What ever happened to Flamingo Crossing?

[Mouse Detective]

The main reason why nothing is being done at FC is because it was a poor plan in the beginning.

Basically, the economics of a hotel or restaurant operating from there doesn't make sense. The US 192 exit is less than a mile away where land/rent is presumably much cheaper. I say presumably based on all the development that has taken place at that exit since Flamingo Crossings was first announced. Meanwhile anyone opening in Flamingo Crossings has to compete with Disney itself for the same customers. Why would you pay more to stay at far-out FC when you can pay less and stay on Disney property?

 

[MarkTwain]

Well to be fair, while FC is technically "on property", it doesn't appear as on property, and it is very much out of the way of everything. Sure, its right off of a (toll road) 429 exit, but hardly anyone uses 429. Other than that, its a good couple mine drive on the Western Way road from Coronado Springs, or driving through many miles of nothing from Avalon road. I can't really figure out why they thought this would be prime retail location, but what do I know?

Agreed. The location seems absolutely terrible. I can't imagine why any person would pay to stay at, much less build a hotel there.

 

[Did Knee]

It was run over by a big fat Doris on an out of control ECV

It wasn''t really her fault though Pumbas....she heard somewhere that Flamingos taste just like chicken.

 

[71jason]

The US 192 exit is less than a mile away where land/rent is presumably much cheaper.

Cheaper, with more visibility and exponentially more passing traffic. Orange Lake, apparently the country or the world's largest tiemshare development, is right there on 192. Any Flamingo Crossing restaurant would basically be limiting its customer base to people staying in the FC motels (that still haven't been agreed to yet) and the not insignificant but still relatively small percentage of cast members who live up in Winter Garden--and I suppose hard core fanbois willing to drive out of their way because they are convinced that a TGI Fridays legally on WDW property--though still outside the Mickey Gates--is somehow more "magical" than the other twenty around Orlando.

FC was a dumb idea. Probably from MBAs who think a single case study they read gives them insight into the tourist industry.

 

[Mouse Detective]

FC was a dumb idea. Probably from MBA's who think a single case study they read gives them insight into the tourist industry.

Agreed. I think Disney's goal was to get the guests who stay off-property, onto property, so that they could get a piece of that action. Problem is that most guests who elect to stay off-property do so because the price points are much lower. The price points at Flamingo Crossings can never be low enough though to get "those" people to stay there.

 

[Figment82]

Nah, I doubt many will come down from Winter Garden. There are too many awesome options at The Grove, downtown, and surrounding area to warrant the drive to a TGI Fridays-esque establishment that is semi-near Disbey property. Especially when there's a brand spanking new Red Robin and the fantastic 4 Rivers bbq right down the road.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Yeah, Winter Garden Village/The Grove seems to be what Flamingo Crossings was aiming to be (most likely minus the big box stores). There'd be no reason to keep going south for people in Winter Garden.

 

[flavious27]

Basically, the economics of a hotel or restaurant operating from there doesn't make sense. The US 192 exit is less than a mile away where land/rent is presumably much cheaper. I say presumably based on all the development that has taken place at that exit since Flamingo Crossings was first announced. Meanwhile anyone opening in Flamingo Crossings has to compete with Disney itself for the same customers. Why would you pay more to stay at far-out FC when you can pay less and stay on Disney property?

It is that, there is also a glut of hotels and other accommodations in that area. Along with that, it is not central to the areas that people are going to.