Celebration Florida: Building Disney's Perfect Town
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- People love Walt Disney World. So much so that it’s estimated over 50 million people visit the resort every year. Some people love it SO much that they wish they could live there. In the 1990's Disney granted that wish when they created the town of Celebration Florida. Today we're going to explain the origins of Disney's town, and how it got built.
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In 1984 Michael Eisner and Frank Wells would join the Disney company as it’s new CEO and COO, and one of their first courses of action when it came to Walt Disney World was to sit down, look at the entire property, and come up with a long-term plan to put it to use. That plan included setting aside space for up to three new theme parks, up to 60,000 new hotel rooms, and a permanent 9,000 acre nature and wildlife preserve. But even with all of that space set aside, there was still unused land that they owned south of US 192. So the question became: “What should we do with that land?”
Selling it was an option, but the main drawback there was that Disney would ultimately have no control over what the new owners would do with it. Tacky hotels. Competing amusements. It was the very reason Walt had secretly purchased so much land in Florida to begin with. They could also just do… well, nothing. They could wait and see if it had a use later on down the line. However due to it being undeveloped pasture, the fear Disney had was that if they went too long without using it, the state might be able to use that to build a case to take the land via condemnation through eminent domain. The state would pay Disney for the land, but it’d be on their terms, not Disney’s. So Eisner quickly came to the conclusion that they’d be better off using the land, rather than risk losing it.
By July 18th of 1996, the very first residents would be ready to move into Celebration, Florida. By that point 99% of the 350 homes were sold, every single apartment was occupied, with a waiting list that was growing, and 50% of the following 95 homes that would make up the next part of the town were already sold as well. Everything was going great. The town was the picturesque slice of Americana it promised to be. Neighbors got to know each other, Disney would hold events for the community, and it all happened a stone’s throw away from the most magical place on earth. However that perfect veneer wasn’t going to last for long.
Sources
📰The Orlando Sentinel
"Celebration Draws Crowd for Drawing" (Nov 27 1995)
"Disney cash puts Celebration School on Track" (Dec 15 1995)
"Celebration focuses on future without Disney magic, rules" (Dec 26 2003)
"Disney shares its vision for city, dazzles officials" (Jan 22 1993)
"As Celebration nears completion, Disney puts downtown up for sale" (Jun 23 2003)
"SunTrust to test cashless smart card at Disney's Celebration" (Sep 22 1997)
"Disney officials say homes may start in $125,000 range" (Jan 16 1994)
"Home buyers are eager to join Disney's town" (Jan 16 1994)
"Father calls pond a danger" (Nov 22 1998)
"Arvida to run Celebration center" (Feb 27 2003)
"In Celebration, some are losing faith in Disney" (Jun 20 2002)
"Disney plans a Celebration of life, work, play in Osceola" (Apr 30 1991)
"1st robber strikes at Disney's Celebration" (Aug 12 1998)
📰The Florida Today Sun
"First phase nearly sold out" (Aug 10 1997)
📰The South Florida Sun
"House Mouse" (Oct 21 1995)
📰Tampa Bay Times
"Another line forms at Disney for a lottery for houses" (Oct 6 1995)
📰The Tampa Tribune
"Some parents find little to cheer in Disney's Celebration school" (Jun 8 1997)
"Reality check on Disney dream homes" (Jul 1 1999)
📔Celebration, U.S.A.: Living in Disney's Brave New Town by Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins
This is why, love or hate him, Eisner was just so entertaining as a CEO. Because he would do crazy stuff like build a whole town. He makes Iger and the current management seem tame.
Eisner pre-1994 was amazing. Any great things and goodwill he built during that timeframe were all burnt to the ground by Eisner himself afterwards.
@@nightflyer3242 Eisner and Wells were like Walt and Roy, Walt is creative and imaginative, (maybe slighty crazy) but isnt good with buisness thats where Roy stepped in and helped him out, (this is shown amazingly in Walt before Mickey check it out on Netflix). so when Wells died, everything changed and thats when everything started to mess up. Iger is great, but is too focused on making money with IP. Lets convince Tony Baxter and Joe Rhodes to step up and run the company or at least the parks we would get awesome new original attractions and lands done amazingly.
*lame. Seem lame.
@@wiifitt s/he meant tame. As in, not wild and crazy kids.
Iger just buys stuff.
This sounds like a great opening for a dystopian novel
Give Ken Levine 3-5 years.
There was Batman episode where a Disney like figure makes an underwater “utopian” city with the help of Mr Freeze
I remember taking a tour of a one of the homes in the early 2000’s and would continually daydream about living there and be able to come home from school and run to a park at night.
I've lived in Celebration since I was three (currently 15.) I love it. Its a nice, sealed off community that is very close to Disney. The only bad part is once you exit you are transported into the ugly touristy 192 truth of Kissimmee.
How did it feel to be watch by Big Mick
You’re to young I was there 20 years ago celebration was different then how it is now
@@johnblaze6269 You guys are so full of negativity.. Keep living in your shitty suburbs. Not getting to know anyone and needing a car to travel everywere. Good luck with your rising obesity levels!!
@@mitonaarea5856 what in the f are you talking about ? Or to? Lol you have issues
@@johnblaze6269 Do you think maybe you should be past this stage in life of judging/bulling young people's emotional expressions of their life experience? Random adults step out of line if they start telling some child his or her experiences that they cherish aren't what they think because they're too young to know better. That's just crazy narcissism talking. Also, you're surely plenty old enough to put two and to together and realized there's a third spelling of "too". What about your superior education in Celebration that was supposedly better than his? He spelled his words correctly, capitalized "C" for a proper noun of a city (which you failed to do) and he used punctuation accurately. Your line as written makes up 3 sentences and 3 words were spelled wrong: too, Celebration, than. Maybe it's back to school time for Johnny Blaze to learn empathy, compassion, grammar, and the benefits of leaving youth alone if you cannot lift them up in an honest way.
I have been watching your videos for almost a year now. I must say I find your narration voice very warm and pleasant. You have your own distinct delivery that is wonderful to listen to. I also love the content of your videos. I first started watching your park vlogs and really enjoyed how those were paced. Keep up the good work.
ramona leiter I agree... I think he'd make a great audiobook reader!
CC, you are a shining example of a good human being🌹 There are so many naysayers out in the world, and regularly on YT that love to bully bomb people. You are the opposite. With so many "inhumane" humans roaming the streets and www, we need more and MORE YAY-sayers making a mark. Thank you for your kindness. :) God bless.
Can't wait for part 2. Lived there for 4 years. Very mixed feelings about it ("pleasantville"? 😄). Thanks for the interesting and well researched videos. Always a joy to watch.
@Rob Plays Maybe you could do a phone interview with this person for part 2?? See what these mixed feelings are about. Could be very interesting....
Connor Knipes Definitely would love to hear firsthand accounts.
What was it like to live there? Cheers
I lived there in 2009 and have very mixed feelings as well. Good idea, bad execution...or at least its kind of a hot mess now that Disney doesn't own it.
Your lucky af
I’d love to see a Halloween themed video this time of year!! Perhaps the origins and evolution of Mickeys Not So Scary?? 🤗
I lived there for about three years it’s pretty amazing but it get so seclusive especially when you leave the town and you’re just in a shitty part of Kissimmee
Also the school is not cutting edge. I honestly hated that school and still do
Oh don't worry, that'll be covered in next week's part. :)
Yessss!!! You exit and suddenly you're in the worst parts of Kissimmee...like have you see The Florida Project?? That's all filmed very close to Celebration.
Used to be a major tourist strip. Now it's home to a lot of poor Puertorricans. But, Celebration is an enclave, entirely divorced from Kissimmee. Avalon Park near Orlando is somewhat better integrated to that city's downtown
Wait, it still exists?
Lou Mongello on the WDW Radio podcast just did a 2 part show on what’s it’s like to move to Celebration (episodes 532 and 533). It was real cool, he interviewed his family & neighbors.
Great video Rob
I swear I was JUST thinking about Celebration. Thanks for reading my mind!
I saw it being built in February 1996 and have a photo (somewhere - it was before digital) of one of the Mickey telephone poles. I also have a friend who lived there as a kid. BTW there is no apostrophe in 1990s.
So funny this video game out toddy. I got a new bike yesterday and the first place i planned to take it was celebration. I visited the other weekend when it was cooler out and I wished so badly I could ride around the neighborhoods and enjoy the weather. Hope it’s just as nice out this weekend (but I doubt it lol)
So glad there will be a part 2! I know Celebration has been HEAVILY critiqued and your video was getting near the end and was mostly positive.
Great video, I was always curious about this town, I’ve only been there once with my family for some outdoor concert me and my brothers were dragged along to, it rained, and I didn’t really care for the concert
Really enjoyed this video. There has always been a little mystery behind Celebration. I even thought growing up I would love to own a home their but wondered how it all really worked being in Disney's hands.
I Lived in Celebration for 3 years and had to move back to Chicago for the job. It was my “ Nexus “... All I wanted to do was to return to the Nexus ! It’s a beautiful haven off 192 unlike any place in the US. Thanks for the look Rob- and for the history. You’re the best !
Amazing town. First time I came there in May 2015, after that visit couple more times and stay in Bohemian hotel. Love this place. Thinking to bye a condo there for my retirement. Town of my dreams...
Brilliant video. I can tell you've been planning to tackle this subject for a while now. This almost reminds me of Squidville, from Spongebob. Now it makes me wonder if Squidville was based on Celebration.
100k, here we come!!! thanks for all that you do for us rob!
Great info and very interesting as always! Cruel cliffhanger though! So much about Disney I never knew!
This is SO interesting! Im staying at a hotel in Celebration next year for my trip to Disney World! Its SO close to the parks!
Still seems a lot better than most towns in the USA.
Wow.. those houses were beautiful!
I really hope you cover Golden Oak soon! I have done so much research on it but still would love someone else's viewpoint on it too!
Rob once again highlighting the most unique aspects of disney. Really fantastic research and creativity
Nice timing; I was just reading about celebration the past couple days.
There should be an episode over Golden Oak, DisneyWorld
😱😱😱😱😱 Wow!!! Cant wait to see the rest of this.
i love Celebration. So cute and quaint.
I was born in the little town. I still visit it sometimes. Kind of "truman show" vibes sometimes but I like the town.
I would have built that runway just like how Walt planned and have a Monorail extension go all the way there and you have guests landing on property seems like something Disney would do.
Even living in Orlando for 7 years I have never been to celebration before from the rumors I hear about it
Arggg. I have to wait till next week. Lol. Love the vids, keep up the good work.
Thanks!
IKR, best part of my day is seeing that robbed dropped a new video.
I was waiting for that BUUUUUT to come...lol. Can't wait for part 2!
We live here in Celebration and love it! So glad to see this video! So interesting!
Yaaasss my place Celebration!!!
Can you please do a video on the DDA, Disney Dreamers Academy
I live in celebration it’s my absolute favorite place ever.
I wish fiber was available when I lived there. All we had access to was either Comcast or Smart City (DSL). That new Publix at the front of town is amazing, though.
Dude this was great and I can't wait for part two!
Love you videos! Keep them rolling buddy!
I’ve always wondered what Celebration was
Great 👍🏼 video Rob
I love these videos.Can you do a video on the history of the fireworks shows? And maybe tell us why they got rid of wishes?
Thanks! While this video is firework specific, it does briefly go over the origin of the nightly firework tradition at Disney parks! : czcams.com/video/Ei2LqIhhOfg/video.html
I still love your vids so much! Keep up the good work =)
Excellent video. Wanted to move there in the beginning. Wanted to buy a retirement home there. Thanks for the video. Excellent story.
Love these videos! I feel so much smarter after watching them. Keep 'em coming!
I was born in celebration hospital 👍🏽 idk I’ve always found that kind of cool
Another great video Rob, can't wait to see part 2! Thank you :-)
Great video Rob. Looking forward to the next instalment
I'm going to celebration Florida in just a few months
Nc car guy No you’re not, silly!
I seriously enjoy these videos, you have the most interesting topics.
Thanks!
Very informative and interesting piece! Love hearing about it thus far!
"IT'S A CITY WHERE NO ONE BECOMES ANGRY".
A Disney subsidiary, Arvida, built the development of Weston in South Florida west of Ft. Lauderdale.
Are there any connections between the two developments?
Great subject! Thanks, Rob!
$125,000 for a new home in 1994 was what our house cost.
So, that's pretty low cost for a new house in a new town in Florida.
What about talking about Val d'Europe next, Disney's other town, in Europe, near Disneyland Paris ?
My parents almost bought a house in Celebration
Great Video! Keep up the awesome work!
Love it rob keep up ☝ the great work thank you
really interesting !
This place always reminds me of the X-Files episode with the homeowners association... Sort of creepy but you can't put a finger on why.
Do fort wilderness.
Adam H z
Could you please find out why Disney build the Country Walk housing community on SW Miami (Miami Dade County).
Thanks.
WAIT HUH IVE LIVED HERE FOR LIKE ALMOST 2 YEARS AND I NEVER KNEW THIS LIKE WHUT
Interesting. I can;t wait for part 2
When I win the lottery, I'm so buying a house there.
So it's basically Houten in the Netherlands, but Houten's transport system is much better for children :P
I was going to make this video if you didn’t. Thank you. I wanted to live their in the 90’s but moved to California instead, to be an animator.
I LIVE HEREEEEE
I would love to live in a place like this. Isn't streaming movies at home the antithesis of the "community" the town is supposed to represent?
Bingo!!
Kinda reminded me of the town from The Truman Show.
I think the Truman Show was actually filmed there. Not totally sure, tho.
@@brandiecourse3211 No. The Truman Show was filmed in Seaside, FL.
nice...
I really love your videos, I just watched the college program one, how about a cultural representative program, not sure how much it interlaps
Hi rob! I love your videos! I’ve actually been trying to find a specific video you once did, on Walt’s fake companies to buy the land in Florida for Disney world but I just can’t seem to find it! Would you happen to know what video I’m talking about? Thank you and have a magical day!
Ah that would be Disneys Secret Land. I don't have the link on hand since I'm away from my computer, but I actually think I set it up as a card for this video, so it should be the second link when you hit the i icon.
Pls confirm Celebration not allowed to rent for less than a year, is that right?
We just have the local YMCA do most of this stuff. :D
Here's a little fun fact about this city, It's creepy compared the Concept of Epcot
@1:12 is it just me...or is the screen crying for 3 seconds?
dude need the sequel hurry up
Are you sick? Sound extra nasaly today!
I was indeed recovering from a cold when making these two videos.
I shake your hand sir once more.
I want to live here.
Teagan Alexander it’s kinda boring honestly
@@Sarah-rt9su Yeah, but if you have an Annual Pass for Disney World you can literally go there every weekend if wanted too.
Teagan Alexander yeah but that would get boring after a while
@@Sarah-rt9su Yeah true. I don't think I could I ever get tired of going to Disney, but I see your point.
Teagan Alexander it’s a nice town tho. i don’t live here but i go to the school here and the school is pretty nice
my dream home is in golden oaks. if i win this billion dollars, it'll happen.
Does anyone have any good Disney vlog recommendation?
Do you watch Justin Scarred on LiveFastDiePoor and Randomland? He doesn't exclusively vlog Disney, but hes a lot of fun and educational.
czcams.com/users/LiveFastDiePoor
czcams.com/users/justinscarred
Also his buddy, Adam the Woo:
czcams.com/users/TheDailyWoo
Also, this guy is newer than some vloggers but I really enjoy him. He seems to be learning fast.
czcams.com/channels/68lcOoPo7lIvGCkGDd2Z-g.html
And then, this dude who has built a Fantasyland facade in his basement.
czcams.com/users/Larzland
TheTimTracker
Princezz Puffypants Ive seen Randomland and thanks alot!!
$125,000? I've seen houses in Celebration on zillow listed in the 600's - 800's
I still want to move there tho it's only 10 minutes from Magic Kingdom
The price he cited was from the 90s, before the real estate boom in the US. Prices just about doubled in the early 2000s and they've continued to go up from there.
Dang that's a shame I would move there right now if the prices went down
Actually I just looked on Zillow and some of the condos are going for around $110,000 . Not the place for me, but affordable if you don't mind a condo.
We drove around celebration a few years ago. It seemed nice but it gave a strange vibe also. I didn't want to stop to walk around for some reason. It just seemed like I would have been asking for trouble if I did. So we just headed to Legoland as planned.
I GOTTA WAIT NEXT WEEK?
How were the schools? Where did people work? Were the stores and business in the town itself owned or sanctioned by wdw or independent?
Schools will be covered more next week as they're one of those elements that ended up not being all it was cracked up to be. As for the stores and businesses, Disney owned the town center but they were leasing to independent businesses who ran their shops there. So in a way they were vetted/approved by Disney, but not run by Disney or anything.
I think most residents work/ed at WDW
Honestly, most people move to Kissimmee because homes are cheaper than in Orlando. Most people work in Orlando. Employees of wdw usually don’t live there unless they are pretty high up on the rungs (or they just live in Windermere, Dr. Phillips area or are moving to Lake Nona). But a lot of people I went to school with or worked with have all worked for Disney and the pay is utter trash. They can barely afford renting an apartment.
I never lived in celebration but I have lived in central fl my whole life so I remember when it being built. However, celebration does do a lot of cute events for the holidays. I went to the pumpkin patch one year and it was nice. But as a lot of fl natives will tell you, once you are out of celebration you’re in the shitty part of Kissimmee with rundown motels and tourist traps (us-192).
The part about renters not having a say in local government does not sound accurate to me. They are still residents and still pay local taxes just indirectly in the case of property tax.
It is accurate. While it's not normal for jurisdictions and cities in general, the RCID statutes passed by the Florida legislature specified that the board of supervisors be elected by landowners within the district. The act also specifies that you must own land in the RCID in order to be able to serve on the board.
Celebration is very mixed feelings from people who actually live there. Yes, it's a nice place, but the home values are a lot higher than the average Orlando home. What's good is that the homes do maintain their value. The association fees are high as well, which might turn off many people, but it comes with great amenities like pools, parks, etc.
As others have mentioned, the school district is not good. I wouldn't recommend for someone looking to take their kids to a good zoned school. Unless you take them to private school, but there's none nearby. I would recommend Celebration for families with small children and for retired people but for others, it's probably not as good of a neighborhood. There are many other neighborhoods in the Orlando that are better and offer an equivalent experience (Orlando has many planned communities all over the place, some that are even larger than Celebration near the university or in Baldwin Park) so really Celebration is not that special anymore.
It's still a nice place, though and it definitely can be a great home for the right person.
Rob, you sound like you have a cold! 🤧 Hope you’re well.
Thanks for the well wishes! I'm thankfully fully recovered now! I'm going to be re-recording next week's video so that I sound less stuffy.
Rob Plays Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better. Love your videos!
When should I be looking for part 2?
Aiming to have it up and live by Wednesday morning.
holy shit i go to celebration high school lmfao
Did you have a cold in this video lol
Damn let me get a crib like dat for $150k
Hey Rob, I'm a teacher so of course I have to ask this question. Where do you get the b roll footage that you use while you narrate your episodes? Do you ask or are you required to give credit to the owners of the footage? I'm a stickler for citing sources, so I didn't know what your policy (personal and professional) was on this.
John McGraw Ik he records a bunch of it himself in the parks
I am curious about sources as well -- not of the footage necessarily but of the information.
Emily, it's called research. Most of what he talked about is common knowledge, if you were interested and followed the news releases over the years. Obviously, he put a lot of hard work assembling information and producing these videos.
(Please read the following as if I'm hanging out at the coffee shop with you and speaking in a calm tone.) I really don't understand your reaction to my comment. First of all, it seems as if you were offended for him by my request for further reading on some of these topics (not just this particular video). That has me wanting to just say "bless your heart" and scratch my head at how people can make something out of nothing. My eyes rolled so much it made my head hurt a little. Second of all, you said it's common knowledge and it's called research. Which is it? LOL. But most importantly, I thoroughly enjoy Rob's videos. It is clear he puts a lot of work and thought into them. They are well-constructed, the editing is on point, and his voice is calming. In a world where CZcamsrs are documenting every single thing in their videos -- down to what shade of lipstick and where to buy it -- I was interested to actually READ more and thought it would be great if he could share some of his sources from time to time. And as an information professional, the topic of research in general is of great interest to me. Please don't be so quick to get offended and suck the magic out of the Disney bubble. I truly hope you have a good day! xoxo
First, I was not at all offended by your comment. Seems like some people read more into comments than intended. I love research, but one needs to be very careful viewing forum's, as there is so much misinformation. What I was trying to say, Celebration was extensively covered in the news media, therefore common knowledge (at the time). If you are not from the area, you wouldn't have that benefit. In Rob's case, he spent hours researching the various sources, to produce his videos. That is why I look forward to his videos, his hard work shines. The Orlando Sentinel archives, would be a good place to start your research, it is fascinating and I'm sure you will enjoy it.
I’m going to be bold here.... Disney does not own Celebration. It was built on land that Disney USED to own. I have spent a lot of time there while living in Kissimmee, and it is less than pleasant. It has very little, no real entertainment, and the property taxes are through the roof. It is a place of privilege, and even trick or treating there is lame, done too early and a very discriminating place to live or stay. I was hit on there by an older man who was a resident while walking with my son as the man was hoping I’d come back to his condo with him while his wife was away. Celebration is “meh” at best.
2:40 The government should never take land even if it's not being used.