What is so great about living in/near Orlando? Who loves or hates it & WHY? (Deltona: relocate)

[Wilshire81182]

Originally Posted by A2Mich

Really, the single largest problem that I had in Orlando was the relatively high cost of living versus the pay scale. Not everyone has a high paying white-collar job, most workers in the Orlando area are blue-collar workers, many of whom struggle to make ends meet. I think that Orlando is a beautiful city, for the most part. The hurricane issue had been blown way out of proportion, as 2004 was an exceptional year for hurricanes, but people need to understand that hurricanes do not normally hit 4 in one season like that. If the relatively high cost of living would strike a better balance with the relatively low pay scale, more people would be happier in Orlando, and I may not have left, if that were the case. My family and I would have probably never been able to buy a house, or not much of one, with the housing prices the way they were in 2005 and 2006, and that was with having two decent blue-collar jobs between my wife and I. I think what happened in Orlando is that so many people were moving to Orlando when it was cheaper, homes were selling so fast to many northerners who felt housing was a bargain. Greed then took over and spun out of control, pushing housing prices so high that the only people able to afford a home were the people relocating from up north. Many locals could no longer afford to buy a house based on wages. The other issue is that wages were ridiculously low due to, in large part, corporate greed. I always pick on Disney, as a prime example, so here goes. Disney has never paid any property taxes on all of the land they own, in a deal made with Orange and Osceola counties in the 1960's to encourage Disney to build and create jobs in Central Florida. Disney did just that....only they created a large percentage of minimum wage jobs (and still do to this day). In the past years, they have consistently posted record profits, paid millions to that jerk Michael Eisner (before he left---Roy Disney should have fired his butt a long time ago), cut benefits for their employees, continually raise ticket prices, overcharge for hotel rooms, food, and merchandise, and still keep many jobs at or near the minimum wage level. They have made their money many times over from the "rich tourists" who pay attraction/tourist prices, feeling that they are somewhat reasonable, and still maintain the low wages, which keeps the local job market in a near constant state of depression. Sure there are a lot of jobs in the Orlando area, but if you can make ends meet on $8-$10 an hour. The major problem in that Disney, SeaWorld, and other attractions not only pay low, but they keep the majority of other service jobs in the low-paying category as well, which hurts the entire economy. If there was a better balance between cost of living and the pay scale, I think that Orlando would be a better place to live, if you can deal with the very hot summers.

Very well stated and researched. There are some jobs that do pay well but they are outnumbered by low paying ones; this is an evident problem here in Orlando and especially from this forum, I do see it having an impact on the quality of life.

[thepinksquid]

Orlando was somewhere I primarily moved to because of finshing my degree at UCF from SW Florida (Fort Myers area). My husband and I visit the western US frequently and plan to relocate to the San Diego area as early as January 2009. We dislike Orlando in general.

I hate, hate, hate ghetto people. Hate them. I know this sounds mean, but I can't believe that people would have such a lack of self-respect and intelligence to act the way some people do here in Orlando. Walking with their pants falling off, barely speaking intelligible English (even though that's the first language they speak, if you know what I mean), playing disgustingly loud bass-thumping music, etc. This applies to all races, by the way.

There seems to be such a racial divide here, too, that we don't seem to notice nearly as much when we visit CA. It seems as if a nice neighborhood only = a white one, and I don't like that. To stay safe, I feel I that have to stay in a whitey white area, and even that's debatable. I much prefer people of all races living somewhere and equally caring about the community. I've witnessed this much more out west.

About the pay, it's funny because I have a college degree and I work in a position that's considered very "coveted" for a large huge company here in Orlando (ahem: mouse) yet my salary...a whopping $25k/year! And this is a *good* white-collar job in an office. I'm supposed to be satisfied. Ugh. When we move to San Diego I'm just doing to do my freelance web design work full-time.

Plus, it's yucky and humid much of the year and there's a lack of natural beauty (wish we had mountains...or some terrain at least) and no national parks nearby.

By no means do I think Orlando is a "terrible" place to live, but I am not excited about the prospect of living here long term, which is why we're planning to relocate.

I also don't agree with all the negative statements about Orlando. For example, I am not offended by people speaking Spanish amongst themselves provided they know English to a certain degree when I communicate with them (or, at the very least - not looking annoyed at me for wanting to speak English to them). That seems to tick off a lot of people here. Also, I don't find traffic to be as horrible as some make it out to be. I drive from Celebration (where I work) to my home in Millenia on I-4 each day and rarely hit traffic.

So yeah, that's my opinion of Orlando.

[A2Mich]

Pinksquid..............Yes, but the traffic from 192 to John Young Parkway is generally not too bad, most anytime of the day. The ones who really have it bad are the ones driving from Altamonte/Longwood/Maitland area to I-Drive or vice versa, and the ones who have to drive from Ocoee to UCF area, etc. Celebration to Millenia is not considered a cross-town commute, and you're not even driving through downtown at all. You should see the rush hour traffic everyday from the Maitland interchange down to the 408....that can easily be 45 minutes to an hour at the wrong time. Your last paragraph was my sentiment exactly before, but that seemed to upset some people, so I just dropped it, and you may as well do the same. I agree for the most part about racial segregation in various neighborhoods, and over the years, things had evolved that way. If you had lived in Orlando long enough, you would have noticed over the years that, in many but not all cases, the "crappy/scary/ghetto" neighborhoods were the nicer areas of town...as more and more trouble began moving into those areas, the more residents began moving out and settling in different areas. There is a neighborhood I used to live in, which used to be a nice, middle class family-friendly neighborhood when it was new....it's basically now a ghetto, and that was within the span of about 10 years or so. I think that part of the issue is that how you feel you need to stay in a "whitey white" neighborhood to feel comfortable or safe, many African-Americans feel the same way, and stick together. Same with the Hispanics, with one notable exception.....many Cubans will not live harmoniously with Puerto Rican neighbors...why this is I dont know. But Orlando in some ways is like many other American cities...if you go to Azalea Park, Kissimmee, Poinciana, you are going to a primarily Spanish area. Washington Heights, Carver Shores, Ivey Lane are predominantly African-American. I would say that the Caucasian areas are scattered around town, except for a few areas in particular...........

[thepinksquid]

Originally Posted by A2Mich

Pinksquid..............Yes, but the traffic from 192 to John Young Parkway is generally not too bad, most anytime of the day. The ones who really have it bad are the ones driving from Altamonte/Longwood/Maitland area to I-Drive or vice versa, and the ones who have to drive from Ocoee to UCF area, etc. Celebration to Millenia is not considered a cross-town commute, and you're not even driving through downtown at all. You should see the rush hour traffic everyday from the Maitland interchange down to the 408....that can easily be 45 minutes to an hour at the wrong time.

Yeah, after I wrote that bit I thought about my route vs. others, and you're correct. It's rough nearing downtown and north of that. I have it easy commute-wise. A correction on my part: not ALL areas of Orlando/I-4 are plagued with awful traffic, just some.

[deboart93]

Originally Posted by MaryLou2007

Mr/Ms. Murphy:

WHERE are the apts for rental for $800/mo?? Are they in hell-neighborhoods like Coconut Palms (out on Conroy) or the Millenia Apts where my aunt lives (which is absolute trash), but yeah they are $852/month for a 2/2 (Government run apts)?

I checked the listings for apts under $1,000. Here is a statement from a resident in the The Park apts in Winter Park, FL (rent around $875/mo for a 1/1):

You made my life miserable
Years at this apartment: 2005-2005

To the management at The Park:

Please get your act together. Your complex is in the toilet and it's about ready to get flushed.

You don't keep track of your residents or require background checks, because you'll let any scum bucket rent from you. I lived beneath a crack house. Really. The guys above me didn't work, they sold crack. How did they manage to slip by you?

In fact, I'm convinced everybody else in my building must have been buying from them. They were the worst neighbors ever. I realize you lease to Full Sail students. Wise up and do what Sutton Place did: eliminate them or simply let the school buy you so they can turn you into a big, dirty dorm.

Parking is terrible. There is no light. I never felt safe coming home at night.

You were totally unreasonable. I barely knew my roommate and, due to his job as both student and drug dealer, rarely saw him, but you insisted that we put our rent on one check every month so you wouldn't have to spend 2 extra minutes processing two. Do you know what a pain this was? You are the only community that does this.

Every concern I brought to you was met with rudeness. In fact, you're probably reading this and laughing because I know you could care less. You're getting free rent and enough money to buy your cheesy, ghetto acryllic fingernails and fake tans.

You made my life miserable and I will never forget it and I'm GLAD you have the worst ratings in Winter Park, because you deserve it.


Final thought: My goodness, that is not living, that is EXISTING! If you live in a $800/mo apt, your life will be a living hell.

Okay that is not true. I lived in The Park Apartments in 2007 and i paid $640 for the smallest 1/1 and it was $750 if you wanted the larger 1/1. I felt safe living there, never had problems with the management, whenever something has broken they came and fixed it right away, the neighbors were fine, there was a lot of extra parking, there were lights everywhere, it's gated and there's a guard at the front of the complex at night. It might not be the best place but it isn't bad.

[deboart93]

Originally Posted by nk0171

There are pros and cons to living near Orlando. We have lived in Seminole County now for 11 years and i have lived in Orlando for 9 years before that. I have seen a HUGE difference in the area, especially in the last 5 or 6 years. If you like diversity, this is the place for you. Traffic is just insance and it is almost mandatory that you speak Spanish, especially in Orl, not so much where i live. Of course there is Disney and Sea World that is the main attraction. Most tourists stay on International Drive. There are parts of FL that are beautiful and serene and then there are parts that are so awful, i am ashamed to call this my state. We are moving from FL just for a change...been here too long and i am seeing changes i don't like. More crimes, high real estate prices, bad traffic, and rude people everywhere. FL is not what it used to be and i am sad about that. But i can see how some people moving here are excited...it is nice to have year round warm weather for some..i personally miss throwing a snow ball! Good luck to all who move here....i'm sure you will enjoy

The way you describe the traffic and how everyone needs to speak Spanish sounds a lot like Miami and NOTHING like Orlando. Both are diverse cities and both have traffic but people who do not speak English in Orlando need to learn fast, they can't get by, unlike Miami, so not speaking Spanish is nto an issue. The traffic in Orlando is geting higher every year but it's mostly bad around 7-9am and 4-7pm any other time it's okay, Miami however has a lot more traffic than Orlando and it goes on 24/7.

[Wilshire81182]

There are pockets of Orlando where you could speak only Spanish and make a living but overall it is much, much harder than in Miami. My friend wanted me to try a Cuban restaurant that was tucked away somewhere by the airport, (I would have a hard time finding it again by myself) but no one spoke English on the staff. My friend normally went with her other friend who spoke Spanish to order but we were like fish out of water with the language barrier since we both only speak English. The point is that most of their clientele speaks Spanish and they are in the restaurant biz so there is no need. This was some place in Orlando and so I can imagine there are even more places like this in Kissimmee where the Hispanic population is also very high. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the jobs I have had since I moved here would not put up with my only speaking Spanish and they are office jobs. It is a plus to be bilingual for sure, but the higher paying jobs in the area go to those who speak English. I did a project for school and in an article I used it stated that the lowest paying jobs in Miami go those who only speak Spanish, the average pay is higher for those who speak only English, but the highest paying jobs on average in South Florida go to those who are bilingual.

[Keeper]

Just a note.. please check the date on the post you are quoting and responding to, some of these post go back to 06.

[MatthewPaul]

Don't move to Orlando. Find a place in Seminole County near 417 instead. You can get to anywhere in the metro area in under 30 minutes using 417/408, and I-4 if you have to. Plus, Seminole County has better schools, on average.

[blackgold73]

Funny how people can look at the same thing and describe it completely different. I was in the Military and have lived all over the Country. I can tell you that Orlando isn't a bad place to live. Yes there is crime here as in most metro areas. I have personally never been a victim of a crime nor to I feel unsafe. I live on the East side of Orange County near Avalon Park. Most crime takes place in Pine Hills, Parramore or in the tourist areas. As far as the schools, look at the Top High Schools list and you will see several High Schools from the Orlando area. Orlando is a very diverse area but I everyone I have spoken to for the most part speak English quite well. I also have a job where I get paid over $23 an hour. Orlando is what you make of it.