Celebration is a planned community on the outskirts of the Happiest Place on Earth (Disney). Originally developed by The Walt Disney Company, there’s still some Disney involvement, but the storybook community controls itself.
You Can’t Help But Smile When You Get There
Driving in feels like being transported in time to some kind of perfect place. It’s charming, quaint, well-cared-for and welcoming. Development began in 1996 and at the time, Disney CEO Michael Eisner wanted Celebration to be an example of the Disney vision of EPCOT… Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. You can feel Disney’s part in it and the result is lovely.
Girl Time
For this visit, it was all about girl time. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend 24 hours with one of my oldest friends… not in terms of age, but in terms of nearly 40 years of friendship. Jolie made the hotel reservation in Celebration and neither of us knew much about it, and we were pleasantly surprised when we arrived.
Everything is picture-perfect, from well-maintained homes and perfectly manicured lawns, to welcoming streets with shops and restaurants, all easily walked from the central area. It was the perfect venue for walking, chatting, grabbing a meal, coffee or a drink.
Bohemian Autograph Boutique Hotel
We stayed at Jolie’s find… the Bohemian Autograph Hotel. It was a beautiful gem in the perfect setting. It definitely has a boutique feel and the staff is very friendly, eager to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable. There was nice bedding in the room and we had a great view. We walked around town and enjoyed dinner at Imperium Food & Wine, where we had fabulous salads, wine and sangria.
When we asked the front desk for a breakfast recommendation, they were kind enough to point out that breakfast was included with our room, which we didn’t realize. We ate outside and even though the temperature was a bit cool, the sun made it comfortable and we enjoyed the hotel’s delicious breakfast and fabulous service.
Another Visit, Please!
We both really enjoyed Celebration and would definitely go back. Our hotel was terrific, and I would also consider renting a home in the area for a family gathering. I loved that it felt like a cozy and unexpected getaway from the madness of Disney (which I love), just minutes away. There’s something for everyone. Celebration is appropriately named!
