Keeping the Disney Magic Alive as a Florida Local

If you’re moving to Central Florida because you love Disney World, you’re not alone. If you are a little worried living close by means the Disney magic might go stale, you’re also not alone. This is one of the reasons I was adamant about not moving to Florida a few years ago. I was worried that becoming a local would mean losing the Disney magic. It turns out, I was wrong. A day at Disney may look different when you live here, but there are many opportunities for you to keep things exciting when visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth. Let’s discuss five of my favorite ways to keep the Disney magic alive as a Florida resident.

Staycation on Property

This one is really important to me. My favorite thing about Disney is the resorts. They are just so special, each one its own uniquely themed world. Staying at a Disney resort is part of the fun. Just because you live nearby, doesn’t mean you can’t stay at the hotels. There are many great reasons a local might want to stay at a Disney resort. Maybe you want a weekend getaway. Perhaps you are going on a monorail bar crawl and don’t want to drive home after a few drinks (good call!). Or you are going to an After Hours event and don’t want to travel home late at night. Whatever your reason, it’s a good reason to spend a night (or more) at Disney World. Still taking time to enjoy staying on property is a great way to keep the magic going.

Attend Parties and Special Events

For the average Disney World vacationer, their dates don’t always line up for special events. As a local, you have much more flexibility to hit up these fun occasions. You get to choose which bands you want to see at the Eat to Beat concerts (when they return), you don’t have to miss another holiday party, and you can participate in all the runDisney races. I’m really excited to finally be able to experience the Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic. Having all these unique events to look forward to and experience is a great way to continue to enjoy Disney World.

Take a Tour

Although many of the tours are currently unavailable as Disney is still in the process of reopening attractions, restaurants, and other special activities, I have no doubt that many of the tours will return. There are really cool options some people don’t even know exist. My favorite examples include A Path Less Traveled Tour at Animal Kingdom where you get to meet with animal experts, Behind the Seeds Tour at EPCOT where you get to explore the greenhouses inside Living with the Land, and the Starlight Safari at Animal Kingdom Lodge where you get to don night-vision goggles and observe the savanna animals in the dark. As a local, you have much more time to experience all these really amazing tours.

Try Something New

Aside from the myriad of tours, there are many other things to do at Disney besides the parks. Trying new things will keep Disney fresh and exciting. Many people don’t realize Disney offers archery lessons, fishing excursions, Segway tours, or FootGolf. There are so many new experiences to be had and being a local gives you the perfect opportunity to have many new Disney adventures. For more ideas, check out my Florida Locals Guide to Experiencing Disney Outside the Parks.

Take Loved Ones to Disney

I’ll leave you with one final idea. This is the one I feel most strongly about after I experienced it for myself. I had seen Happily Ever After many times. But no experience amounts to the day I took my mom to see it. It was her first Disney trip. Paul (my husband) and I had been many times and we decided to use our Disney Vacation Club points to take our moms. We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge for a week and took them to all the evening shows. I’ll never forget the look of happiness and wonder in my mother’s eyes as she watched Happily Ever After for the first time. I’m tearing up thinking about it. When you love Disney so much, there is truly no experience like seeing things again through the eyes of someone you love, whether that’s a parent, a friend, or a child. It’s my favorite way to keep the magic of Disney alive and well.

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Let us know in the comments what you do to keep the magic of Disney alive. If you are interested in getting started on your Florida home purchase so you can live closer to The Most Magical Place on Earth, our Moving to Orlando REALTORS are here to help. Take a moment to fill out our contact form, and someone will be in touch with you!