visitng Celebration

[Ann B]

Hi
We have decided to visit Celebration for the first time in a couple of weeks time and I have a couple of questions. What is the best route to get there, we will be coming from Saratoga Springs? Once you are there is there somewhere obvious or good to park? We are intending to do some shopping have a meal at the Celebration Town Tavern and generally have a wander about. Is there anything that you would recommend that we do while we are there?
Thanks

Ann

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

We spent a nice half day there last May. Can't help with route - we just put it in the sat-nav!

There's not masses to do, its just a very pleasant, peaceful place to go! We had lunch at Market Street cafe, had a look around all the shops (Dog Bark Bakery is good if you're a dog lover, and there is a nice sweet / chocolate shop and icecream shop as well), and then just spent an hour or so in the comfy rocking chairs by the lake chilling with a nice cup of something cold from Starbucks to keep us going! We legged it when we sawe a crocodile looking at us from the lake (if only I was joking . . .!!!).

We parked on the street. There was plenty available.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Is it possible to walk there? If not, there are always taxis I suppose.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Is it possible to walk there? If not, there are always taxis I suppose.

No you can't walk there - was probably a 15-20 minute drive from Disney

 

[wayneg]

I am hopeless at directions, I go from Hwy192 and follow the signs from there.

For parking I use the car park behind Antonios, entrance is off Sycamore St between Sun Trust Bank and Market st at Celebrations on this map.
If you park on the roadside then park with the flow of traffic, not opposite way, thats an offence and they are very strict in Celebration, many tourists are caught with it.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&s...152,-81.539969&spn=0.002734,0.005659&t=h&z=18

 

[juliebro]

We usually manage to find a parking space on Market St or the road by the lake.

There's a really nice walk around the lakes - there are three lakes in total which are all interconnected. There are some fabulous waterfront properties on the furthest lake which are well worth having a look at as you walk along. How the other half lives, eh?!!

The ice cream/chocolate shop is called Kilwin's. DH highly recommends their vanilla shakes. I reckon they must contain almost his full day's recommended calorie intake!

Depending on when you go, you may be lucky and get the chance to attend one of their local festivals. We've attended the Exotic Car Festival and the Pie Festival (complete with endless pie buffet!). We also went to a Disney sale at the local high school and picked up some bargains once. It's worth doing a Google search to get a 'what's on' guide.

And P-H-P isn't joking. There are crocodiles in the lakes!

 

[fairytale]

We love celebration

Sherlocks used to be a lovely little spot to have afternoon Tea & Scones, but I understand its no longer there

We too have always parked on Market street without any problems, although part of me thinks that there are time restrictions in place so maybe Waynes suggestion of the car park maybe be a better option.

We always visit in October so love to have a drive around the "neighbourhood" at the Halloween decorations. We also vistied a Pumpkin Patch one year which I'd always wanted to do

 

[WiganTony]

Is it possible to walk there? If not, there are always taxis I suppose.

There is Lynx Bus #56 from the Transportation and Ticket Centre that takes you to Celebration (and Old Town if you fancy a visit). Buses every 30 minutes up to around 11pm - see here.

 

[disney_princess_85]

There is Lynx Bus #56 from the Transportation and Ticket Centre that takes you to Celebration (and Old Town if you fancy a visit). Buses every 30 minutes up to around 11pm - see here.

Thanks Tony. We're planning on utilising the Lynx buses this year, so this could be an option.

 

[Pegasus928]

There's not masses to do, its just a very pleasant, peaceful place to go! We had lunch at Market Street cafe, had a look around all the shops (Dog Bark Bakery is good if you're a dog lover, and there is a nice sweet / chocolate shop and icecream shop as well), and then just spent an hour or so in the comfy rocking chairs by the lake chilling with a nice cup of something cold from Starbucks to keep us going! We legged it when we sawe a crocodile looking at us from the lake (if only I was joking . . .!!!).

We visited the Dog Bark Bakery in Feb - but it was gone when we went back in October

I am hopeless at directions, I go from Hwy192 and follow the signs from there.

For parking I use the car park behind Antonios, entrance is off Sycamore St between Sun Trust Bank and Market st at Celebrations on this map.
If you park on the roadside then park with the flow of traffic, not opposite way, thats an offence and they are very strict in Celebration, many tourists are caught with it.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&s...152,-81.539969&spn=0.002734,0.005659&t=h&z=18

We normally park on Sycamore St in the parking bays to the left as you turn in. If you are travelling from the US192 - Celebration is sign posted from here - then Sycamore St is a left turn.

We normally like to go on a SUnday morning as they have a local farmers market on which is always good for some unique gifts and bargains. And breakfast in the Market Street Cafe is always worth a visit.

 

[WiganTony]

There's also a website for Celebration with details of shops, restaurants etc here.

 

[disneyholic family]

I went to celebration for the first time this trip - thought it was a lovely little town.
I also used GPS, but i think it's just off 192 (turn on Celebration Avenue, then turn left on campus street to go right by the Celebration Hotel).

i parked on the street twice and in the parking lot behind starbucks once..

had dinner twice at Celebration Town Tavern - good and reasonably priced (less than half of what we would have paid at disney) and with very good and quick service (my waiter the second time was from Scotland).

as the name indicates, it's also a tavern, with music at night.

i think it's open until 2 am, but the kitchen closes at 10 PM.
At least, those were the hours when i was there.

 

[theminx08]

Hi Celebration is beautiful, I would be def recommend eating at the "Columbia" gorgeous food, a bit pricier but so worth it.
Also the street market is great.
Have fun! x

 

[Funky_dino]

It kinda reminds me of a strange Stephen King town lol. They have loads of strict rules about how long your grass is aloud to be, how often you have to paint your fence and what colours the outside of your house is allowed to be.
It looks nice at night esp the cinema, and during the autumn/fall they have leaves falling in the main street

 

[UKDEB]

We've parked both on the street and in the big car park behind the cinema.

Pie Fest is great, but it's already taken place this year. The Sunday Farmers' Market is fun, too. The place is much busier when something's going on, so if you want to avoid that "Truman Show" effect people talk about, Sunday's a good time to go.

To get there from SSR:

• Turn right out of the entrance, then right again onto Buena Vista Drive.
• Bear left at the lights onto Hotel Plaza Blvd (driving away from Downtown Disney).
• Follow it until you hit the t-junction with the 535 Apopka-Vineland Road (Crossroads Shopping Center will be opposite you) and turn right.
• Keep in the right-hand lane and take the I-4 west.
• Exit at junction 64 (signposted Celebration) and head east on the 192 for a short distance. The entrance road to Celebration is a right-hand turn and very easy to spot (look for the water tower).
• Follow this road (for about a mile, I'd say) and it will take you straight into the Town Center.

 

[luke]

I'd just go down the 535 from DTD then take a left onto the 192, don't think it's far and will be to your right.
Planning on going there this year just for a nosy around

 

[juliebro]

It kinda reminds me of a strange Stephen King town lol. They have loads of strict rules about how long your grass is aloud to be, how often you have to paint your fence and what colours the outside of your house is allowed to be.
It looks nice at night esp the cinema, and during the autumn/fall they have leaves falling in the main street

A little bit like Stepford

 

[UKDEB]

I'd just go down the 535 from DTD then take a left onto the 192, don't think it's far and will be to your right.

Taking the 535, it would be a right onto the 192 and then Celebration would be on your left. You could certainly do that, though, if you want a mooch around the area, but it's not as quick as the I-4 route. You'd have to contend with a lot of traffic lights and stop/start on the 192. Not necessarily a bad thing (we actually like driving around and scoping out the area), but not the best option if you just want to get there as quickly as possible.

ETA: You could take the 535 to the 417 Central Florida Greeneway and take that on in to Celebration (although still not quicker than the I-4 route).

 

[Floridadreamlel]

last time we went there was a lovely Christmas shop, is it still there? we also went to the cinema and had a walk round the lakes....its a very relaxing 1/2 day, worth a visit

 

[tinks86]

last time we went there was a lovely Christmas shop, is it still there? we also went to the cinema and had a walk round the lakes....its a very relaxing 1/2 day, worth a visit

Yes it's still there!!! We visited Celebration in May, had a lovely meal in the pub on the front and wandered around all the pretty quaint shops. Well worth a visit!!!