Cheap places near Disney? (Orlando, Kissimmee: apartments, rental, neighborhood)

[alexdc]

I just got into the Disney electrical apprenticeship and I'm looking for places to live near Disney on a budget. Right now I'm near Altamonte Springs, and I don't want to make that drive everyday because 1) I've taken I-4 to work before and it's too unreliable if I actually want to get to my job on time and 2) I'm going to end up spending a small fortune in gas. Ideally, I'd like a place < 20 from the Disney Sports resort and where I don't have to take I-4 to work.

Cheap is what I'm looking for right now. I don't care about amenities. I don't watch TV, I don't need a pool, a workout room, onsite laundry, blah, blah, blah, just a place to put the very little stuff I have and go to sleep at night. I don't need to be in a "nice" neighborhood, I've lived in some pretty bad areas and can't even remember how many times I've seen the SWAT before. I don't own anything valuable, and I'm a pretty large, rather intimidating male. The only pre-qualification is that I have a rescue cat that I'm taking care of. I'd prefer to keep the cat with me, but if push comes to shove I might just give it to my mom. I need something <$500 a month or up to $600 if electric is included. I'll be making $10.60/hr full time until summer when I'll be making $11.90/hr if there are any income restrictions (speaking of which, how is the income calculated for this? Pre-tax, post tax? 52 pay weeks a year? Does somebody know?).

Thanks

P.S. I can find a lot of "rooms" about this price, I'm just wondering if there are any apartments or the such as I would prefer to live alone.

[annerk]

Your best bet is to try to find a room mate. Look at the places off Reams road behind the MK or at Cagan Crossings in Clermont.

To determine your income for restricted housing purposes they would take your base rate of pay x 40 hours a week x 52 weeks a year and divide by 12 for the gross monthly income. It always works off of the gross.

[yohynot]

Buena Vista Place (http://buenavistaplaceapts.com/directions - broken link) is directly across the street from one of the Disney employee parking lots on Reams Rd. It is Income Restricted.

[alexdc]

Buena Vista Place is still a bit pricey, even with the income restriction. I think it was like $630 for the smallest place they had. Cagan Crossings looks pretty promising, actually. It says they have CM discounts also, which is great. Thanks for the suggestion on that one, I'll drop by when I'm down there next.

Any other suggestions?

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by alexdc

Buena Vista Place is still a bit pricey, even with the income restriction. I think it was like $630 for the smallest place they had. Cagan Crossings looks pretty promising, actually. It says they have CM discounts also, which is great. Thanks for the suggestion on that one, I'll drop by when I'm down there next.

Any other suggestions?

You can get the Disney discount on lots of complexes and even if they don't state it in writing, ask. Lots of restaurants and shops give the CMs discounts, too. My son and his friends go out to the same place every week because they can eat for something like $4.50 each.

Have you pulled up one of the rent.com magazines or apartmentsforrent.com etc.? Check in Kissimmee. I saw a studio listed at Polo Run for $500-$520 that allows small pets. BUT you will find most places will tack on a pet deposit in addition to the regular deposit. It can be as high as $500. (1 time deposit not monthly) I don't know anything about the place and not even sure how far East it is-looks like East of John Young Parkway but not sure how long it would take to get to Dsney from there.

My son lives in Kissimmee but west of I-4 and it takes him about 15 minutes to get to work taking Sherberth (I think)

[meow13mix7]

Orlando is having a tough time in the housing market. If I were you I'd look for a private rental (not a complex) and see if you could negotiate down to the price you need.