Orlando and surrounding areas

[katya]

Hi Everyone,

As I have mentioned on many posts, would anyone like to share a bit of info with me on the area they live in up there.

I am ideally looking for decent schools and nothing too rural ( like a bit of action around). We are looking to move up to Orlando in the next year and would dearly like some info from the horses mouth, rather than just researching on the internet.

What can you tell me about the area you live in ? Whats its advantages ?

Only when you get a free mo

Regards
Katya

[Karyn]

I live in Celebration, when we first came here I saw it and had no desire to live here thinking it was like the Stepford Wives. However as the schools at that time were A schools and I hadn't liked the areas the other A schools where in we decided this is where we would move. I have to tell you it was the best decision I have made in the immigration process. We love it here and have made a "Home" You can be as involved as you wish to be with everything from the gardners club to the over 50's club.

It always looks beautiful and I find the people very friendly. We have great walks and a fun downtown which always seems to have something going on.

[JulieC]

I also live in Celebration and you may have guessed know Karyn though we live in different parts of town. She moved out just before me and was instrumental in us moving here and I have never regretted it as I have always loved it here and the prices have just gone up and up so we have both done well out of it.

It used to be the Disney town until sold a couple of years ago and is more like a real town than other places around Orlando, in that you can walk ( what?) there is a town centre with little shops, cafes, restaurants, a Tavern, a tea shoppe and a couple of banks. You can eat outside many of the restaurants and it looks european. The homes are mainly colonial or Victorian in style, though there is everything from Moorish manshions to French chateaux to Victorian town houses. Many have front porches or balconies and dont forget the white picket fences. Oh and we have snow at Xmas and falling leaves in the Fall.!!

There are a lot of lakes and a deal of conservation, with loads of wildlife, racoons, wild turkey, opossums, armadillo, deer, I have heard bears though I have never seen one. I live in the town center, but Karyn lives in a preserve which was literally carved out of the jungle a couple of years back, I have seen all sorts when I have been walking down there.
The schools are good, particularly the elementary and middle school, the new high school has increased its catchment area and has changed in nature a little since but my son loved it there.
Other nice places to live around here are Windermere and Dr Phillips, neither cheap though. Certain places have been built trying to emulate Celebration, notably Baldwin Park in Orlando and Harmony between Kissimmee and Melbourne, they are nice but immature in comparison. Then there is Providance and Independance., we go for silly names around here!

[katya]

Thanks Karyn and Julie

I did visit Celebration a few months ago and found it very lively and almost a home town feel, within itself. I know there are a few divisions within Celebration, maybe I should start looking there then. We did come up to Orlando last weekend and had a look around Windermere and Dr.Phillips. Maybe I went up the wrong road to get a good feel of Windermere ( we went up the 435 from Disney) all it seemed to be was housing divisions, although not a lot of character. Maybe we should have driven up the 535 to get a better taste of life in Windermere ? Thats the hard thing when we come up is that our bearings are not quite there. I am a Realtor myself, so wouldnt like to have a realtor show me round, knowing that I will purchase through myself.
Even though I know my own area's like the back of my hand, I cant seem to work out where would be best for us, as we spend half our time trying to figure out the road system up there.
I sort of already know I dont want to live in Kissimmee and Im kind of guessing that Dr.Phillips might not be the right area for our young kids ( i.e...I like to see children being able to play with other kids in the street, ect..)
So Celebration sounds good. Again its hard to imagine living in a place, when all youve done is have a night out in an area. I must say I did feel a little like it was "Stepford Wives" as JulieC mentioned, so its nice to know that youve decribed it as homley instead. Im sure we have wannabe's and snobbery wherever we go, I just tend to stick to the down to earth people, dis-regarding some peoples view on others people's monetery value.
I really do appreciate your efforts in heling me. Weve moved quite a bit since coming over 5 years ago, so now I NEED to get it right. I need to make the kids feel settled ( although they are already taking about their new rooms, even though we havnt even moved yet !!)

Thank you again for your time, maybe if I come up , we can get together for a bevvie

Kind Regards
Katya

[JulieC]

Windermere is a lot of subdivisions, very posh some of them, Lake Butler Sound, Keenes Point, Isleworth for the very wealthy. It has a small centre, nowhere near as big as Celebrations.

Celebration is homely and no none of us are Stepford Wives. Im not anyway, at least Karyn can cook!! There is a large number of Brits here, many running businesses, and most of us know each other and keep in touch.

There are various parts of town.

I live in the town centre just near the little ones school so within walking distance of downtown. That is also called West Village. North Village is up a turn off from Celebration Avenue called Celebration Boulevard before you get to the town centre from 192. That is arguably the cheapest place to buy in town apart from the Acadias which is a very posh and dear area of North Village. Reason, it is a bit more remote from the town itself though some people like that and say it is quieter as you do get a lot of tourists in town.
South Village stretches to the south of the town centre, basically from town centre go across the crossroads and straight on past Stetson University. Good area, not quite in walking distance of town but popular. Travelling towards south village, you will notice a turn off through a sort of gate on the left marked East Lawn, that is the road to East village, some millionaires manshions down there and some ordinary homes too. East Village is within walking distance of town using a back route through conservation by a lake, very pretty.
There are two new areas just finished. Aquila Preserve which was carved from conservation which is an offshoot of East Village and Artisan Park which is further on from South Village.

Best place to look for a home is in one of the local papers, most of the shops and restaurants in town have free copies, I know Barnies does.

[katya]

Hi Julie,

Ive just managed to get back into this posting ( after working out I can now flag the ones Im watching)
Thanks so much for giving me an insight and for taking the time to pass the info on. Karyn has been great in getting me started with houses to view ect..
Once the kids break up, when can get up there. Mark (hubby) is up there again end of April, so Im sending him with map in hand !

Thanks again, see you around the forum
Katya

[Barbizonette]

Hi,
I used to live (that's almost 15 years ago now) in Winter Park, where I went to school ... Beautifull area ! I enjoyed the NW areas of Orlando, simple, not to expensive, and also SE, just south of the Beeline ... Don't know if it's much help ... all depends what you're doing in Orlando, I've heard the traffic is terrible !
Good luck !

By the way, if I can ask, how's West Palm Beach ? and do you know Ft Lauderdale ? We're thinking about moving to Florida, but not sure exactly where. Tampa bay area seems not bad at all, and much less expensive than SE Florida ... What do you think ?

[JulieC]

I also like Winter Park, great shops and restaurants in the middle. Some very expensive homes!!

What are you doing in La Belle France?

[JulieC]

Sorry I just saw you answered that on your other thread.

[katya]

Hi Barbiz,

You would be right in thinking that Tampa is alot cheaper than West Palm Beach. The prices did sky rocket here, along with everywhere else. There's been a slight drop, although still more expensive to live than say Tampa.
The schools are quite good, which is why we chose West Palm over Ft Lauderdale. Personally if you have children I would not recommend Ft Lauderdale, unless you would be looking into putting in private school. Ft Lauderdale is nice to vist, although again personally I wouldnt want to live there with a family.
I hope this helps on the SE Florida side

Nice to meet you and good luck with finding the right area,
Kind Regards
Katya:welcome:

[katya]

Although I must add that Coral Springs is a nice family area, which is West of Ft Lauderdale

Katya

[Kriz1]

Katya...I'm sure I've talked to you on a different forum...:)

[katya]

Hi Kriz,

It may of been Orlando British club ? What was your other name on it ?
Anyway, nice to see you on here now.

Regards
Katya

[Kriz1]

That was it..Orlando British club....I lost the link when it moved to flipper..found it again a few weeks ago....I think I used chrissy there....

[katya]

Yes, it changed to Frapper. Im not sure of the server name either now.
Well, nice to meet up again
Katya

[JulieC]

She is a girl of many names!!!

[Kriz1]

Katya hope to see you in Orlando when you move....I love the area myself..I know a lot don't...but I've lived in holiday places for a long time now...you moan about the traffic...but its nice to have a bit of life around you....

Hi Julie ....I've sent the link to some friends......one is in Oz.....I hope he'll have the time to help other Brits with their move there....

[JulieC]

That would be great.