Family moving to Orlando (Miami, Winter Springs: home, neighborhoods, magnet school)

[lhafer]

I have some friends who would be moving to Orlando in the coming up months. They have a job that is located just north of the airport, but they don’t know the city at all (and neither do I - hence why I’m asking you guys).

What areas/neighborhoods would you suggest if they have children (so good schools) and have a budget max of around $700k? A yard would be nice. Walkability would be nice, but not necessary. I think they mentioned Baldwin Park? What other areas should they look at?

Also - can you tell me how the school system works? It seems like there are a lot of charter schools there. We have some, but where they are, you typically go to the school you are zoned to. So if you don’t like the school you are zoned to, you move or you go to private. Also - how do schools deal with 504plans?

I just don’t know anything about Orlando to help point them in the right direction! Thanks in advance for any suggestions/ advice!

[_Uncommon_]

At $700k and near the airport, I'd strongly recommend Lake Nona. It's not walkable, like at all, but it's very safe with very good schools. There are a ton of other nice places at that price point, but they might be aways from the airport. Dr. Phillips, Oviedo, Baldwin Park, Avalon Park, Waterford Lakes, Winter Springs, Winter Park, Winter Garden, Windermere are all really nice but there's going to be a commute. I'd suggest living in close proximity to where you work, because traffic can be bad here (although far less so with the pandemic).

Another area that's relatively close by to the airport and is pretty nice is Meadow Woods.

[Arcenal813]

I also suggest looking at Lake Nona.
Not “walkable” by any measure, but very nice.

Anything within the core is walkable: Baldwin Park, Delaney, Audubon, Eola Heights, Thornton Park, Azalea Park, etc.
But not as close to “just north of the airport” as Lake Nona, and traffic can be a pain.

I recently moved to Baldwin Park, and I absolutely love everything about it — but I work downtown, so commute to me is a non-issue. I can ride a scooter to the office. Or, on a nice cooler day, walk there.

[brinkofsunshine]

For $700k you could get a beautiful place in one of the walkable areas downtown. What age are the kids? For Elementary, Hillcrest is great but you’d have to live in Lake Eola Heights as they only let a certain amount of neighborhood kids in (it’s a magnet school). LEH is a super walkable neighborhood and you can get pretty much anywhere around downtown by foot or bike/scooter. Audubon Park and Winter Park are both lovely and walkable and have great schools. Delaney Park is gorgeous but a little further from stuff to be truly walkable, but has fantastic schools as well.

[lhafer]

Kids in elem, middle and high school.

Commute really isn’t a concern I don’t think. Coming from Houston - normal (precovid) commute was 45-60 minutes one way. Not that they want to be that far again, but Houston traffic is some of the worst in the nation. Not sure they are that worried about commuting. They would rather really like the area they live in. Walkability would be a nice change.

[MortgageInFlorida]

Winter Park, Baldwin Park, Dr Phillips — they all have excellent schools on all levels. I am in Dr Phillips, and my kids went through Elementary, Middle, and High. The youngest will be going to high next year, and probably we will be refined for new school. By the way, commute from Dr Phillips to the airport is a breeze, if they don’t mind to pay tolls.
25 mins is what it takes me from my home to the terminal on a not so good traffic day.

[kyle19125]

Obviously walkable is important so not sure why the heavy pitches for places where you can't even walk to a store for the most part. At the 700K price point with good schools at all levels Winter Park/Baldwin Park is the best option in my opinion given it's at least walk-friendly with sidewalks to parks if not commercial areas.

[_Uncommon_]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Obviously walkable is important so not sure why the heavy pitches for places where you can't even walk to a store for the most part. At the 700K price point with good schools at all levels Winter Park/Baldwin Park is the best option in my opinion given it's at least walk-friendly with sidewalks to parks if not commercial areas.

The OP very obviously and plainly says “walkability would be nice but not necessary.” The very first things mentioned were schools, budget, and a yard.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by lhafer

I have some friends who would be moving to Orlando in the coming up months. They have a job that is located just north of the airport, but they don’t know the city at all (and neither do I - hence why I’m asking you guys).

What areas/neighborhoods would you suggest if they have children (so good schools) and have a budget max of around $700k? A yard would be nice. Walkability would be nice, but not necessary. I think they mentioned Baldwin Park? What other areas should they look at?

Also - can you tell me how the school system works? It seems like there are a lot of charter schools there. We have some, but where they are, you typically go to the school you are zoned to. So if you don’t like the school you are zoned to, you move or you go to private. Also - how do schools deal with 504plans?

I just don’t know anything about Orlando to help point them in the right direction! Thanks in advance for any suggestions/ advice!

Baldwin Park
Lake Nona (Laureate Park)
Dr. Phillips
Lake Eola Heights / Thornton Park


These areas are all commuting distance to the airport and are nice areas $700k can get you into. If they choose Lake Eola Heights / Thornton Park, they will likely want to use private schools, my recommendation would be Lake Highland Prep, which super close from there. This will give them various examples of what Orlando has to offer. Lake Eola Heights / Thornton Park, historic charm, walkable to downtown. Baldwin Park, urban walkable master planned community, full of life. Dr. Phillips, upscale suburb community close to all the action with all the fixings like whole foods, trader joes, restaurants, theme parks, etc. Lake Nona, huge upscale development near the airport, modern walkable town center/downtown, Laureate Park is full of trails, walkways, walkable to the town center, high speed rail from MCO to Miami coming soon.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by _Uncommon_

The OP very obviously and plainly says “walkability would be nice but not necessary.” The very first things mentioned were schools, budget, and a yard.

So if walkability isn't necessary and schools are, why in the world hasn't Oviedo entered the conversation? It's the best family suburb in the metro area with the highest ranked public schools, in particular the Hagerty HS zone.