We may be getting relocated!!!!!! To Kansas

[lovin'Mickey]

Well we may be moving to Kansas........one problem .......when I look at air fare rates for May 2006 it is about $600 more for my family to fly to Fl.they are all connecting flights AHHHH.......any other Disers in the Kansas area with airline advance? Also if you are from there how is it??????? I can never give up going to WDW so this is a big factor in the move...LOL

 

[magichappens13]

I live in Kansas and we still go to disney!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now it is prob. a little more expensive and we go in July so..........Kansas is not probably what you think we have every thing and it's not black and white and a bunch of farm hicks So where do you live now???? we got no stop flights but this was last year so things might of changes. Kansas is great and the only thing that is bad is the weather because it changes a LOT it can be 70 one day and 55 the next!!!!!!!!!!! Not to bad though..... Any other ? just ask!!!!

 

[lovin'Mickey]

What airline do you usually use.... I looked at US Airways and they were all connecting flights. I like the idea of a non stop flight much better! We are in PA now. we will not know for a while if the move is gonna happen but like I said Disney is a huge factor...lol So Kansas is nice? That weather change is that all the time or just every now and then? The move would take us near Kansas City.
Any nice areas around there that you recommend. Bigger question.....how many tornadoes have you seen???? Thanks for your help!!!

 

[malibuconlee]

Remember that if you're moving to Kansas City, you could be either on the Kansas or Missouri side of the border.

The also have a nice zoo from what I remember. I'm going to a Royals game at the end of the month.

My uncle lives in Overland Park and he taught school at Shawnee Mission.

As for airfare, I've flown from there before and found decent rates. Southwest also flies from KC to Orlando, so just watch their fares.

 

[lovin'Mickey]

Yes we knew about both states and we would be in Kansas .... actually Overland Park was mentioned to us..... does he like it there? is it a nice community??? I will have to check airfare on South west.... my husband thinks I am crazy to be this worried about my trip..lol We all know if I can't see the mouse I wil not go..LOL

 

[malibuconlee]

Well, he raised his family there, granted his kids have kids now, but i think he's liked it there.

Sprint built a huge campus there a few years ago.

As with anything, I'd suggest a trip to check things out. That's what they were going to do for us when we relocated, but as we grew up in the area, I passed and kept working (we worked together, and the company didn't know DH's trip was for a job interview).

My best friends sister and brother-in-law live in KC, and her parents just moved to Olathe I think last year.

They all seem to like it. You'll still find things like the musical season if you're into that. They have shopping and restaurants. It's just a matter of picking a town/neighborhood to live in.

For us, when we lived in Dallas, we got a map of the area, DH took a compass thing (like from math class) and drew a circle within X number of miles from the office as we wanted a short commute. We then looked at neighborhoods within that circle. We ended up in an older neighborhood and had a 10 minute drive to work not crossing or using any major highway or interstate.

Good luck!!

 

[Longsx3]

lovin'Mickey,
When we were stationed in Omaha DD & I use to drive to Kansas City for shopping..Country Club Plaza & Overland Park Mall. I really liked the area and it seems that there are many nice communities to live in there. Also you should be able to fly cheap on SWA...I know they have nonstop to Tampa from there because DD flew by herself from there once.

 

[lovin'Mickey]

you guys are great thanks for all the inf...we will be taking a trip to see it but the compass thing is a great idea!!! any other info is welcomed!!!

 

[tc]

We live in Colorado, but our daughter is in Topeka. We flew from KC to Orlando, direct, last May for $121 per person on Southwest. They have fanastic sales, so don't worry. Download Ding (check it out on the Southwest site) and you'll never miss a good fair!

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

Another Kansas gal here, born, raised and still here lol. ou should be good flying out of Kansas City. They have some great sales on airfare, you just have to watch for them. We actually got our airfare cheaper out of Wichita, which is amazing and since we are closer to Wichita than KC it was much better.

As Ive said, both my DH and I were born and raised in Kansas. Its a great place to live. We live in south central Kansas so we are about 3-4 hours away from the Kansas City area. The weather does change and sometimes its pretty drastic lol. As for tornados, in my life I have only seen 5 "in person" and have only actually been in 1.

 

[tlbwriter]

Once you get into the traditional "tornado alley," you'll find that the forecasters are so experienced at predicting and tracking tornadoes that it's really hard to be taken by surprise.

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

Once you get into the traditional "tornado alley," you'll find that the forecasters are so experienced at predicting and tracking tornadoes that it's really hard to be taken by surprise.

 

[magichappens13]

Lawrence is a nice place near Kansas city (30 min.). That is where the university of Kansas(home of the jayhawks) is.Very nice and has all major stores. I've only seen one tornado but it was on the other side of town. so i know i said something about the weather but the weather is nice and doesn't change that much. Kansas City does have a pretty nice zoo. Oh, and the airline we use is Southwest.....Any other ? just ask!!!!!!!!

 

[Kewz1]

We lived in KS for almost 3 years and loved it. DH and I are graduates of Kansas State (Do NOT confuse Kansas State with the University of Kansas - just called Kansas -- trust me on this!! ). We make it a point to get back there at least once a year.

Overland Park is a nice area with a great mall. We would head there around Christmas for some shopping.

We never flew to Disney just drove. Long hours in the car aren't a big deal for us and we liked having our own vehicle. Plus, we have family there so visiting with them was easier.

Have a wonderful move. And remember..."Everything is up to date in Kansas City!"

Kristen

 

[Feralpeg]

Yes we knew about both states and we would be in Kansas .... actually Overland Park was mentioned to us..... does he like it there? is it a nice community??? I will have to check airfare on South west.... my husband thinks I am crazy to be this worried about my trip..lol We all know if I can't see the mouse I wil not go..LOL

Overland Park is a very nice area, although a bit expensive. Lenexa or Olathe are other possibilities. I moved from Kansas City (Missouri side - Gladstone area) a little over a year ago. I lived there for close to 40 years. If you have any questions about the area, I'd be glad to try to help.

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

DH and I are graduates of Kansas State (Do NOT confuse Kansas State with the University of Kansas - just called Kansas -- trust me on this!! ).


Kristen

 

[lovin'Mickey]

How are the schools out there? Is there a specific district I should look in?
Overall everything I find says it is cheapier to live out there, compared to here, so thats a plus. Any good daycares near Overland Park and surrounding areas (maybe they have websites I could check out)?
Ok the tornando thing has me a little worried......but everyone is saying the systems in place are very good, is this true, do you usually have time to prepare....what areas are hit more often?
We will not know for a couple of weeks yet if this is even gonna happen....but I am a huge planner and need to research this before we have to make a choice.I really appreciate all the imput you have all given me!!!
It is nice to know that there are Disney fans everywhere..lol

 

[Feralpeg]

Don't let the tornados worry you. Yes, it happens, but the odds are with you. They have sirens in place that sound if there is a warning. Believe me, you will hear them. If they sound, you go to your basement. You can get a weather radio at the local Price Chopper market that you can set for your county. It will go off any time there is an alert. It really isn't that bad. There are no particular areas that are hit more often. There was a bad outbreak a couple of years ago where a tornado hit in various parts of the city. Other than that, I can't really remember much damage from a tornado in the greater KC area for some time. Actually, the number of tornado outbreaks near KC has lessened over the years. I think the said it was due to a shift in the jetstream. They now get more tornados in Oklahoma and Texas than in Kansas and Missouri.

I think the Shawnee Mission schools are pretty good. Just stay away from the Kansas City, Missouri school district. Since you are looking on the Kansas side, that shouldn't be a problem.

We lived in the Gladstone area north of the river on the Missouri side. We were in the North Kansas City School District. It was excellant.

As far as daycare is concerned, it's been awhile since I used it. I used La Petite and was very happy with them. They are all over the city.

 

[Mom*3]

Overland Park is very nice. We've lived here for 14 years. Our children go to Blue Valley Schools and we love it!

Airfare shouldn't be a problem, especially if you fly Southwest. Last year we flew for $59 each way and this year we have $84 each way.

I don't have any personal daycare experience, but there are 3 or 4 daycare / preschools within 5 minutes of our house.

I've lived in the Midwest my whole life and have never seen a tornado. I wouldn't let them scare you.

Hope that helps!

 

[LoriKay]

Another Kansan checking in. We just moved from the Kansas City area to Oklahoma 3 months ago and I totally understand your concern about getting to WDW! I always flew Southwest out of KCI and they do have non-stop flights available...which is not the case where I live now and I'm dreading that! If you watch fares you can go for a reasonable price. We lived in Lawrence before we moved to Kansas City and I loved it there but DH did not enjoy the drive since his job was in Lenexa. We don't have kids but always heard good things about the Blue Valley schools and also the Olathe schools. I am petrified of tornados but, like other posters have said, it's really not a big deal as there is plenty of warning time and good forecasters. KC has a ton of things to do and the restaurants are wonderful. If you move to KC there will be at least one person who's envious...me!