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Would/Have you moved to FL (in part) for WDW?
- Thread starter DisneyJunkie
- Start date
KIsAPrincess
Active Member
I have lived in Florida all of my life. We are about 1.5 hours away. Prior to being annual passholders we would go about 2-4 times per year (usually a 2-day trip, or a couple of one days.) We became annual passholders this year and we are averaging about 1 visit a month. I am in school (classes on Saturdays) so I have noticed that our visits are a little more sporadic. Trying to plan a visit Labor Day Weekend - however I have class that Saturday about 2 hours south of me......trying to figure in time to visit when you have work, family and other responsibilities is a bit of challenge. I have no desire to move out of Florida (maybe a little because I can't imagine not being able to make a day trip to DW) but MOSTLY because I don't think I can live in a place where I can't wear flip flops all of the time. I will take Florida's heat and humidity over cold weather any day!
I moved here about 30 yrs ago but not for Disney...I've lived very close to the parks but never considered a fan...now I have a weekly pass to Disney and an annual Universal pass and I use them regularly...but now for the entertainment per say...I use the facilities to run in the mornings...the resorts have great trails and during the evenings I walk the parks (sorry sounds bad)...and if I want something to eat I just go right there...Downtown Disney is great in the early AM...but I can do this due to how close I live to Disney not for anyone who has to drive a long ways out...traffic is horrible due to all the development in the surrounding towns...
danyoung56
Well-Known Member
I've checked the Disney employment website from time to time. There are times when boat driving jobs are available, and times when there aren't. I'd plan to be patient and only accept the position I want. Now, if there are no boat driving jobs but they are hiring monorail CM's, then there's a fine possibility!
OliveMcFly
Well-Known Member
Nice area. I grew up near Allentown.
For anyone looking to move to Orlando you can always live on property if you have a few million to get rid of
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
In answer to the thread title question, my answer would be 'yes'....at least that is what my Mom said was her motivation to move to Florida in the early 1980s.
She claimed she was doing it so when i was older, i could work for Disney...which she felt was where a overly creative person like myself even at that young ago needed to be employed.
So i moved from Massachusetts to Florida to live with her from 1980 to 1983.
I was nine going on ten at the time when i arrived, and left when i was twelve, so never stayed around long enough to be of hiring age.
To be honest i think she was just using me as the excuse to leave the Northeast...as at that time is was the hip thing to do.
She probably did want to see me work for Disney, but i know part of her motivation was more along the lines of wanting to 'start over' after splitting with my Dad.
Loads of people from the area where i lived did the same thing at that time and trekked South to take advantage of the early 80s housing boom in Florida.
So for three years i lived in Florida, and enjoyed visiting WDW periodically.
My first visit to EPCOT Center was in April of 1983 and it absolutely blew me away.
I was twelve.
Changed my life. Pointed me in a direction.
I've talked about this here before elsewhere.
Eventually my Mom hit hard times and i was sent back to live with my Dad in the Northeast...aglow with all the wonders i had experienced at EPCOT and WDW in general.
I may have never had the opportunity to work there, but i certainly had been 'trained' there rather well.
After returning up North, i still visited WDW sporadically through the mid 80s.
In the mid 90s i stayed away for almost a decade, then returned in 2000 for the great 'Millennium Celebration' and was crushed by the removal of my all time favorite Attraction ever, the Original 'Journey Into Imagination'.
It was that ride that had such a huge impact on me all those years ago, and i never forgot it.
Still have not forgotten it.
Still angry and disapointed at it's removal.
Now i spend my time out in California at Disneyland....meeting some interesting people and having grand adventures.
Florida won't see me anytime soon.....but the memories of the past remain.
She claimed she was doing it so when i was older, i could work for Disney...which she felt was where a overly creative person like myself even at that young ago needed to be employed.
So i moved from Massachusetts to Florida to live with her from 1980 to 1983.
I was nine going on ten at the time when i arrived, and left when i was twelve, so never stayed around long enough to be of hiring age.
To be honest i think she was just using me as the excuse to leave the Northeast...as at that time is was the hip thing to do.
She probably did want to see me work for Disney, but i know part of her motivation was more along the lines of wanting to 'start over' after splitting with my Dad.
Loads of people from the area where i lived did the same thing at that time and trekked South to take advantage of the early 80s housing boom in Florida.
So for three years i lived in Florida, and enjoyed visiting WDW periodically.
My first visit to EPCOT Center was in April of 1983 and it absolutely blew me away.
I was twelve.
Changed my life. Pointed me in a direction.
I've talked about this here before elsewhere.
Eventually my Mom hit hard times and i was sent back to live with my Dad in the Northeast...aglow with all the wonders i had experienced at EPCOT and WDW in general.
I may have never had the opportunity to work there, but i certainly had been 'trained' there rather well.
After returning up North, i still visited WDW sporadically through the mid 80s.
In the mid 90s i stayed away for almost a decade, then returned in 2000 for the great 'Millennium Celebration' and was crushed by the removal of my all time favorite Attraction ever, the Original 'Journey Into Imagination'.
It was that ride that had such a huge impact on me all those years ago, and i never forgot it.
Still have not forgotten it.
Still angry and disapointed at it's removal.
Now i spend my time out in California at Disneyland....meeting some interesting people and having grand adventures.
Florida won't see me anytime soon.....but the memories of the past remain.
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DisneyJayL
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Moved to Florida, because I wanted to get out of Alabama, but I might as well be in Alabama because Pensacola is right across the street.
POLY LOVER
Well-Known Member
I lived in the Poconos is for a while near blakslee, to boring had to move after 10 years of crazy folks moving in.
Chernaboggles
Well-Known Member
Yes, our opinions about the region are somewhat mixed. I love the nature stuff and all the wildlife, but winter is brutal and many people are very unfriendly. When we moved here we said "10 years at the outside", and we're about halfway through.We're thinking that splitting the year between here and Orlando would give us the best of both worlds (Country Mice AND City Mice, you might say!), but there are a lot of variables to work out.
My hope is to be a couple/few years behind danyoung56 in joining the ranks of a WDW driver. I go back and forth between driving a bus or a boat and know I would enjoy both jobs. My wife wants to sell popcorn at one of the small stands that have air conditioning. It is still unknown if we will be there year round or just for the winter season, but we are sick of the winters in Minnesota. What I look forward to the most is going to the parks in the evening and going for a walk. We have discussed this on our trips. Wouldn't it be great to go to Epcot and walk around the lake for our evening stroll or eat dinner at the Polynesian and catch the monorail to the MK to watch the parade and fireworks.
The downside is living in an urban setting. Our closest neighbor is about 1/4 mile away and it would be difficult to look outside and see another house. We have noticed the Dallas Blvd area on our trips over to Daytona Beach and thought that may be an area with big enough space where it would seem we are still in the country. Does anyone know of other areas where you have a feeling of being by yourself?
The downside is living in an urban setting. Our closest neighbor is about 1/4 mile away and it would be difficult to look outside and see another house. We have noticed the Dallas Blvd area on our trips over to Daytona Beach and thought that may be an area with big enough space where it would seem we are still in the country. Does anyone know of other areas where you have a feeling of being by yourself?
Tony the Tigger
Well-Known Member
Once again I'm going to go with the Melbourne or Melbourne beach areas and surrounding towns. Small town feel, enough big companies around so you don't feel like you're stranded in the middle of nowhere. Nice local businesses. And about the same distance away as Daytona.
POLY LOVER
Well-Known Member
My friend took a job and bought in Celebration 5-10 minutes from Disneypicture perfect small town with a great center of town. Close to everything but far enough away from the wdw action. Disney actually built the town about 15 years ago. I will be following them soon. I visit there ever time I go to Disney eat outdoors and go to the town tavern to watch sports on Sunday's
POLY LOVER
Well-Known Member
I agree it wa a difficult place to live. Every time we needed something it was an hour round trip from the development we lived in.
RoadTrip
Member
My brother and his family moved to Orlando to be close to WDW and it didn't work out well for them. They got tired of the parks. I'm sure part of that was because my SIL worked for Disney Reservations and they were able to go so often at no cost. I used to want to meet him and his family at a park when we were at WDW. They would meet us, go on two or three of their favorite attractions and then want to go home. They ended up moving back to Minnesota because they missed friends and family.
Epcot-Rules
Well-Known Member
You have described me!! I live in the panhandle, I'm 20 minutes away from Pensacola beach and 30 minutes to Destin. If I want a long drive I can go to Orange Beach AL in 50 minutes. I never go to the beach unless relatives are in from TN. I to have a pool that is much more enjoyable than fighting the crowd at the beach.
As for me, I'm close enough to Disney being 6.5 to 7 hours away. We go 2 or 3 times a years. We are starting to think that's to much.
Epcot-Rules
Well-Known Member
We are know as the best kept secrete in the country. We have the crystal white beaches and emerald color water.
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draybook
Well-Known Member
I lived in Scranton for 3 years. You couldn't pay me to move back there.
I'd love to live near Disney and I've done a little research into possible transfers with my Employer, Cardinal Health. I'd have to go to a distribution center and the closest one we have is in Tampa. That would be just fine with me.
I'd love to live near Disney and I've done a little research into possible transfers with my Employer, Cardinal Health. I'd have to go to a distribution center and the closest one we have is in Tampa. That would be just fine with me.
Tony the Tigger
Well-Known Member
We started getting annual passes every other year - but then you end up wanting to go a lot to get the most value out of your pass LOL. We typically end up going maybe four times or five times in the year but usually only for two or three nights at a time. Sometimes only one night.
Then in the off year we do different things. Then we miss WDW more!
DisneyManOne
Well-Known Member
I am currently planning to move to Florida in about 3 or 4 years. I've heard of a nice little city called Clermont, which is about 28.6 miles (33 minutes) from Disney, so that's where I'd look to stay.