Do keep in mind that while Florida is known as the sunshine state there are times where the days can be just as gloomy as Seattle, and if cloudy weather/rain is negative then that’s a negative for the Florida area albeit it doesnt typically rain all day but rather in bursts throughout the day.
The humidity does get to you here as Florida- especially the South proves that it is indeed a tropical clinate with most days in 80s with humidity making it feel hotter (or colder it goes both ways!)
Funnily enough I felt the opposite in California during the Summer with the relentless sun and lack of cloud coverage really getting to me. That said the humidity can really put a dent on you, and if it wasn’t for the AC I think we’d all go crazy down here lol.
If you’re hoping to stay in a Democrat area then definitely stick to the major cities in much of the South as they’re typically the only blue in a sea of red - the Orlando area is a great example of this! Its rather progressive in comparison to the state as a whole.
If a desire to be near other family members is there I suggest looking into Broward it has the benefits of being near the large city of Miami, three hours from Disney, near the beach and may offer lower prices than Miami-Dade proper.
However even in Orlando/Central Florida you would be relatively close to your wife’s family but far enough away were it wouldn’t be too often if thats what you wish too
Orlando is full of diverse restaurants with some great Peruvian, Indian, Puerto Rican and Vietnamese coming to mind. Given its the tourism capital a lot more cuisines are on offer that may be more foreign to your family as well, but they’re like perfect entry level ways of getting familiar for that cuisine.
I will say after taking a dip in the Pacific waters I don’t blame you! If I wanted to freeze I’d just take a cold shower lol , Florida’s water tend to be warm year round making beach going a relaxing day.
Once y’all hit the Florida resident status for Disney wherever your are in the state you do get those cheaper annual pass options, tickets and special booking deals. Not saying WDW is the same as DL, but it satisfies the need lol. Plus you have the excellent Universal Resort home to some of the best attractions in the state with Spider-Man, Hagrids, Velocicoaster and classic such as the og Jurassic Park and ET rides. Seaworld is also a fantastic value and product as they often do discounted offers for Floridians and partake in Black Friday deals for even cheaper deals.
Reading through the thread I saw you brought up how easy it is to travel to other countries and its true Florida is ina great location to travel across the Caribbean, Latin America and even parts of Europa and other areas of the US. However that flight home to California can be brutal with the time zone shifts, cost, and duration.
