Originally Posted By BlazesOfFire This article was on the front page of my local newspaper (nothing else newsworthy this weekend?) Anyways, I thought Id share. <a href="http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/02/State/Fantasyland_or_real_t.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07 /02/State/Fantasyland_or_real_t.shtml</a>
Originally Posted By TDLFAN To this day, I still find the whole town of Celebration to be as phoney and stepford-like as ever. Which is too bad because some nice people moved there lured by the connection to DisCo. But let's face it... Celebration seems too pre-fab and fake. Same can be said for the township now being developed in east Orlando, where Navy World used to be. That particular area is a carbon copy of Celebration and I would urge anyone who is interested or who likes Celebration to check that new town as well (sorry I can't remember the name of it now), located just behind the Orlando Fashion Square Mall on Colonial Drive, aka highway 50.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros "Despite the growth, many agree that Celebration has retained the very qualities that drew them here: crime-free neighborhoods,...." "The town doesn't feel the county provides adequate police patrol; if it incorporated, it could have its own public safety department." Am I missing something here?
Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1 I spoke to a man who lives in Celebration and he absolutely loves it. He stated it is expensive to live there but well worth the money. I can't really comment on the town itself as I have never been there but if you like that sort of thing than why not. Some people like that step-ford like atmosphere. As for me, no way. Is it a gated community or can anyone drive through? Not sure how it is set up.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros It may be creepy, but it is a lot better than the neighborhood that I just moved into. Every single house has the same floor plan (some are mirrored of others), and a slightly modified outside. If I was going to move to a place that is creepishly perfect, then I would want the entire place to be that way, not just the part with houses.
Originally Posted By leemac <<To this day, I still find the whole town of Celebration to be as phoney and stepford-like as ever.>> I like it. True it has a Stepford-like quality but there is nothing wrong with that. It is immaculately laid out and the construction is pretty good. Prices are higher than the surroundings but people are willing to pay a premium to be near the good schools and hospital in the area. The people also make it have such a community feel. Every time I'm there there is some event going on in downtown. If I had to move to Central Florida permanently I wouldn't hesitate about considering a Celebration home.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Is it a gated community or can anyone drive through? Not sure how it is set up.>> Nope it is an open town. Some of the condo complexes (both existing and planned) are gated but you can drive to downtown and shop, eat (the main cafe is excellent) and go to the boutique AMC. At Christmas it is very pretty with snowfall every night by the lake.
Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1 Oh Thanks Lee, Maybe when we go down in December, we will take a ride there. I would like to see it. I have heard a lot about it.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Gated communitites do suffer from crime problems as well.. Don't let a stupid gate fool you. I live in one and have had our fair share of crime as well.
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ It is such a bizarre idea to me to live behind fences and gates. I guess it is because it is so alien to our way of life in the UK. It certainly doesn't seem any safer.
Originally Posted By pixiedust1 We looked at building there when they first opened the real estate office there... even back then the prices were higher.. we didn't buy, but we've been back to look at the progress... it is a beautiful area and setup...the homes are very very beautiful. I guess the only fault I would have if I lived there is that Disney promotes it almost like a tourist site, with brouchures.. If anyone wants to visit to take a look, at least plan lunch at one of the restaurants there..
Originally Posted By TDLFAN ..And meet with me. I will give you several reason why we don't want any more poeple moving here.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I am one of those who wishes Celebration had never been developed. It would have been a nice place for parks or resorts ... or just natural Florida woods and swamps. How I used to enjoy watching cattle graze where Disney has some of its offices including DCL, WDI, DVC and Press. Is it nice? Yeah, it has its own charms. I do like the downtown area, what there is of it. But I truly think many of the people who live there enjoy doing so simply so they can tell people 'I live in Celebration' or worse 'I live in Walt Disney World.' I also wouldn't pay $1 million for a home I could get elsewhere in Central Florida for $300,000-500,000.
Originally Posted By pixiedust1 <<12 NEW! TDLFAN Sun 7/2/2006 4:22p ..And meet with me. I will give you several reason why we don't want any more poeple moving here.>> Sure I told you that we will plan a meet with hubby and I... right now I'm packing for a trip up north for a while to take care of my mom... I will be back and ready to go in oct ... and by the way... if we had the money back then, we would have moved there in a heart beat... and for spirit of 74, I guess I would say , that's what makes the world go around... diff tastes and points of view...
Originally Posted By pixiedust1 <<natural Florida woods and swamps< Thank god that this was not the feeling back when Walt was about to build WDW... we would not be having this conversation now... LOL...
Originally Posted By smeeeko ^what a strange article.. of COURSE Celebration is a real town.. We have several friends that live there or have lived there at one time or another.. either in homes or downtown apartments. Some of our friends moved out and moved back because despite some of the minor annoyances (like the fake snow on main street and the constant beeping of the Christmas train and holiday music from late Novemeber to December) there is something to be said about the true New Urbanism.. even if created by a Disney company. The fact is that Disney limited what people could have for businesses in Celebration.. and despite whatever anyone might tell you, Disney is not very friendly to small business owners.. they want the look and feel of a real small town but the restrictions put on people is a bit ridicuolous. Fortunately Disney doesn't own Celebration and despite some negatives the town is changing for the better a little each day. The school system in Florida still stinks and Celebration hasn't changed that. They still have a very IRVINE CORP. (which is a real Stepford community owning all the land and so even if you own a house you are still paying into at least one or more association dues to the Irvine Co.) feel to the city.. and yes when you have a gated community you are paying for your own sewage and road construction, and snow removal (or what have you) not to mention the ammenities like the fire service & police protection.. these are reflected also in the "exclusiveness" of the neighborhood. Yes, you can easily afford to live elsewhere in Central Fl. but there is a certain plus about being about to walk from your front door and to some extent either walk or ride your bike to downtown for breakfast at the Market Grill or the Gloria Jean's for some coffee.. Some people like that. Some people can't imagine living anywhere else if they see themselves living in Florida. Is there room for improvement? You bet. However as long as you have snowbirds buying up the condos and townhomes and living there half a year.. it's going to take a little longer to make those changes. You need not only viable residents who are willing to invest in the neighborhood (time and money, not just the money) you're going to continue to read weird articles like this. Celebration isn't the town you read about in Celebration USA.. It's grown & gotten better each year, and I'd like to think because the people I know who live there have stayed and become part of the community... and insisted it be real. The fact that Disney has let go of it, helps only a little.. because people still think it's a place to drive through and gawk.. I used to run into tourists in New Orleans like that all the time when I lived in the Quarter. While many are ok, there are so many no respect for the local residents who live there and think just because a place is there it's there for folks to stare at or take pictures of. Those aren't actors those are people just like you and me trying to enjoy their life, but in the shadow of the mouse.. they aren't paid for or reimbursed by DisCo. Like any small town they appreciate the business but when it comes to their home life I'm sure they'd rather folks kindly remember their trying to raise their families there just like the rest of the country. bleh.. Yeah I feel strongly about the whole situation. (I've had way too many drunks relieving themselves on my stoop and leaving beer bottles trashed outside my door when I come home from work to not understand where Celebration folks are coming from) "hello? do you mind? I live here! thank you..." =P
Originally Posted By smeeeko ^oops I think the coffee place is Barney's actually. (reminds me of Gloria Jean's though)Celebration Barney's have wireless though..
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I don't "get" the anti-Celebration sentiment. I imagine Walt wouldn't have done it much differently if he had his way with EPCOT, and as for the look, EPCOT would be like the Tomorrowland he envisioned in the 60's, which I am sure would seem ridiculous to people now.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I'm not anti-Celebration at all. I think it's awesome and to each his own. I can honestly say there are other places on Earth I would like to live, and even MORE places than that I would NOT rather live. If you live there and are happy there then Live and Let Live! I am happy for you. If you don't live there, don't knock it. I mean, why do you CARE anyway if you don't live there? I don't live there, and have no intentions of ever going there, but I certainly would NEVER knock it and say it's a bad thing. I get beat up a lot for simply being in the Disney Vacation Club and that is a miniscule commitment campared to picking up and moving to Celebration. So leave those people in Celebration alone. I just don't understand all the "Nay-Sayers" giving it a bad rap. I mean why do they even CARE?
