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Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Move to Disney When You Retire

1) The weather

If you’re from Florida, chances are you’re from somewhere with colder weather. Like many retirees who move to Florida, part of their motivation to do so is the weather. If you’re retiring soon and can’t see yourself dealing with shoveling snow, or you cringe every time the temperature drops below 40 degrees, moving to Florida (especially near Walt Disney World) can definitely have an impact on your overall happiness.

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2) What better way to spend your free time?

Having lots of free time during retirement can be a double edged sword. Some people who retire love having extra free time, but others quickly become bored and don’t know what to do with themselves. If you fall into the latter category, Orlando can be the perfect place for you to live. Who wouldn’t want to visit Walt Disney World on a regular basis with an unlimited amount of free time?

3) Part time work

A large amount of retired people actually end up going back to work in one way or another. Even if you only work once or twice a week, there are plenty of jobs at Walt Disney World that are great for retired cast members. Roles like merchandise and main entrance operations (greeters) are typically flexible in scheduling and less strenuous than others, making them a fun and easy part time job for retirees. Working in Walt Disney World would allow you to be a part of creating the magic for other guests, and you’d have fun doing it, while earning some extra money and excellent benefits.

4) Orlando is centrally located

If you know you’d like to retire to Florida, but you don’t have a specific location in mind, Orlando might be the solution for you. Of course, having Walt Disney World in your backyard is a huge plus, but Orlando is also pretty centrally located to other Florida attractions. The other theme parks like Universal and Seaworld are located in the area, and other Florida destinations such as Tampa Bay and Clearwater are only a couple of hours away in a car ride.

5) Fun place for family to visit

If you’re going to move anywhere when you retire, moving close to Walt Disney World actually makes perfect sense as it will allow for some really fun visits from family and friends. How cool would it be if every time your grandchildren came down to visit you, you could go to the Magic Kingdom with them, or take a weekend getaway to one of Florida’s beaches.

6) Sense of community

There is a sense of community among Disney fans in Orlando (cast members and annual passholders) that is probably more fulfilling than any retirement community you might experience at your hometown. Regardless of their backgrounds, cast members and locals understand each other on a level that is difficult to understand unless you’ve experienced it yourself. While your blood family might still be states away, you’ll quickly see that you have more family right in your area, who share the same passions and ideas as you do.

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7) Always something happening

One complaint from the general retired population is that they’re bored. I’m currently working at an art museum, and I’ve recently overheard a group from a retirement community comment that they were bored because they visit the museum about once per month. As much as I’d like the museum to be as dynamic and ever changing as Walt Disney World, that simply isn’t realistic. In comparison, it would be very difficult to genuinely become bored with Walt Disney World, as there are always new things to see and different events happening to hold your interest.

8) Recreational opportunities

Being local to Walt Disney World really does have its perks. Before I lived in Orlando, I would never have spent my vacation golfing or fishing. With only a limited time to see the parks, my focus was always, well, the parks. Since living there I’ve really grown to love some of the resort’s recreational offerings, and these are all things that you could participate in often if you retire to Walt Disney World.

9) Excellent dining

Foodies can take a sigh of relief in realizing how many excellent dining options would be available to them in their Walt Disney World retirements. Between the resorts, parks, and Disney Springs, there will always be something delicious on the dinner menu!

10) Proximity to the magic

The best part of retiring to Walt Disney World, simply put, is the close proximity you’d have to all the magic. You’d have the ability to wake up and spend the day at Epcot, or eat dinner at the Polynesian and catch the fireworks from the beach there. The possibilities are truly endless when you live within earshot of Happily Ever After, and have all the free time in the world to visit your favorite place in the world.

About Brittany DiCologero

Brittany is a New England-based writer focused on the history of the Walt Disney World Resort. She is the author of "Red, White, and Disney: The Myths and Reality of American History at the Walt Disney World Resort," and "Brittany Earns Her Ears."