Bad first impression of Orlando/Kissimmee (Longwood, Lake Mary: how much, live, suburbs)

[big mean bear]

There are a lot of trailers and carnies in that part of Florida. That is my only impression.

[Seabeacon]

Kissimmee is thugville. We lived there for 5 years and moved three times while we were there. We just didn't feel comfortable with the neighborhoods with regard to crime. The third time we moved to way east Orlando. Oh, sooooo much better. I would never recommend Kissimmee to anyone I know or like.

[healeydave]

I have been visiting Orlando since 1987 and have seen area's flourish and those same areas deteriorate over the years.

An example is Buena Ventura Lakes. This started to flourish when people started to invest in homes to use for the short term rental vacation market. Then when new developments started (closer to Disney), the STR market evaporated and now I hear its not a very nice area to live at all. Sorry, don't mean to offend anyone :-)

Slowly over the years the STR market has moved through different communities off US192, all the way along and similar things have happened. It has now pretty much settled on US27. Back in the early nineties, I used to frequent the Kissimmee area (from st.cloud up to the middle where the super walmart is) because that's where many of the tourists were staying. Now I can't remember the last time I got even close to that area.

The tourists leaving the area is a definate factor to deteriorisation. Businesses close or move to the more prolific area's and less money is spent on the area as a whole. The last time I did drive that far down the 192, I noticed closed and over-grown/unused plots (Water Mania for example). Even places that were still open looked tatty as if they hadn't had a lick of paint for years.

More evidence is the 192 beutification project. All the Palm Tress, Landscaping, Purple Lamp Posts & Traffic Signals etc. All this was done at the opposite end (near the 27) going towards and stopping around Celebration.

Whilst I consider Orlando a second home, technically I am still a vacationer, so I am not criticising the STR trade, in fact I am saying the opposite. It is good for your area but if it moves away, its effect can be devastating.

A few years ago, there were a few housing developments on the 27 that chose to go the "Residential" only route as some people (residents) didn't like the idea of living next door to a home without permanent neighbors. A number of these developments Housing Associations are now trying to reverse these decisions. People have realised that vacation home owners have to keep their properties immaculate to make a good impression for guests. Whilst there is a world wide down turn at the moment, forclosures on STR investors are minimal and less likely. With so many foreclosures and homes lying empty now, the grass is dying, pools are going green and these "residential" only communities are suffering more because the majority of sales are still coming from investors who are not interested if the community is not zoned for STR.

Whilst living next door to a permanent familiar face might be a nice idea for a sense of community, ever seen the film "The Stepford Wives", everyone walking around with a big grin on their face with a perfect attitude to life and everything in life is rosy :-) If thats what your after, there was a community developed to try and create just that, its called "Celebration" :-) but be careful what you wish for though, you and that permenant familiar neighbour might just not get on or could end up being Homer Simpson.

[GloryB]

Good post healeydave! I think you covered what 'happened' real well. I came here only as a tourist for years. A few months ago I ended up moving to Orlando. The beautiful 'magical' feel of Kissimmee was gone. It's like much of the area took a financial nosedive and no one tried to cover it up. Now I live closer to downtown and totally avoid Kissimmee unless I'm doing a theme park visit.

[sunshine18102]

Originally Posted by cmj_fla

I am sorry but I have to ask if you did anything about this situation? Did you tell the security at Walmart or call the cops? Kids get away with this and do not stop because they think no one is going to do anything about it.

Yes, Kissimmee is not Mt. Dora when it comes to crime but I don't think you can judge the entire town from your experience on 192 alone. This town is much larger than the tourist corridor and has a lot more things to offer. I wouldn't raise my children here if I didn't find it safe. I have lived here for almost 30 years and have been a victim of crime zero times. Just my two cents... enjoy Mt. Dora.

I stayed 4 days in kissimmee. I loved it. I am planning to move there with my boyfriend and 2 teenage kids. I am from allentown pa. I see this everyday and worst. On the st that i live on we see drugs deals all day long. There is also 3 bars on every corner. We feel that this will be a good move for us. I know that they sell beer in the stores but we liked the fact that they sell beer where they sell food. do not let the 2 boys ruin what you think about kissimmee. It may not be all that bad.

[sunshine18102]

Originally Posted by cmj_fla

I am sorry but I have to ask if you did anything about this situation? Did you tell the security at Walmart or call the cops? Kids get away with this and do not stop because they think no one is going to do anything about it.

Yes, Kissimmee is not Mt. Dora when it comes to crime but I don't think you can judge the entire town from your experience on 192 alone. This town is much larger than the tourist corridor and has a lot more things to offer. I wouldn't raise my children here if I didn't find it safe. I have lived here for almost 30 years and have been a victim of crime zero times. Just my two cents... enjoy Mt. Dora.

I am going to move to kissimmee from pa. Thanks you. I know that my move will be great. I am bringing my 2 teenage kids with me and now know that this will be a great place to raise them. where we live now. There is alot of crime and it has 3 bars on each corner. I was sorry to come home and i can not wait to move. I am alittle scared of the storms.

[bdpop]

Originally Posted by sunshine18102

I am going to move to kissimmee from pa. Thanks you. I know that my move will be great. I am bringing my 2 teenage kids with me and now know that this will be a great place to raise them. where we live now. There is alot of crime and it has 3 bars on each corner. I was sorry to come home and i can not wait to move. I am alittle scared of the storms.

What attracted you to Kissimmee over other parts of Central Florida?

[beckycat]

I'm from the poconos in PA too and lived in Lake Mary 9 years. IMHO, I wouldn't live in Kissimee. It's a place to vacation, not live. I feel if you live there it's not the same, b/c you ruin your vacation spot. It takes the "fun" out of it. There a many other places closeby so that your out of the resort area, but yet close enough to still visit. Alot of ppl that live there speak spanish, so it's a good idea to learn some basic spanish. Since you have kids, I would suggest Seminolecounty for better schools. I would second moving from PA though. I definately don't regret it one bit. What ever happened with the original poster?

[otown native]

Originally Posted by Ms NewYork

Can anyone give me info on altawestgate Dr ? the area code is 32818, is this area good or bad

Not sure of "Altawestgate Dr.", but there's 2 zipcodes in Orlando you want to steer clear of at all costs, and unfortunately for yourself one of them is 32818. The other is 32810. They both cover the crime-infested area of Pine Hills. There are some okay neighborhoods that borderline the zipcodes, but obviously even if you move in the nicer neighborhoods, you'll see the effects of the bad areas.

[Wilshire81182]

I think if there are only two zip codes in Orlando to avoid, they are 32805 and 32808. I think those two are worse than 32810 and 32818 which have bad and good parts. 32839 is also high on the list of area codes to avoid as the only nice area there is adjacent to the Millenia Mall and the rest is off OBT.