I was expecting a really cheap looking apartment dwelling for college kids and for when they return 6 months later to toil full time with low investment/low income retail and some “peasant” hotel chains for those that disney believes earn too little to actually attend the parks anymore in the “grand luxury initiative”.
I was expecting what Disney said they were going to do, that was likely my first mistake.
It actually looked nice last time I drove by. Sort of a Disney Springs “lite”. Though still disappointed anytime the bubble shrinks.I was expecting what Disney said they were going to do, that was likely my first mistake.
"The master-planned development is comparable in size to Disney's Animal Kingdom. The project combines third-party branded lodging, retail and dining in a pedestrian-friendly environment and will be another example of Disney's commitment to unique placemaking."
When they announced it they were talking all about historic Florida architecture and history and why they named the roads after the people they did and then they plopped in a generic looking shopping center, no different than Winter Garden Village. I'd add Hamlin down the road to that group as well but from what I can tell of Flamingo crossing so far Hamlin has a lot more personality. I don't care who the tenants are, I'm disappointed in the lack of originality in the design. I would have thought they would have learned and wanted to improve on what they did with the Crossroads and little lake Bryan. Disney used to want to do things better than everyone else and for some stupid reason I thought that maybe they would put some effort into Flamingo Crossing.
Flamingo Crossing really is just Little Lake Bryan and Crossroads v2.0. Maybe one day I'll learn from the past and remember to keep my expectations low. Its getting easier and easier.
That was the area’s intent though
You don’t think intending to be bland sprawl is in itself a negative?
I'm aware. I'm not talking about the tenants and the use of the space I'm referring to the aesthetic. Disney referred to placemaking when they announced the project but what we ended up with is something that looks very generic.
I mentioned before that I hate when they use their land to build stuff like this, but I was more referring to the fact it was never meant to be like another Disney Springs. It’s got a Celebration/Disney Springs “lite” look to it, and it’s main purpose was to provide goods and services to the CP housing and the local hotels. I’ve done multiple internships living in Disney housing and this looks like a huge improvement, and it’s a common theme on these boards that cast should be treated better, which this definitely does. So it’s serving it’s intent and purpose, but I won’t deny I wish this area was used for something else.
That goal doesn’t require the cheap design and sprawl. It easily could have been an actual pedestrian oriented design that would have added more benefit to Cast Members living in the apartments. It would have added more value to the hotels guests. It would have given the businesses access to more customers as they walk around which the space could have encouraged people to do.
I don’t disagree
The people at HHAGG are great. I will point out that some of their dishes are not what you think you're ordering. For example, I ordered the Chicken Pot Pie; we all know what a Chicken Pot Pie is, right? Nice flaky crust surrounding chicken and veggies in a creamy sauce in the center, right? Not at HHAGG. From a review I wrote once: "It's a big bowl, topped with a "Sombrero" of a round flatbread, and the filling poured into the middle of the bread so it gets soggy and sinks down to fill about half the bowl. Now that filling is delicious ... But this isn't a pie at all, no crust, no flaky pastry dough at all." Brannon R from HHAGG wrote me to say "This is our take on the famous meal, and we're proud to be doing it our own unique way."
Flex store. Had the pleasure of opening one in the Tallahassee market. It’s gonna cater specifically to area it’s in. I’d imagine lots of grab and go snacks, plenty of HBA and OTC and of course a Disney merch section.
www.wdwmagic.com
