@@TomBrazelton They do it to universal as well. It's all the same, play nice to get free perks. All of the good honest reviewers are not getting the special treatment and changed their views. "Stay edgy" Go cry about it I guess Tom.
Hey Andrew! You should join ACE! We're a group of coaster enthusiasts that travel around the country going to theme parks. I live in Orlando now, but ACE members live all around the country and we host events at various parks with dedicated ride time, behind the scenes tours and more. There's hundreds of us!
I did the exact same thing. I went into a pretty bad depression after my dog died. After like 6 months of depression that wasn't getting better, I moved from the east part of Orlando (far away from Disney) to a townhouse right behind Magic Kingdom. I just decided to say F everything else and I went to a different Disney park every day. I stopped caring about my depression. I just did whatever I wanted every day. I drank beer when I wanted, I ate whatever I wanted, and I stopped working for a month. I rode rides and just walked around Disney's 4 parks, waterparks, downtown Disney, and Boardwalk. Within 3 weeks my depression was pretty much gone. I was happy again and I could sleep much better. My mind had something else to focus on. And I was getting a lot of exercise. I think this technique works pretty good for situational depression.
As someone who is disabled and lives in a semi rural area with little public transportation I find it hard. I like Disney a lot because they have so many pressed coins my favorite hobby, and it’s one of the most accessible places ever. Everyone is so kind whether it’s an act they put on that day or not. I appreciate it. I probably asked, “where is your pressed coin machine?” like 75 times to different people and they always knew. My mom often comes with me for a day and I love spending time with her, I lean on my family a lot and happy they are supportive.
Your video was suggested very randomly on my feed, im glad youre living this life im actually a little jealous but happy for you even tho i dont know u :D thx for sharing you sound like a nice guy
Dude, your video was awesome! I can totally relate to everything lol from the daily grind to the hype of planning a theme park trip. I live super far away, but watching this gave me hope that maybe one day I can move to Florida and change things up, just like you did. Seriously, this hit me hard lol. Big congrats, man! I watched the whole video and I’m so happy for you! I’m actually going to Florida for the first time ever at the end of January so wish me luck! haha
Welcome to Orlando!! There are passholder meetup groups for UO and the WDW parks! I’m sure there are some for the other parks too. There are very active ones on facebook. That would be a great way to meet new people. My husband and I still go to the parks at least a few times a month, but I hear you on the holiday crowds. We love it here and I am most excited about Epic Universe. That park is going to be unlike any we’ve seen before!
The intro spoke to my soul. I just recently got an AP to Universal for the purposes of getting out of the house more and getting ready for Epic Universe. I hope to see you around at the parks!
It’s funny you brought up your hair because I’ve never seen you before, and throughout the beginning you show your long hair - which didn’t look bad - but I kept thinking “wow his hair looks much better now!” Then you brought up your haircut and I agree that day wasn’t great for it (it never is for me too, takes a week or two). But I definitely think the hair in this video now is the best look for you vs long. But in the end it’s whatever YOU like more
WOW! This is the best video I've seen in a long time. I loved the format and development of the story. Kudos for the courage to leave everything behind and get out of your comfort to create a new life without any guarantees. I would love to see more videos of the parks where you show those details that we don't appreciate because we are in a hurry to do as much as possible because time and money is limited. Once again, thank you for sharing this experiment to improve your life. THANK YOU
As someone else who has annual passes to all the parks, I would just suggest going a little less than you feel like, so that you don’t get bored. Maybe go every other day or something. Nothing wrong with relaxing and resting up at home for a park tomorrow. Also, something else that’s helped me enjoy the parks more is reframing why I’m there. Why you continue to go doesn’t have to be why you started going in the beginning. I often go literally just to people-watch and walk around, or spot any changes from last visit.
I’ve lived in orlando for almost all of my life, been a UO Passholder for 10 years. I will say that I was at one point depressed, and going to theme parks definitly helped, but still once i came home it would come back. Honestly the bigger game-changer for me was getting closer to God and applying the bible to my life, and this is coming from someone who wasn’t really sure if He existed. God is real and he loves you man, not trying to convert just tellin you what worked for me. Love you man, praying for you (P.S. You gotta ride velocicoaster)
This really resonated with me as I went through almost the exact same process as you did from start to finish. It takes a lot of courage but the reward is well worth it. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Very wise words from someone over half my age. My last 10 years of working - before finally retiring - were doing work from home and it can be very isolating. Especially after I became unable to drive, there would be weeks I hard stuck my head outside to get the mail out of the mailbox (special home delivery). I wish I had done what you did when I was in my 30s. I wouldn't be stuck in this place with tornadoes and ice storms and...well you get the point. Look forward to hearing more about how things are going. And make sure mom gets a few clips of Faye for us!
So cool to hear your story man! I’m in a similar life situation as far as job and relationships go but I’ve been in Orlando my whole life. The parks are great to go during a weekday. I wish more people had flexible schedules though- I wouldn’t necessarily enjoy going alone. I’ve ridden every ride hundreds of times at this point- it’s the social and fun aspect of it I enjoy not just the fun.
I'm about 6 years ahead of you in a similar timeline. Two years ago I applied for and was hired by one of the theme parks I moved here to frequent. This has been the best decision of my life (even if I had to give up 100% work from home).
Welcome to Orlando Being able to attend the parks casually is the best. I love dropping in on animal kingdom, grabbing a beer walking around doing one ride, grab a bite to eat, watch the animals and leave . -I think the biggest thing about your hobbies is they’re all indoor and theme parks are not, that helps immensely with depression. -get your cat. U can drug that kitty up , I’ve done it with my dogs and cat. They’re fine.
Hey Andrew, your technique in storytelling is good. You are a natural. Had me watching the whole video with interest. I also live in Florida but in the south so traveling to Orlando is about 3 hours. My wish is to live in Windermere just minutes from the parks. I am also an introvert with close friends I could count on one hand so I can totally relate but I am also open to making new friends. I actually took my then girlfriend to disney on one of our first dates. We have now been married over ten years. I guess it was something magical in the air. 😂. I am still or just as adventurous as you are and its good to know you see value in living life, people get so caught up in the grind that they forget to chill and just enjoy life. Hope you find that special woman in your life soon. Keep sharing your stories. One love.
Bro this is the first youtube in years I sat through and it kept my attention the whole time. Ive been living here for the past 30 years and watched this place grow from bearly nothing to this place of wonder and I myself work from home bored and thats mainly Im a retiered Disney manager seen and done all the themes parks as well worked at all of them lol over the years as most of the people that have lived here for some time but your story is awesome and my hat is off to you for searching out what make you happy and went for it. ,FYI dont allow the traffic to scare you back home over the past 5 years more and more people making that journery as you did . Welcome to Paradise lol
Loved to hear your story, it is so inspirational! I can really relate to everything that made you move to Orlando because I also feel like wasting my life away on a regular basis. Only thing that keeps me sane is seeing my friends from time to time and planning my upcoming trips :') I'm so happy for you, congrats!!
Now go check out the Resorts - Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Portofino etc.....Then onto a Cruise, since you are in the center of 5 Cruise Ports! 🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢
We did the same thing almost 3 years ago now. If you like to try different foods, Epcot has 4 food festivals that we love to check out and walk around and eat…then ride Guardians :) Makes for the best days. Lots of online info with the new foods per festival so you can plan what you want to try before you even get there. I love all 4 Disney Parks, but the Epcot food festivals keep it interesting. Also…since you like Halloween Horror Nights, you might look into working as a scare actor if it fits your schedule since that is nighttime work. It’s a great way to meet people. It’s seasonal, and they hire a lot of people. My daughter has had several friends do it in addition to their daytime jobs.
You should plan to spend a day at Kennedy Space Center. Also if you want a quieter experience and are looking for "Old Florida" then you should also check out Silver Springs. Also keep an eye out for area events like art shows and such. Lots to do... especially half day trips and such.
Me and my wife moved to SoCal a few yeas ago, after watch theme park videos online for years. It's true, it's a totally different vibe going to the parks once you are a local. Best decision we ever made.
If you ever wanted to try to bring your cat down, asking a vet for anxiety meds could be the way to go. My aunt was moving from WA to TX and had a 20 year old cat. She said her cat did really well on the meds the whole drive.
I could relate to a fair bit of what you discussed here. Good luck to you mate, and well done for going ahead putting into practice changes to make a better life for yourself
Good for you man! I also moved to Orlando for similar reasons- although for me when I moved here almost 3 years ago I had (and still do lol) a young family with a 1 yr old and one otw, which that along with my remote job keeps ke plenty busy but really just thought it would be great to be near where there's sooooooo much to do and not just the theme parks. (Also helps that i have a family member that works for disney so we are lucky to get free access every so often to any of the parks thru her family and friend passes which renew/reset every month or so- a major plus) BUT yea just love it here- family things to do, adult things to do, and disney is only the beginning. And I get what you are saying about getting the peace and quiet- which is why I live in the Greater Orlando area but in one of the surrounding towns still only within 30 to 40 min from the parks. So when your lease is up maybe look at living in like Winter Park, Oviedo (alot of UCF stuff that way which is cool too) , or Kissimmee, Lake Nona, etc.
Awesome video! I’m from South Florida but went to school at BYU and then moved to Orlando. I love the more relaxed feel of the parks that you talked about when you live close by. You can just spend a few hours and still have a good time. Always looking to meet new friends at the park as well!
I have severe Chronic depression so bad I have had six sessions of Electro convulsive therapy and I have to take Heavy meds. I love the theme parks and wish I could move to Orlando or around there. I am in Illinois and it is cold here and I don't like it but I don't have the golden job you do and I am not young either. I would love to TH-cam theme parking stuff. My Husband does not want to move to Florida. I bet it would help my depression though. And I would start exercising.
Man what an amazing story telling talent you have and I congratulate you for making this big move! I am sure this new lifestyle will definitely be the best decision you have made. It sounds like you are living a dream, and that overall you are truly living not just existing anymore, as it is true that most of us are glued to our phones, screens, iPads, laptops scrolling videos on TH-cam or Instagram and it does get lonely and a waste of precious life. I wish you live an excellent life there as an Orlando local and enjoy the fun that those world class theme parks offer.
I was super unhappy where I was living. We moved to be near Disney in 2019 and I have been significantly happier in the last 5 years. It is really nice to be able to go to the parks whenever. We probably once go once or twice a month, but it is nice to just have it as an option. It is very different than vacationing here. I thought it would be weird for me to tell people we moved here for Disney, but I quickly realized it’s pretty common! A lot of people move here for the theme parks. And I just realized we have lived here since August 2019 and have never gone to the beach! So you beat me there.
Bro congratulations, you found what you wanted and went for it. I live in Australia and it's been my dream to live in Orlando one day but as it's so hard I've found a partner that wants to travel to all the parks around the world with me. That's the next best thing. Great video
I've lived in Orlando for 15 years now and you've gone to all of the parks more in the past year than I ever have. - The lack of rain is something that has definitely changed over the past decade. In the summers it used to rain everyday at at 3pm for around 30 minutes. It's gotten a lot more varied now and it rains less often. - Quiet night walks: You're definitely in a more dense and busy touristy area. There is a place I'd recommend, won't name it because I don't want to dox you or myself. I'd say it's not walking distance but considering you biked to universal, you could bike there. - As for curing depression: I think that it's not nessacarily Orlando or the theme parks but simply being in a new location that "resets" your habits and routines and forces you to restructure your life. -Also Highly recommend checking out some state parks and springs and stuff.
so happy for you, you are living the Dream. I‘m stuck over here in Germany, but i enjoy my 2-3 weeks of Orlando or California each year. Must be so great to enjoy some parks after work.
Welcome to FL! I just moved back after growing up here and living in another state for 8+ years. I love it more than ever and have found it so much easier to socialize. Congrats on starting this new adventure!
Ideal Disney consumer, they'll love you. I've been to the parks hundreds of times, so I'm just going to say you missed the 'magic' by about ten years. There is still magic in Florida, need to set a goal to visit all the state parks. Right down the road from you is Kelly Park (Rock Springs), great for a day trip, just show up around 5:30-6am if you want access in the summer.
I have to say I really loved your video. I have been thinking about moving down to Florida and the Orlando area for many years now. I have always been too scared to take the plunge. I am very much a geeky introvert. I am very much like you, going to work and playing video games. I am part of 501st legion, and I go on troops when we have them or comic conventions. I just know my more geeky lifestyle would fit so much better in Orlando FL than in Colorado. Like you hopefully find my park loving/geeky soul mate as well.
I worked at Walt Disney World back in 2007 when they had the careerstart program and worked in Fantasyland/liberty square, best experience of my life. Then in 2012 I had gotten married, and we moved from Arizona into the Disney bubble and I got a job at Universal. Then I had a family death that made us move back to Arizona and we struggled for many years. Now it's almost 2025 and both of us really want to live near the theme parks again and we've been saving to make it happen. I made it so I travel for work certain parts of the year so it's the opposite of remote work but it allows me to live whereever an airport exists. I am so glad this video popped into my feed. My happy places are arcades and theme parks. We spend a lot going to Disney World each year and other various theme parks and we still go more for the park experience. It's not always the rides but the atmosphere and energy of a place. I tried ignoring the feeling of moving back but other family has moved on and the area around us has gotten so expensive without being fun. Here's hoping 2025 is the year(plus I wanna be around for Epic universe)! Most people don't understand the appeal of theme parks but I don't like bars I like themed immersive places.
Hi Andrew iam from Argentina! your video was suggested and i saw because im a big fa fan of Disney and universal and me too in the future i will leave Argenti na to live in Orlando. Thanks for sharing your life experince, i hope i will see you in a park!!!! Enjoy this new adventure my friend
I felt this! I've been single for a while now and work from home as well. It can definitely feel like you're alone in the world and like your life is an endlessly repeating cycle of nothing. Once you get 'enough' money your motivation for work kind of tanks too. I'd like to find a relationship but the dating app experience is not fun :(. My release valve has been raves and music festivals, I went to 2 festivals and 10-15 shows last year and found a lot of true joy though that. The people are always having an amazing time and a lot easier to connect with than in normal life when I do leave my house. Bravo on taking the leap to make a change and good luck on this new phase of your life!
I get what you mean about losing motivation once you have money. I have more money saved than ever now, and don't even know where to go up from here, so I have a really hard time caring about work now lol
@@andrewplatt7076 So true. It's a good place to be though, just gotta find meaning elsewhere haha. Dunno if you're a festy person but you should check out Rockville next year, it's pretty close to Orlando and the linup is 🔥
Your story sounds a ton like mine. I lived in CT my whole life and decided to move to Orlando early 2023. Your story of going to the parks sounds exactly like mine. I think for me the biggest struggle has just been missing my friends from CT, but at the same time i know the my happiest life is down here. I feel like i have the world available to me now, where in CT things felt so closed off. Congratulations on the move man. Life will still happen. It’s daunting to live your entirely life and go somewhere different. But always keep it a day at a time. Do what you need.
It looks like you made a good choice for what you wanted. I would have gone the opposite way, LOL, I want a place deep in the mountains where I don't see anyone else unless I actively look for someone. The key is you actually did something, instead of fussing around you took action. I think that's great!
You made it!!! Love your energy! I’ve met some GREAT life friends through Solo Disney online groups. Sounds like you’re on the right track & were smart to save up $ so you had choices for moving to FL. Yes, agree on the holiday crowds~ gotta time it all within the festive chaos. Best Wishes 🎄
In the 90's, when I was your age, I lived in Long Beach CA. I had annual passes to Knott's, Disneyland, Universal, and Six Flags Magic Mountain. You are right, having an annual pass was awesome. I love Disney and went there after work at least three times a day. I would ride a few rides or just hung out. I did not feel rushed. It was nice going to Disneyland just to get a Mint Julep, then watch the Mulan parade, then went home. Loved it. I live in Charlotte NC now and Carowinds is my home park. Having an annual pass is the same cost of five visits in a year, I went over 25 times. Money well spent.
Wow this really opened my eyes! It’s ok to really like theme parks, I visit my parents in Orlando all the time, and I definitely took advantage of the annual passes. It changed my view completely, I too kinda want to Orlando even though it’s a 4 hour drive away
I did this too five years ago. Just randomly on a whim decided I wanted to move to Orlando to work in Disney and I'm still here. The problem with it curing depression is that you're still you. Moving doesn't magically cure yourself. You can't escape yourself, unfortunately. But you do have a bunch of cool stuff around you, so that's fun. I got fat, though, so I can't really go to Universal anymore. Wait until you get that full 100 degree heat in summer. That was a shock the first time I felt it.
@@bb5242 Oh for sure. Working in Disney has made me way more social. Not with like, actual friends or anything, but it's made me almost be forced to adopt social skills because I talk to people all day every day.
I'm glad it worked out for you and thanks for sharing the experience. That must be nice being able to bike to all those theme parks. I personally go to Disneyland at least once a month but can't exactly bike there from where I live (L.A.). I've also met people that go there once a week, but every day......wow! I can also relate to the overall social situation. Most people here I'd describe as easy to meet / hard to stay in touch with. That makes me extra thankful for the close friends I have and I hope things keep going well for you.
Excellent video, like some others here mentioned this came across my recommended. I’ve been a on-again-off-again Orlando resident throughout college and am in the process of moving there myself for a new job. It’s an amazing city, plenty of things to do both in and out of the tourist corridor along I-4. Congrats on finding a place that suits your interests! I’ve been a member of the Themed Entertainment Association and IAPPA for work for years now, they’re primarily professional organizations but IAPPA has plenty of theme park “enthusiast” members like yourself, and I can say I’ve met some amazing people through it!
Love your speaking style, man. FL is really special for coaster fans ngl. Living in GA means that I can drive down to Orlando, but it takes a day, and as you said, really expensive. I've thought about moving down, and this video was recommended to me as if YT knows about me lol. Keep us updated haha
Hey there, my question is about hurricane season. Coming from Salt Lake I'd like to know what it was like for you. Scary? Intense? Any feedback on your experience would be helpful since I come from an area that doesn't see hurricanes at all.
I have always been a huge fan of major storms, and SLC rarely sees any (outside of winter blizzards). I was actually really excited for the hurricane haha
Hey Andrew, I never seen any of your videos before, but your thumbnail caught my eye because you look almost like one of my friends here in Orlando! I work from home as well and travel to a different city almost every weekend, and before moving to Orlando, found myself often rerouting my return trips through Orlando for a few extra days to visit the theme parks. I grew up in California, am a professional artist, and loved pin collecting so Disney always appealed to me. Since I work from home after moving to Florida with my ex originally decided to just move down to Orlando and here I have been for the last few years. Definitely been trying to build a new community of friends here. Let me know if you every want to hang out, always fun to meet more folks in the area.
We visit a few times a year and have now focused on the food options when we visit. Also, we do different disney hotels everytime we visit. Parks are great, but sometimes just staying in the hotels is worth it. The amenities are awesome and the food options are out of this world. Definitely explore the food options around the parks. Topolinos on top of the Riviera is a must. Most disney restaurants have a massive bar area where you can eat, socialize, etc.. meet people who are visiting or locals who are just having a casual meal. Don't need to drink ( too expensive anyways :) ). My wife and I have met numerous locals while eating at the bar section who just popped in to eat without waiting. Welcome to Florida!
Hey Andrew! I don’t even know how this ended up on my homepage but it did. Thought it was a bigger channel till I looked and was shocked how good the video was for so little recognition. I currently attend UCF and was born here in Florida. My time here in Orlando I’ve been to so many cool places and restaurants. If you want I’d be so down to hang out I need more friends. But definitely there is so much more to see Orlando.
Moving to Orlando is a dream for me. It'll probably never happen. I have friends and family I wouldn't want to leave. But I also work from home, and sometimes it seems like such a monotonous routine. I crave something a little more exciting. Glad you took the leap and it's working out for you.
Thanks for sharing. I moved here almost 3 years ago. West side of WDW to avoid most tourist traffic. Got all the APs too. Sunshine and pixie dust does a lot to help depression. Hopefully our paths cross. Would love to have another local friend to roll the parks.
Really enjoyed watching this! I’m in southern Florida so I visit Disney and Universal fairly often, though nowhere near as many times as someone in Orlando! It’s definitely gonna be a really exciting place to be next year with Epic Universe! Would love to see more theme park content from you in the future! Also, I gotta ask, which ride is your favorite here? I’d say either Rise of the Resistance or Hagrid’s for me, I can’t chose between them lol!
My favorite bounces around. I was highly impressed by cosmic rewind when I eventually got on it, though its only my favorite if I get everybody wants to rule the world. the other 83% of the time, I just leave disappointed haha... Other than that, probably Mako
Wow! everyone has thought about doing this for the same reason. You did it! I really connected with the idea that the night of arrival you had to make a token visit to a park (Universal) even though you'd been driving and unloading all day you have to go "plant your flag" Good for you for pulling the trigger, I'll subscribe and follow you.
Great video! Would love to see that more in-depth video about moving/living in Orlando you mentioned at the end. My family has been considering an identical move for a while now - heading to around the same area you moved to for similar reasons - so we'd love to hear more about your experience. Thanks for the great content!
This is an awesome video! One of the best places I’ve found to meet people in Orlando is going to church that has a young adults ministry. Even if you don’t believe they are very welcoming and friendly and do a lot of social gatherings
This video really hit me dude, it’s the most relatable video I’ve ever seen. I’m now in my early 30s, but I too moved to Florida and have a huge love and passion for theme parks and coasters. I moved here for the same reasons as you, I was a bit depressed and I would look forward to going to universal and Disney all year, especially HHN! Also It seems like you’re into metal, so am I! It’s crazy dude, we are basically the same person haha. Is there a way I can contact you? Would love to meet up and do a park day with you or something! Great video man, I’m obviously subscribing and look forward to seeing more from you
It’s crazy how much I relate to this. I didn’t do the move part but I’m in my mid 30s and was quite depressed. I’d work, then on the computer all night gaming and repeat. Never went out. Didn’t really talk to anyone except discord friends. It wasn’t until my computer broke that I decided to break that habit and go experience life. It is very hard to make friends as an adult if your and introvert and don’t enjoy going to bars and clubs. I didn’t lean quite as hard into theme parks but I did get a Disney annual pass and love it. I’ve been about 30 times in the past 3 months. My depression has gotten 1000x better. I also started doing a lot more stuff in the area. Lived here all my life and never did any of it. Renaissance fairs, kayaking rivers, random attractions. It’s crazy how much there is to do in central Florida. Would be a lot better with more friends though.
Glad to hear from you again. I'm also severely introverted, but I would still go to clubs just to see a band I liked. As long as I enjoy the music, I'd consider it a good night.
Dude, when I read the title, my first thought was, “what a loser.” As I watched your video, I realized you’re actually a really smart dude and I admire your initiative to get out of your rut. Moving to a new city and getting to know people is not the easiest thing to do. Kudos! The added benefit of going to all the parks as much as you want is great! I hope everything turns out well for you and you find someone special! God speed!
Tampa native here. Great video and glad to hear you're feeling better mentally. I have BG SW passes and have been thinking about getting either a Universal or Disney pass too. It's a bit too long of a drive for me to get both at the same time. Epic Universe is looking like it's going to be dope. Maybe I'll see you in a park one day. You plan on doing theme park content on YT?
I can relate greatly to your “what am I doing with my life” moment. I was working a ton and then because I’d get done at weird hours I’d play a ton of video games. I’d play video games for much of Saturday too. Then I got cancer. I was 25. I beat cancer and I said I’m not going back to just video games like before. Now I’m also blessed with a new nephew and I love spending time with him, taking him to the zoo etc.
Congrats on your move to Florida! As a native Floridian I'd like to share a couple of important tips that most new to our state don't know. First, our state is amazing & I can NOT imagine living anywhere else; however, PLEASE understand that living in Florida is truly living in an "animal kingdom." We have a lot of wild life here, tons of bugs, and several predators that can kill you, so PLEASE be careful. Do NOT walk near the water's edge wherever you go because if there's water, there's an alligator, even if you never see it,. Just know they are there, they travel, and they ambush things that walk too close to the edge of ponds/lakes. (and if a neighbor says something like, "oh yeah, but they came and moved the gator last month so it's safe now..." NO, it's not. When they move one gator, more move in... every single time.) Also, black bears are not as big as grizzlys but they still kill and they can smell things for miles and miles, so don't leave food outside, not even a pumpkin at Halloween (report neighbors that do) nor leave your door/window open because bears have been known to walk right in and help themselves. Anyway, our family moved from South FL to 25 min away from WDW (about an hr away from U.S./SeaWorld/Bush Gardens/Legoland) in 2005, but chose a place with less traffic/people than Orlando or Kissimmee. Some people don't like living in Orlando (as you mention the chaotic traffic w/ too many tourists) so if you ever get tired of it (or you find it floods in your area after a hurricane), you should check out some of the smaller bedroom communities just outside of Kissimmee like Clermont, Celebration, Loughman or Davenport (really nice area with many apartment/townhouse/condo options). There is tons to do in Central FL (and you might want to check out places like Kennedy Space Center or Lion Country Safari 3 hrs away in W. Palm Beach) as long as you have the cash to do it all. Have fun & stay safe! You got a new subscriber, possibly 2 because I have to share this with my son, about your age and loves theme parks & videos games too.
Moved here almost 5 years ago. There is definitely going to be a lot of highs and lows living here. I feel most don’t make it living here within the first 1-3 years. Hopefully everything goes great for you! Good luck!
I really love when people discover how lovely Florida really is and embrace it :) Welcome to Florida, wishing you good luck in building out your romantic and platonic relationships in 2025!
Really awesome and interesting video. I’m 24 and Disney world was always my favorite place to go on vacation. This past week I had my honeymoon to Disney world and it was the busiest I had ever seen it, we were very overwhelmed. My question would be how do you deal with the chaos, and what would you say your favorite park in Orlando is?
I avoid most of the chaos when I can. I try to pick parks when they are less busy, and only go on rides when I see their wait times dip. Honestly, I can't pick a favorite park at all... I can't even rank any over another. I've had great days, and crappy days at all of them
@ Thanks for the reply. For me I enjoyed Epcot the most, but I wasn’t able to go to universal during my time. I hope to explore that in a few years when epic universe is complete and maybe less crazy.
Sounds like a cool “outside of the box” adventure. I grew up in the Cocoa Beach area, and they had some wide beaches with packed sand that were great for walking, running, or riding bikes on.
After the pandemic, I took the opportunity to pack up my life and move to Orlando and work for Mickey. It was the best decision I have ever made. It's not perfect, but I experience some level of real joy every day, and these days, that is such a rare thing.
You, sir, are a goddamn genius. You couldn’t pay me enough to live in Florida, but I still say: you are a genius. Your condo complex doesn’t look thrilling (nice floors though!), but even so, I maintain that you are a genius. And just for context, I estimate that I’m 3x your age. I am an Old, and yet I recognize that you are a genius. I just got a membership to the CA Academy of Sciences, so I can go there whenever I want, and it’s glorious. Before La ‘Rona made fools of us all, my husband and I used to visit friends in SoCal and get passes to Disneyland. Hear me out…. Know what we did? We each took a laptop - what we call our “walking-around computers” - we’d find a secluded corner table at the French Market in New Orleans Square or in Tomorrowland… and just let our minds play. Talk about heaven. I don’t doubt for a moment that it’s curing your depression. It’s sad that this solution isn’t available to everyone, but I still salute you for doing it. Have I mentioned that you are a genius? Because I really can’t stress that enough.
Hey man! I think it would be awesome if you could have a follow up video going over more of the move in detail and what it’s been like moving to Orlando! My girlfriend and I have been giving it some thought and really think we’d benefit from moving to live closer to the amusement parks too. We are just big planners and trying to figure out how to do it in the most efficient and affordable way!
Awesome, I am 40 minutes away. Yeah I feel the same way, lots to do and I can just go walk around anytime I want. The pass was like $469 for the year and is good on weekdays which is fine because weekends are nuts.
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Dude, I think the universe is steering you toward becoming a theme park TH-camr. Go for it!
There are already hundreds of them and they are all the same. Don't turn into one of those parrot zombies
@@timetraveler9218 Well, at least you're not strangely bitter about it?
@@TomBrazelton Just trying to help this guy avoid an oversaturated market full of copy/paste corporate disney boot lickers
@@timetraveler9218 I didn't say Disney. I said theme parks. But stay edgy, I guess.
@@TomBrazelton They do it to universal as well. It's all the same, play nice to get free perks. All of the good honest reviewers are not getting the special treatment and changed their views.
"Stay edgy" Go cry about it I guess Tom.
Hey Andrew! You should join ACE! We're a group of coaster enthusiasts that travel around the country going to theme parks. I live in Orlando now, but ACE members live all around the country and we host events at various parks with dedicated ride time, behind the scenes tours and more. There's hundreds of us!
Exactly what I was thinking!
Montu down the street at Busch Gardens Tampa would be a fantastic start. May as well experience the best.
im an ACE member its fun ngl
I did the exact same thing. I went into a pretty bad depression after my dog died. After like 6 months of depression that wasn't getting better, I moved from the east part of Orlando (far away from Disney) to a townhouse right behind Magic Kingdom. I just decided to say F everything else and I went to a different Disney park every day. I stopped caring about my depression. I just did whatever I wanted every day. I drank beer when I wanted, I ate whatever I wanted, and I stopped working for a month. I rode rides and just walked around Disney's 4 parks, waterparks, downtown Disney, and Boardwalk. Within 3 weeks my depression was pretty much gone. I was happy again and I could sleep much better. My mind had something else to focus on. And I was getting a lot of exercise. I think this technique works pretty good for situational depression.
Sometimes you get so sucked into a lifestyle, that you forget what the world outside your bubble is like
As someone who is disabled and lives in a semi rural area with little public transportation I find it hard. I like Disney a lot because they have so many pressed coins my favorite hobby, and it’s one of the most accessible places ever. Everyone is so kind whether it’s an act they put on that day or not. I appreciate it. I probably asked, “where is your pressed coin machine?” like 75 times to different people and they always knew. My mom often comes with me for a day and I love spending time with her, I lean on my family a lot and happy they are supportive.
My son loves the pressed pennies too! So many different images!
Just talking to the camera and yet one of the most interesting and entertaining clips of ive ever seen. Well done.
Your video was suggested very randomly on my feed, im glad youre living this life im actually a little jealous but happy for you even tho i dont know u :D thx for sharing you sound like a nice guy
it randomly popped up for me to...i appreciate your honesty
It randomly popped up for me too. I have depression and moved to Florida 2 years ago. I love Disney and Universal so much…but I’m a 3.5hr drive
Dude, your video was awesome! I can totally relate to everything lol from the daily grind to the hype of planning a theme park trip. I live super far away, but watching this gave me hope that maybe one day I can move to Florida and change things up, just like you did. Seriously, this hit me hard lol. Big congrats, man! I watched the whole video and I’m so happy for you! I’m actually going to Florida for the first time ever at the end of January so wish me luck! haha
Nice, I hope you make it!
Welcome to Orlando!! There are passholder meetup groups for UO and the WDW parks! I’m sure there are some for the other parks too. There are very active ones on facebook. That would be a great way to meet new people. My husband and I still go to the parks at least a few times a month, but I hear you on the holiday crowds. We love it here and I am most excited about Epic Universe. That park is going to be unlike any we’ve seen before!
The intro spoke to my soul. I just recently got an AP to Universal for the purposes of getting out of the house more and getting ready for Epic Universe. I hope to see you around at the parks!
It’s funny you brought up your hair because I’ve never seen you before, and throughout the beginning you show your long hair - which didn’t look bad - but I kept thinking “wow his hair looks much better now!” Then you brought up your haircut and I agree that day wasn’t great for it (it never is for me too, takes a week or two). But I definitely think the hair in this video now is the best look for you vs long. But in the end it’s whatever YOU like more
I've never walked away from a haircut happy lol. I always like it grown out more, which was partly why I liked letting it go long
@@andrewplatt7076I think your hair looks better the way it is now too :)
WOW! This is the best video I've seen in a long time. I loved the format and development of the story. Kudos for the courage to leave everything behind and get out of your comfort to create a new life without any guarantees.
I would love to see more videos of the parks where you show those details that we don't appreciate because we are in a hurry to do as much as possible because time and money is limited.
Once again, thank you for sharing this experiment to improve your life. THANK YOU
Good for you for stepping out and going for it. Thanks for the video man! I hope things only get better for you from here.
As someone else who has annual passes to all the parks, I would just suggest going a little less than you feel like, so that you don’t get bored. Maybe go every other day or something. Nothing wrong with relaxing and resting up at home for a park tomorrow.
Also, something else that’s helped me enjoy the parks more is reframing why I’m there. Why you continue to go doesn’t have to be why you started going in the beginning. I often go literally just to people-watch and walk around, or spot any changes from last visit.
I’ve lived in orlando for almost all of my life, been a UO Passholder for 10 years. I will say that I was at one point depressed, and going to theme parks definitly helped, but still once i came home it would come back. Honestly the bigger game-changer for me was getting closer to God and applying the bible to my life, and this is coming from someone who wasn’t really sure if He existed. God is real and he loves you man, not trying to convert just tellin you what worked for me. Love you man, praying for you (P.S. You gotta ride velocicoaster)
This really resonated with me as I went through almost the exact same process as you did from start to finish. It takes a lot of courage but the reward is well worth it. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Very wise words from someone over half my age. My last 10 years of working - before finally retiring - were doing work from home and it can be very isolating. Especially after I became unable to drive, there would be weeks I hard stuck my head outside to get the mail out of the mailbox (special home delivery). I wish I had done what you did when I was in my 30s. I wouldn't be stuck in this place with tornadoes and ice storms and...well you get the point. Look forward to hearing more about how things are going. And make sure mom gets a few clips of Faye for us!
So cool to hear your story man! I’m in a similar life situation as far as job and relationships go but I’ve been in Orlando my whole life. The parks are great to go during a weekday. I wish more people had flexible schedules though- I wouldn’t necessarily enjoy going alone. I’ve ridden every ride hundreds of times at this point- it’s the social and fun aspect of it I enjoy not just the fun.
I'm about 6 years ahead of you in a similar timeline. Two years ago I applied for and was hired by one of the theme parks I moved here to frequent. This has been the best decision of my life (even if I had to give up 100% work from home).
Welcome to Orlando
Being able to attend the parks casually is the best. I love dropping in on animal kingdom, grabbing a beer walking around doing one ride, grab a bite to eat, watch the animals and leave .
-I think the biggest thing about your hobbies is they’re all indoor and theme parks are not, that helps immensely with depression.
-get your cat. U can drug that kitty up , I’ve done it with my dogs and cat. They’re fine.
Hey Andrew, your technique in storytelling is good. You are a natural. Had me watching the whole video with interest. I also live in Florida but in the south so traveling to Orlando is about 3 hours. My wish is to live in Windermere just minutes from the parks. I am also an introvert with close friends I could count on one hand so I can totally relate but I am also open to making new friends. I actually took my then girlfriend to disney on one of our first dates. We have now been married over ten years. I guess it was something magical in the air. 😂. I am still or just as adventurous as you are and its good to know you see value in living life, people get so caught up in the grind that they forget to chill and just enjoy life. Hope you find that special woman in your life soon. Keep sharing your stories. One love.
Great video. This is a interesting life experience. Orlando is magic.
Orlando is a pit of traffic and red light cameras.
@ No bad it all!
Bro this is the first youtube in years I sat through and it kept my attention the whole time. Ive been living here for the past 30 years and watched this place grow from bearly nothing to this place of wonder and I myself work from home bored and thats mainly Im a retiered Disney manager seen and done all the themes parks as well worked at all of them lol over the years as most of the people that have lived here for some time but your story is awesome and my hat is off to you for searching out what make you happy and went for it. ,FYI dont allow the traffic to scare you back home over the past 5 years more and more people making that journery as you did . Welcome to Paradise lol
Loved to hear your story, it is so inspirational! I can really relate to everything that made you move to Orlando because I also feel like wasting my life away on a regular basis. Only thing that keeps me sane is seeing my friends from time to time and planning my upcoming trips :') I'm so happy for you, congrats!!
Now go check out the Resorts - Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Portofino etc.....Then onto a Cruise, since you are in the center of 5 Cruise Ports! 🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢
We did the same thing almost 3 years ago now. If you like to try different foods, Epcot has 4 food festivals that we love to check out and walk around and eat…then ride Guardians :) Makes for the best days. Lots of online info with the new foods per festival so you can plan what you want to try before you even get there. I love all 4 Disney Parks, but the Epcot food festivals keep it interesting. Also…since you like Halloween Horror Nights, you might look into working as a scare actor if it fits your schedule since that is nighttime work. It’s a great way to meet people. It’s seasonal, and they hire a lot of people. My daughter has had several friends do it in addition to their daytime jobs.
You should plan to spend a day at Kennedy Space Center. Also if you want a quieter experience and are looking for "Old Florida" then you should also check out Silver Springs. Also keep an eye out for area events like art shows and such. Lots to do... especially half day trips and such.
Me and my wife moved to SoCal a few yeas ago, after watch theme park videos online for years. It's true, it's a totally different vibe going to the parks once you are a local. Best decision we ever made.
If you ever wanted to try to bring your cat down, asking a vet for anxiety meds could be the way to go. My aunt was moving from WA to TX and had a 20 year old cat. She said her cat did really well on the meds the whole drive.
I’m a native of 52 years. I miss old school, less traffic and people Florida
I could relate to a fair bit of what you discussed here. Good luck to you mate, and well done for going ahead putting into practice changes to make a better life for yourself
Good for you man! I also moved to Orlando for similar reasons- although for me when I moved here almost 3 years ago I had (and still do lol) a young family with a 1 yr old and one otw, which that along with my remote job keeps ke plenty busy but really just thought it would be great to be near where there's sooooooo much to do and not just the theme parks. (Also helps that i have a family member that works for disney so we are lucky to get free access every so often to any of the parks thru her family and friend passes which renew/reset every month or so- a major plus) BUT yea just love it here- family things to do, adult things to do, and disney is only the beginning. And I get what you are saying about getting the peace and quiet- which is why I live in the Greater Orlando area but in one of the surrounding towns still only within 30 to 40 min from the parks. So when your lease is up maybe look at living in like Winter Park, Oviedo (alot of UCF stuff that way which is cool too) , or Kissimmee, Lake Nona, etc.
Awesome video! I’m from South Florida but went to school at BYU and then moved to Orlando. I love the more relaxed feel of the parks that you talked about when you live close by. You can just spend a few hours and still have a good time. Always looking to meet new friends at the park as well!
I have severe Chronic depression so bad I have had six sessions of Electro convulsive therapy and I have to take Heavy meds. I love the theme parks and wish I could move to Orlando or around there. I am in Illinois and it is cold here and I don't like it but I don't have the golden job you do and I am not young either. I would love to TH-cam theme parking stuff. My Husband does not want to move to Florida. I bet it would help my depression though. And I would start exercising.
Man what an amazing story telling talent you have and I congratulate you for making this big move!
I am sure this new lifestyle will definitely be the best decision you have made.
It sounds like you are living a dream, and that overall you are truly living not just existing anymore, as it is true that most of us are glued to our phones, screens, iPads, laptops scrolling videos on TH-cam or Instagram and it does get lonely and a waste of precious life.
I wish you live an excellent life there as an Orlando local and enjoy the fun that those world class theme parks offer.
I was super unhappy where I was living. We moved to be near Disney in 2019 and I have been significantly happier in the last 5 years. It is really nice to be able to go to the parks whenever. We probably once go once or twice a month, but it is nice to just have it as an option. It is very different than vacationing here. I thought it would be weird for me to tell people we moved here for Disney, but I quickly realized it’s pretty common! A lot of people move here for the theme parks.
And I just realized we have lived here since August 2019 and have never gone to the beach! So you beat me there.
Good job for getting yourself to make a big change. Most people can’t.
Bro congratulations, you found what you wanted and went for it. I live in Australia and it's been my dream to live in Orlando one day but as it's so hard I've found a partner that wants to travel to all the parks around the world with me. That's the next best thing. Great video
I've lived in Orlando for 15 years now and you've gone to all of the parks more in the past year than I ever have.
- The lack of rain is something that has definitely changed over the past decade. In the summers it used to rain everyday at at 3pm for around 30 minutes. It's gotten a lot more varied now and it rains less often.
- Quiet night walks: You're definitely in a more dense and busy touristy area. There is a place I'd recommend, won't name it because I don't want to dox you or myself. I'd say it's not walking distance but considering you biked to universal, you could bike there.
- As for curing depression: I think that it's not nessacarily Orlando or the theme parks but simply being in a new location that "resets" your habits and routines and forces you to restructure your life.
-Also Highly recommend checking out some state parks and springs and stuff.
I still have a lot to learn about the area. I think thats what makes it exciting
so happy for you, you are living the Dream. I‘m stuck over here in Germany, but i enjoy my 2-3 weeks of Orlando or California each year.
Must be so great to enjoy some parks after work.
Congratulations! What a feat of courage, effort, and strength!
You are living the dream. 😮
If you don’t mind, may I ask what you do for work?
Drafting / engineering
Welcome to FL! I just moved back after growing up here and living in another state for 8+ years. I love it more than ever and have found it so much easier to socialize. Congrats on starting this new adventure!
My favorite place to chill in EPCOT is next to the new Moana water feature on the wall by the stroller parking under the monorail.
Ideal Disney consumer, they'll love you.
I've been to the parks hundreds of times, so I'm just going to say you missed the 'magic' by about ten years.
There is still magic in Florida, need to set a goal to visit all the state parks. Right down the road from you is Kelly Park (Rock Springs), great for a day trip, just show up around 5:30-6am if you want access in the summer.
I have to say I really loved your video. I have been thinking about moving down to Florida and the Orlando area for many years now. I have always been too scared to take the plunge. I am very much a geeky introvert. I am very much like you, going to work and playing video games. I am part of 501st legion, and I go on troops when we have them or comic conventions. I just know my more geeky lifestyle would fit so much better in Orlando FL than in Colorado. Like you hopefully find my park loving/geeky soul mate as well.
I worked at Walt Disney World back in 2007 when they had the careerstart program and worked in Fantasyland/liberty square, best experience of my life. Then in 2012 I had gotten married, and we moved from Arizona into the Disney bubble and I got a job at Universal. Then I had a family death that made us move back to Arizona and we struggled for many years. Now it's almost 2025 and both of us really want to live near the theme parks again and we've been saving to make it happen. I made it so I travel for work certain parts of the year so it's the opposite of remote work but it allows me to live whereever an airport exists. I am so glad this video popped into my feed. My happy places are arcades and theme parks. We spend a lot going to Disney World each year and other various theme parks and we still go more for the park experience. It's not always the rides but the atmosphere and energy of a place. I tried ignoring the feeling of moving back but other family has moved on and the area around us has gotten so expensive without being fun. Here's hoping 2025 is the year(plus I wanna be around for Epic universe)! Most people don't understand the appeal of theme parks but I don't like bars I like themed immersive places.
Hi Andrew iam from Argentina! your video was suggested and i saw because im a big fa fan of Disney and universal and me too in the future i will leave Argenti na to live in Orlando. Thanks for sharing your life experince, i hope i will see you in a park!!!! Enjoy this new adventure my friend
I moved to Florida this year as well. My life changed drastically for the better.
I felt this! I've been single for a while now and work from home as well. It can definitely feel like you're alone in the world and like your life is an endlessly repeating cycle of nothing. Once you get 'enough' money your motivation for work kind of tanks too. I'd like to find a relationship but the dating app experience is not fun :(. My release valve has been raves and music festivals, I went to 2 festivals and 10-15 shows last year and found a lot of true joy though that. The people are always having an amazing time and a lot easier to connect with than in normal life when I do leave my house. Bravo on taking the leap to make a change and good luck on this new phase of your life!
I get what you mean about losing motivation once you have money. I have more money saved than ever now, and don't even know where to go up from here, so I have a really hard time caring about work now lol
@@andrewplatt7076 So true. It's a good place to be though, just gotta find meaning elsewhere haha. Dunno if you're a festy person but you should check out Rockville next year, it's pretty close to Orlando and the linup is 🔥
Your story sounds a ton like mine. I lived in CT my whole life and decided to move to Orlando early 2023. Your story of going to the parks sounds exactly like mine. I think for me the biggest struggle has just been missing my friends from CT, but at the same time i know the my happiest life is down here. I feel like i have the world available to me now, where in CT things felt so closed off. Congratulations on the move man. Life will still happen. It’s daunting to live your entirely life and go somewhere different. But always keep it a day at a time. Do what you need.
It looks like you made a good choice for what you wanted. I would have gone the opposite way, LOL, I want a place deep in the mountains where I don't see anyone else unless I actively look for someone. The key is you actually did something, instead of fussing around you took action. I think that's great!
You made it!!! Love your energy! I’ve met some GREAT life friends through Solo Disney online groups. Sounds like you’re on the right track & were smart to save up $ so you had choices for moving to FL. Yes, agree on the holiday crowds~ gotta time it all within the festive chaos. Best Wishes 🎄
In the 90's, when I was your age, I lived in Long Beach CA. I had annual passes to Knott's, Disneyland, Universal, and Six Flags Magic Mountain. You are right, having an annual pass was awesome. I love Disney and went there after work at least three times a day. I would ride a few rides or just hung out. I did not feel rushed. It was nice going to Disneyland just to get a Mint Julep, then watch the Mulan parade, then went home. Loved it. I live in Charlotte NC now and Carowinds is my home park. Having an annual pass is the same cost of five visits in a year, I went over 25 times. Money well spent.
Wow this really opened my eyes! It’s ok to really like theme parks, I visit my parents in Orlando all the time, and I definitely took advantage of the annual passes. It changed my view completely, I too kinda want to Orlando even though it’s a 4 hour drive away
I did this too five years ago. Just randomly on a whim decided I wanted to move to Orlando to work in Disney and I'm still here. The problem with it curing depression is that you're still you. Moving doesn't magically cure yourself. You can't escape yourself, unfortunately. But you do have a bunch of cool stuff around you, so that's fun. I got fat, though, so I can't really go to Universal anymore. Wait until you get that full 100 degree heat in summer. That was a shock the first time I felt it.
changing jobs can help, though--especially if you're an introvert, having social interactions in your job is easier
@@bb5242 Oh for sure. Working in Disney has made me way more social. Not with like, actual friends or anything, but it's made me almost be forced to adopt social skills because I talk to people all day every day.
IMO your hair looked GREAT when it was first cut.
I'm glad it worked out for you and thanks for sharing the experience. That must be nice being able to bike to all those theme parks. I personally go to Disneyland at least once a month but can't exactly bike there from where I live (L.A.). I've also met people that go there once a week, but every day......wow! I can also relate to the overall social situation. Most people here I'd describe as easy to meet / hard to stay in touch with. That makes me extra thankful for the close friends I have and I hope things keep going well for you.
Excellent video, like some others here mentioned this came across my recommended. I’ve been a on-again-off-again Orlando resident throughout college and am in the process of moving there myself for a new job. It’s an amazing city, plenty of things to do both in and out of the tourist corridor along I-4. Congrats on finding a place that suits your interests! I’ve been a member of the Themed Entertainment Association and IAPPA for work for years now, they’re primarily professional organizations but IAPPA has plenty of theme park “enthusiast” members like yourself, and I can say I’ve met some amazing people through it!
Great video! I really like seeing the changes you implemented into your life!
Love your speaking style, man. FL is really special for coaster fans ngl. Living in GA means that I can drive down to Orlando, but it takes a day, and as you said, really expensive. I've thought about moving down, and this video was recommended to me as if YT knows about me lol. Keep us updated haha
Hey there, my question is about hurricane season. Coming from Salt Lake I'd like to know what it was like for you. Scary? Intense? Any feedback on your experience would be helpful since I come from an area that doesn't see hurricanes at all.
I have always been a huge fan of major storms, and SLC rarely sees any (outside of winter blizzards). I was actually really excited for the hurricane haha
Lol I have thecannual disney pass and work from home in Orlando:) you looking forward to the new universal park opening?
Epic looks great, but I'm not getting too invested in it until there's AP options. I'll go a couple times around opening though
Hey Andrew, I never seen any of your videos before, but your thumbnail caught my eye because you look almost like one of my friends here in Orlando! I work from home as well and travel to a different city almost every weekend, and before moving to Orlando, found myself often rerouting my return trips through Orlando for a few extra days to visit the theme parks. I grew up in California, am a professional artist, and loved pin collecting so Disney always appealed to me. Since I work from home after moving to Florida with my ex originally decided to just move down to Orlando and here I have been for the last few years. Definitely been trying to build a new community of friends here. Let me know if you every want to hang out, always fun to meet more folks in the area.
We visit a few times a year and have now focused on the food options when we visit. Also, we do different disney hotels everytime we visit. Parks are great, but sometimes just staying in the hotels is worth it. The amenities are awesome and the food options are out of this world.
Definitely explore the food options around the parks. Topolinos on top of the Riviera is a must. Most disney restaurants have a massive bar area where you can eat, socialize, etc.. meet people who are visiting or locals who are just having a casual meal. Don't need to drink ( too expensive anyways :) ). My wife and I have met numerous locals while eating at the bar section who just popped in to eat without waiting.
Welcome to Florida!
You’re on the right path! Adventures awaits!
Hey Andrew! I don’t even know how this ended up on my homepage but it did. Thought it was a bigger channel till I looked and was shocked how good the video was for so little recognition. I currently attend UCF and was born here in Florida. My time here in Orlando I’ve been to so many cool places and restaurants. If you want I’d be so down to hang out I need more friends. But definitely there is so much more to see Orlando.
I’m glad things are looking up.
Super relatable and fascinating video, thank you so much for sharing your experience!
Glad to hear you're ok, sounds like you're a lot happier now :)
Moving to Orlando is a dream for me. It'll probably never happen. I have friends and family I wouldn't want to leave. But I also work from home, and sometimes it seems like such a monotonous routine. I crave something a little more exciting. Glad you took the leap and it's working out for you.
Thanks for sharing. I moved here almost 3 years ago. West side of WDW to avoid most tourist traffic. Got all the APs too. Sunshine and pixie dust does a lot to help depression. Hopefully our paths cross. Would love to have another local friend to roll the parks.
Really enjoyed watching this! I’m in southern Florida so I visit Disney and Universal fairly often, though nowhere near as many times as someone in Orlando! It’s definitely gonna be a really exciting place to be next year with Epic Universe! Would love to see more theme park content from you in the future!
Also, I gotta ask, which ride is your favorite here? I’d say either Rise of the Resistance or Hagrid’s for me, I can’t chose between them lol!
My favorite bounces around. I was highly impressed by cosmic rewind when I eventually got on it, though its only my favorite if I get everybody wants to rule the world. the other 83% of the time, I just leave disappointed haha... Other than that, probably Mako
Wow! everyone has thought about doing this for the same reason. You did it! I really connected with the idea that the night of arrival you had to make a token visit to a park (Universal) even though you'd been driving and unloading all day you have to go "plant your flag" Good for you for pulling the trigger, I'll subscribe and follow you.
Great video! Would love to see that more in-depth video about moving/living in Orlando you mentioned at the end. My family has been considering an identical move for a while now - heading to around the same area you moved to for similar reasons - so we'd love to hear more about your experience. Thanks for the great content!
This is an awesome video! One of the best places I’ve found to meet people in Orlando is going to church that has a young adults ministry. Even if you don’t believe they are very welcoming and friendly and do a lot of social gatherings
Loved this. Keep on with the content.
This is a sick video dude you should definitely make more
I went to college at UCF and during the summer when everyone left, I stayed and went to Universal every other day. It was awesome.
This video really hit me dude, it’s the most relatable video I’ve ever seen. I’m now in my early 30s, but I too moved to Florida and have a huge love and passion for theme parks and coasters. I moved here for the same reasons as you, I was a bit depressed and I would look forward to going to universal and Disney all year, especially HHN! Also It seems like you’re into metal, so am I! It’s crazy dude, we are basically the same person haha. Is there a way I can contact you? Would love to meet up and do a park day with you or something! Great video man, I’m obviously subscribing and look forward to seeing more from you
It’s crazy how much I relate to this. I didn’t do the move part but I’m in my mid 30s and was quite depressed. I’d work, then on the computer all night gaming and repeat. Never went out. Didn’t really talk to anyone except discord friends. It wasn’t until my computer broke that I decided to break that habit and go experience life. It is very hard to make friends as an adult if your and introvert and don’t enjoy going to bars and clubs. I didn’t lean quite as hard into theme parks but I did get a Disney annual pass and love it. I’ve been about 30 times in the past 3 months. My depression has gotten 1000x better. I also started doing a lot more stuff in the area. Lived here all my life and never did any of it. Renaissance fairs, kayaking rivers, random attractions. It’s crazy how much there is to do in central Florida. Would be a lot better with more friends though.
Glad to hear from you again. I'm also severely introverted, but I would still go to clubs just to see a band I liked. As long as I enjoy the music, I'd consider it a good night.
We did the same thing. Moved here from NY and I couldn’t be happier. Jobs don’t pay as much but it’s the price you pay for being happier I guess.
Dude, when I read the title, my first thought was, “what a loser.” As I watched your video, I realized you’re actually a really smart dude and I admire your initiative to get out of your rut. Moving to a new city and getting to know people is not the easiest thing to do. Kudos! The added benefit of going to all the parks as much as you want is great! I hope everything turns out well for you and you find someone special! God speed!
The hair cut looks nice!!
Tampa native here. Great video and glad to hear you're feeling better mentally. I have BG SW passes and have been thinking about getting either a Universal or Disney pass too. It's a bit too long of a drive for me to get both at the same time. Epic Universe is looking like it's going to be dope. Maybe I'll see you in a park one day. You plan on doing theme park content on YT?
I don't see myself vlogging in the parks, but I will probably make more videos on the topic
I can relate greatly to your “what am I doing with my life” moment. I was working a ton and then because I’d get done at weird hours I’d play a ton of video games. I’d play video games for much of Saturday too. Then I got cancer. I was 25. I beat cancer and I said I’m not going back to just video games like before. Now I’m also blessed with a new nephew and I love spending time with him, taking him to the zoo etc.
Congrats on your move to Florida! As a native Floridian I'd like to share a couple of important tips that most new to our state don't know. First, our state is amazing & I can NOT imagine living anywhere else; however, PLEASE understand that living in Florida is truly living in an "animal kingdom." We have a lot of wild life here, tons of bugs, and several predators that can kill you, so PLEASE be careful. Do NOT walk near the water's edge wherever you go because if there's water, there's an alligator, even if you never see it,. Just know they are there, they travel, and they ambush things that walk too close to the edge of ponds/lakes. (and if a neighbor says something like, "oh yeah, but they came and moved the gator last month so it's safe now..." NO, it's not. When they move one gator, more move in... every single time.) Also, black bears are not as big as grizzlys but they still kill and they can smell things for miles and miles, so don't leave food outside, not even a pumpkin at Halloween (report neighbors that do) nor leave your door/window open because bears have been known to walk right in and help themselves. Anyway, our family moved from South FL to 25 min away from WDW (about an hr away from U.S./SeaWorld/Bush Gardens/Legoland) in 2005, but chose a place with less traffic/people than Orlando or Kissimmee. Some people don't like living in Orlando (as you mention the chaotic traffic w/ too many tourists) so if you ever get tired of it (or you find it floods in your area after a hurricane), you should check out some of the smaller bedroom communities just outside of Kissimmee like Clermont, Celebration, Loughman or Davenport (really nice area with many apartment/townhouse/condo options). There is tons to do in Central FL (and you might want to check out places like Kennedy Space Center or Lion Country Safari 3 hrs away in W. Palm Beach) as long as you have the cash to do it all. Have fun & stay safe! You got a new subscriber, possibly 2 because I have to share this with my son, about your age and loves theme parks & videos games too.
I've seen a handful of interesting creatures so far, but no gators yet! I saw an otter hanging out by the lake though haha
Moved here almost 5 years ago. There is definitely going to be a lot of highs and lows living here. I feel most don’t make it living here within the first 1-3 years. Hopefully everything goes great for you! Good luck!
Hey! Made a very similar move from New Mexico to work for Disney! Best decision of my life!
I really love when people discover how lovely Florida really is and embrace it :) Welcome to Florida, wishing you good luck in building out your romantic and platonic relationships in 2025!
Great video! Are you renting or did you buy a condo?
Just renting. makes it easy to move when you aren't bought in
@@andrewplatt7076 Makes sense. Looking forward to your next vid.
Really awesome and interesting video. I’m 24 and Disney world was always my favorite place to go on vacation. This past week I had my honeymoon to Disney world and it was the busiest I had ever seen it, we were very overwhelmed. My question would be how do you deal with the chaos, and what would you say your favorite park in Orlando is?
I avoid most of the chaos when I can. I try to pick parks when they are less busy, and only go on rides when I see their wait times dip.
Honestly, I can't pick a favorite park at all... I can't even rank any over another. I've had great days, and crappy days at all of them
@ Thanks for the reply. For me I enjoyed Epcot the most, but I wasn’t able to go to universal during my time. I hope to explore that in a few years when epic universe is complete and maybe less crazy.
Sounds like a cool “outside of the box” adventure. I grew up in the Cocoa Beach area, and they had some wide beaches with packed sand that were great for walking, running, or riding bikes on.
After the pandemic, I took the opportunity to pack up my life and move to Orlando and work for Mickey. It was the best decision I have ever made. It's not perfect, but I experience some level of real joy every day, and these days, that is such a rare thing.
This video is awesome!! We live in a great country that makes it possible. ❤ Good for you for following a dream!
Hey, welcome to Central FL!
You, sir, are a goddamn genius.
You couldn’t pay me enough to live in Florida, but I still say: you are a genius.
Your condo complex doesn’t look thrilling (nice floors though!), but even so, I maintain that you are a genius.
And just for context, I estimate that I’m 3x your age. I am an Old, and yet I recognize that you are a genius.
I just got a membership to the CA Academy of Sciences, so I can go there whenever I want, and it’s glorious.
Before La ‘Rona made fools of us all, my husband and I used to visit friends in SoCal and get passes to Disneyland. Hear me out….
Know what we did? We each took a laptop - what we call our “walking-around computers” - we’d find a secluded corner table at the French Market in New Orleans Square or in Tomorrowland… and just let our minds play. Talk about heaven.
I don’t doubt for a moment that it’s curing your depression. It’s sad that this solution isn’t available to everyone, but I still salute you for doing it.
Have I mentioned that you are a genius? Because I really can’t stress that enough.
Hey man! I think it would be awesome if you could have a follow up video going over more of the move in detail and what it’s been like moving to Orlando! My girlfriend and I have been giving it some thought and really think we’d benefit from moving to live closer to the amusement parks too. We are just big planners and trying to figure out how to do it in the most efficient and affordable way!
Awesome, I am 40 minutes away. Yeah I feel the same way, lots to do and I can just go walk around anytime I want. The pass was like $469 for the year and is good on weekdays which is fine because weekends are nuts.