Active retirement communities near Disney...

[DISNEY FIX]

We are looking for people's experiences, research and opinions on any of the 55+ active retirement communities. We would like to be no more than 30ish mins from Disney. Golf and lots of pools and activities are a must....suggestions and opinions please.
Thanks!

 

[kymom99]

I’m interested in this as well

 

[_19disnA]

You can probably find several older threads on this topic. One thing to remember is the rules for many of these communities vary. For example, do you have friends/children/grandchildren who might ever visit and stay overnight? Some of these places do not allow guests to stay who are under 55 yrs. While we can debate the pros/cons of that, it is something to consider when planning to relocate. I would also visit ANY place you are seriously considering. You can't really get a feel for any area by looking at online brochures and pictures. Someplace you enjoy for a week on vacation may not necessarily be the most desirable place to live full-time.

If moving from some other part of the country where relatives are located, how often might you want to return to visit and will it be practical to fly or drive, especially as you get older?

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Thanks for the heads up...we will do our due dillagence. Looking for some practical experiences...there seem to be a lot of choices and is a little overwhelming.

 

[sam_gordon]

You've probably already done this, but just in case... have you googled "55+ communities in Florida", get the results, then limit to "maps", zoom to an area and click "search this area"?

I came up with this:

 

[mefordis]

I heard The Villages is nice, but there seems to be a lot of rules. There are a lot of youtube videos out there where you can learn about it.

 

[SamFaniam]

My cousin and his wife live at Solevita in Poinciana, probably a little farther from Disney than 30 minutes. They have a single-family home, but I think there are some condo options there also. We visit with them when we visit Central Florida, but I’ll admit I’ve never been to their home. One of the reasons that they chose Solevita was because of the amenities there plus the fact that you weren’t required to join the golf club. Some of the communities they looked at were more expensive because the golf was required. He used to golf, she never did. And now neither of them do, so they save money on that.

 

[dclpluto]

I heard The Villages is nice, but there seems to be a lot of rules. There are a lot of youtube videos out there where you can learn about it.

Op wanted to be no further than 30 ish minutes away from wdw so the villages is out.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I've seen many similar threads over the years here. One suggestion I have seen often is to first rent an apartment in the area that you might buy in, for some period of time, maybe 6 months, to really get a feel of the area.

Good luck, congratulations on your retirement, or near retirement.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Yep did the Google search...there are a lot.

Solavita is on the visit list.
Thanks.

 

[charmed59]

I heard The Villages is nice, but there seems to be a lot of rules. There are a lot of youtube videos out there where you can learn about it.

The farthest south locations are still 45 minutes from Disney. But they keep building south, so give it a year, they’ll build down to within 30 minutes.

 

[Shadeaux]

You've probably already done this, but just in case... have you googled "55+ communities in Florida", get the results, then limit to "maps", zoom to an area and click "search this area"?

I noticed Merrill Gardens at Champions Gate was on the map you posted. Merrill Gardens is an independent/assisted living facility.
I live in a 55+ community, Del Webb Orlando in Davenport, FL just south of there. We're about 25 minutes from Disney depending on traffic.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

I live in a 55+ community, Del Webb Orlando in Davenport, FL just south of there. We're about 25 minutes from Disney depending on traffic.

Ohhhhh....spill the beans! How ya like it, where else ya look.....do tell.

 

[Shadeaux]

Ohhhhh....spill the beans! How ya like it, where else ya look.....do tell.

We've lived here 4 years and absolutely love it. We looked at Lakes of Mount Dora & Solivita. We liked Lakes of Mount Dora, but were not at all interested in living in Solivita. It's in the middle of nowhere and the community was too large for us. Our community is almost sold out, but Del Webb is also building in Kissimmee and somewhere in the area just west of Animal Kingdom.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I heard The Villages is nice, but there seems to be a lot of rules. There are a lot of youtube videos out there where you can learn about it.

We've visited and we really like it. It's the clubhouse leader for us when we (hopefully) retire in a few years. Depending on where you are, you're about 60-75 minutes from there to WDW.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Keep em coming. Thanks!

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Bump

 

[dyna]

Myself I LOVE Winter Haven fl down hwy 27 about 45 mins from Disney. I live off 540 between 27 an LEGOLAND. Winterset off 540 or cypress gardens blvd same road looks like a very nice 55+ community from this location there is a super Walmart, very nice grocery shopping (publix), CVS an Walgreens, many restaurants within 2 or 3 miles.

Off of hwy 27 hwy 542 or Dundee rd has cypresswoods that looks to be very nice area it is less than 1 mile from hwy 27. Inside cypresswoods there are other communities Enclave comes to mind...very pretty well maintained area quiet too. Cypresswoods are doesn't have the convience that 540 down here further south has but it's only about a 10 min drive down here from up there so not bad drive at all.

 

[tex1989]

Just an opinion and mine of course, but the last thing I want to do as I grow old is be around a bunch of old people. And I can say that because I am already 60. As much as I love Disney and as much as we go, I have waaaay to many other things going on than to "retire" to WDW.

 

[Shadeaux]

Off of hwy 27 hwy 542 or Dundee rd has cypresswoods that looks to be very nice area it is less than 1 mile from hwy 27.

On hwy 27 and Dundee Rd is one of our favorite places to eat...Dundee Diner.