The Super-Confusing-Ever-Changing-WDW-Trip PTR About This Page:

[Principessa_di_Fata]

Ok, so I'm SUPER excited to post this update, because it has some possibly huge news. Now, bear in mind that NONE of this is firm, and mom may entirely change her mind (which would make me )... so don't get attached to it, because like my PTR's, lol, this is entirely subject to change...

But there is a 50/50 chance that we will be Florida residents in less than 12 months!!

We've talked on and off for years about moving to Florida, but have always been held back because of my job. My company set a rule five years ago that "remote workers" (ie: people like me that work from home) can only work in states where the company already has a business presence. We have one in TN, so this is fine. But I couldn't move to GA and keep my status as an employee, because we do not have a presence there. For a long time, we didn't have a presence in FL, so it wasn't on my radar... because I have a great job and no way would I deliberately leave it.

Recently I found out that we now have a business presence in Florida... so mom and I revisited the idea... and we've been toying and discussing and thinking and twisting and turning... and basically mom is seriously considering it... to the point where she's contacting her lender re: preapproval conversations, contacting some movers to discuss pricing, contacting our realtor here to see about what needs to be done to the house to prepare it for being put on the market...

I think this might really happen!

Now, we have to stay in this area through next May, because mom has some commitments with regard to an event she's planning / chairing, and I'd like to keep Meri in one school for Kindergarten, and move her in summer. So what we THINK we will do, if this does happen the way we've discussed... is we'll put the house up in November... and then whenever it sells, assuming it sells before May, we'll put our stuff in storage (PODS or something like it) and rent an apartment locally until school ends. Likely over spring break we'd go buy a house, and then move in the end of May!

So... this will affect our trip slightly... in that we're going to pull Meri out of school for the entire week prior to the trip / fall break. She'll be missing 4 days of school, so not the end of the world. We'll leave on Tuesday 10/11 at noon, and drive probably down to Valdosta, GA, and stop for the night. Then we'll finish up in the morning.

I've got to call tmw... but we'll extend our stay at POR to arrive on Wednesday 10/12, and we'll stay 3 nights at POR. Then we'll spend half of Wednesday, all of Thursday and half of Friday toodling around the area where we hope to live (about 20 minutes out of Orlando) and see what's what.

Anyway... so... that's a pretty big change, huh?

I've already priced out AP's for residents, lol. Definitely a must-do if we move!

I'm trying not to get TOO excited... but by the time we get back from our Disney trip, I'll know almost definitively if we are going to move to Florida or not! I'm so excited at the prospect that I can't even stand it! I'm trying not to because I know mom is only at like 50%, MAYBE... so this isn't by any stretch a done deal. But I used to live in Orlando and have friends there, and mom has always wanted to retire near water... so, uh, hello! LOL!

So, that will add an exciting aspect to the TR, no??? I promise to report live to you all, to let you know what's going on!!

Gosh I hope we move! Just think of all of the PP'ers I could meet!! LOL! (Now, for you FB friends of mine, shhhhh. No posting about it there - it's not public til we put the house on the market...)

[Colexis Mom]

Good luck with the decision to move Melanie! How exciting!

[Principessa_di_Fata]

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Good luck with the decision to move Melanie! How exciting!

Thanks. It's a hard decision because my aunt, uncle and two cousins all live here. That's why we initially moved here. But there are many issues with the school system now, and we really just are not particular fans of the city of Memphis in general... it's just not what we thought it would be here... and we've wanted to move for years, but never really have.

It would be hard to move away from family - but by the same token... we don't see them more than once every 2 months, as a rule. So it's not like we see them so frequently that it would be really jarring to move.

Decisions, decisions!

[Cam22]

I don't remember noticing much talking on Soarin', so it must not bother me. Your plans are still looking great! How cool to have the possibility of moving to Florida! and for the major decision!

[Dlandmom2]

Ok, I was way off! I thought you were gonna say you got a room at the Poly! Cuz you know the whole reason I wrote my TR was to get you in the mood for the Poly, right?!

Wow, what great news! I sure hope it all works out the way you want!

[lauriep]

That is HUGE news! And it's not just a pipe dream, it sounds like it's more a probability than even a possibility. I really hope all the details work out for you. It'll be really fun bopping around Orlando looking at the area. Think you'll get sick of PP meets? You and Meri will be much in demand!

[chezp]

Oh my goodness, how amazing would that be!

with deciding on the move!

[Principessa_di_Fata]

Originally Posted by Cam22

I don't remember noticing much talking on Soarin', so it must not bother me. Your plans are still looking great! How cool to have the possibility of moving to Florida! and for the major decision!

Thanks, we'll need those pixies. It's a huge decision, and we're doing all of our homework this time (we didn't really do much when we chose to move here - we just said, "Family is there, good enough for us!" But... it wasn't exactly what we thought it was going to be here.

Originally Posted by Dlandmom2

Ok, I was way off! I thought you were gonna say you got a room at the Poly! Cuz you know the whole reason I wrote my TR was to get you in the mood for the Poly, right?!

Wow, what great news! I sure hope it all works out the way you want!

LOL the WHOLE reason, huh? I loved your TR and while it did make me think of the Poly, it really got me in the mood for Hawaii, lol!

Originally Posted by lauriep

That is HUGE news! And it's not just a pipe dream, it sounds like it's more a probability than even a possibility. I really hope all the details work out for you. It'll be really fun bopping around Orlando looking at the area. Think you'll get sick of PP meets? You and Meri will be much in demand!

Thanks - we're really doing our homework, and not just making a trigger decision. I think the additional time in Florida will help a lot. I told mom I want to spend a few days IN the town, just getting a feel for what it will be like there. Try to picture myself running errands, making friends at the school, etc. I even want to visit an elementary school in the area we want to buy, just to sort of get a feel for the vibe of the place, if that makes sense.

Given that I've lived in Orlando for 3 years in the past, I feel like I'm not going in blind... but I also know that I want to make absolutely sure this is the right move. So many things to consider!

And I don't think I'll ever get tired of PP meets!!!

Originally Posted by chezp

Oh my goodness, how amazing would that be!

with deciding on the move!

Thanks! I have to say it would be pretty cool!!! I'll keep you all posted!

[Principessa_di_Fata]

Ok just extended my POR reservation to arrive on Wednesday instead of Friday! So now we'll have time to poke around and see what's what in the areas we want to live.

When I lived there years ago (my best friend and I lived there from Aug 2002 to Oct 2004) we lived around the Universal Studios area, and it was about a 9 minute drive to WDW. I loved being so near to the beach, Disney, Universal... I enjoyed downtown (that was back when I was a regular on the club scene, lol), I loved being so near to Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, St Augustine, St. Pete... It was just great all around.

On Disney-trip news... I'm still trying regularly for dinner ADR's for Ohana. If I can't get them, at least I have my Kona ADR... and I'm incredibly hopeful that if I look pitiful enough and beg my server on my knees, maybe they'll be able to get me some noodles from Ohana. I'll pay anything! LOL!

So cross those fingers for me!! Because there's nothing I would love more than Ohana noodles. *tear* Now I'm all hungry. I seriously need to stop talking about food. I'm starving, and we have nothing interesting to eat in the house. Shoot. Maybe I'll go get a steak and cheese sub from the Greek place down the street. I know, sounds weird, right? But their steak and cheese subs are RIDICULOUSLY good.

Or I could go to the Indian buffet... or... or...

LOL! Hope you're all having a great day!

[Colexis Mom]

[lauriep]

How are the schools in the Orlando/ Kissimmee area? I hear mixed things about Florida schools in general, but I'm sure some are good!

[Dlandmom2]

Lol, I wish I lived closer to you! I'd so go on food runs with you all the time! Speaking of food, I think I'm going to go to a local Hawaiian place for lunch today! You're making me hungry!

Congrats on the extra days at POR! I hope you get the chance to really look around and find what you're hoping to find!

[davishomeschool]

How exciting!! I grew up in Orlando and lived there until I was 30 and I would move back in a skinny instant. You should look out east towards the beach also, my brother lives there and likes that area. My aunt and her family live in Melboune and that is a nice area. I have nephews in Tampa and I've always enjoyed visiting there. If it were me, I wouldn't want to be right in Orlando becasue of traffic and the crime. Please keep us updated on what you discover!!!

[Coop]

That is GREAT news! I'm a bit . I keep telling DH that I want to move down there and work for the Mouse! I mean they need ER nurses right? Secretly - that is another reason I want to drive. (to look around the area) DH's response is "I don't see that happening - realistically - in the next 5 years" We'll see . that it all works out for you!

[OhToodles!]

How exciting!!! I hope it all works out for you! Do you know what area you want to be in? My cousin & his wife just moved to Windermere (sp?) a few months ago. I'm hoping I can get them to come to Disney when we're there sometime - I don't know if they've ever been.