When you moved to Florida...

[married2grumpy]

was a visit to WDW still the same? We live on LI and everything is so expensive and on the rise. This winter season has seemed to last forever and I spend most of the year wishing for warm weather. Add to that the fact that I am a Disney addict and I think I want to move to Florida.

Now, I've always said, "It's a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there." but so many things are pushing me in that direction. My DH still has 10 years left before he retires so it wouldn't be anytime soon. I'm also worried about the kids being teenagers and having to leave their high school to move to another.

My DH says that if we move to Florida, a trip to Disney wouldn't be the same. Part of the reason we enjoy it is because it is a different environment for us and it feels like vacation. I think that our love for all things Disney brings us there and not just the "getting away from it all" of a vacation.

For those who love WDW and have moved to Florida, has it lost it's "magic" and appeal since you can now go more often?

 

[JimB.]

Is it different?

Yep.........................

More frequent

Cheaper (considering the amortized cost of a seasonal/annual pass)

Shorter drive (but I still drive ffffffffffffffaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssttttttttttt to get there)

And just as fun and magical every time.

 

[petula]

Married, you and should get together and brainstorm about this! I'm going over the exact same questions. I'm at that point when it's time to get out of the city, and I was very surprised to find that the only major book publisher in the south is headquartered in Orlando, as well as a division of another one. So it seems like a serious option for once.

I've come to the conclusion that the visits would be different, but not in a bad way. For one thing, I don't know how often you go or if you ever feel like this, but I'm sort of park-stingy on my yearly visits and want to spend all of my time at the four parks without taking swimming or nap or shopping breaks or checking out any of the fringe stuff. There's always sort of an urgent feeling toward the end of the trip, when maybe all I really want to do is just sit on a bench in Epcot and do nothing! Also, this is blasphemous to some, but I'd like to get to know the other attractions in the city. AND maybe if I were nearer to Disney, I'd actually get to vacation somewhere else for once!

 

[Mishetta]

Hi Married ~ I don't have an answer for the DisneyWorld question you have but I did move from MI to So. CA & Disneyland was not the same for me anymore. Matter of fact, for 2 years we didn't go at all...we were too burnt out! (We were about 20-30 min drive away.) Of course, now that I live back in MI, what I wouldn't give to be 20-30 mins away from DL again!!

Now I do have a friend who works at Epcot & not only does she love working there, but she goes there on her days off too.....so I guess it depends on the person.

 

[DocRafiki]

yep, it's less magical. i was thinking of that when reading the "5 things that make you smile" thread. those things used to give me the chills. sometimes i look forward to the time when i move away and it will be exciting again. but i still love living here.

on the other hand, if all you've ever done are one or two week trips, the first year or two are like heaven. having an annual pass and being able to take your time or just go down for dinner is the best! it's just getting a little old for me; that's all.

 

[DocRafiki]

Originally posted by petula
AND maybe if I were nearer to Disney, I'd actually get to vacation somewhere else for once!

this is so true. it's nice to have vacation time and not feel like you HAVE to go to WDW because you've been jonesing for it for the past 6 months. now i'm jonesing for other places.

 

[Feralpeg]

I won't move there until June, but I'm really looking forward to being able to take my time at the parks. When on vacation, we are always moving at breakneck speed so that we can do everything in a short amount of time. When I get tired, I can go home and relax rather than a hotel room. I love just sitting in the parks people watching. I'm looking forward to having the time to do so. I'm sure I won't be there all the time, but it will be nice when I can go.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

It is true...a lot of people look forward to a vacation to Orlando. When you live in Orlando, you look forward to...well, NOT a vacation in Orlando

It's pretty nifty to be able to run into any of the park's at a moment's notice (I've been known to run into MK for Pinocchio's Village Haus or IOA for Burger Digs alone), and to go at anytime you please (bf calls up...."Wanna go to MK after work for a few hours?" Sure!).

But still, because OF the fact that we live next door to all 3 major parks (WDW, Sea World, Universal/IOA) it does take some of the magic away. There's no butterflies in your stomach when you know you're going to the park the next day. There's no feeling of awe when you walk into a park. Nope...for me, it's slide in my annual pass, have the biorhythm machine read my hand, run inside for a few hours, take the 10 minute drive home.

We went to Sea World this morning to just play in the water at Shamu's Happy Harbour and it was SO PACKED that we were only there for an hour or so. The plus side to that was we literally live across the street from that park, so I can just walk in later tonight with less crowds (which I think we will). If I came down on vacation, I'd be sort of stuck staying all day with the crowds. It's a little harder to swallow that $60 ticket!

At any rate, there are always plus and minuses to living in Orlando...but still, I'd rather live elsewhere.

 

[JustHolly]

We moved to the Orlando area in August. At first, we were at WDW literally every day. Then it dropped to a couple times a week when I began working in October. Now we go into the park a few times a month.

I don't get goosebumps anymore when I see Spaceship Earth from the parking lot. But Disney still surprises me and still has moments of magic.

We can go in and just do a few attractions. If it's too crowded, we go home. We make fun of "tourists" more. (SORRY!) Its fun to people watch.

Last night was magical. We went to BOMA for dinner for my birthday. The server found out it was my birthday because she carded me (YAY!) After dinner, she brought out a big plate that had "HAPPY Birthday" written in chocolate, a mickey shaped cake with mickey confetti and gummy bears!

Yes, Disney is a little less exciting, but just as fun! I still see and hear things I have never seen and heard before. I still haven't done ALL of the attractions. We are "regulars" at Wolfgang Puck and other restaurants in Dowtown Disney.

Also, Central Florida has all sorts of fun things to explore. We're NEVER at a loss for something to do.

Holly

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I moved to FL but not to Orlando.... I am about 3 hours southwest of Disney.. and has it changed for me.... YES.... I am a Fl resident ... I get great deals....I go way more than I would have from NY and it costs less than a tank of gas to get there & back..... best move I ever made...is the magic still there .... you bet & a lot more of it too I live just far enough to actually spend nights in the hotels without feeling like I am wasting my money.... I don't like to drive 3 hours to get there.....walk around till it is closed then drive 3 hours to get home... I stay...and some times for days at a time....as you can see from my signature countdown

 

[maleficent1959]

One thing that is different for us is that we don't feel pressured to do and see everything in one trip. We go often enough that if we don't make it to one of the parks it's no big deal because we know we'll be back soon. We stroll with our kids rather than go for the big push like we see so many families doing. We're so glad to not have to rush to feel like we got our money's worth.

We can rotate our dining favorites rather than walk around stuffed because we had to fit them all into a week. We try new places all the time too -- there's so many good restaurants you can't fit them all in.

JustHolly is right. You'll still find things that are new to you or things you never noticed before.

 

[Micca]

I would like to live in Florida again. Orlando area would be nice, but anywhere within driving distance (up to 2 hours) would be fine. When we lived in Tampa, we didn't go every day or every week, but we probably went once per month. I would enjoy the opportunity to go to special events like the Food and Wine festival without making a whole vacation out of it.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I just recently moved from FL. That was the only time I was ever at WDW! And it's a GREAT escape! I can honestly say that being there and at Universal is the only time I've actually forgotten about EVERYTHING in the real world while on vacation! Definitely felt like vacation to me!