Snow Bird Flying the Coop in 5 days!!!!! (Tampa, Orlando: relocating, gated)

[roc81]

Hello, I am a 27yr old single mother to a 12yr. old daughter and will be relocating to Orlando from Ohio in just 5 days! I know that there is a variety of negative opinions about this city, but my sister moved there and loved it!
My first choice was Tampa, until I watched "It could happen tomorrow" on the weather channel. LOL

I know it's hot and touristy but coming from where i'm from this isn't so bad. I live in Akron, and there is nothing to do here. There is no cultural diversity, I mean we have a new art museum but how many times can you go to that? There is no where that the youth can burn up there energy, only one offical gay club(the Innerbelt) and as a young bi-sexual women fresh out, this is important to me. Do I even need to mention that it is cold 7 months out of the year here? Beaches? HA! you mean Lake Erie? and there are NO jobs, NO industry! NO nightlife!

The only thing good about this place is that it is decent to raise kids. The cost of living is low because there isn't CRAP here! No industry, no jobs, no culture, so of course we have our share of crime. I know people will have a lot to say in comparison to Orlando but please spare me the negative energy cause i'm on my way. I have a degree, but I make more working the restuarant scene up here, which will probably ring true for Orlando.
I work at the Olive Garden up here and will transfer. I also have a second job lined up in Winter Park, I have a car and I have a place in a gated community by the Ventura Country club does anyone know this area?
My daughter will go to Jackson middle school anyone familiar?
And how do I get a Sun Pass?
Anything that you think would be helpful and full of positive energy, please respond. Oh and I need to make some friends because i don't know anyone except my landlord and general manager down there. Yes that's right no family or friends in the Sunshine State, but if my family were in Orlando, I'd stay in Ohio!
When my daughter graduates, i'm going to head out west! Either Phoinex, or Cali with my brother.

[Wilshire81182]

I think you will like Orlando if your sister did. I love it and a lot of people on this forum are negative and skewed. I tend to be positive so instead of the crime that seems to be a constant, I do not have the same career or traffic issues that other people seem to. I think if you end up not liking Orlando, Tampa is a great alternative. I really like things about Tampa too. They have advantages like different types of jobs and adjacent beaches and bodies of water. Orlando is much less gritty though and has a lot of cool older areas with brick paved streets and tons of entertainment options. I tend to enjoy it a lot but compare Orlando a lot closer to another entertainment city like Las Vegas than your traditional corporate/banking city with a central downtown and mass transit, etc. Orlando is a sprawled, low density development, suburban in nature, newer, younger, vibrant city. It has a great nightlife too. You may want to look into the schools since you have a daughter, but for the most part I think you will enjoy it here!

[Alphaman]

Ventura Country club is a nice gated community but the area surrounding it is not that great and has a high robbery rate.

Not to be negative but semoran blvd is not known to be safe at night just be aware.

There are a ton of things to do around the metro area and the east coast beaches are anywhere from 30 mins to 1 hr away depending on what beach you are going to.

Things to check out would be Old town in kissimmee on Friday and Saturday nights, Downtown on weekend nights if you like clubbing, park ave in winter park it has alot of nice restaurants and shops.

Wikiwa springs park, gatorland, Lake eola.

Enjoy your stay.