Celebration

In the early 1990s, the Disney Development Company started development of

Celebration is planned in an early 20th century-architectural style and is not zoned for high-density residences. Celebration was named the "New Community of the Year" in 2001 by the Urban Land Institute

The first phase of residential development occurred in the summer of 1996 with Celebration Village, West Village and Lake Evalyn; this was followed by the North Village, South Village, East Village and Aquila Reserve and the final Artisan Park phases. Disney CEO Michael Eisner took an especially keen interest in the development of the new town in the early days, encouraging the executives at Disney Development Company to "make history" and develop a town worthy of the Disney brand and legacy that exteded to Walt Disney's vision of an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT). DDC executives collaborated extensively with leaders in education, health and technology in addition to planners and architects to create the vision and operating policies for the town.

Celebration is separated into areas referred to as villages. The main village, closest to downtown, is where the first homes were constructed. North Village, closest to U.S. 192, houses the Georgetown Condos as well as Acadia Estate Homes. East Village includes Roseville Corner and Aquila Loop. Lake Evalyn, generally considered its own area of Celebration but not quite its own village, includes a small lake where one can find a multitude of ducks, alligators, and the occasional river otter. South Village houses the Spring Park Loop estate homes and Heritage Hall. Additionally, Siena Condos complete the outer edge of South Village by Celebration Blvd. Mirasol includes condos with concierge service and a day spa. Artisan Park is at the end of Celebration Ave and houses condos, town homes, single-family residences as well as a clubhouse consisting of a pool, gym, and restaurant

Celebration has a variety of community organizations that try to maintain the town; "each play a role in the governance of Celebration."^[

There are also seven registered Christian Churches, one Hospital Ministry, and one Jewish congregation.There are parks throughout the town as well as a fire department, post office, schools, a hospital, and a golf course.

To get more of a feel for Celebration I invite you to check out this link to an album created by Bill Nance, one of the Celebration residents who has lived in this town from the verry beginning. http://photocast.me.com/bnance54/100464/rss

With Celebration being a Disney Town it has had an enormous succes from the start and a lot of speculators have made money in the past 10 years because prices in Celebration where increasing at a rate of 10 to 15% a year. Therefore one has to be carefull when looking to buy a home in Celebration as many of the old school Realtors in Celebration haven't come to grips with todays reality of home pricing. A seasonned Celebration Realtor will still advocate and defend the high prices as if the dream goes on.

In my opinion and experience these Realtors are still living in "Lala Land". Don't let anybody fool you prices in Celebration are now at $150 a sq. ft. and below. There are some "Estate" homes that justify a higher price, because of their location and finsih, but the majority is at $150 and below. Also watch out when buying a condo or a townhouse in Celebration, these are often appartment conversions, poorely build and struggeling with not only unexpected repairs but also with 30% and more of the homeowners/speculators who are facing foreclosure and therefore are not paying the dues, all this is resulting in high association fees and special assesments.

To resume, Celebration is a great place to live, propably the best community with the lowest crime rate of Central Florida. You won't regret buying, renting and living in Celebration is is a wonderfull town and old Walt certainly has his hand on it because I don't know of a better place to raise my kids then Celebration. There's just this one thing "Buyer Beware" don't buy overpriced and don't let any Realtor talk you into paying too much. Do your due dilligence and you'll not only be fine but you'll never regret!