I know that is what confused me.
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Living near WDW?
- Thread starter brifraz
- Start date
Maybe a hill or two.
Ya'll never believe me when I say there's giant hills here. This one is 3 1/2 times as high as Splash Mountain.
Clermont really is full of really really big, scenic hills and lakes. It is a very different landscape than the rest of central Florida. You can see a really long ways in all directions from the tops of the hills. We can see downtown Orlando, Icon Park, and even Disney World (the Contemporary, Spaceship Earth, etc.) from way out here.
I have tried capturing it in photos, but my phone's camera makes it look flatter than it is. The only place I have ever lived that has a landscape similar to this is San Diego county.
Topographic map....
I have tried capturing it in photos, but my phone's camera makes it look flatter than it is. The only place I have ever lived that has a landscape similar to this is San Diego county.
Topographic map....
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note2001
Well-Known Member
May I suggest you rent and live there for a few months, get to know the various areas and feel for what it's like before buying a new home and relocating?
I also thought I wanted to retire to the WDW area. Lived there on and off for over a year as I helped my mom out and have decided absolutely not. It just wasn't me and I wanted to keep the Disney resort as a vacation destination in which I could fully relax. Just don't get that feeling living there.
I also thought I wanted to retire to the WDW area. Lived there on and off for over a year as I helped my mom out and have decided absolutely not. It just wasn't me and I wanted to keep the Disney resort as a vacation destination in which I could fully relax. Just don't get that feeling living there.
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note2001
Well-Known Member
I know those intersections and roadways too well. Clermont is growing at an insane pace, that's not a particularly good thing.
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We have those here in Tally...the city is known for its 7 hills. But those aren't mountains.
The Laguna mountains run along the eastern side of San Diego.
Resurrecting this thread a bit...
We are going to be going down in mid-July and have a list of neighborhoods to shop around. Not looking for actual houses, but will be driving around different areas just to get a feel for them. Retirement is most likely August 2025, so we still have a couple years to work things out.
Areas we are planning to check out include Waterleigh, Windermere, Hamlin Grove, Clermont, and Horizon West. Maybe Winter Garden as well. Only thing we've been specifically advised against is Pine Hills (multiple people). But, always welcome to more ideas.
Hoping to hit some local (less tourist focused) restaurants in the area, again just to get a feel for things. So, suggestions of those are most welcome.
And want to explore other things in the area. Possibly hiking some in Lake Louise State Park, but welcoming other ideas. And, of course, we will spend a little time with the Mouse.
We are going to be going down in mid-July and have a list of neighborhoods to shop around. Not looking for actual houses, but will be driving around different areas just to get a feel for them. Retirement is most likely August 2025, so we still have a couple years to work things out.
Areas we are planning to check out include Waterleigh, Windermere, Hamlin Grove, Clermont, and Horizon West. Maybe Winter Garden as well. Only thing we've been specifically advised against is Pine Hills (multiple people). But, always welcome to more ideas.
Hoping to hit some local (less tourist focused) restaurants in the area, again just to get a feel for things. So, suggestions of those are most welcome.
And want to explore other things in the area. Possibly hiking some in Lake Louise State Park, but welcoming other ideas. And, of course, we will spend a little time with the Mouse.
I've got a townhouse in Waterleigh. Convenient to shopping at Hamlin Grove, the shopping center at Winter Garden Vineland. And 10 minutes from WDW. Lots of green space for walking, running, biking. Every phase has a pool and playground. We have food trucks once a month, events, holiday parades. There's a fitness center, tennis court and volleyball. And a Publix is under construction at the entrance. Love the area.
Phase 4 is currently under construction. Not sure if there will be anything available in July. Lots of homes going up along 429, if you wanted new build.
We are definitely going to set up a visit to Waterleigh and look at some of the models. Do you know if Phase 4 is the last or is there more that might be happening in the future?
There are many areas to reconsider living at around Orlando and Kissimmee but the areas you mentioned are better bets for now.
I believe Phase 4 is the last. If you're down there when I am, I'd be happy to give you a tour of my townhouse and a walk around my part of Waterleigh.
The HOA takes care of the exterior, including landscaping. And the roof, which was nice after Ian blew through in late September. The neighborhood is well kept. The HOA is a professional company...and not obnoxious.
There's also new construction in Hamlin Grove (where Walmart & Publix are). Added bonus - 5 minutes from a new Orlando Health hospital.
Both homes & apartments are being built along Avalon.
I really like Horizons West. I looked at areas in Windermere and south of Flamingo Crossings. Was glad when a townhouse in Waterleigh was put on the market.
There is a Middle Eastern restaurant called Jerusalem Restaurant at 192/535. Huge portions and spectacular food for great prices. Just a few minutes from WDW. If you care to venture a bit further East on 192 there is a place called El Tenampa. It is the best Mexican food I have had in Central Florida.
The Turkish restaurant Bosphorus in Hamlin is also very good.
Been to both, spectacular. El Tenampa has better quality tortas and tacos than some places in Houston.
Putting that on the list. Thank you!
Vegas Disney Fan
Well-Known Member
This is my biggest fear with my plan of retiring near WDW, I originally moved to Las Vegas because it was my vacation spot and I loved it, I still enjoy living here but very rarely do I go near the Strip for anything but work and when friends are in town. I’d hate for WDW to become a place I also avoid because it’s lost its appeal from familiarity.
This is a big reason I’ve debated whether Tampa (or another area within a couple hours away) makes more sense, close enough to visit when I feel like it but not so close I tire of it and just associate it with too much traffic and too many people.
I love the rural North Carolina / Tennessee areas but a 10 hour drive is too far away and I don’t want to deal with airports, a 2-3 hour drive is my limit, which pretty much limits the search to Florida.
My other fear is how quickly it’s growing, I like the more rural suburban areas and there’s not many left in FL, I’ve been leaning towards Clermont and even Winter Haven but they’re both being quickly absorbed into the metro area.
I ate at the Bosphorous location good quality in Dr Phillips which is an upscale neighborhood. The waiter told me at that time the Orlando Magic player from Turkey ( can't remember the player name ) ate there quite frequently because the food reminded him of home.
That's a concern for a number of folks moving to Central FL. Those areas that are growing will continue to grow with much more homes, condos, shopping and dining options bring built on vacant land . Sadly the roadways that don't grow and be built as fast will be more and more clogged with traffic.
Vegas Disney Fan
Well-Known Member
Florida would be incredibly smart to learn from CA and TX and put in (or at the very minimum buy land and plan for) mass transit while they still can, that way they can avoid a situation like CA where it’s going to take unbelievable amounts of money to put it in after the fact and avoid situations like Houston where they have 16 lane interstates that still can’t keep up with growth.
The way FL is growing there’s no way to avoid the inevitable traffic problems with road building alone.
I wish more Americans would visit Europe and see how convenient good mass transit really is, here we associate buses and trains with poverty and criminals, in Europe it’s comfortable and often even luxurious.