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Flamingo Crossings

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Coordinates: 28°22′49″N 81°37′4″W / 28.38028°N 81.61778°W / 28.38028; -81.61778
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Flamingo Crossings
Flamingo Crossings logo
Flamingo Crossings main entrance signage
Map
LocationWinter Garden, Florida, United States
Coordinates28°22′49″N 81°37′4″W / 28.38028°N 81.61778°W / 28.38028; -81.61778
Opening date2021 (2021)
ManagementDisney Experiences
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company
Websiteflamingocrossings.com
Walt Disney World
Theme parks
Water parks
Other attractions and areas
Resorts
Affiliated services
Transport

Flamingo Crossings, also known as Flamingo Crossings Town Center or Flamingo Crossings Village, is an outdoor shopping, dining, residential, and entertainment complex at Walt Disney World near Winter Garden, Florida in Orange County. First announced by Disney in 2007, the complex officially opened in 2021 with an initial phase of businesses, with more planned in future development.[1]

Background

A skywalk across Western Way at Flamingo Crossings.

The Walt Disney Company first announced the development of a new entertainment district in 2007, to be called Flamingo Crossings. Disney designated land located directly outside what is called the Western Entrance Gateway located on Western Way behind Animal Kingdom. Shortly after the announcement and initial planning, the Great Recession of 2008 hindered development plans, and Disney shifted their focus to the re-development of the Downtown Disney area into Disney Springs. The first business to open in the area was the two connected Marriott International hotels, Towneplace Suites and Springhill Suites. Construction began in 2014 and the hotels opened in 2016.[2] Development was also stalled while construction of the Western Way extension to Avalon Road was to be completed. The new extension opened in 2019. Development was further stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic, with businesses deferring their opening plans into 2022 and 2023. Western Way is planned to be extended even further onto Highway 27, bringing more business to the fast-growing area known as Horizon West.[3]

History

The land on which Flamingo Crossings was built was originally all orange grove farms. The main road in the development is named Hartzog Road, named after William Hartzog (1916–2009), who was a long-time landowner and businessman in the area and created the road from clay from his citrus farm.[4] Disney did not initially own the land this far west of the property but began purchasing it from local landowners in the 1990s, one of whom was Everette Fischer (1933–2021) former manager of the Winter Garden Citrus Growers Association.[5] Disney had also developed the former Crossroads Shopping Center located near Disney Springs in the 1980s, geared toward Disney College Program Cast Members and guests staying in local resorts on Hotel Plaza Blvd. Crossroads was closed and demolished in 2021. The Flamingo Crossings development is located just north of the Orange Lake Resort & Golf Club by Holiday Inn on Sandpiper Landing Way, which was built by Kemmons Wilson in 1982,[6] before Disney World expanded west with Disney's Animal Kingdom in 1998. The Florida State Road 429 was built using Eminent domain through the Orange Lake Resort property.[7]

Development

Walt Disney Imagineering filed the trademark for the Flamingo Crossing name and insignia in 2015.[8] The Reedy Creek Improvement District (now the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District) approved further enhancements to the area including two skywalks, for guests and Cast Members to safely cross both sides of the development. A traffic stop at the intersection of Western Way and Hartzog Road was installed in 2021. Additional paving and enhancements, including the installation of a bus lane for Disney College Program busses, took place in 2021 and 2022. The roads within the complex are named Sugar Belle Drive, Flagler Drive, and Ruby Red Place. The complex includes a community exposition hall for meetings and events, and an outdoor shelter. A garden area and space for live entertainment is also located at the center of the complex.

Flamingo Crossings Village

Housing for those participating in Orlando's Disney College Program is provided in Flamingo Crossings Village, a large apartment complex that opened in 2021. The complex replaced the former Disney College Program housing complexes, which were adjacently located in the Little Lake Bryan area, nearby International Drive, and the Vistana area, nearby Florida State Road 535. The village is designated into sections, with a nature walking path connecting the two. The complex is divided into East and West, with neighborhoods named after Disney characters within the buildings. The East Village is located off Hartzog Road, while the West Village is located on Rock Pigeon Loop.[9] The complex is managed by American Campus Communities.[10] In December 2023, Disney opened up Flamingo Crossings Village to all Cast Members.[11]

Located within the development is also the private apartment community named The Westerly.[12]

North of Flamingo Crossings, Disney plans to build an affordable housing complex open to the general public.[13] Offices are located within the complex for the Disney Programs department. Almost all of the first announced businesses for Phase One of the area will be open by 2024. The area has several expansion pads for additions in the future.

Hotels

Labeled as Walt Disney World Gateway Hotels, these hotels provide shuttles to and from the four Disney theme parks.[14] Each resort has meeting and special event space, with Homewood Suites having the largest facilities available with three meeting rooms totaling 2,809 square feet.[15]

List of current businesses

Future Businesses

Former businesses

  • Persimmon Hollow Brewing Company (2022–2023)[27]

References

  1. ^ Staff, O. W. "After years of delays Disney's Flamingo Crossings might finally get its village center". Orlando Weekly.
  2. ^ "SpringHill Suites & TownePlace Suites Hotels To Open In Winter Garden, Florida". Hospitality Net.
  3. ^ "Flamingo Crossings Full Map". Horizon West News & Info. November 7, 2021.
  4. ^ "William Hartzog Obituary (2009) – Orlando, FL – Orlando Sentinel". Legacy.com.
  5. ^ "Everette Fischer Obituary – Winter Garden, FL". Dignity Memorial.
  6. ^ Timeline. Mid 1980s–mid 1990s hicv.com
  7. ^ Yanes, Nadeen (September 24, 2021). "Crossroads shopping center near Disney set for demolition". WKMG.
  8. ^ Bilbao, Richard. "Disney secures trademarks for Flamingo Crossings development". Orlando Business Journal.
  9. ^ "Flamingo Crossings Village | Disney College Program Housing". www.americancampus.com.
  10. ^ "Flamingo Crossings Village | Disney College Program Housing". www.americancampus.com.
  11. ^ "Disney Opens College Program Housing At Flamingo Crossings To Cast Members". Horizon West News & Info. horizonwestinfo.com. 26 December 2023.
  12. ^ Westerly, The. "Winter Garden Apartments | The Westerly Apartment Homes". westerlyapts.com.
  13. ^ "Walt Disney Imagineering Begins Early Phases of Affordable Housing Project Near Disney World". June 15, 2023.
  14. ^ "lake-buena-vista-area,flamingo-crossings-area". disneyworld.disney.go.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  15. ^ https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/mcofchw-homewood-suites-orlando/events/ [bare URL]
  16. ^ "American Restaurant Orlando | SpringHill Suites Orlando at FLAMINGO CROSSINGS". www.marriott.com.
  17. ^ "Homewood Suites Flamingo Official Site".
  18. ^ Fairfield Inn Flamingo Crossings accessed 10/08/2023]
  19. ^ Residence Inn Flamingo Crossings' accessed 10/08/2023
  20. ^ "Disney's Flamingo Crossings lands Italian eatery from restaurateur Nick Valenti". March 16, 2023.
  21. ^ "Skyline Chili Now Serving at Flamingo Crossings: A Taste of Cincinnati in Horizon West". Horizon West News & Info. Horizon West News & Info. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  22. ^ "New Sonic location coming to Horizon West". West Orange Times & Observer. January 4, 2023.
  23. ^ "AdventHealth opens ER near Walt Disney World Resort with groundbreaking patient experience | AdventHealth Central Florida Media Resources | AdventHealth". www.adventhealth.com. May 17, 2023.
  24. ^ "Now Open: Fit2Run Runner's Superstore at Flamingo Crossings". Horizon West News & Info. 18 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Home". Nail Salon 34787 | LUXOR NAIL & SPA | WINTER GARDEN, FL 34787.
  26. ^ "Chipotle Mexican Grill Files Permits for Horizon West Location". 2 January 2024.
  27. ^ Persimmon Hollow Closing accessed 11/10/23
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