I Moved 15 Minutes From Disney World. Here's What the First Two Weeks Actually Looked Like.
Welcome To Orlando
So my roommates "helped" me decide to move to Orlando with them. Just get up and go, kinda thing. We landed an apartment — gorgeous, by the way — that's literally 14–16 minutes from every single Disney park. The only downside? We picked the wrong side of the building to see the fireworks. But I can hear them. (Honestly, hearing fireworks from your couch and not having to deal with the parking lot exodus is a trade I'd make every time.)
And that's how, two weeks ago, I became an Orlando resident. Here's what the first fourteen days actually looked like.
Day 2: The Florida ID and the Annual Pass
The second day we were in Orlando, I landed my Florida ID. While I was waiting for my roommate to finish up his, I was on the Disney app and bought my annual pass.
Just like that. No saving up, no counting down, no "maybe next year." Bought it in the waiting area at the Orange County Tax Collecter Office like it was a coffee.
That's the moment it started feeling real.
Day 3: The "Wow, We Really Are That Close" Dinner
The next day, we were unpacking boxes — surrounded by cardboard, half a kitchen, the usual moving chaos — and last minute decided to go have dinner and watch the fireworks at Magic Kingdom.
Because we could.
Five minutes to the Disney Springs entrance… Ten minutes later we were walking up to the ferry boat"
I've always loved that walk — under the train station, into Town Square, the reveal of Cinderella Castle as you round the bend onto Main Street. Every single time, it gets me. But this time it hit different. I get to do this anytime I want. This is no longer a destination on the calendar. It's a part of my life now.
The Slow Disney Revelation
I've always been the rope-drop-to-close Disney guy. Running around, hitting all my favorites plus more, every minute scheduled and planned. (If you know, you know. And if you are one, we should talk — I can save you from yourself.)
This time was different. I didn't have to rush. If a line was too long, oh well — I can come back tomorrow. That sentence alone is still wild to say out loud.
We wandered over to Adventureland, where I snagged a last-minute reservation for Skipper Canteen. (More on that in a different post — spoilers, it's worth talking about.) After dinner we hopped on Haunted Mansion, because I just have to, and the wait was low. Then we just walked around taking in the sights, did some shopping, grabbed the perfect spot for Happily Ever After, and then went home.
Home. I went home from Magic Kingdom. Like it was a normal Thursday.
The Moment That Got Me
Here's the thing that really got me. I've always been a little sad leaving Magic Kingdom at the end of a trip. That walk down Main Street toward the exit, knowing it's over, knowing it's back to real life — every Disney adult knows that specific little heartbreak.
This time it was just "See ya soon."
Not "how long til I can afford to come back." Not "wonder when I'll be here next." Just — see ya soon. Because soon is, you know, tomorrow if I want.
We were home in less than twenty minutes, taking some of the back roads.
The Two-Week Scorecard
Since then I've been to all the parks. All four. Plus both water parks. It still feels a little bit weird, honestly. Like I'm getting away with something nobody told me was allowed.
A few things I've learned in two weeks of being a Disney local:
Uber is pretty cheap, and strongly suggested if you're going to do any kind of drinking at EPCOT. (Be responsible. But also — do not be the person driving home from drinking around World Showcase. That's a Disney adult rite of passage you want to skip.)
Disney is genuinely different when you live here. A quick jaunt to hit the newest ride. A run for the newest snack (foodie here — more on that soon). Or just, "Hey, I'm kinda depressed, I'm going to go watch some fireworks to cheer up." That's a real sentence I've said now. Out loud. To another human.
No more running around. No more exhaustion at the end of the day. Just leisure visits where I can notice all the tiny details you miss when you're sprinting from ride to ride.
What's Next
I'm going to go into all of it — the details, the food reviews, the new experiences, and the overall experience of being a lifelong Disney fan who finally lives in Mickey's backyard. Check back. This is just the beginning.
And if you're reading this thinking "I wish I could do Disney like that" — you can. Not the moving-15-minutes-away part (unless you're also being voluntold by your roommates, in which case, pack a box). But the no-rush, actually-enjoy-it, don't-spend-the-whole-trip-stressed part? That's literally what I do for a living. I plan Disney trips for people who'd rather experience their vacation than manage it — resort picks, park-day strategy, dining reservations, the lot. At no extra cost to you (the hotels and providers pay me, not you). You handle the packing.
Until the next Disney adventure…