Orlando Area Communities

njmom2zach

Hi there ladies.  DH is looking at a job working for Disney.  We'd like to move to a community with very good public schools that is an hour or less commute to Disney headquarters.  I've heard good things about Celebration.  I'm hoping for a clean, safe neighborhood with nice yards and convenient shopping areas.  TIA!

mcp0805

Celebration is nice, but it's also right off of 192 which is very touristy.  I would also recommend looking in Windermere and Winter Garden - I know Windermere schools are very good, not sure about WG.  But WG is growing a lot and has a lot of new shopping.  There are also really good areas of Seminole county to check out.  Here are links to school info for both:

https://www.ocps.net/cs/services/accountability/improvement/Pages/SchoolGrades.aspx

http://www.scps.k12.fl.us/Testing/schoolgradesexplained.cfm

If you don't mind me asking, what type of job is he going for?  I work for Disney so I'm always curious.  Good luck!

jennythebride08

Celebration is very nice but touristy at times. Windermere is awesome! I would suggest Seminole County for schools - Orange county schools are horrible. Oscela county schools are also good - which is near Disney and closer then Seminole.

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Hope that helps!?

njmom2zach

Thanks girls.  I went to UF, but I am not at all familiar with the Orlando area.  It's a whole new ballgame with two preschoolers.  I'd like to avoid a private school and invest a bit more in our house.

Stephanie Varner

I suggest Winter Garden, especially the area that we live in...it's less than a mile from a brand new shopping district, has "A" rated schools and is less than 10 minutes from Disney.

 

You can email me at stepharoonie AT gmail DOT com if you'd like more information

Jacki05

Yay - another UF grad!!  I would like to throw Clermont in the mix.  There's a back way you can take to Disney.  It's not too small and not too big.

Lance&Diane

I would second the recommendations for Winter Garden.  I don't live there, but would love to move there one day!  It is such a super cute city with a historic downtown and a huge, new modern outdoor shopping center.  Everyone I know that lives there loves it!

I disagree with the previous posts that Orange Co schools are horrible.  I agree that there are some parts of Orange Co. that don't have the best schools, but the schools in our part of Orange Co are really good! 

Jen0414

Celebration looks nice but has actually had a rise in crime to due being right off of 192. I know quite a few people who have had their houses/ apts broken into out there.

Winter Garden (some parts of it) and Windermere are nice. The Lake Nona and Moss Park area are nice. It isn't super close to Disney but a really easy drive with no traffic on the 417. I can speak for myself that the schools are great here cause I teach at one of them and we did really well! : )

Jen0414

I also disagree that Orange County schools are horrible. I've taught at two of them personally (one was low in come and now I'm at a middle class school) both were A rated because the teachers and students worked very hard! Many Osceola Co. schools are not rated A. I have friends who work there and would agree that our schools do much better with ratings.

Kml9876

I have taught in both Orange and Osceola counties and there are bad and excellent schools in both counties. Celebration is nice but as everyone has mentioned it is right off of 192. Good luck! You can check out the Florida Department of Education website to see the grade for a particular school. http://www.fldoe.org/

BridalKatie

There is a section of town in the west corner that is booming with new houses, new schools, and lots of convenient shopping areas.

Windermere, Winter Garden, Ocoee

My DH works for Disney and we live in Windermere.  We love it.
 

sumstarles

My husband works at Disney and we live in Avalon Park.  If you like the look/feel of Celebration, Avalon Park is very similar.  They are very family oriented with events almost every month including huge July 4th thing, Parades, movie nights, Tuesday art day for kids, etc.  The commute is about 35-40 minutes.  The website is www.avalonpark.com but it doesn't have all the events I just mentioned listed. 

sumstarles

Also, we have our schools inside our community (thus you can even walk to them) and they are great schools.

Jen0414

Agree with Kml about schools in both counties. It is harsh to say that all orange county schools are horrible. I opened a new school this year and we got better scores than the "wonderful A school" we were relieving. It depends on parents, teachers and admin.

AlwaysHot2Men!!

i dont Live in Orlando we Just Moved our trailer from Bitlho to deLand!