In yesterday’s blog, I talked about Orlando’s first permanent resident Aaron Jernigan and the events that enticed thousands of others to follow him here over the last 169 years. But what about you? Do you want to move to the Orlando metropolitan area? Since many of you have written to me, stating this desire, I would like to fill you in on what to expect. Let’s start with the weather.
November through most of May is fantastic. You can often turn off your air conditioner and leave the windows wide open and let fresh air invade your home. But remember, it can get cold in Florida during January and February. Don’t forget the big freeze of 1894/95. In fact, on January 2, 2001, I stepped out on my front porch early one morning to get the newspaper, slipped on ice, and broke my ankle.
From late May through most of October, it is hot and humid. You must be prepared for this. However, in the twelve years I have lived here, I have never seen the temperature reach the 100 degree mark. Now the local weathermen will tell you that it’s going to “feel” like 100 degrees or more, but the actual temperature rarely reaches the century mark. The nighttime temperatures during this time are in the 70’s. Even at three in the morning, it’s going to be warm and humid outside. During this time of year, most people run their air conditioner 24/7. People wear shorts most of the year. I only own one jacket — and it’s light weight.
It rains in Florida year round. It’s not so bad in the winter months, but come summer, it can be a daily occurrence. However, for the most part, this isn’t a major inconvenience. The storms usually occur in the late afternoon or early evening and only last 30 minutes to an hour. Most people take this in stride and carry an umbrella if they know they’re going to be out and about. I always keep an umbrella in my car, just in case.
Here is a picture of Main Street during one of our summer downpours. I’m sure many of you have experienced this personally.
Due to the ongoing drought in Florida, much of the Orlando area mandates that you can only water your lawn once or twice a week, depending on the time of year. This makes the rain all the more welcome to us locals.
You would think with all this rain we would have a major mosquito problem, after all, this area used to be a part of Mosquito County. But I’ve only been bitten three times in all the years I’ve lived here. Much of this has to do with the proactive measures Orlando (and the theme parks) take to kill the larvae before they hatch.
Florida is the lightning capital of the United States, but in reality, it’s Central Florida that gets the brunt of this menacing force of nature. You learn very quickly once you move to Florida to respect lightning. If you can hear the thunder, you’re not safe outdoors. You come inside immediately. Once inside, you stay away from windows and out of the shower. And I learned the hard way (three times) that lightning doesn’t actually have to strike your house to cause damage. Electrical charges can run underground and cause problems if they pass beneath your house. You can buy and install surge protectors on your TV and other expensive electronic equipment. These will offer some protection. But if the electrical charge is strong enough, there is nothing you can do.
Florida “hosts” more hurricanes than any other state. Although Orlando is inland and hurricanes start to lose their punch as soon as they move across land, if the storm is big enough, damage can ensue. During the 2004 hurricane season, Orlando was hit by three named storms that caused significant damage, with Hurricane Charley the worst of these. Even though I suffered no wind damage, Charley stalled over Orlando and pelted my home with driving rain for 16 hours. I had water damage in three rooms of my home.
Florida is flat. I came from California where foothills and mountains are everywhere. “Flat” took some getting used to. I miss the varied landscape.
Here is a picture I took from an airplane in 1983. As you can see, the landscape is smooth. If you look carefully, you can also see Spaceship Earth on the horizon.
For those of you who like to putter in the garden, I have good news and bad news. The good news is our soil is very sandy. This means it’s easy as pie to dig a hole for plants and shrubs. You can even skip the shovel and use your hands the soil is so easy to dig in. On the down side, our sandy soil doesn’t have a lot of natural nutrients and most plants will require additional fertilizers and potting mixes to assure they get all the food they need. Be sure to watch out for fire ants.
Florida has no state income tax. Which is good come April 15th. However, schools, roads, and other services must be paid for somehow. This is accomplished with high property taxes and some toll roads.
Gas prices in Central Florida are generally less than the national average. The three Hess stations at Walt Disney World usually offer competitive prices to other local, non-tourist stations.
If you’ve been paying attention to the upcoming presidential election, you know that Florida is a battleground state. Northern Florida is very conservative while Southern Florida is extremely liberal. As you move north and south, the mix between Republicans and Democrats becomes more even. You will often hear about the I-4 corridor. This is the area between Tampa on the west coast and Daytona Beach on the east coast connected by Interstate 4. This area is politically very middle-of-the- road. National politicians focus the majority of their energies on these communities when visiting Florida as this is the area that will ultimately decide how the state votes. Walt Disney World often plays hosts to political rallies of both parties. In fact, back in June, both Romney and Obama made speeches at the Contemporary Resort. Buddy Dyer (Democrat) is the current mayor of Orlando and Teresa Jacobs (Republican) is the current mayor of Orange County.
BTW, I-4 is often congested.
Orlando has excellent medical facilities. With two non-profit hospital systems, good care is close to most communities.
When I moved to Orlando, my intent was to be as close to Walt Disney World as possible so I could visit often. Because of this, I decided that 30 minutes would be the maximum I wanted to drive to reach the theme parks. In the end, I purchased a home 9 miles due north of Downtown Disney. From here, I can be in any of the Disney parking lots within this 30 minute time limit. I can’t be at the gates, but I can be in the parking lots. I am extremely happy I made this demand. If you stop and think of it, this 30 minute restriction means that I spend an hour commuting every time I visit Disney.
I know that many of you will want to ask me what communities you should be looking at. This would be impossible for me to answer. Within a 30 minute radius of Disney are homes in the $100K price range to the multi-million dollar neighborhoods. When you’re serious about moving, talk with a real estate agent — NOT ME. I simply am not current on specific neighborhood prices and I would end up giving you more misinformation than accurate. The one thing I can tell you, if your goal is to be close to Disney World, move south of Downtown Orlando.
Many experts will suggest you rent in a new city for six months or more before deciding where to live and buying a home. This will give you the opportunity to explore the area at your leisure and gain a more informed perspective of the different neighborhoods.
Most of the developments built in the last 15-20 years will be part of an association. Many of these developments will be gated. Remember to take into account homeowner dues when figuring out a budget.
When considering a neighborhood, find out if the homes can be rented to tourists. If you’re buying a home in Orlando for occasional use, it would be nice to know if you will be able to rent it to others while you’re living elsewhere. However, if you plan on being a permanent resident, you might not want a new set of neighbors every two weeks.
In 2011, U.S. News reported on a study released by the F.B.I. stating that Orlando is the third most dangerous city in the United States. Fortunately, I’ve never had a problem with any sort of crime. But then, most of my life is spent in my gated community or at the theme parks which are very well patrolled and protected.
Obviously, you will want to buy an annual pass to Walt Disney World once you move here. Something to keep in mind, the Premium Annual Pass and the Annual Pass include parking. Seasonal Passes have blockout dates and do NOT include parking. Currently, parking costs $14 per day. Depending on how often you plan to visit, you might be better off buying an Annual Pass rather than a Seasonal Pass. Universal Studios and Sea World also offer several annual pass programs. Check with their websites for more information.
FYI, if you get a job at Disney, you are granted free admission to the parks. More about this in Part Three.
For more information on Disney annual passes, click here.
To learn more about Orlando, click here.
Personally, I’m extremely happy I made the move to Orlando. I live in a nice neighborhood, I’ve come to terms with the weather, and I’ve made many new friends who share my passion for Disney. And Orlando does have more to offer than just the theme parks. There are over 300 golf courses within a fifty mile radius of Orlando. We have the Orlando Magic for you sport’s fans and the Bob Carr Theater for those of you who enjoy theatrical performances. We have museums, cultural events, and a selection of fine restaurants that would rival cities three times the size of Orlando.
With the right mindset, Orlando can be a great place to live. For us Disney fans, it’s wonderful to drive down to the World and have lunch at a resort or in one of the theme parks. Because we have an annual pass, we don’t have to worry about “getting our money’s worth.” We can simply wander Main Street or World Showcase at our leisure and snicker at the tourists who are running around at a frantic pace. We have found that riding the Haunted Mansion takes a backseat to people watching. Trust me when I say, you will notice far more spooks outside the mansion than within when you have the time to look. LOL
Check back tomorrow when I’ll discuss working at Walt Disney World.
I would like to move to Orlando and possibly get a job at Disney. I am retired, but healthy and able to work part time. MY problem, I would have to rent (not able to buy – at least not at this time). What would the living conditions be like (opportunities) in my situation? Rent an apartment, trailer, etc. and are there opportunities for this near Disney?
Hey Jack i know this is old but im just going through these again, can you tell me how far it is to the beach from Orlando? on both coasts if possible ! thank you !
Jack’s Answer:
It’s a little over an hour’s drive to the Atlantic. It’s a little over an hour and a half to the Gulf.
Oh my goodness, Jack, only three mosquito bites?! Mosquito control in Orlando must be working a whole lot better than it does here in eastern Hillsborough!
But, wonderful post, as usual.
I grew up here in the famous “Tampa Bay area,” so have lived almost exactly an hour from Disney my whole life. We were seasonal pass holders for years, and I agree with you, there’s nothing better than wandering over for an afternoon, enjoying dinner at Epcot, maybe taking in the fireworks, all completely unrushed. Of course, our round-trip commute is a bit longer than yours, but we don’t mind. Plus we’re just far enough away that when we do stay in a resort, it still feels like a vacation.
Since we had our son, we tend to pick up the four-day FL resident pass when it goes on sale and plan to visit four times over that six-month period. We’ll probably go more again when he gets a little older. Cranky two-year-olds are no fun whether you live an hour away or three time zones away. :0)
One drawback for me about Orlando is that it’s landlocked. We can be at the beach in 30 minutes here, plus we have the bay, channels and rivers leading to the Gulf if you’re a boater. Somehow the lakes in Orlando just don’t have the same punch. I just love sitting in a cafe near the water and smelling the salty sea air…to me that’s what makes it feel so special to be a Floridian.
So, I guess that’s my shameless plug for my hometown of Tampa/St. Pete/ Clearwater!
What roads do the locals use to avoid I-4? We tried the toll road to the east of WDW and found it to be hectic (then again, we hit it at 5:00 p.m. in a heavy downpour). I’ve wondered about the the new road to the west of the parks. In 2010 I asked CMs at our resort about that route and they didn’t even know what road I was talking about.
I think I’d be a snowbird if I didn’t have nine grandchildren here.
Jack’s Answer:
Since I don’t know where you’re coming from, there is no way to answer the question. If you live north of downtown Orlando, I-4 is probably the best route, even when it is congested.
The new road you’re talking about is 429 and brings guests in the west side of Walt Disney World near Coronado Springs. This road is practically deserted all day long. If you’re driving to Disney from out of state, I would take the turnpike to 429.
Jack,
What do you estimate those “high property taxes” are, as a % of a home’s purchase price or assessed value?
Does FL have anything like CA’s Proposition 13? Prop13 set the ‘general fund’ tax rate at 1% of purchase price, and thereafter the tax can increase no more than 2% (relative, not absolute points) per year.
Jack’s Answer:
I really don’t know what the percentage is. Sorry. And yes, Florida does have a Prop 13 type of law — but the tases are still high.
Great article Jack. Do you visit Universal, Sea World, Kennedy SC, or any of the smaller tourist places?
Jack’s Answer:
Yes. Sort of…
I had a Universal annual pass for four years. I think their parks are fantastic. In fact, I think Spiderman and Harry Potter are two of the best attractions in Orlando. Wake up, Disney! However, I don’t find the ambiance of the Universal parks as intoxicating as I do at Disney. Since most of the time when I’m visiting an Orlando theme parks, I’m not riding the attractions, I simply wasn’t getting my money’s worth at Universal. Also, it’s a very long walk from the Universal parking lot to the theme parks — even with their speed-ramps.
I’ve been to Sea World in California three times. I’ve only been to Orlando Sea World once. Although I think the park is fantastic, it’s not a place I need to visit on a regular basis. I can only watch a whale jump out of the water so many times before I become bored.
I’ve been to the Kennedy Space Center twice — both times when I had out-of-town guests. It’s about an hour’s drive from Orlando. This is another very worthwhile attraction. But once again, after you’ve seen it once or twice, there really isn’t a lot to entice you back again and again.
Reading about how flat Florida is made me chuckle. In high school, us seniors were tasked with writing a paragraph or two on what we would be doing in 10 years. I (naively) wrote that I would be living in the misty mountains in Florida. (Needless to say, I endured a fair amount of ribbing.) It’s now 20 years plus, and I still happily reside in Wisconsin. I hope to be a snowbird someday, though, with my eye on both Florida and Nevada. Thanks for the helpful information, Jack.
Hi Jack –
Wonderful series! I know we’re probably 5 years or so from moving to Disney, but I can’t wait for Part 3. I just retired, so hopefully Part 3 will let me know if I should bring my resume with me next month on our trip to WDW, to work really part-time (commute from NY for a few days at a time, once a month or so), just to get my ‘foot in the door.’ Let’s see what Part 3 brings…
– Jeff
Hey Jack! I am a lifelong Orlando resident, and had to laugh when you mentioned the mosquitos. I don’t even think about it much now – but when I was young, they were everywhere! You could not get way from them during the summer months. Repellent was an absolute necessity whenever leaving the house. Today – I don’t even have a can. So glad the city and theme parks take care of them now.
Nice work, again, Jack! I’ll have you know a lot of the annual pass stuff is SO true. I’m down in Pinellas County and my coworkers make fun of me for going to Disney all the time since it’s “so expensive.” For me, it’s nothing to go watch some fireworks, a parade, and have dinner in a good restaurant. It’s better than hanging out at the mall.
-Dan
Hi Jack,
You still manage to make it very appealing despite all the warnings. I can’t wait for part 3.
The lottery is not looking so promising unfortunately – can you wave a magic wand so I can work at Disney as a Canadian 🙂
Wendy
Orlando was recently rated as America’s “emptiest” city, based on a rental apartment vacancy rate of about 20 percent and a housing vacancy of about 4 percent — hard to believe if you drive on I-4 regularly! But that should have some effect on the cost of living. We live about 2 hours from WDW, but still enjoy long weekends at the resorts and we too are longtime annual passholders
.
Loved part 1!
Loved part 2!
Can’t wait for part 3!
Ah this really makes me miss living in Orlando! I moved about 5 months ago to the Ft. Lauderdale area, which still isn’t far from Disney thank goodness. But I really miss those leisurely afternoons wandering around the park when you have a few free hours, or just running down for dinner! I’ve already decided my husband and I will retire there, so I am determined to make it back some day!
Thanks again, Jack, for your very useful information. We joke every day of when we’re going to “move to Disney”. Hopefully it’s sooner than later!
hey Jack
This blog really helped me think more about moving down to the Orlando area. The weatehr is not that big of a factor for me so that should not be a problem. thanks also for the heads up on moving south of downtown Orlando if I want to be close to Disney World. can’t wait for part three and as always keep up the great work.
Awesome blog, and very interesting to me as a FL resident. I moved to the MetroWest Orlando area 6 years ago from MA and my goodness what a difference.
Even after all this time I’m still not completely used to the heat and the rain (or the cockroaches >_<) but Orlando really is such a cool place to live.
Hey Jack – Just wondering what your experiences have been with gators, snakes, and other wildlife of central Florida versus new England area? Have they ever been an issue for you?
Jack’s Answer:
My house sits next to a pond. Once I saw a gator in my backyard, but only once. Actually, Disney gets gators all the time. They just capture them and move them to a non-populated area.
I see Black Racers (snakes) all the time in my yard. They’re harmless. I also see the Scarlet Kingsnake, once again, they’re non-venomous.
I know some areas occasionally see bears, but I never have.
First responder!
Another well written blog, Jack.
Can’t wait for part 3. Keep up the great work.
Dan
I couldn’t agree with you more about moving to Orlando except for not all of Florida is flat. Clermont, Florida has beautiful rolling hills. Downtown Clermont is about 26 miles west from downtown Orlando. We moved to Clermont from Ohio in March and we love it here! We are huge Disney fans and the first thing we did was purchase our annual pass. You are right that is great to go over to the parks anytime. We also have notice that some days we are spending more time people watching as well. I can’t wait to read your next blog.
Jack’s Comment:
You are correct. Clermont has beautiful rolling hills. So does Mouth Dora, a great “day trip.” However, I come from California. The hills of Clermont are mere bumps in the road on the west coast. LOL
What a great series–thanks Jack!
Dear Jack,
This time i have an object of relevance to the article.
Has Disney World or any of the theme parks or facilities suffered damage from hurricanes?
Thanks for your time,
Anderson.
Jack’s Answer:
Disney is very “closed mouthed” about topics like this. They do not want to let any, less than perfect information leak out to the public — even when the events are beyond their control.
After the hurricanes, I was not aware of any major, structural damages to any of the buildings. However, I must assume that they did sustain minor damages here and there. All over Central Florida, people were reporting damage.
Disney did sustain a lot of agricultural damage. By that I mean, trees were blown over, mostly the natural pine trees. This was especially obvious near the entrance to Epcot. In the months that followed, Disney removed any tree that wasn’t standing upright. Once again, they want to maintain a perfect image.
Disney does have all sorts of procedures in place to handle hurricane emergencies. From everything I heard, these procedures were executed quite effectively.