Warm weather, bad drivers
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7/19/2012
I've been living here since I was 9 (I'm 22 now). It's packed full of things to do (theme parks, shopping malls, and beaches, springs, and state parks all within a 1 or 2 hour drive), and the weather is warm all year round. The coldest it ever gets in winter is probably about 40 degrees (and only for a week or so), so if you're about warm weather then you should definitely consider living here. The cost of living is not too high for a big-ish city like this; I live in a 1-bedroom apartment in the UCF area and rent for about $750 a month. School quality really depends on where you live, so just do your research and avoid places like Pine Hills and Oakridge if possible. Also, Florida high school students who have good grades can get up to 75% of their college tuition covered through the Bright Futures Scholarship, which is absolutely amazing in my opinion. My parents didn't have to pay a dime for my college tuition, thanks to BF.
Don't get me wrong though, there are plenty of things wrong with this city. If you must know one thing about Orlando, know that the drivers here are HORRIBLE. Get ready for drivers who speed 20+ miles over the speed limit, cut you off without any signal, text on their phones WHILE DRIVING, and generally never pay attention to their blind spot. I have seen a car flip multiple times in the middle of I-4, and I have seen a car pretty much merge into an 18-wheeler. Be VERY afraid. On top of that, people here are generally unfriendly and sometimes just plain rude.
Overall though, I think Orlando is a pretty nice place to live. If you like warm weather and have a good amount of spending money, this city is for you. If you really can't stand bad drivers, save yourself the pain and look elsewhere.
Jolene | Alafaya, FL