Everything You Need to Know Before Moving to Disney World

For months and months prior to our magical move, my wife and I researched everything you need to know before moving to Disney World. We never found what we needed…the logistics, the pros and cons, the reality of actually moving across the country.

Many of you may be pondering or planning for the big move but may not have the right resources, or quite frankly, the courage to do so. I’m going to share some of my own personal experience and info, in helps of inching you toward the best decision for you. This is vital information that my wife and I have learned personally as we made our journey across the country, to the Sunshine State and I definitely think it will help you immeasurably.

1. Is this move right for me?

This decision is not one to be taken lightly, as there are a lot of things that go into moving, especially an out of state move. You need to really dig deep and ask yourself, is this right for me and/or my family?

 If you have a spouse or significant other, this will also affect them greatly. Your family needs to be on board with this life change as you may be leaving your family, close friends, job and community. For my wife and I, this decision was a no-brainer. 

When we first started dating, we had discussed one day moving to our dream state, Florida. Throughout our relationship we have always kept this topic open and planned for this big move. It was always something we had both wanted. 

Now if you are single, the most important thing for you is to decide for yourself and weigh the pros and cons. Ask yourselves the reasons, ask God for guidance, dig deep and when you have peace about it, make a decision on whether moving to Disney is right for you. 

Starting over in a new job, new location, finding a new church, and being away from your family are important things to weigh when deciding. If you are comfortable and can embrace those wholeheartedly, then you are in the right direction. 

My wife always tells me that, change inspires growth and she is right. You can really grow if you step outside your comfort zone. Starting over somewhere new can change your life and give you a fresh start.

2. Happiness is not based on location

“When I move far away, all my problems will disappear and I will be happier than I’ve ever been.”

This is the most common misconception that I believed for a long time and it is just simply not true. This way of thinking will leave you greatly disappointed, my friend. While yes, living near the beach under the hot sun with a slight breeze all year round has definitely improved my mood, I cannot honestly sit here and tell you that I’m 100% happy all the time because of it. Just because I moved to the happiest place on earth does not mean that all my problems disappeared, along with my years of baggage.

Let’s be real, take a minute to be brutally honest and admit we all have baggage. A lot of people truly believe that moving far away causes all of that to just disappear. You are still the same person you were before you moved, just in a different location. 

Now, of course, you can make a huge positive change after a move, change your life completely, but that’s up to you and not where you live. Some people just want a fresh start, and under the right circumstances, that’s okay! 

That’s not to say that your mood and attitude can’t change by moving to Disney, because mine did. But at the end of the day, I am the same person as I was before I moved, I am just where I have always wanted to be. Realize this before moving, especially if your main reason is chasing happiness. True happiness is a choice that only you can make, not where you are on a map.

3. Safe or sorry?

Some people claim to move without any money in their pocket at all and they have made it just fine. But, as I always say, it is better to be safe than sorry. The more you have stashed away in preparation for a move, the better. You never know when you may need to fall back on some of that extra cash during this process. God forbid a wheel flies off your moving truck! You can be certain you are going to have to pay for that. 

Make a list of all the expenses needed for one month in your new location (rent, expenses, groceries, gas, misc, etc) and calculate the average monthly cost. I encourage you to save up three to six months of those expenses. When you arrive in your new destination, this provides you with a cushion in case a job opportunity goes south or there are unexpected costs. This will ease your mind and save you from penny pinching later on. 

4. Disney World Annual Passholder status

As a Floridian resident, there is the option of a discounted Disney World Annual pass, which is why you move to Disney World in the 1st place.

There are multiple tiers of annual passes (Platinum Plus Pass, Platinum Pass, Gold Pass, Silver Pass, Theme Park Select Pass, Weekday Select Pass, Epcot After 4 Pass, and a few more!)

Each annual pass has it’s own set of benefits like Disney PhotoPass downloads, discounts off dining and merch, etc but it all depends on the the pass you select. Check out the prices here.

The main reason we moved to Florida was to go to Disney as often as we could but we didn’t think about the expense of the Disney passes. We had to wait quite a while before we had enough money to buy them and that made the first few months living here a little sad, quite frankly!

5. Expect the unexpected

Most of the time we completely forget about the main logistical things in a move. I want to remind you about the hidden fees and reminders that you may have easily forgotten. 

Change of address– Change your address with your bank, your utilities and bills, car insurance, gym, phone plan, etc. 

Drivers license and license plates-This can cost upwards of $450 depending on the state. Have your money, proof of new address, new car insurance, old license, social security card, etc, with you when you head to your new local dmv within the first 30 days of moving.

Change of bank and/or car insurance– Depending on the state you move to, you may have to change your bank and car insurance. Check with your current insurance if they cover the new state you are moving to. 

Hidden fees-startup fee for electric or water company, apartment application fee and/or deposit, wifi, moving boxes, tolls and gas across states.

7. Major cons

Traffic- The main highway (I4) is always backed up. If we have any choice, we avoid it like the plague. It can be backed up for miles and miles. A lot of other areas are also pretty heavily backed up around rush hour time, so plan ahead accordingly.

Congestion- Occasionally the stores are so crowded with people, it makes it very hard to get any real grocery shopping done (ex: Walmart, Target).

Terrible Drivers- For some reason, there are some of the most aggressive drivers in Florida. Cutting people off, honking, etc. It can be frustrating when people are cutting across lanes to get to their exit or weaving around you on the highway.

8. Rental truck

Now, you have some extra money tucked away for rent and such (preferably 3-6 months worth of expenses), do you need a moving truck? For those of you that are in need of one I am going to tell you how to find the best truck size, and price for your move.

For Sierra and I, we personally had a lot of things (more like she had a lot of things) we were moving, so we needed a truck. It can be a bit overwhelming when deciding what size to rent.Take a deep breath because this step is easy. We made a list of every furniture item we had and an estimate of boxes, and we wrote it down. When you have a mental picture, it is easier to decide how much space you need based on the items you are bringing. 

Afterwards, I made a trip up to multiple rental truck companies (like Uhaul and Penske), with the list in hand. I asked about the different sizes and showed them the list of items we were packing. They were quick to point me in the right direction and size of truck that would work best. Do not be afraid to ask questions because these companies make money just by helping you. 

After being shown a truck, I climbed into the back of it and pulled out that piece of paper, imagining where everything would go in this specific size truck. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t wasting money on a truck that wouldn’t even work for us because not all trucks are cheap. Calculate if the cost of the truck fits into your budget set aside for your move. After you know what truck size will work for you, kindly tell them, “This is great!  I’m going to think about things and I’ll get back to you.” 

Why should you say this? You always want to have a second opinion and option when it comes to rental trucks because it can save you some big money. A lot of rental companies try to match prices and some may have the same size truck for a cheaper price. It never hurts to call around and compare prices to make a final decision. That is what I had to do. BUT, if you are in this situation and the truck company says to you, “That is fine but the rate we gave you for today is only for today. If we don’t lock you in, it may be subject to change.”

All this means is that if you sign up for a rental company, they will give you a set rate based on where you’re moving, the mileage, the size of the truck, and length of time it’s rented. Most of the time, the rates don’t change by much, so if they say this to you and you want to keep looking for a better price, just simply acknowledge what they say and go about your day. They aren’t going to be upset with you and they know moving isn’t cheap. Do what’s best for you financially. You can always go back to this company and they will gladly take your payment and give you a new rate.

*Insurance tip!* Please do yourself a favor and get yourself the insurance plan that comes with it. It may be an extra hundred dollars but it could save you lots of money if any accident were to happen. You don’t want to be driving down the road worrying about what may happen if the vehicle is uninsured, especially if it’s a significant move that is stressful enough already. Do what makes you feel comfortable. Personally, I wish I would have just paid the extra money for insurance to ease the stress. 

9. Help doesn’t hurt

A big move is a recipe for a stressful environment. It can be very hectic and this can make any person anxious, tired and irritable. I mean, you are uprooting most of your life to venture to a new environment. Finding help doesn’t hurt!

As men, we have an innate desire to provide and do things independently sometimes, but let me tell you from experience, take the help if it is offered. I cannot stress this enough! If you have family or friends who are willing to help you move, swallow your pride and take the help. I could have saved myself a lot of back pain and stress had I accepted all the help that was offered during our move. While I didn’t deny all of the help, looking back I wish I didn’t deny any of it. When we got to our destination, it was all up to us regardless but we should have accepted all the help we could get when my wife’s family and friends were close by.

There is always the option of hiring a professional moving team to assist you on your big day. We were trying to save as much money as possible so we didn’t go this route, but it definitely is an option for you that can save you time and back pain. Take any help you can get and don’t be afraid to ask for it. In the wise words of my mother-in-law, you have not because you ask not.

You ready to move to the most magical place on earth?!

Everything you need to know before moving to Disney World is right in front of you and I hope you found it to be helpful as you proceed on your journey!! Starting over in a new place where you can make magical memories is what it’s all about!!

If moving to Disney is on your bucket list, read here how to create and complete that Disney list!