Celebration Should we consider it?

[Princess Susi]

We are currently in the process of trying to sell our house here in Denver. It could be a while with the horrible real estate market right now! :( We want to move to the Greater Orlando area. :hurricane LOL! We are considering Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Winter Park ans sevral other areas as we have heard these are very nice locales. I am curious about Celebration. I had heard that they were currently in the final phase of homes that we would be interested in. Is that correct, or is building finished there? And for those who live in Celebration, what do you think of it? Is it worth considering? Are the HOA rules as strict as a WWII POW camp? Our HOA is made up of, dare I say it, a bunch of nazi's who run just about every aspect of living in our neighborhood. Just let em start peeking in my windows and telling me what to do inside my house! :rollpin:
What are some of the safer areas to live and still be close by to the magic?
We don't really want to be in Orlando proper. And, we are thinking of maybe getting some part time employment at the Parks, since we are retired and want to keep busy a couple days a week meeting SG's from all over the planet! LOL! No, really, it would be interesting to meet people from all over the world! Just not everyday, I want to go and do a lot of other things as well. We also do not really want to have to endure a horrendous commute to the Parks. Any ideas of some of the best places to consider, all of you Florida folks?
Thanks!
Susi-Q
P.S. Hubby wants to consider Orange County California as well, (that is another thread altogether) but we are native Californians and know just how much traffic there is and the cost of homes there! I am leaning towards Florida for our golden years! Seems like there is so much to do there and the weather is great for both of us with our arthritis and my horrible sinuses that have endured 3 surgeries since we have been in Colorado for 6 yrs. It is desert dry here and I need MOISTURE!!!!!! NOW!!!!!!

[Syndrome]

"Safe" is a relative term here. I live in Celebration, and we were just arguing crime stats on our intranet. Someone posted the numbers, and Celebration, Windermere, Dr. Phillips, et. al. were virtually neck in neck.

It's a great time to buy in Celebration...in theory, Artisan Park is the "last" neighborhood, but in practice that's probably b.s. They will build till every last but of land is stuffed with houses, condos, and hotels. But personally I would consider a "used" home as the market has taken a nosedive and your dollar will go a lot farther than just a year ago.

If you want to read about life here, check out my blog: http://celebrationfl.blogspot.com
I LOVE it here!! If you want, PM me and I can put you in touch with a good, honest Realtor (which can be hard to find).

[hobie16]

Orlando vs. Orange County, CA
Hurricanes or earthquakes,
Hurricanes or earthquakes.

Move to Fruity Drink Land (Hawaii). We've got plenty of humidity and we'll throw in hurricanes, earthquakes AND volcanoes.

[Zazu]

We want to move to the Greater Orlando area. ... We are considering Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Winter Park and several other areas as we have heard these are very nice locales. I am curious about Celebration. ... And for those who live in Celebration, what do you think of it? Is it worth considering?

I don't live in Celebration -- we looked and decided against it. It may be just the place for you, but we discovered we could get the same house for 1/3 to 1/2 the price elsewhere. Another problem with Celebration is that it's surrounded by the Hwy 192 tourist zone. Want a light bulb, a gallon of milk, or gas for the car? Get out there and fight with the SGs for it. We opted for the area around Hunters Creek and got a big house with a pool on a lake for 1/2 the price of a 3br condo in Celebration.

Are the HOA rules as strict as a WWII POW camp?

More like a concentration camp. Read "Deep Water" by S.V. Date for a very perceptive view of the town and how it's run.

Our HOA is made up of, dare I say it, a bunch of nazi's who run just about every aspect of living in our neighborhood. Just let em start peeking in my windows and telling me what to do inside my house! :rollpin:

This is one of the things that Celebration does -- they dictate the type and color of your drapes and blinds. No, really!

What are some of the safer areas to live and still be close by to the magic? We don't really want to be in Orlando proper.

Look at the gas stations. If they price of gas is 25 cents lower than around WDW, and they *don't* have bulletproof glass around the cashier, you've found the right area.

And, we are thinking of maybe getting some part time employment at the Parks, since we are retired and want to keep busy a couple days a week meeting SG's from all over the planet!

Plenty of opportunity for that. We've still got a shortage of over 3000 CMs. Retirees are looked upon favorably because we're so much more reliable than the kids.

We also do not really want to have to endure a horrendous commute to the Parks.

I'm at about OBT and the Greene Way and it's 20 minutes to the Welcome arch. I'll let others speak for their areas.

I've got a good realtor to recommend too, if you need one.

Hubby wants to consider Orange County California as well ... but we are native Californians and know just how much traffic there is and the cost of homes there!

Remind him that the food at WDW is much better than at DL.

[mechurchlady]

Zazu is right again and well said. I live 13 miles northwest of Disneyland. I went to McDonald's there one time and the prices were much higher than those in my town or near skid row in Los Angeles.

I rather own my own land and home. I would rather be able to have freedom to do what ever I want than to be under the dictates of a home owner's association. I was in Celebration once and did not like the "quaintness" of it and could not find the frigging post office. There was no Wal-Mart or Target near by and no supermarkets like Winn-Dixie, Ralphs or Krogers. No hardware stores or anything.

[Syndrome]

This is one of the things that Celebration does -- they dictate the type and color of your drapes and blinds. No, really!

Now, now, Zazu, that's a bit of an exageration. The only thing that is regulated is what can be seen from outside. That has to be white, off-white, or wood toned. You can have bright pink drapes with purple polka dots and maroon fringe, as long as it is on the other side of your blinds or shades.

Enforcement has gotten more and more lax in the time I've lived here. I could give you half a dozen addresses where just one drive-by would quickly dispell all the notions of our being "Stepford." I am on the Covenants Committee (aka nazi enforcers), so I know from whence I speak!

I'll admit Hunters Creek is a nice area tho'. We shop at the Loop (you luck SOBs still have a Barniers) and eat at Mimi's regularly. But Celebration is like living in a place where Mayberry meets Desperate Housewives, and I LOVE it!

[Cheshire Figment]

Since you are retired you may want to live in Solivita, which is a very large active adult gated community in Poinciana. Check out http://www.solivita.com for more information. All the homes are single level concrete construction. In 2004 the "crossing point" for Hurricanes Charley and Frances was over Soliviata and the only damage I saw was downed trees (primarily which had been planted less than two years before) and some damage due to wind-blown debris.

The HOA is not really strict and included in the monthly fees are basic cable (about 80 channels) and they do all landscape maintenance (unless you want to do it yourself). Membership in the Golf Club is optional.

As the crow flies I am about 15 miles due South of WDW, but as the drunken crow flies (who designed the road layouts) it is about 24 miles from my house to TL and about 35-45 minutes. However, the major road from Poinciana to Kissimmee is about 1/3 through being four-laned with completion expected next year, and another, straighter road has been approved and construction started.

[hobie16]

But Celebration is like living in a place where Mayberry meets Desperate Housewives, and I LOVE it!

Deputy Barney Fife hooks up with Edie Britt?!?! That would be an episode to watch.

[leftcoaster]

Deputy Barney Fife hooks up with Edie Britt?!?! That would be an episode to watch.

Barney Fife uses Viagra ?

[Syndrome]

Deputy Barney Fife hooks up with Edie Britt?!?! That would be an episode to watch.

If only you knew how close to the truth that is! The rumors and goings-on here would curl your hair and then straighten it back out again.