Neighborhoods in Brief

Walt Disney World Though Walt Disney World and Orlando are often considered synonymous (surprise!), WDW isn't situated in Orlando. It's actually located southwest of the city in Lake Buena Vista (and is a municipal entity in its own right). WDW encompasses more than 47 square miles and claims four major theme parks, two smaller water parks, several smaller attractions, numerous themed resorts, a plethora of restaurants and shops, and an entertainment district.

Downtown Disney Though not actually a neighborhood, Downtown Disney is certainly large enough to be distinguished as such. It encompasses Disney's two nighttime entertainment districts -- Pleasure Island and Downtown Disney West Side -- as well as its shopping and dining complex, the Downtown Disney Marketplace. The area is filled with clubs, entertainment venues, restaurants, and shops. Here you can party all night, shop till you drop, and tempt your taste buds -- all in the space of a single evening.

Lake Buena Vista Lake Buena Vista actually encompasses all of WDW, but also includes much of the area bordering the resort. Here you can find the "official" (but not Disney-owned) hotels situated along Hotel Plaza Boulevard. The area along 535 (known locally as Apopka-Vineland), is home to its own share of resorts and restaurants. Though the region is bustling, many of its resorts, restaurants, and shops are set along alcoves and tree-lined side streets, far from the main thoroughfare, to maintain a quieter, more charming atmosphere.

Celebration As you drive through this quaint little town, full of beautiful homes trimmed in gingerbread, some of them with white picket fences, shade trees, and some of the loveliest landscaping around, you may find yourself musing about this 4,900-acre community's seeming perfection. The fact that Disney had a hand in its creation then should come as no great surprise -- experts that they are at creating the perfect version of almost anything. The Market Street area's charming collection of shops, restaurants, and even its own small hotel, is reminiscent of a bygone era -- and an upscale version at that.