The project was so widely anticipated from the beginning that the first 2,000 residents of the first phase of development were chosen by lottery. By the time Celebration is completed it is expected to have as many as 20,000 residents. He enlisted architects Robert A.M. Stern and Jaquelin Robertson to create the master design of the unincorporated town. The stores are limited to regional, non-branded establishments. Parking lots are located behind buildings and out of sight.
Streets are narrow to keep traffic slow in order to give preference to kids on bicycles.
In fact, much of downtown was designed with the safety of children playing after school in mind. It allows them to interact, to build relationships, rather than sit at home in front of a television. It lets kids be kids, they way they used to be. Mega-stores, such as Disney's own The Disney Company store, are not allowed downtown. In Celebration, old-fashioned community is fostered through these visual signs in the environment.