The town of Celebration was first loosely imagined by Walt Disney himself, though the
The town of Celebration was first loosely imagined by Walt Disney himself, though the

current town differs wildly from Disney’s original idea.
current town differs wildly from Disney’s original idea.

Whereas Disney pictured a “perfect” futuristic city where technology blended seamlessly with
Whereas Disney pictured a “perfect” futuristic city where technology blended seamlessly with

real life and all possible needs were taken care of, an idea that served as the basis
real life and all possible needs were taken care of, an idea that served as the basis

for the Epcot theme park in Disney Land, Michael Eisner (the CEO of Disney at the time it was
for the Epcot theme park in Disney Land, Michael Eisner (the CEO of Disney at the time it was

built) instead visualised Celebration as a quintessentially classic American town, a
built) instead visualised Celebration as a quintessentially classic American town, a

nostalgic holdover from a purportedly (see Bonus Facts below) better time in history.
nostalgic holdover from a purportedly (see Bonus Facts below) better time in history.

celebration-florida-2While Celebration didn’t exactly conform to Walt’s original plans
celebration-florida-2While Celebration didn’t exactly conform to Walt’s original plans

for a futuristic city housed beneath a cool dome, it was conceived with his idea of creating
for a futuristic city housed beneath a cool dome, it was conceived with his idea of creating

a perfect, utopian society firmly in mind, looking with a giant set of rose-coloured
a perfect, utopian society firmly in mind, looking with a giant set of rose-coloured

glasses to the past instead.
glasses to the past instead.

Built just a few miles away from the Magic Kingdom on land that was originally used to
Built just a few miles away from the Magic Kingdom on land that was originally used to

dump alligators, Celebration was designed from the ground up to be “perfect” and
dump alligators, Celebration was designed from the ground up to be “perfect” and

the company spared no expense, spending some $2.5 billion making sure that everything fell
the company spared no expense, spending some $2.5 billion making sure that everything fell

in line with their vision.
in line with their vision.

Disney hired some of the world’s foremost architectural minds to design each building
Disney hired some of the world’s foremost architectural minds to design each building

in the town, inviting renowned architects like Robert Venturi and César Pelli to design
in the town, inviting renowned architects like Robert Venturi and César Pelli to design

buildings even as humble as banks and post offices.
buildings even as humble as banks and post offices.

In addition to this, Disney also hired urban planning experts and graphic designers to
In addition to this, Disney also hired urban planning experts and graphic designers to

oversee where these buildings went and how they were decorated.
oversee where these buildings went and how they were decorated.

For instance, the graphic design firm was tasked with creating signage that could be
For instance, the graphic design firm was tasked with creating signage that could be

displayed around the town that didn’t convey a sense of branding.
displayed around the town that didn’t convey a sense of branding.

Disney was so impressed with this work that they went on to hire the same company to design
Disney was so impressed with this work that they went on to hire the same company to design

such trivial things for the town as manhole covers and the arrows you see on signs telling
such trivial things for the town as manhole covers and the arrows you see on signs telling

you which way to walk around the town’s park.
you which way to walk around the town’s park.

On that note, perhaps the most jarring thing about Celebration was that for many years
On that note, perhaps the most jarring thing about Celebration was that for many years

there was no branding of any kind, anywhere in the town.
there was no branding of any kind, anywhere in the town.

Celebration had no billboards, no franchises and no advertising.
Celebration had no billboards, no franchises and no advertising.

Ironically, this is something Disney, one of the biggest mega-brands on Earth, used
Ironically, this is something Disney, one of the biggest mega-brands on Earth, used

to sell the idea of the town to potential residents when it first opened in the mid-1990s.
to sell the idea of the town to potential residents when it first opened in the mid-1990s.

When it opened, demand for properties in the development were high, so much so that Disney
When it opened, demand for properties in the development were high, so much so that Disney

had to hold a drawing which required a deposit of a thousand dollars just to see who could
had to hold a drawing which required a deposit of a thousand dollars just to see who could

speak to their salespeople first when homes first started being auctioned off in 1995.
speak to their salespeople first when homes first started being auctioned off in 1995.

Over the next few years, prices slowly dropped in Celebration and today they’re roughly
Over the next few years, prices slowly dropped in Celebration and today they’re roughly

in line with the average house prices in the region.
in line with the average house prices in the region.

As for how many people live there, according to the most recent available census from 2010,
As for how many people live there, according to the most recent available census from 2010,

the town is currently home to 7,247 residents.
the town is currently home to 7,247 residents.

However, Celebration’s official website lists this figure as being closer to 9,000.
However, Celebration’s official website lists this figure as being closer to 9,000.

In terms of demographics, the town is made up of about 90% white residents (compared
In terms of demographics, the town is made up of about 90% white residents (compared

to about 58% in surrounding areas) with almost no single people living in the town, which
to about 58% in surrounding areas) with almost no single people living in the town, which

may have something to do with the “Declaration of Covenants”.
may have something to do with the “Declaration of Covenants”.

The Declaration of Covenants is an amazingly detailed 166 page document prospective residents
The Declaration of Covenants is an amazingly detailed 166 page document prospective residents

of Celebration have to sign agreeing to adhere to a number of rules when they move in.
of Celebration have to sign agreeing to adhere to a number of rules when they move in.

These rules include things like how you can park your car in your drive way; how big your
These rules include things like how you can park your car in your drive way; how big your

bushes are allowed to be; what kind of compost you’re allowed to use; how much bark must
bushes are allowed to be; what kind of compost you’re allowed to use; how much bark must

be around certain plants at all times; a rule preventing more than two people from sleeping
be around certain plants at all times; a rule preventing more than two people from sleeping

in the same bedroom; and a rule stipulating that a pet can be removed from the community
in the same bedroom; and a rule stipulating that a pet can be removed from the community

without the homeowner’s permission if it’s deemed to be a “nuisance”, among an amazing
without the homeowner’s permission if it’s deemed to be a “nuisance”, among an amazing

number of other restrictions that would make even the strictest of HOA’s elsewhere blush.
number of other restrictions that would make even the strictest of HOA’s elsewhere blush.

Of course, as Eisner said when Disney opened the town, “The first principle of Celebration
Of course, as Eisner said when Disney opened the town, “The first principle of Celebration

is that no one is actually required to live here.”
is that no one is actually required to live here.”

As you might imagine from all this, many residents and visitors have said the town feels very
As you might imagine from all this, many residents and visitors have said the town feels very

Truman Show-esque and that it’s so well designed that it comes off as looking artificial.
Truman Show-esque and that it’s so well designed that it comes off as looking artificial.

Speaking of artificial, the lengths Disney went to when designing Celebration to make
Speaking of artificial, the lengths Disney went to when designing Celebration to make

it look like the “perfect” town is nothing short of astounding.
it look like the “perfect” town is nothing short of astounding.

Plastic trees housing speakers that blast muzak from the 1940s and 1950s are found across
Plastic trees housing speakers that blast muzak from the 1940s and 1950s are found across

the town.
the town.

In winter, fake snow, nicknamed “snoap”, is dropped regularly.
In winter, fake snow, nicknamed “snoap”, is dropped regularly.

Dead leaves are imported each autumn to make the town look more picturesque.
Dead leaves are imported each autumn to make the town look more picturesque.

There were even rumors in the 1990s that Disney hired actors to walk around the town just
There were even rumors in the 1990s that Disney hired actors to walk around the town just

to make it look more inviting to prospective buyers.
to make it look more inviting to prospective buyers.

Disney also attempted to get people to regularly hold get-togethers on their porches, with
Disney also attempted to get people to regularly hold get-togethers on their porches, with

such events as “lights and lemonade” nights, but these sorts of efforts were mostly failures.
such events as “lights and lemonade” nights, but these sorts of efforts were mostly failures.

As one resident noted, “Society’s not like that.
As one resident noted, “Society’s not like that.

People wanted to sit indoors and watch TV instead.”
People wanted to sit indoors and watch TV instead.”

In 2003, Disney auctioned off much of the developed parts of the town to a private buyer,
In 2003, Disney auctioned off much of the developed parts of the town to a private buyer,

partially eliminating its stranglehold; by 2004, the majority of the town was no longer
partially eliminating its stranglehold; by 2004, the majority of the town was no longer

owned by the Disney corporation.
owned by the Disney corporation.

This was much to the chagrin of many living in the town who feared this rose-colored time
This was much to the chagrin of many living in the town who feared this rose-colored time

capsule of a town would turn into a suburb like any other without Disney at the helm.
capsule of a town would turn into a suburb like any other without Disney at the helm.

This is something that hasn’t yet happened even a decade later, partially thanks to the
This is something that hasn’t yet happened even a decade later, partially thanks to the

Declaration of Covenants that is still in place and that the residents themselves fight
Declaration of Covenants that is still in place and that the residents themselves fight

any such change tooth and nail.
any such change tooth and nail.

While we humans often like to look at the past with amazingly thick rose-coloured glasses
While we humans often like to look at the past with amazingly thick rose-coloured glasses

(whether it’s our own lives or recent human history), by most metrics, the world for humans
(whether it’s our own lives or recent human history), by most metrics, the world for humans

has never been better.
has never been better.

For instance, while an era like 1950s America is often propped up as a simple time where
For instance, while an era like 1950s America is often propped up as a simple time where

life was just about as perfect as can be (think Leave It To Beaver), it was also a time when
life was just about as perfect as can be (think Leave It To Beaver), it was also a time when

a woman’s place was in the kitchen; a black person’s (among others) place was in the
a woman’s place was in the kitchen; a black person’s (among others) place was in the

back of the bus; imminent threat of global nuclear war was just part of day to day life;
back of the bus; imminent threat of global nuclear war was just part of day to day life;

getting your brains (literally) scrambled was the pinnacle of medical science including
getting your brains (literally) scrambled was the pinnacle of medical science including

earning the originator of the procedure, António Egas Moniz, a Nobel Prize in Physiology or
earning the originator of the procedure, António Egas Moniz, a Nobel Prize in Physiology or

Medicine; infant death rates were 750% higher, while the average life span, partially because
Medicine; infant death rates were 750% higher, while the average life span, partially because

of this child mortality rate along with the state of medical science among other things,
of this child mortality rate along with the state of medical science among other things,

was around 45; the CIA was busy conducting experiments on the effects of biological and
was around 45; the CIA was busy conducting experiments on the effects of biological and

chemical agents on American citizens without their knowledge; various forms of eugenics,
chemical agents on American citizens without their knowledge; various forms of eugenics,

including forced sterilization of undesirables, was still a thing in numerous countries (including
including forced sterilization of undesirables, was still a thing in numerous countries (including

the United States) ; the Great Chinese Famine was just getting started killing some 20-43
the United States) ; the Great Chinese Famine was just getting started killing some 20-43

million people; Robin Hood was being purged from school text books because he was declared
million people; Robin Hood was being purged from school text books because he was declared

a communist (just the tip of the iceberg when it came to the Second Red Scare and McCarthyism);
a communist (just the tip of the iceberg when it came to the Second Red Scare and McCarthyism);

and deaths due to wars, while drastically declining from the decade before, were still
and deaths due to wars, while drastically declining from the decade before, were still

absurdly high relative to today…
absurdly high relative to today…

While certainly every era has its problems and positive elements, on the whole you’d
While certainly every era has its problems and positive elements, on the whole you’d

be hard pressed to make the case that this quintessentially “perfect” time for America
be hard pressed to make the case that this quintessentially “perfect” time for America

was even in the same league as today in terms of quality of life for most citizens of this
was even in the same league as today in terms of quality of life for most citizens of this

particular rock floating around in space.
particular rock floating around in space.

Nevertheless, we humans almost universally love to think of the past as better than the
Nevertheless, we humans almost universally love to think of the past as better than the

present, even if all evidence is to the contrary, for a variety of fascinating reasons which
present, even if all evidence is to the contrary, for a variety of fascinating reasons which

we’ll discuss in an upcoming article.
we’ll discuss in an upcoming article.