Living Disney Blog

I am reading a new blog (new to me) named Http://livingdisney.co

When I read a blog, I like to go to the beginning and read forward. Whose ever idea it was to design blog pages to be read backwards is missing the point! This blog starts in early 2012 with almost daily entries. Reading it is like reading a book on my favorite subject: living at Disney!

The story starts with two sisters living together in North Carolina. Between them they have three children from donated sperm. They want to get out of North Carolina because they are concerned about the pollution. Unable to decide on a place to go to, they decide to move to the Greatest Place On Earth: Disney World! They are both stay at home Mom's who home school and run a day care (they call it being a Nanny). They also make money blogging and ebaying Disney merchandise.

I have only made it to May 2012 (they are very prolific writers). The blog is stuffed full of pictures. Many of the entries so far are what you would expect from anyone who might be on vacation visiting Disney. But very quickly, they dive into tips and details that can only come from being able to spend a lot of time in the parks.

The entries I like the most are the "Flash Backs". This is when we travel back in time to 2009 to read journal entries. This is when the sisters decided to make their move, their reasons why, the necessary planning, and all the challenges.

My favorite "chapters"/blog entries so far discussed the decision to rent a 4 bedroom townhouse in a resort community in Davenport (an area not far from Kissimmee and Celebration). I find that deciding where to move to is one of the most difficult decisions to make, so I enjoy hearing the experiences of others.

My interest is about learning what life is like living next to Disney. For me, I am less interested in the special tips for buying things at the German bakery. I'll discover those things after I move there. I want to know what life will be like - what is great and what isn't? This blog has a little of everything. And so my second favorite was reading how they went to Tampa for their son's birthday and all the things there were to do in Tampa. I liked that entry because I believe that moving to Disney means more than just Disney. There is an entire state with fun and exciting things to experience! That entry was no let down.

I am going to continue reading my way through this blog. I hope you'll join me. Just please take my advice: go to the 2012 entries and begin reading the blog from the start.

Planning the 2015 Florida Trip

We have visited Florida every summer since 2011. This summer is going to be no exception. Unfortunately, we leave in ten weeks and we have done nothing to prepare for it! We haven't even picked a house to rent yet, much less rented one. We know we'll be in Florida for the month of July, but, beyond that? Nothing is planned. 

We need to get moving on this if it is really going to happen!

This year's theme is going to be: Small Budget. I have set a budget for the trip down and back, and staying in Florida. The budget will not allow us to renew our Disney annual passes (which expires on July 9), which is OK. To force us to really experience the Florida life style, we can't run to the parks every evening. I'm sure if we moved to Florida someday, at the beginning we would go to the parks all the time, but as life became busy and the parks became less appealing, we would find other interests as well. 

So, this trip will be Disney filled up until July 9. Afterwards, we'll have Downtown Disney and the resorts. But we want to explore the beaches and some of the other things around the area too. A person can't just live on Disney alone! OK, maybe they could. But life would be much more rewarding if it was filled with many things.

That's our plan. Now, we just have to put those plans into motion.

Working at Disney

Want to work at Disney some day? I have though that someday I might retire and go work at the Disney World parks. I just read this report from All Ears: http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2012/07/getting_a_job_at_walt_disney_w.html

I found several items very interesting the the article:

1. Full time is 32 hours per week, and includes 

health care benefit. However, there aren't very 

many full time jobs handed out.

2. You may have to get a less desirable job for

 the first six months. Afterward, you can apply

For something better.

3. Be ready to stand on your feet for 8 hours 

per day

4. Be ready to work nights, weekends, and 

Holidays.

The dream of interacting with happy and 

excited guests all day might not be a dream

Held by all the 65,000 Disney employees.

But I can hope that someday the dream 

Might come true for me.

First Year In Florida

I have been watching YouTube videos in attempt to understand why people move to Florida. I found a great video, the best so far, of a family chronicling their first year into a music video. 1Positivelyfit created a music video that shows many of the aspects of Florida that I imagine when thinking about moving to Florida.

I hope you enjoy it too:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mwf28xequFw

Is Florida The Best Place To Retire?

Bankrate has come out with their list of the Best States to Retire. Florida, with miles of beaches, golf courses, sunshine, and things to do - did not rank #1. It isn't even in the top ten! In fact, it ranked 28th.

New York, my home state, is the second worse state for retirement, right behind Arkansas.

The best states are Virginia, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and the number one: Wyoming. 

But why didn't Florida get the prized number one spot? Bankrate looked at three things: cost of living, healthcare, and taxes.

For cost of living it ranks 31. That means Florida's cost of living is more expensive than most states. To put it in perspective, Hawaii is the most expensive state, and New York is the third most expensive.

Florida is 35th for healthcare. One would think with all the elderly and all the hospitals, Florida would have done better, but no. If you want the best healthcare (and really cold winters), you will need to go to Minnesota. New York is mediocre at 26, and West Virginia is the worse.

One of the benefits of moving from New York to Florida is the lower taxes. It is no wonder because New York is the worse state in terms of taxes. One could go anywhere and it would be better than New York. Given that contrast, Florida's 22 ranks sounds very good. But not as good as the best state: Wyoming. 

Compared to New York? Florida is a paradise. Nearly everyone I talk to dreams of retiring and heading to Florida. Amazingly, that might not be the best decision. However, unless you want to live in a farm state, Florida is probably an OK choice.

Is moving to Florida a good idea?

I read many blog and vlogs and articles and a reoccurring theme from many readers is to ask: is moving to
Florida a good idea?

Asking that question is like asking "Will I like broccoli?" How is anyone supposed to know whether moving to Florida is a good idea for you? You are the only person who can answer that question.

The reasons for moving to Florida can be different for everyone. There are some common themes (I am sick of winter) but the specifics are all different. A major factor in the decision is attitude. A great attitude will overcome challenges (and there will be challenges) but a poor attitude will sink into despair. 

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, or, in this case, in Florida. But is it? There are going to be challenges where ever you live. Things you like. Things you don't like. Florida is not a utopia.

I heard from one guy in New York. He was ranting how he was sick of New York. Sick of all the stop signs and red lights and old people driving 15 miles an hour. The high crime of New York, and the poor schools. I heard that and thought: these are the issues Floridians usually complain about. Slow traffic and red lights? Take a trip down Rt 192 from Four Corners eastward past Kissimmee and then we can have a conversation about traffic!

The point is, is one place really all that better than another?

Maybe.

I can't answer that for you. No one can.

You should take a trip to Florida. Not a vacation. But a trip. Try living there for a few weeks. Grocery shop, go out to eat, drive around during rush hour. Find the things that bug you a little and understand that annoyance might grow and fester. Drive out to the beach where you'll pay an expressway toll every two miles - think that'll bug you after a while? 

Do that and then decide whether or not this is a good move for you.

Chinese Drywall

Buyer Be Ware!

When I first heard about this problem I thought it was a joke. But make no mistake, this is not a joke!

After 2001, and during the housing boom, cheap drywall was imported from China. The drywall emits sulfur under humid conditions. those sulfur emissions corrodes copper and makes people sick and is throughout Florida. Houses that have sit empty for a year without air conditioning to control the home humidity could be very bad. The corroding can turn the copper electrical wiring to dust, ruin plumbing, damage refrigerators and appliances, and break air conditioners. Remediation requires, basically, gutting the house to its studs and starting over.

There are regulations for remediating Chinese Drywall, but many contractors will do just the minimum and will not do a complete job - like not replacing the electrical wiring.

The only way to be sure is to have the home inspected for Chinese Drywall or Chinese drywall damage before buying the house.