay for as long as possible. It would be great to be able to go 4 or 5 times a year for 5 nights each instead of once for 11 nights!

Anybody have any ideas of a city for us!?!?!?!? I think that we would probably be looking for a condo to buy. DH and I aren't really into yard work. Would rather spend the free time with our kids.

 

[David R]

I get more visitors here than we ever did in PA - no not for free lodging, many stay at the resorts, and we visit at the parks.

Isn't that the truth! As I was leaving, all my coworkers and friends would tell me that they'd come down to Orlando and visit! And it's true! Orlando is the #1 tourist destination and just about everyone makes it through sooner or later. I've already been contacted by some ex-coworkers and friends about the dates when they'll be in the area and I always say "name a park and a day and I'll be there!"