Celebration

[Kissimmee JP]

I don't know if this is the proper forum to post this in, but I'm new, so if it isn't, sue me.

My wife and I are moving to Florida (where I grew up). We're leaning heavily toward buying a bungalow or townhouse in Celebration. I toured the grounds and was majorly impressed. The school alone is worth it.

My question is this: Has anyone heard anything bad about this place? I've experienced all of the good things about it: the old towny feel, the many parks and community pools, the cleanliness and safety, etc, but I haven't heard anything bad about the community.

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[nativetxn]

Hi Kissimmee JP, welcome to the DIS. I'm really glad you found us.

I have only driven <i>through</i> Celebration and I don't know anyone who lives there or <i>has</i> lived there. The only negative thing I <i>saw</i> was very teeny lawns. The houses seem to almost completely fill the lots. To me that's a bad thing, to someone else it's a <b>good</b> thing. So there you go.

I'm going to move this over to our community board where hopefully you can get more input on this topic.

Katholyn

 

[shannonandtom]

We are moving there in a few months. We have been planing this for about 2 years.

An answer to your question about anything bad, I'm sure there are things that you may not like but IMHO everyplace has something that's not perfect. Celebration just has a lot of good things about it that offset any bad things.
Just think, only 5 miles from the MK!!!

Good luck and hope to see you there some day!

Tom

 

[TigH]

I can't find the article online, but I am pretty sure there was something mentioned in the Orlando Sentinel last week or the week before about the poor quality of housing in Celebration. I am not sure if the Sentinel is the most unbiased paper to read though. My father read the article and mentioned something to me about many Celebration residents being upset with the problems they were facing with the poor construction of their houses.

There are lots of great bungalows in the Winter Park area. A little far from Celebration, but I'm sure the prices are about the same. Good luck on your house search. If it's at all possible for you, try renting an apartment in Celebration first before you commit to buy or build. That way you'll be able to experience life there for yourself and get to know many residents who've lived there for a while.

 

[jamsmom]

I can't offer anythin knowledge about Celebration except that I have heard it is expensive.

However, I want to Welcome you to the DIS

 

[Kissimmee JP]

TigH, yes, the Sentinel isn't the most unbiased medium to read. Actually, I refer to it as the "Slantenel."

I'm glad you mentioned it, however. I'm sure that you're paying more money for less quality to have some of the amenities that you wouldn't have in a regular community. I grew up in Kissimmee, back when there were only 8,000 people in Osceola County. Main St. Celebration actually reminded me a lot of Kissimmee's downtown area back then, minus the lake at the end of the road.

Winter Park is very nice, but I need to be close to Kissimmee, as I'm going to be taking care of my grandmother and grandfather, both of whom are sick and living with my aunt right now.

----------

Tom - You are exactly right. There are no utopias. I just want to put my family in the best situation that I can, and Celebration looks like it. Good luck on your move and maybe we'll get together sometime.....

 

[dzneelvr]

Tom
good to hear your countdown has begun. I think of you often.
We'll be down your way in 2004--have to give us the grand tour !

 

[Minnie's Mate]

The other Tom can probably tell you more, but I was told by a friend who works at the Animal Kingdom that Disney owns the land the house is on and you lease the property from them. Also, it is VERY expensive, at least compared to real estate prices in Atlanta.

Tom

 

[Kissimmee JP]

Tom - What do you do, and why are you moving to Florida? Just curious.

 

[shannonandtom]

Kissimmee JP, I'm in telecommunications.
We're moving because we have had enough of the mid-west winters and just love Florida and we're really big Disney fans too!

Minnie's Mate, I don't know anything about leasing the land from Disney. To my knowledge, we own the land and will pay taxes like everyone else. Just like most planned communities there is an annual association fee for Celebration. Disney owns the Celebration Company.

Tom...

 

[DawnCt]

The New York Times Magazine section did a very lengthy article a couple of years back which was more or less an expose. The focus of the article was rather negative. Perhaps you could do a search or the archives. Some of the issues raised were the quality of the school. There were those who were pleased with the school but they tended to be from Florida and saw the school as an improvement. Others from the Northeast were very disappointed and felt that the school was not up to par to the ones that they left. Also, the school was designated as a charter school so many kids who did not live anywhere near Celebration were bussed in. This actually provided diversity in the system but there were others who felt that the economic differences were so vast that it created a hostile and negative environment. Other issues that were raised were community leaders that did not allow any disent or disagreement at all. Some families felt forced to sell their homes and move because they didn't buy into the "Pixie Dust". There are a lot of convenents and restrictions. Those wouldn't bother me. I like in that type of neighborhood already. Some of those restrictions, however were seen as too restrictive; limiting the color of a room that could be seen from the street. I enjoyed visiting Celebration. We went to the open houses, liked the front porches etc. I remember someone commenting a while back that when they toured Celebration they commented that the yard was too small for a swing set. They were told that they didn't want kids playing in the back yard but at the official playground. They decided that they wanted more "freedom" than that.

 

[CamColt]

Last summer while in the boarding line for the Wonder, we struck up a conversation with a couple with 2 small children, who were in front of us. They were from Celebration, but were in the process of moving because it was getting to them. Basically they said people drive by and stare at you all the time. You feel like you are in a fish bowl.
Personally, I wouldnt let that stop me from moving there if thats what I wanted, but you did ask if anyone had heard anything negative.
Good luck!

 

[DisneyHumbug]

Does anyone know how the property taxes/common charges are in Celebration? Property taxes are out of control here on Long Island!!

 

[bd-celebration]

My wife and I have lived here for several years and would not live anywhere else in Central Florida. Over the years we have heard all of the negative comments about Celebration and the bottom line is that if you don't like it, then live somewhere else. Everyone has certain qualities they look for in a place to live and Celebration has what we have always desired. It is definately not for everyone.

We love Celebration because the people who live here are very much like us; people that want to be here and are excited about their community. We gladly passed on having a larger piece of property and home elsewhere in Orlando so that we could live in Celebration. We not only did we get a beautiful home, but a beautiful community too!

It is by no means a perfect place to live and there are a number of covenants, conditions and restrictions you must live by, but not more than any nicer subdivision would have. You can't move here thinking that all of your problems will disappear, becuase they won't!