Celebration, Florida: A Guide to Disney's Charming Town Near Kissimmee

A few minutes from the Disney gates, the town of Celebration offers something the theme parks do not: a slow, walkable, small-town afternoon. Originally developed by Disney, Celebration has a lakeside downtown that is genuinely pleasant to stroll, with restaurants, boutique shops, and a picture-perfect main street.

What to do in the Town Center

Celebration's downtown wraps around a small lake with a fountain and a boardwalk. You can:

• Walk the lakefront and let the kids run off some energy in a low-key setting.
• Browse the boutique shops — locally owned stores rather than the usual mall chains.
• Eat lakeside at one of several restaurants and cafes with outdoor seating.

It is the kind of place where you park once and wander, which is a nice change of pace from the parking-tram-security rhythm of the parks.

Seasonal events

Celebration is known for its seasonal celebrations, including a festive winter setup downtown that draws visitors from across the area. If you are traveling around the holidays, it is worth checking what is on while you are in town.

Where it is

Celebration sits right off the Highway 192 corridor near the entrance to Walt Disney World, which puts it within about 10 to 20 minutes of most of the vacation-home communities in the Kissimmee, ChampionsGate, and Reunion areas.

Fitting it into your trip

Celebration works best as a half-day or an evening — a relaxed dinner and a walk after a morning at the pool, or a quiet break between park days. It pairs naturally with a stay in a nearby vacation home, where you get the same easy, unhurried feel at the end of the day. Browse our homes near Celebration and Disney.