West gate Development

ohioguy

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Some time ago, Disney World announced plans for a retail/lodging development on their western edge.... whatever became of it? is it still a-go?
 

trr1

Well-Known Member
Disney to sell land at Flamingo Crossings complex

Things are moving forward at the retail, dining, lodging and entertainment complex at the Western Way entrance to Walt Disney World, now known as Flamingo Crossings. Disney's Buena Vista Land Co. (the arm of Walt Disney Imagineering charged with land management of Disney's Florida property) has begun offering land for sale within the 450-acre site.
Western_Beltway_development_Aerial_Focus.jpg

Flamingo Crossings will be just northwest of the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Note that the Coronado Springs Resort label in this image is down and to the left of the resort's actual location. It should be more in a straight line between Epcot and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Image © Disney.
Disney is selling the land instead of leasing it (as it does with the tenants at Downtown Disney and Hotel Plaza Boulevard) because, according to Buena Vista Land Company spokeswoman Andrea Finger, "Flamingo Crossings is a unique project: It will be located outside the gateway, and will include third-party branded businesses, similar to Little Lake Bryan and Crossroads." No decision has been made yet as to how much of the site Disney will retain at full build-out.
Western_Beltway_development_Aerial_Rendering.jpg

Flamingo Crossings will include a shopping/dining/retail district, as well as value-priced hotels. Image © Disney.
What is certain, though, is that the Flamingo Crossings property will not be de-annexed from the Reedy Creek Improvement District, unlike the property for the private vacation homes adjacent to the Four Seasons Resort project announced at the same time back in March. While that will give others the right to vote in Reedy Creek elections, it won't make much of a difference, as voting is on the basis of the amount of land owned. At one vote per acre, the 450 acres of Flamingo Crossings are a mere blip compared to the 17,000 acres still owned by Disney.
The project, which will be developed in phases over the next 8-10 years, will eventually feature 4,000–5,000 low- to mid-rise value-priced lodging units and 300,000–500,000 square feet of commercial space. Asked if the planned hotels will receive the same official status/privileges as the Downtown Disney Hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard, Finger would only note, "The project is still in the early planning stages."
Western_Beltway_development_Artist_Rendering.jpg

The "retail village" portion of Flamingo Crossings will be pedestrian-friendly. Image © Disney.
"Flamingo Crossings is the latest example of Disney's commitment to creating great places for families to enjoy," said Matt Kelly, vice president of Buena Vista Land Company. "This unique, master-planned destination is part of Disney Parks and Resorts' strategy to generate growth within existing businesses and expand around the central Florida resort."
 

DisneyWall-E

Well-Known Member
So, is this going to be like Downtown Disney 2.0? Do they expect guests from the WDW resorts to go there or other people not on vacation to WDW? Lastly, will there be busses from resorts going back and forth to this place?
 

s8film40

Well-Known Member
It's simply a way to sell off land. Just as they have done with Celebration, Crossroads, Little Lake Bryan, and the Four Seasons development. Disney bought far more land than they needed for a theme park resort and they have been slowly selling ever since. It makes perfect sense if they just tried to sell off everything they didn't need all at once they would not get that much for it, but developing individual parcels one at a time and then selling individual lots within a development creates a much greater return on investment.
 

Wilt Dasney

Well-Known Member
So in other words, this will NOT be Downtown Disney 2.0, since Disney will have no stake at all in either the property or businesses there. I had read about this a while back, but didn't realize Disney was just selling the land outright.
 

The Conundrum

New Member
It's simply a way to sell off land. Just as they have done with Celebration, Crossroads, Little Lake Bryan, and the Four Seasons development. Disney bought far more land than they needed for a theme park resort and they have been slowly selling ever since. It makes perfect sense if they just tried to sell off everything they didn't need all at once they would not get that much for it, but developing individual parcels one at a time and then selling individual lots within a development creates a much greater return on investment.

It's ironic that at Disneyland they are fighting to buy back every inch of land they can but at WDW there giving away land like wholesale defeating the whole purpose of the Florida project

*facepalm*
 

_Scar

Active Member
On a positive note, more families with lower incomes get the oppurtunity to stay on Disney property. It may be a dream come true? :)
 

s8film40

Well-Known Member
On a positive note, more families with lower incomes get the oppurtunity to stay on Disney property. It may be a dream come true? :)

If Disney sells the property they won't be staying on "Disney Property"
I'm sure it will be nice and a convenient location though.
 

_Scar

Active Member
If Disney sells the property they won't be staying on "Disney Property"
I'm sure it will be nice and a convenient location though.


Well, technically, the Swan and Dolphin isn't owned by Disney even though they get the same benefits as other resort stayers. Does that make them any less than the other hotels?
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom