Retirement in Kissimmee, FL | Florida for Boomers

If one of your concerns is that you move to Florida for retirement and your kids and grandkids never come to visit, that won’t be the case if you end up in Kissimmee.

In fact, you might have a hard time getting them to leave!

Kissimmee is located just south of Orlando and is just minutes from popular attractions like the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios, Sea World, and more.

They call Kissimmee the “attraction zone” and it’s easy to see why.

Where to Stay

When you consider Kissimmee’s location in the Theme Park capital of the world, it stands to reason there are going to be lots of hotels and resorts from which to choose when you come visit to check out the area, and such is the case.

But one place stands out, at least for me, and that’s Gaylord Palms. It’s part of the Marriott family, and 9 times out of 10 it’s where I stay with my family when we visit the area.

Staying at the Gaylord is like getting a mini-tour of Florida, as the resort is divided into different themed areas that represent different parts of Florida like the Everglades, St. Augustine, and Key West. You really have to see it to believe it.

Also, every year at Christmastime they have an event called ICE, where you get to walk through a 9-degree indoor winter wonderland complete with ice carvings, ice slides, and more. This event is popular with people from communities like The Villages and others, and they come in by the busload just for this event.

Theme Parks

Kissimmee is literally just minutes from the front door of the Walt Disney World Resort and its various parks like Walt Disney World, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios.

About a 15-minute drive away are two more parks in Universal Studious and Islands of Adventure, and right down the road from there you also have Sea World.

Like I said before, with easy access to all of these parks, your guests may never want to leave.

But don’t just think these parks are only for the young ones. Some of the best times I’ve had have been while visiting them with just my wife and I.

One of our favorite events is the Epcot Food and Wine festival held over several weeks each Fall. If you enjoy good food, exploring new wines and beers, this is a can’t miss event.

Planning to Work in Retirement?

Lots of people, even if they didn’t initially plan to, end up getting part-time work in retirement.

Sometimes this is to make a little extra money to pay for trips they want to take or to cover some bills, and other times it’s just to stay active and keep a routine going.

But whatever the reason, the theme parks are a great place for retirees to consider working, and they employ thousands of retirees as part-time employees already.

In addition to the pay, they offer some great perks like free park admission and other discounts that can come in handy when friends and relatives do visit.

Kissimmee Area Retirement Communities

Located just east of Kissimmee, The Lakes at Harmony, an active adult community, is the newest addition to Harmony from Jones Homes USA.

These two and three bedroom homes are built for the way you live today, with space where you need it most. Residents here enjoy less crowded living with spacious outdoor living areas, many of which include water or conservation views, and a private recreation center and pool.

From the miles of walking and biking trails, to the community garden, parks and fitness center, Harmony has something for everyone. Gather at the Town Square which includes a spa, market, physician office, restaurants and more or play a round of golf on the only Johnny Miller Signature course in Central Florida without ever leaving your community.

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