4/23/23
Moving to the Magic
April 25, 2023
After my first Walt Disney World trip in 30 years, I became fairly obsessed with all things Disney theme parks. I started consuming copious amounts of WDW content via YouTube, podcasts, blogs, daydream trip bookings, and more. I even became a travel advisor so I could plan more Disney trips, even if they weren’t for me. While my story is unique to me, I know it rings familiar with many in our community. We all developed a passion for the Mouse. We all look for ways to incorporate Disney into our lives in a myriad of ways. I have all the background music loops. I have dozens of wax melts scents that emulate the aromas around the parks.
We all do whatever we can to keep Disney World close. However, for those of us outside of the Sunshine State, there is one other thing most of us dream about: moving to central Florida. Why wouldn’t we? We want to be closer to our favorite destination. We daydream about driving over to EPCOT after work on a random Thursday in February. We salivate over the idea of monthly payments for an Annual Pass. We imagine the dozens of meet-ups we could have when our Disney friends come to town. And many of us fantasize on what it would be like to not own a snow shovel.
Of course there are plenty of practical and real-world situations that keep this from becoming a reality for most of us, family being one of the most significant. I have a daughter from a previous marriage and until she graduates in four more years, I’m locked down. Many of us also have careers that wouldn’t transfer. While I could probably get an IT job anywhere, my wife works for the State of Illinois, so transferring would be out of the question. The asinine state of Florida’s housing market right now is not exactly a beckoning siren call either.
Moving beyond the practical aspects of moving, there are the more nuanced scenarios that make it a tough sell. It seems like the entirety of the state of Florida operates on an HOA system. I realize that there are some advocates for Home Owner Associations, and even some that are enthusiast for them, but I will NEVER belong to an HOA. If you can tell me what color I can paint my house, then do I really own the house. I say nay nay. I know that some of you all have lived in bondage for so long that liberty would foreign and uncomfortable, but it’s not for me. Naturally, I’m being sarcastic as HOAs exist many places outside of Florida, but as someone who lives rather rural, the idea is ghastly to me.
Then there is the weather. No, there is no snow, but for nine months out of the year it is hotter than a spoon at Demi Lovato’s house! Back when I weighed in at a svelte 375lbs, I used to tell my wife I would not move any closer to the equator than what I currently am, but after losing over 100lbs, I have softened on that stance considerably. However, it is still devil’s armpit hot in Florida most of the time. I’ve talked to enough people who have moved down there that tell me “you absolutely DO NOT get used to it.” I enjoy seeing all four seasons, and I don’t feel like you get much of that in Florida. Would the weather be enough to scare me off if the opportunity to move came up? Probably not.
Now the real question: would Walt Disney World lose its luster and shine if I were a local? I’ve discussed this question with a whole lot of Floridians and the answers are all over the place. Some say they still get goosebumps when arriving under the Welcome sign, while others say Disney World has become boring to them and they hardly ever visit anymore. These two opinions are at the opposite ends of the spectrum of course. Many locals say that their love for WDW hasn’t faded, but it loses some of that distinctive and one-of-a-kind magic when it becomes so much more accessible. The general sentiment among this subset of fans is that it is still special, but not “vacation-special”. I can certainly see this point of view. A trip to a Walt Disney World theme park has to slap differently when you still have to go to work the next day (or you have to mow the lawn before you go to Hollywood Studios, or you have to run by the grocery store on your way home from Animal Kingdom, etc.). Quite a few of the locals I’ve talked to continue to do staycations quite frequently, just to keep that “vacation” vibe present.
It seems like every article I write on here ends with the same thing: your mileage will vary. But that’s really how these opinion pieces work. When buying anything home related, my wife and I have adopted the mentality of “will that fit in the RV?” I feel like this might be the best way to accomplish a Florida relocation, but perhaps not. I don’t want to lose the excitement of being on property, but I also don’t want to save for months to be able to afford airfare. So many things to think about! Do you have dreams of moving to Florida to be near the Magic? Is bartending at Trader Sam’s your retirement plan? Are you terrified of alligators? What is holding you back from moving to the Magic?