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 Horizons West.[3]

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 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]

Insignia at Flamingo Crossings, developed by Walt Disney Imagineering.

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 developement. 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.

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. 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]

Located within the development is also the private apartment community named The Westerly.[11] Disney plans to build an affordable housing complex within the development off Hartzog Road open to all Disney Cast Members due to the affordable housing crisis in the area.[12] 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.

A skywalk across Western Way at Flamingo Crossings.

Labeled as Walt Disney World Gateway Hotels, these hotels provide shuttles to and from the four Disney theme parks.[13]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.[14]

• TownePlace Suites / SpringHill Suites - Marriott

The two hotels are connected and share a Starbucks coffee location in the lobby. The hotel is home to Flamingo's Bar & Grille. [15]

• Homewoods Suites / Home2 Suites by Hilton

The two hotels are connected and feature Dia Feliz Cantina Restaurant. [16]

• Fairfield by Marriott

The hotel features The Fieldhouse Restaurant.[17]

• Residence Inn by Marriott

The hotel features Featherstones Bar & Grille.[18]

The AdventHealth locations serve Walt Disney World guests staying in nearby resorts. AdventHealth is the official healthcare provider for the resort. The emergency room features Disney character theming and aims to provide a calming atmosphere for guests needing medical attention. [28]

• Fit2Run Shoe Store[29]
• Sonic Drive-In[30]
• 7-Eleven Gas Station
• AT&T
• I Heart Mac & Cheese[31]
• Flatlands Bar & Grill - developed by Patina Restaurant Group and former CEO Nick Valenti. [32]