What is so great about living in/near Orlando? Who loves or hates it & WHY? (Miami: amusement park, find a job)

[chinesedoll]

Orlando is definately nice. I live in Winter Garden and my brother lives in Ocoee. Both places are different in there own way and has a lot to offer. While I do not like the Pine Hills area, I can go there and get all the things I need to create a Jamaican meal.

Traffic is not as bad as some people commented on. I guess they've never been to places like NYC. I am a new driver and I learned to master the road because there were less traffic on the street during my times of travel. Now I consider myself a good driver [LOL]. My only complaint like many others' is the salary. I cannot find a job worthwhile. If anyone know of any social service agency I could submit applications to, let me know.
I have a MA in Human Service and can work as an advocate/caseworker/behavior therapist/client coordinator in the prison system, mental health arena, developmentally disable areas, etc.

Thanks guys

[Wilshire81182]

A lot of people move here from less congested areas in the Midwest/Great Lakes or did not drive a lot in the NE to experience what heavy traffic is like. Some other people just like to complain. Living in Winter Garden, you may also not see the level of traffic that is on I-4 that people deal with nor the morning westbound traffic on 408. Still not as bad, but frustrating.
I am sorry about the job situation you have, that is a problem common in Florida with a shortage and lower pay band for similar jobs in other areas.

[Mack wild]

This may have already been answered but what if I was to pick a spot in between Orlando and Daytona? Some place where the commute would be 10-15 minutes to Orlando (without traffic) and 20-30 minutes to Daytona. Would that work out?

[Wilshire81182]

If you were somewhere between like Deltona/DeLand/Debary/Orange City. Your commute would be about 20-30 minutes to Daytona, but it would be closer to 30-45 minutes to the city without traffic. It would depend how far into Orlando you would need to go.

[djprimo]

Little Help?

Moving down to Orlando to work for the Magic (NBA team...not Disney) in Maitland and then eventually the new arena. I currently live in DC and have lived in DC, Atlanta, NYC, and Chicago...so the whole crime/diversity/traffic/etc thing is a non-issue for my wife and I as we've seen it all and then some.

We are currently looking at 3 areas, Avalon Park/Windermere/Winter Park.

I'm hoping I can get an answer to 2 questions:
(1) We are leaning towards Windermere where compared to DC (where a "normal house" is over $1+ million) is a relative bargain...but that said...roughly how long is a commute going to be to Maitland? I don't mind traffic if it's moving, but am I going to be in solid gridlock? I'm also TOTALLY willing to pay tolls if that alleviates any of the traffic time.

If it's awful, then that may make Winter Park the place we choose.

(2) If people could rank Windermere, Avalon Park, and Winter Park, and ideally why you rank them that way, I'd appreciate it as well.

[Alphaman]

Originally Posted by djprimo

Little Help?

Moving down to Orlando to work for the Magic (NBA team...not Disney) in Maitland and then eventually the new arena. I currently live in DC and have lived in DC, Atlanta, NYC, and Chicago...so the whole crime/diversity/traffic/etc thing is a non-issue for my wife and I as we've seen it all and then some.

We are currently looking at 3 areas, Avalon Park/Windermere/Winter Park.

I'm hoping I can get an answer to 2 questions:
(1) We are leaning towards Windermere where compared to DC (where a "normal house" is over $1+ million) is a relative bargain...but that said...roughly how long is a commute going to be to Maitland? I don't mind traffic if it's moving, but am I going to be in solid gridlock? I'm also TOTALLY willing to pay tolls if that alleviates any of the traffic time.

If it's awful, then that may make Winter Park the place we choose.

(2) If people could rank Windermere, Avalon Park, and Winter Park, and ideally why you rank them that way, I'd appreciate it as well.

1. Winter park
2.Windermere
3.avalon park

winter park is right next door to maitland also.

Winter park is hip alot to do and lively and close to downtown Orlando and the highways needed to get around. Windermere is more laid back and has alot of trees and lakes more of a wealthy area.

And lastly Avalon park is like a town in itself and still in the building process would probably take you the longest to get where you are working and latley has had some crime problems, but you would not think that driving in there as the houses are nice and cost a pretty penny.

[Wilshire81182]

I second the last advice. I would go for a nice place in Winter Park (32789 zip code). You will thank us when it comes to commute time. Winter Park also has more charm than a lot of other parts of Central Florida. Essentially, you want to avoid any commute that forces you to use I-4 in the morning or afternoon rush hour peak times.

[shiaboo]

I am about to move to Orlando from NY.....some of these post are scary and some are helpful, but I think orlando would be great. the cost of living here in NY is crazy, like a 1 bedroom?1bath non/elevated building for $1000.00 per month. Or a single family townhome for 400,000. And jobs are having major cut backs, even hosptals are firing their staff! Crime is crazy...Gas is crazy...buing a loaf of bread is CRAZY!

[bdpop]

Originally Posted by shiaboo

I am about to move to Orlando from NY.....some of these post are scary and some are helpful, but I think orlando would be great. the cost of living here in NY is crazy, like a 1 bedroom?1bath non/elevated building for $1000.00 per month. Or a single family townhome for 400,000. And jobs are having major cut backs, even hosptals are firing their staff! Crime is crazy...Gas is crazy...buing a loaf of bread is CRAZY!

I don't believe you will find it to be much better here in Orlando. You know the old saying "You don't know what you've got till it's gone" or "the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know". The job market in Orlando, in my opinion is far worse than the job market in NYC. I have lived in both areas and have never had the problems finding a job in the NYC area like I do here in the Orando area.

[Wilshire81182]

I do not think this is the time to try to relocate or find a job. I second that it may be that much harder to get a good job in Orlando. I would try to secure a job first if you are dead set on moving.