Bad first impression of Orlando/Kissimmee (Miami, Tampa: relocating, hoa, apartments)

[gypsystar]

So, my husband and I finally made the plunge and moved from Los Angeles to Central Florida this week. Although we are moving into an apt. in Mount Dora tomorrow, we have been staying in a hotel in the Kissimmee tourist trap area on Irlo Bronson Hwy due to cheaper hotel rates. Although I love Florida and have been excited about this move for a long time, I can't say that I am totally impressed - maybe it is because of the area we are staying in??

We went to the Super Walmart in Kissimmee (on Irlo Bronson) tonight and I saw something that I have never seen in public, even after living in Miami for 4 years and L.A. for 4 years. When my husband and I parked, we saw two kids at a car next to us very obviously doing some sort of drug or something. They were standing out beside their car, trying to hide behind an open car door, and were rolling something in white paper, probably pot, and nervously looking around them. When they saw us looking at them, they opened their trunk and tried to hide behind that. Although they were nervous, it didn't stop them from making their drug deal or whatever. SCARY and SAD!

I am far from sheltered after living in other major cities, but I was absolutely shocked to see how blatantly obvious these kids were about their drug use - right out in public for all to see!! Obviously, I am not too impressed with Orlando now and so far it has made L.A. look good in comparison.

We have been all around the Mount Dora area and really fell in love with it. Thankfully, we will be moving there because I don't think I would want to live any closer to Orlando.

Central Florida as a whole is a beautiful place to be, but I certainly would NOT recommend that newcomers relocate to the Kissimmee area!!

[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.

[Mugatu]

Kissimmee is trash. I lived there back in 1998 and hated it then, I could only imagine how much worse it has gotten. Things seems to get better the farther north you go. I never liked South Orlando, but northern suburbs like Lake Mary and Longwood aren't bad. Mt Dora is a nice, quiet community. I had a job there for a year and it is a pleasant, old-fashioned, sleepy town. You'll like it much better than Kissimmee.

[dk22]

Kissimmee and Wal-Mart is a bad combo. Shoot, Wal-Mart + anything is a bad combo. Sorry, but I'm not a big fan of China's largest employer and the destroyers of mom and pops stores because you want cheaper stinky plastic items from China.

[gypsystar]

Yes, I figured it was just a bad section of town and won't judge Orlando based on that experience alone. And you are right -Walmart + a lot of cities is a bad combo!!

[ARC]

Originally Posted by gypsystar

So, my husband and I finally made the plunge and moved from Los Angeles to Central Florida this week. Although we are moving into an apt. in Mount Dora tomorrow, we have been staying in a hotel in the Kissimmee tourist trap area on Irlo Bronson Hwy due to cheaper hotel rates. Although I love Florida and have been excited about this move for a long time, I can't say that I am totally impressed - maybe it is because of the area we are staying in??

We went to the Super Walmart in Kissimmee (on Irlo Bronson) tonight and I saw something that I have never seen in public, even after living in Miami for 4 years and L.A. for 4 years. When my husband and I parked, we saw two kids at a car next to us very obviously doing some sort of drug or something. They were standing out beside their car, trying to hide behind an open car door, and were rolling something in white paper, probably pot, and nervously looking around them. When they saw us looking at them, they opened their trunk and tried to hide behind that. Although they were nervous, it didn't stop them from making their drug deal or whatever. SCARY and SAD!

I am far from sheltered after living in other major cities, but I was absolutely shocked to see how blatantly obvious these kids were about their drug use - right out in public for all to see!! Obviously, I am not too impressed with Orlando now and so far it has made L.A. look good in comparison.

We have been all around the Mount Dora area and really fell in love with it. Thankfully, we will be moving there because I don't think I would want to live any closer to Orlando.

Central Florida as a whole is a beautiful place to be, but I certainly would NOT recommend that newcomers relocate to the Kissimmee area!!

You are staying in a trashy area. I feel Kissimmee and all that area (even St. Cloud, etc., sorry) are sort of trashy. Mt. Dora is a beautiful area and far enough away from the touristy trash. You'll be fine!

[beckycat]

Mt Dora is a totally different world!

[Alphaman]

kissimmee off 192 has alot of spotty bad areas and is a crime haven. All of Orlando is not like that but Central Florida has quite a few areas that are like that and worse. Some places around here you would have gotten shot or beat down be careful not to stare when you notice something like that better to mind your business.

[Jetto Funk]

Welcome to FLORIDA!
Mt Dora is nice, stay there.
I live in one of the high end neighborhoods in Kissimmee, gorgeous community in a ****ty town. It's nice till you step 10 ft out of the front gate.
Enjoy Mt Dora, people are nicer/cleaner there.

[mcarlo578]

Well,let me break it down for you.Everyone listen to me thinking about moving,relocating, or living here in Kissimmee.I am the authorityof Kissimmee living.(bold statement) So, here goes...I first moved here in 1992. What a paradise! I lived in carribean Isle apartments and worked 7 miles away at the marriot Orlando world Center hotel.. Awesome! I came from Delaware. Man, I loved Florida. I loved Kissimmee, I loved the weather and the tourists. The pay was lower, but hey it was great. You could still make it. My rent for a 1 bedroom was 390$ a month. The walmart was connected in the Osceola Square mall. I attended church at bible baptist church on 192.I loved the steers, the cows,the rodeo, the airport off hoagland airport. Everyone was nice and friendly. I lived there from 1992 to 2000. I loved the location, only 50 miles to cocoa beach, 75 miles to tampa, astros spring training games, I loved going to church also at landmark baptist church in haines city, florida...Rent was cheap, disney was right over my shoulder, i was a bellman, making ok money.I loved my job, everything was smooth..I was never a victim of crime, i kept to myself, i used to pass out tracts on the street to people...I returned up North in 2000, got a bible college degree, moved back to possibly start a rescue mission or church in 2004 and WHOA! What happened?...This place has totally deterioated!.In only 4 years!.The rent, the pay, you will not make it!..The people, the attitude, the crime!...The average wage in this town is 7$ an hour but the houses cost 230,000$ dollars? These people must have let yankees come down here and corrupt them! What is the million dollar justification for the multimillion dollar police station and jail? But the rest of downtown kissimmee is broken down!... There are no jobs! Everyone is working 2-3 miniun wage jobs and still not making it!...You used to be able to go to a couple of plant jobs like mclean suneast...but not anymore! My heart breaks for kissimme, florida! DO NOT MOVE HERE! Do not move to saint cloud, either. same thing. Try Tampa, at least tampa has industry and commerce. Try Brevard county...Osceola county is horrible. Homelessness is everywhere, crime, there is a sadness in the air....they need a revival!...Kissimmee is dead, that is the truth. Unless you have a specialized degree where you can make 70,000$ a year, do not move here!..As far as Puerto ricans,I have never had a problem with them, nor I did mind the tourists...But everything else is bad. The only good bright spot is the Kissimmee HMO office with Dr. Bruce Blackwell and his staff his good. But the Kissimmee Hospital itself is horrible. You will die there! No culture,no jobs, no money,...Please take my advice and do not come here!