Williams Family Blog: 3 Years Living in Florida

 

Ok, I'm a bit late (2 weeks) with the update, but we have been Floridians for 3 years!

If you want to read what our life was like at year 2, click here. 

And, here's a post at a year and a half.

For the folks who have been following our adventures for either a short time or well over a decade, know that living in Central Florida was a dream that we made come true.  No jealousy or envy, just know that if you put your mind to something and set a goal, you can achieve it.  We did!

The People:  

Well, we have family, friends, and neighbors nearby and have guests visit.  We've cruised with a couple who are neighbor friends, spent New Year's Eve with folks within the neighborhood, and enjoy weekly dominoes games, along with other visits to Disney theme parks, Disney Springs, shopping, or going out to eat.

When you move to a brand-new place, you want to have folks who you can call in the middle of the night with an emergency or vice versa.  We have that in multitudes. 

I am on our HOA Board and also an Orlando Health Patient Family Board that meets quarterly.  It feels good to give back.

The Places:

Since the update a year ago, we have driven to Miami, stayed overnight, and sailed from the port.  Have been to multiple beaches on the gulf side.  And, we rode with friends to Fort Lauderdale to board a Disney ship.  

I have become more familiar with Downtown Orlando, with visits to Orlando Health for Board Meetings, my endodontist, and Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center.  My secret parking spot raised its price!!!  One of our friends had an unexpected hospital stay in downtown Orlando and we made a visit--easy to navigate.  Sandford Airport has been the most frequented airport in the last year with the drive feeling familiar. 

We visit Disney theme parks, Disney Springs, and Disney Resorts on the regular.  When driving home from EPCOT the other night, I told the husband that there is now an automaticity when driving to/from the parks.  

The Services:

This past year, we added dance lessons to our repertoire, with an Author Murray Studio not far away. 

The husband frequents the library, which is in downtown Windermere, with one of our neighbor friends asking to accompany to learn more.  Orange County libraries make home deliveries of desired books; the husband loves that service! 

If you ask the husband what he does on Mondays, he will say the following:  a stop at Publix grocery store, if necessary, followed by Wal-Mart weekly order pick-up, then Bronson Liquor 2 if needed, with the last stop being New York Beer Project featuring half-price growler refills.  We have a rewards account with Bronson and the folks at New York Beer Project recognize him.  The route is efficient (and takes him behind Magic Kingdom). He is frequently asked to pick up items for neighbors during his Monday routine. 

In the last year, I have taken advantage of the tailor service within walking distance, along with Chase Bank to get Euros to take to Italy/Greece/Croatia.  And I've walked to our dentist, which is in the same shopping complex. 

A new location that we have explored is downtown Winter Garden, a neighboring community.  The quaint downtown with brick paved streets has museums, shops, restaurants, a theater, and festivals.  This is where you can find my favorite tennis shoe store--I'm on the email list, they keep track of purchases, and there is a customer loyalty program. 

The Things:

When I wrote about this a year ago, the things were tangible, stuff.  We still have less stuff, but I have made multiple donations to our local Goodwill.  Where is it coming from? 

Traffic--can still be a mess depending on where/when.  We plan drives accordingly.  An 8:00 am appointment, while convenient, means a busy drive.  10:00 works better.  Distance is in time, not miles.  10 miles=20 minutes.  The other day, driving 17 miles took 40 minutes. 

Weather:  Well, I'll say we turned on our heat for the first time this past January/ February.  Many plants froze during the cold weather snap that hadn't been experienced in over a decade.  I wore pants more often this winter than the previous two that we have lived here.  Other than that, we love it!  Our lanai is a prominent location daily for all of us, including naps if appropriate.  Last Summer lacked a hurricane season which was appreciated.  When it gets hot, we adjust.  But sometimes I am cold at 75 degrees.  Acclimation. 

We've been asked if we miss the seasons and no, not really.  There are seasons in Florida.  For example, the foliage does change color and leaves fall, it isn't during the same time of year as "Fall or Autumn." 

Unexpected benefits:  

We are both more active.  My flexibility, endurance, and general health improve each day.  Walking in the neighborhood, pool movement, or walking in the theme parks is a regular occurrence. They say Florida is where the Fountain of Youth is located.  

We miss our boy, but text/talk frequently.  I do stay on top of state and local news for both Florida and Iowa. 

As I headed to the pool the other day, not to be in the water, but to enjoy the scenery and chit chat with others who may be there, the husband asked what my goal was and I said, "to be familiar, comfortable, and not drain others' energy."  That is how I feel about living here--for it to be familiar, comfortable, and not drain our energy. 

Williams Family: Do You Tour Like a Guest or a Local?

 

After years of making the Walt Disney World Resort a vacation destination I have always said, "there is more than one way to do Disney."  And, I firmly believe that.  As a family, our touring style morphed over the years from commando to more leisurely.  Now, we live "here" meaning in Central Florida, in Walt Disney World's backyard, basically; able to see and hear Magic Kingdom's fireworks nightly.  Which means our touring style has transitioned from Disney Guest to Disney Local.

While it needn't have been a forehead slapping moment, it was.  Upon returning from EPCOT last night, accompanied by a neighbor friend and fellow Disney fan, who experienced the American Garden Theater for the first time along with her first Eat-to-the-Beat concert performance it donned on me that it was her first time touring as a Disney Local.  On the car ride home, she said that she would have never sat and watched a concert like that when her family traveled from Illinois to Walt Disney World.  And, while our neighbor friend has lived "here" for over a year, her daughter works for Disney, when she goes to the parks, sometimes with me in tow, the touring style is more as a guest than a local.

Disney Guests want to make the most out of every moment.  Attractions, shows, characters, snacks/drinks, and nighttime spectaculars make up the itinerary.  Solid shoes, solid plans. Go, do, see!  Making the most of the experience to get the "worth the squeeze" out of the investment.  I get it.  Been there.  Sometimes still do that if accompanying other guests, including our neighbor friend. 

Disney Locals, which I will clarify as anyone within a 2-hour drive, have a more targeted, yet chill approach to park touring.  Locals come to the parks for a specific reason--like a new restaurant or attraction or specific entertainment.  Familiarity allows for efficiency, still leaving room for a bit of magic.  Last night, our neighbor friend wanted something specific at an outdoor kitchen (Food and Wine Festival) and then we walked to the American Garden Theater.  She said, "This is a long walk when you aren't wandering and looking at things."  Targeted--we knew our destination.  When exiting EPCOT, the lights and music made it magical--and we said as such.  No rush of the crowd exiting; a stroll to the car in the parking lot and home shortly thereafter--chill.  We know we'll be back. . . and soon.

When processing this idea of different park touring styles out loud with the husband, he added his own story of the evening.   When pin trading with a Cast Member, he had to answer a trivia question to get access to a mystery pin.  "Name 2 places at Walt Disney World where you can find Sorcerer Mickey."  The husband rattled off Mickey's Philharmagic and Fantasmic.  He said the Cast Member was stunned and asked if he was a regular.  He fibbed a little and said that he lived in Iowa.  As he was telling me the story, I added that Sorcerer Mickey is a meet and greet at Hollywood Studios.  

As we walked back to the car lot last night, we talked about how we have chosen to live here; near Walt Disney World.  Disney fandom was a part of the decision as well as living a dream and escaping Midwest winters. We shared how we had experienced skeptics/doubters. But in the end, made the move and made the dream life a reality. 

Williams Family Blog: Two Years!

 

Believe it or not, we have celebrated two years of living in Central Florida!  Coincidentally?  Ironically?  On the actual anniversary date, we were in Iowa!

The People:  

With family, Todd's brother and his wife, not far--in Lakeland, FL, it is a delight to spend time together. We have also made friends with neighbors and community members. The pool is definitely a hub and weekly dominoes night is a great way to catch up.  We also have Disney friends who traverse Disney Parks and Disney Springs with us. . . or us with them. 

Yesterday, for example, I was able to call the Cashier at Aldi by her name, before seeing her nametag. At dominoes, Todd was complimented on his shirt and it was noted that it was the first time people were seeing him wear a non-Disney shirt. After dominoes I phoned a neighbor friend who is leaving on a trip soon and asked if they wanted to do something before leaving.  We have plans to go to EPCOT today. 

One evening last week, we walked to neighbor friends' home to play cards.  A group hosted the first community-wide Bingo night, with plans for once a month. While we were in Iowa over the weekend, I had calls and text messages from various neighbors.  We are connected.

The Places:

Walt Disney World Resort offers fun that we could participate in daily if desired.  Our theme park passes have no "black out" dates and the waterparks are included with our passes.  Nearly anywhere on Disney property is two stoplights away. I also have super-secret spots in the Disney Springs parking garages. 

Universal Orlando Resort is also not far, requiring no Interstate driving.  SeaWorld and its partner parks are even closer to us. 

We can make a round-trip drive to Orlando International Airport in less than an hour. 

Downtown Orlando is also not far to our East and we have enjoyed multiple offerings at Dr. Philips Performing Art Center. 

Beaches are to our East--Atlantic Ocean, and West--Gulf Coast. I have a bag ready for the pool and another bag ready for the beach.

The Services:

Within walking distance is shopping for any needs other than shoes/clothing.  We have grocery stores, dentist offices, hair and nail salons, banks, and restaurants. Various shopping locations are nearby. Now that we have switched primary care physicians, medical care is closer to our home.  When we first went to our dentist, there was a curtness that we hadn't experienced before.  But now, the interactions are softer.  Maybe they see so many new patients that having us keep coming back lowered the guard? 

I have recommended car mechanic services, butcher, nail salon (where I am on a first name basis with the technicians), and realtors. 

The Things:

As for literal "things" we have fewer of them and less need.  We successfully manage with one vehicle.  There's no need to clutter our space with new things and I must confess, there are still some packed boxes.

The figurative "things" include traffic--it can be horrific on certain roads at certain times of the day.  We plan accordingly.  Also, distance.  The nearest branch of our banking institution is 40 minutes away (18 miles) depending on traffic. Weather: What can I say other than most of the time it is marvelous. When it gets hot, we adjust the time of day we're outside.  There are storms, but infrequent. The husband is now hooked on wearing shorts daily. Diversity: It's amazing!  So many cultures and languages in our community.  Expense:  Goods and services are more expensive, such as gas. We did pay less to register our new vehicle in Florida for two years than we did for one year on a vehicle in Iowa. Enjoyment:  It is blissful to play cards on our lanai, stroll the nearby parks and paths, splash in the pool, and know the time when hearing Magic Kingdom Fireworks.  

Living here is a dream fulfilled for us.  The location of our home--in Walt Disney World's backyard and not far from Universal, the amenities in our community, and the ease of living in our home as we age are benefits we imagined. 

Williams Family: Packing, Planning, Pedicures, Pets, and Park Drawers

 

For decades our family traveled to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.  Our son was 4 on his first trip and 20 years old the last time he stayed at a Walt Disney World Resort logging 26 trips in between.  Anticipating an upcoming trip, packing, planning for dining and attractions, getting a pedicure for sandal weather, and securing pet care were all a part of the joyful process.  Friends, neighbors, and co-workers came to assume that when there was a school break, we would be off on some Disney adventure.  They were correct and my smile grew larger as the departure date grew nearer.

Now, we live here, in Central Florida, a 15 minute drive to the closest Walt Disney World theme park. We have annual passes that give us entry to the four theme parks and water parks.  We don't stay at Walt Disney World Resorts anymore, but we do visit them to eat, play, and soak in the atmosphere.  

When visiting a Walt Disney World Resort, the anticipation of other guests is palpable, one of the reasons we enjoy the visit.  The guests have entered and are immersed into a themed world of service, efficiency, and fun. Excitement abounds!  

I love listening, watching, and complimenting the colorful Disney inspired clothing, accessories, and yes, nail art. I imagine that guest at the nail salon wistfully day-dreaming of their upcoming Disney vacation while the technician transforms their fingers and toes. It is all a part of the preparation process and builds anticipation. 

As for us, the packing is the bag to take the park or resort.  A Cast Member told us that he could tell we were local because of the size of our bag(s)--small with only necessities.  Sometimes, I go without a purse or bag.  

Planning? A park reservation is needed for entry into the theme parks, but there are designated "good to go" days for Passholders that do not require reservations.  We can decide the day of, the day before, or in advance and can hold 5 park reservations at a time. We typically do not need dining reservations or Lightning Lanes, but make them when desired ignoring the 60 day reservation window. 

Pedicures?  Yes. Still. No design. It is sandal weather here nearly year round.  The nearby nail salon is a saved number on my phone and am on a first name basis with the crew.  

Pets? We have 2 long-care options for Sadie and use them when needed.  Otherwise, it is walk, "good-bye" treat, and music on the Echo until we return in a few hours. Thankfully she is not bothered by the fireworks!

Park Drawer? We have a park drawer in the dresser in the office/3rd bedroom that holds cooling towels, cooling fans, inflatable pocket seats, ponchos, and any other paraphernalia that would be helpful for park touring. There's a drawer for necessary items for cruising, too!

I have been asked if my feelings towards Disney have changed since we moved, and the answer is "No." We ventured to Disney Springs one evening after I had been home recovering from surgery, and I could feel the smile come across my face as we came down the escalator from the parking garage.  The magical feeling is the same and now we can experience it any time we want!

What has changed is that I no longer stand out as a Disney Fan.  Because of where we live, I am among many Disney Fans.  The nearest Publix grocery store has a Disney section. When I go to physical therapy, the majority of clients are wearing Disney apparel as they either work for Disney or attend frequently. In our community, there are many who work for Disney. And, in our friend circle, all have some sort of Annual Pass--there are several tiers available to Florida residents.  Having Disney friends to visit the parks with adds another layer of fun and excitement!

Related Links:  

Williams Family: A Year And A Half Into Our Florida Life

Williams Family: We Love Where We Live