About the Celebration, Florida Area 

Celebration is an award-winning master-planned community based on pre-1940s architecture and charm. It was developed by The Celebration Company (part of the Walt Disney Corporation) in 1994, and the first residents arrived in the summer of 1996. This unincorporated town is conveniently located adjacent to the #1 family vacation spot in the world, Walt Disney World. The town is part of the greater Orlando metropolitan area and thus enjoys all of the amenities of the big city. A population of approximately 12,000 is projected upon full completion. A private residential area, the 9,500+ current residents are protected from the busy tourist traffic in this pedestrian-friendly urban haven. 

Major Awards  

Location
Celebration is located in northwest Osceola County in the heart of Florida, within an easy drive to the famous family vacation spot, Walt Disney World. Considered part of the Orlando metropolitan area, the city of Orlando is just ½ hour’s drive northeast. Celebration is adjacent to I-4 and south of US-192. It is only 20 minutes from Orlando International Airport via Highway 417. Beautiful St. Petersburg is just 1½ hour’s drive southwest, and exciting Miami is a 3½ hour drive southeast, while Key West is a leisurely 6½ hour drive due south.  

Geography/Terrain
The planned community of Celebration encompasses a total area of 10.7 square miles, of which 0.1 square miles is water. The town rests 79 feet above sea level. Lake Buena Vista is very close by, infamously known as the home of Walt Disney World, to which Celebration was built adjacent. The great Atlantic Ocean is just over an hour’s drive due east, and the Gulf of Mexico is a 1½ hour’s drive due west. 

The Economy & Town Center
Celebration’s economy is based on the tourism industry, specifically in support of Walt Disney World. Visitors as well as nearby local residents come to see the unique pre-1940s architecture of the community, take advantage of the shopping opportunities and enjoy the fine dining.  

Celebration is home to approximately 50 businesses—many of which are located in a traditionally-styled Town Center. The Town Center opened in November, 1996. It includes retail shops, 17 restaurants, a town hall, post office, bank, movie theatre and offices.  

One and two-bedroom condos are also located in the Town Center. By incorporating some of them above the retail shops, Celebration integrates commerce with residence. This creates an energized urban area with homey appeal. 

Office Park
There is plenty of room for economic growth here. An office park containing approximately 1.1 million square feet of commercial office space is being built as the 109-acre Celebration Place Office Park. Aldo Rossi, a famous Italian Architect, designed the office park. Approximately 557,000 square feet have been completed.  

Water Tower Place
In addition to Celebration’s Town Center, Water Tower Place opened in 2005. It is a 120,000 square foot retail center developed by Unicorp in accordance with Celebration’s architectural standards. It complements Town Center and was created by the town’s master planners, Cooper, Robertson and Partners.  

Water Tower Place is accessible from via both Celebration Avenue and Highway 192. It hosts retail shops and restaurants too and also offers a video, gas station and other consumer services.  

Housing
The community of Celebration is made of up eight developments: Celebration Village, North Village, South Village, East Village, West Village, Roseville Corner, Lake Evalyn and Artisan Park. To date approximately 3,500 homes and condominiums have been sold. The homes of Celebration come in a wide variety styles and sizes, pre-approved by the Homeowners Association. Choose from downtown apartments and condominiums to large several-acre estates. The architecture of the homes include Victorian, French, Colonial Revival and Mediterranean. Terrace, cottage, bungalow, village, garden, manor and estate homes are available. Apartments begin at around $900 per month, while townhomes start at $300,000 and condominiums begin at around $390,000. Houses range from $400,000 up to $1,000,000 and large estates are more than that. 

Phase 1 - Contains a total of approximately 500 home sites, including 75 townhomes and almost 700 condos:
Celebration Village
Lake Evalyn
West Village 

Phase 2 - Contains 300+ home sites and 300 condos:
North Village  

Phase 3 - Contains 500+ home sites and townhomes and almost 500 condos:
South Village 

Phase 4 - Contains a total of approximately 500 home sites and townhomes and 70 condos:
Aquila Reserve
East Village 

Phase 5 - Contains 600+ home sites and condos in a 160-acre village built by St. Joe Company:
Artisan Park 

Architecture
Distinctive architecture is one of the most important features of this planned community. It is designed to set Celebration apart from other towns. Here is a list of a few of the internationally renown architects who participated in creating Celebration: 

Master Plan
Cooper, Robertson and Partners
Robert A.M. Stern Architects  

Buildings In Celebration Town Center
Bank – Bank Of America (currently in Preview Center)
Moor/Andersson Architects, Inc.  

Bank – Sun Trust Bank (Currently in Celebration Bank Building)
Venturi, Scott Brown & Associates 

Celebration Hotel
Graham Gund Architects 

Post Office
Michael Graves & Associates 

Movie Theatre
Cesar Pelli & Associates 

Retail Shops, Offices & Condominiums
Robert A.M. Stern Architects
Cooper Robertson & Partners 

Town Hall
Phillip Johnson, Ritchie & Fiore, Architects 

Stetson University Center
Deamer & Phillips 

Water Town Place
Cooper, Robertson & Partners 

Residential Architecture
Guidelines for community residential architecture were created by Urban Design Associates, Robert A.M. Stern Architects and Cooper, Robertson & Partners. Most home designs encourage front yard activity to foster neighborhoods with strong community bonds and friendship. Welcoming front porches are integral to this concept.  

Front porches have begun to be re-introduced nationwide by forward-thinking neighborhoods and planned communities in the last ten years. This has lead to a recently noticed trend toward a social phenomena dubbed “front porching”. To quote the movie Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.” People are actually beginning to know and become friends with their neighbors again via visiting and socializing on front porches. 

Most homes have garage access via alleyways behind the houses.  

Education
Celebration K-8 School and Celebration High School (grades 9-12) are in the Osceola County School District. The K-8 school was designed by William Rawn and opened in August, 1997. The High School opened six years later in August, 2003. 

Celebration also has a University facility. In August, 2001 Stetson University opened a University Center in the town’s center. Its National Educator Program offers highly acclaimed teacher training. Stetson University also offers Post Graduate degrees in education, counseling and business via its Celebration Center. In addition to graduate instruction the university offers classes in technology, music and the arts.