Everyone dreams about moving to their happy place whether it be the country, the mountains, or, in our case, near the house of the mouse. Last year we were able to make our dreams a reality and left Maryland to start a new chapter in Orlando. It’s hard to believe it, but we have now been Floridians for one year! We wanted to take a look back at this last year and chat about:

How we pulled off a big cross country move last year
What we are loving and missing now being in FL
A peek into our home (with several before and after projects!)
and finally, how our Disney habits have changed now being locals

Making the Move

What Started the Idea

We had always talked about moving further south to be closer to one of our favorite places. Funny enough at the start of 2019 we started working with The Financial Gym to do some budget and life goal planning. On our five year plan we listed “moving closer to Disney”. Well guys, manifestation must be seriously real because within the next couple of weeks something crazy happened. Andrew happened to see a job opportunity that was a perfect fit for him, with the location being non other than Orlando, FL. On a whim he applied. And the next day he heard back, starting a long interview process.

Prepping Just in Case

Of course no job interview is a guarantee but we also thought it would be smart to start getting things ready just in case something moved forward with this job. We set to work on projects that would be helpful in case we did need to move, but also had been sitting on our back burner project list for awhile and wouldn’t be the worst to check off. We started decluttering, both donating things and listing things on eBay. We started working through our freezer of food and pantry goods. We worked on lots of little things around the house like painting and small fix-it projects. Meanwhile Andrew continued back and forth between a flurry of interviews followed by long periods of waiting. In April the company he was interviewing with asked him to fly down for an in person interview. Within a week or so he had a job offer in hand and we started to realize this was really happening.

It’s Go Time

We had a ton to do to get ready for a long distance move. We also had a few life things going on in the mix of all this including planning/hosting a baby shower for a family member and a 2 week vacation to Paris. We also had to keep this news under wraps until Andrew gave notice at his current employer. Over the next month it was a whirlwind of to-dos, with each one getting us closer to the big moving day:

Preparing and Listing our current townhouse in Maryland (all the work paid off as it sold on the first day!)
Researching and House hunting in Orlando (we saw so many homes in 3 days, our first offer didn’t go through but our second choice did!)
Lining up vendors on both ends (movers, cleaners, etc.) and packing
Wrapping up Julie’s graphic design business in Maryland and transferring to FL
A flurry of final doctors appts
Prepping the cats for a long drive (micro chipping and sedative prescriptions for the journey)
Trying to squeeze in some good bye time with friends and family

Arriving in Florida

It was pretty amazing to have so many things line up just right to pull this off, even so this whole time was super stressful. We made the long drive to Florida with Andrew driving a huge Uhaul towing Julie’s car. Julie drove his Jeep with the cats in tow. We were technically “homeless” for a few days during the journey and before finally getting our new keys. It was really surreal to be down in Florida as a resident and not a visitor. The first month or so continued a lot of hard work of cleaning the house, doing some projects, unpacking, and setting up our new life. (There were a couple of weeks of sleeping on a mattress in the middle of the living room floor and wondering when life would feel normal again). Moving to a new state also requires so many extras like getting a new license and plates, learning about nuances about Florida living, and finding new places to shop, everything was unknown and required research. We couldn't even think about visiting Disney for the first several weeks, we were far too busy visiting Home Depot too often. It was also a little hard being in a new place and not knowing anyone or having the support of family/friends, we were truly on our own navigating this new life. But after the first several weeks we truly started feeling settled and started enjoying Florida life.

What We Love About Florida

Disney (of Course): We are now proud Platinum Plus Annual Pass Holders. It has been amazing to visit our favorite place as a regular part of our life (keep reading to hear more about how our Disney habits have changed)
Non Disney Activites: we have been surprised to learn just how much there is to do here. We haven’t even started to scratch the surface. From other “touristy” things like other parks and attractions to other offerings. The beach is so close to our home, there are plenty of other outdoor activities we want to get out and explore. There are some great dining options and beer trails, and local arts too. There are also quite a few things that are very unique to Florida, one of which is rocket launches. In December, we were lucky enough to see an early morning launch from our front porch. We then decided to go to Titusville to see a launch up close. Even though it was delayed by over an hour, it was really cool to see. The wildlife in Florida is also very unique. We have seen everything from the usual (alligators, snakes, armadillos, etc.) to the more unique including a bobcat and manatees.
The Pace of Life: compared to the DC metro things feel a little slower and happier here. There doesn’t seem to be this constant rush to get somewhere as there was in the Baltimore/Washington DC area. That’s not to say there aren’t times when the traffic is out of control (looking at you I-4), but it isn’t nearly as constant as it was in the DC metro area. We also have found people to be friendlier whether a stranger on the street or a store clerk.
Quality of Life: for us personally we were able to get into a house that was better for us with the same mortgage. We also are able to take advantage of walking/biking in our neighborhood, or visiting a resort style pool whenever we want. We have noticed that getting some sunshine has been good for the soul and feel more in balance vs when we were in the grind of DC. We also get to have lots of “one day vacations” a trip to the beach is so doable or an escape to stroll around the world showcase, which used to be a long drive or plane ride away.
The Weather: While we endure the heat for quite a few months, December through March is the payoff as the weather is absolutely beautiful during those months. And honestly the heat in the summer is tough in the middle of the day, but the evenings are cooler than we expected especially after a storm. We find ourselves getting outside almost every day no matter what time of year.

What We Miss About Maryland

People: it should come as no surprise that we miss our friends and family back in Maryland. However, since we moved to Orlando, we have become very popular with regular visitors and we have been able to see quite a few faces often.

The Weather: while we certainly don’t miss the cold, grey winters in MD we do miss the changing of the leaves the fall that Maryland provides. We are still learning to adjust without the cues telling you it is time for Pumpkin Spice and Peppermint. Everything with life has pros and cons, and we both agree the wonderful FL winter more than makes up for less true seasons.

Certain Retail/Restaurants: there are certain restaurants and stores we miss that don’t exist down here. We also really miss our old gym, we have found new solutions down here though, and have places here that didn’t exist in MD so everything truly is a trade off.

Other Little Things: our favorite bike trail. Being in driving distance to the mountains/lake. A few things here and there. Once again there will be things that you miss about all places, but it gives us excuses to come back and visit.

So many of our closest friends still live in the Mid Atlantic area.

House Projects

We were so excited when moving to Florida to get a few upgrades compared to our last house. It has a bit more space, an extra bedroom, and a great screened in porch/backyard view of a conservation area. However our new house did have quite a few projects when we moved in. We thought everyone might like a peek at some before and afters…

Master Bedroom & Closet

The first major project we started within weeks of moving in. The carpet in the master bedroom was in rough shape so we decided to replace it with engineered hardwood. We also wanted to repaint the color to a beachy blue, and decided to touch up all the trim and such too. With some fresh window treatments we have created a relaxing oasis. (Although we are still on the hunt for the perfect art solution to hang above the bed.)

We also gained a huge walk in closet. But there was so much wasted space with plain wire racks. Andrew went to IKEA to build out a complete custom shelving solution. It has plenty of hanging bars, pants racks, drawers and shelves. It took some time but we love having a functioning space now.

Laundry Room

In early fall, the washer and dryer, both of which were dated, began failing (you’ll notice that failing appliances was a major theme our first year as Floridians). This led to a full redo of the laundry room that included a fresh light grey paint, new Samsung machines, and more Ikea cabinetry for storage. We love the the new space feels clean and modern and not junky anymore.

The Walt Suite

With our new house we finally gained an extra bedroom to dedicate for guest use which was perfect for all the visitors we had this past year. We went with a black and white theme with more grey paint, new grey furniture, and vintage Disney decor. We call it the “Walt Suite” as it is not only Disney themed but has a picture of Walt overlaid with Cinderella’s Castle. This is one of Andrew’s favorite pictures that used to live in his office but he was gracious enough to “loan” it to the guest room. The sheets are part of the Ethen Allen Disney Collection from a few years back. And of course, Disney+ on the wall mounted TV is standard as part of everyone’s visit!

The Kitchen

This Spring we took on our most extensive (and expensive) project: completely redoing the kitchen. As multiple appliances starting failing within a few weeks of each other along we decided to replace the whole suite of applicances. But when we realized the built in oven would require new countertops, it led down the slippery slope of a full redo. Our quoted “2 week” project had several hiccups that caused it to be about 3 months, but we are loving the end result:

Charcoal wall paint and fresh trim
Medium grey cabinets with graphite handles
Matte Slate appliances from GE
Bright white quartz counters with grey veining
And a cool hectagon backsplash tile

We were able to make some minor enhancements to the space such as lowering the bar top to be a large flat island and trading in a desk for more useful cabinetry and a beverage fridge. While on one hand we say we are done with house projects for awhile, we also feel that spending so much time at home during the pandemic this year has also given us the bug to keep going and doing some more updates in other rooms.

New Disney Habits

Last but not least we get a lot of questions about how things have changed for us converting from Disney visitors to Disney locals. Over the past year we have discovered what works well for us. Here are some notes about how our habits have changed:

Tickets: one big one is the type of ticket. Many were surprised that we never had an Annual Pass before. We finally have one now and it gives us the freedom to go the park so much more (with the exception of lately with the COVID restrictions of park reservations). We went with a Platinum Plus to allow us to do water parks and golf as well.
Park Days: on vacation we would do really long days, open to close, cramming in as much as we could. While we still do some long days, other times we just go for a few hours or just to grab a meal. It’s nice to know we can come back another time if we don’t get to everything.
Rides/Attractions: previously rides were a big part of our to-do list, making sure to secure fast passes. Now sometimes we go to the parks and don’t even get on a single ride. Sometimes just the ambiance of walking around the park or meeting up with friends can make for a great day.
Food: when on vacation it is a special, short term thing and you want to eat special treats all the time. When we kept living the park life in vacation mode, we quickly realized the “Florida 15” is real and eating treats and drinking around the world every weekend is not realistic. (It also is so expensive!) We now try to make special reservations or get a treat every so often, not every park visit. We tend to pack a lot of snacks to bring to the park or will share large quick service meals too since visiting the parks is a part of our regular budget and not just a once a year splurge.
Resorts: when we first moved down we kept using our DVC points to book one night stays. But we quickly found we would spend most time in the parks and it seemed to be “wasting” points on a place to sleep, when it really wasn’t that much further to drive home to our own bed. We now find if want to stay on property it is to experience the resort and the pool, and a 2 night stay feels more relaxing as well.
Planning: we are lucky that we now get to go often and plan what we like to do. The one exception is when there are friends and family in town. We let them take the drivers seat for what they want to do since they can’t be here all the time, but we are fine rolling with whatever their plans may be.
Short Notice: we love that we can pop in for last minute reasons too. Last year Andrew was able to visit Epcot a few times to catch a few last glimpses of Illuminations before it retired. We have the option if new merch release happens or a special event is announced last minute that we could find a way to get to the parks. The nice thing is a quick trip doens’t take much and we can turn around and go to work the next day.

So that sums up a lot of our last year in Florida. We are really glad we made the decision to move and are really loving our new home. If you have any questions about Florida living let us know in the comments!