Originally Posted By Lake Nona Looks like the Western Way project is a green light. Story by the Orlando Sentinal... Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Reporter November 28, 2007 Private developers and merchants will be able to build, run and own small restaurants, a grocery store, service and retail shops, and several "value"-oriented hotels and motels on the western edge of Walt Disney World later this decade as part of the giant resort's next development. Disney World's land-development company, Buena Vista Land Co., said Tuesday it has begun offering parcels for sale and development within Flamingo Crossings, the 450-acre lodging-and-shopping district it announced last winter. The project will rise mostly west of the State Road 429 interchange at Western Way, which connects S.R. 429 -- also known as the Western Beltway -- with Disney's theme parks and hotels. Early marketing materials declared it to be "outside the western gateway to Walt Disney World," but in fact all of the land is and will remain within the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the government agency that the Florida Legislature created specifically for Walt Disney Co. in 1967. Related links The latest Disney news Blog: Tourism Central Florida That prospect creates a first chance for third-party owners to buy and develop land inside Reedy Creek. Disney has previously allowed numerous private developments of hotels, stores and restaurants within Reedy Creek, but always through long-term land leases that have kept the real-estate deeds in Disney's hands. Flamingo Crossings is to be built in phases over eight to 10 years, the company said. Infrastructure construction could start this winter, and the first private hotels or shops could break ground in a year or two, Buena Vista spokeswoman Andrea Finger said. The district would aim for "value" hotels and motels, she said. Plans call for 4,000 to 5,000 rooms in low- to mid-rise lodges -- priced to compete with moderate hotels and motels off Disney property. "We think there is room for expansion in that area" of the market," Finger said. The 300,000 to 500,000 square feet of retail space at Flamingo Crossings would target merchants of practical wares and services that tourists, Disney employees and area residents might need, such as groceries, toiletries or basic clothing -- thereby competing with area shopping centers and outlet stores that draw many visitors off Disney property. The restaurants might include a mix of fast-food and casual-dining franchises not common on Disney grounds. "Generally speaking, it's your typical shopping center that you see along the interstate," Reedy Creek Administrator Ray Maxwell said. "It's the value end of the market." That retail concept contrasts with Disney's other major shopping and dining district, Downtown Disney, where patrons find a mix of entertainment, nightclubs, themed restaurants, Disneyana, and offbeat, niche and high-end gifts. All of the private development would be developed under Disney's watchful eye, fitting into the project's master plan and aligning with Disney's restrictions and prior developments, Finger said. That is one reason Flamingo Crossings land will remain within the Reedy Creek district, rather than subjecting it to Orange County's development oversight. Consequently, future landowners there will earn the rare power to vote to elect members of Reedy Creek's governing board or to decide any district-wide initiatives -- a right that has been extended to very few outside of Walt Disney Co. during the past four decades. Such votes are unlikely to change any balances of power within the district, Maxwell said, because the district's charter allows property owners one vote per acre. Flamingo Crossings could result in the sale of 450 acres to third-party owners, but Disney would still own about 17,000 acres within the district, while another 7,500 will remain under the control of the district itself or the state of Florida. Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441 Link... <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-disney2807nov28" target="_blank">http://www.orlandosentinel.com /business/custom/tourism/orl-disney2807nov28</a>,0,4992563.story
Originally Posted By FerretAfros How about they finish building the Pop Century before they start adding more inexpensive hotel rooms? If they really need the spaces, wouldn't Disney open the hotel they have already halfway built? If they are having trouble filling up the spaces they have (which would explain why they aren't finishing the buildings) why on earth are they building more somewhere else?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 The sad, sick thing is the day might come when we have a real WalMart on WDW property. When that happens, I think they can have my Charter AP back. This whole project is a HUGE mistake and money grab for the Mouse and I truly hope it blows up in their collective faces.
Originally Posted By kennect Spirit, I so tend to agree with you here....Then again what would Disney have ever done with this land? I know the answer....
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror Yuck. As to what Disney might have done with this land... Letting trees just GROW isn't a terrible idea.
Originally Posted By magnet Disney is going to have to be VERY careful about what they let in there, because it will suck away dollars. If food options are available it's going to hurt restaurants in the parks. Now, guests won't even have to leave Disney property to give their money to someone else (at least it used to be Disney property). There doesn't even have to be fast food there. Even if there's a quick mart, you can drop in and pick up some cereal and milk and as quickly as that, you just lost that family eating breakfast at the resorts and parks for their entire stay. I really hope that whoever buys the land does their best to take as much money from Disney and hurt them as much as they can so that this mistake is not repeated again.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Disney is going to have to be VERY careful about what they let in there, because it will suck away dollars. If food options are available it's going to hurt restaurants in the parks. Now, guests won't even have to leave Disney property to give their money to someone else (at least it used to be Disney property). >> No more dollars will be sucked away than are already being sucked away by folks heading east off property and along I-Drive. The trick with this development is that it is on the western side of the property -- so out of the sightlines of Universal and Sea World. If Disney can get folks to do their off-property hotel stays, eating, and shopping in this development, it makes it less likely that folks will be enticed by all of the attractions near the I-Drive corridor into Orlando. On the negative side, this just continues the trend of real estate development/sales being a major contributor to the WDW business model. They started with Celebration over a decade ago, branched into DVC, and are now looking for other property to sell to developers. At some point, they'll run out of property to sell and the music will stop. That's a big problem for WDW because without the real estate sales boom of the past 10 years, the resort would have been swimming in red ink.
Originally Posted By magnet >>>No more dollars will be sucked away than are already being sucked away<<< Don't count on it. But I agree that the main issue here is overdevelopment.
Originally Posted By cmash95 you know with the economy going south, especially construction and commercial developement, it's possible the entire project will be put on hold. if disney hasn't got the cash in hand for the land, then the deals might not go through at least not at the price they were seeking. and even if it did, doesn't mean that they are gonna build on it any time soon. several big developments that were planned for I drive have either been scaled way back or not started at all. we will just have to wait and see.
Originally Posted By MPierce Thanks for the article Lake Nona. How in the world can Disney think that this is a good idea. Slowly, but surely they are draining every bit of Magic out of WDW. Why don't they put in a low income housing project or maybe a couple of half-way houses. I use to go to WDW to get away from the ordinary, everyday way of life, not to see strip centers, and value motels. I thought the whole concept behind WDW was seperation from the outside world.
Originally Posted By Brian Noble One speculation that I've read, that sounds plausible, is that Disney would like more hotels from which it can derive revenue (from leasing or licensing), but would prefer not to have to develop them itself. True, right now, demand for Disney rooms is soaring. But, if another 9/11 happens, then whoever puts out the capital for new rooms is stuck with the bill. For these new developments: Western Way and the Four Seasons in the northeast, the person stuck with the bill won't be the mouse.
Originally Posted By jmuboy While I detest the 4 Seasons and this Beltway Project at least the 4 seasons will have an air of luxury and class. I'm just not keen on the idea of Motel 6's and strip malls on WDW property. No matter what the reason!
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy The Western Way expansion has a lot more to do with locating the value-oriented customers away from I-Drive moreso than a desire to develop new revenue streams. While real estate development has become a major source of revenue for WDW, they could have easily developed similar parcels near Lake Buena Vista and the infrastructure that is already established there. The problem with that scenario is that LBV is just too close to the competing attractions and hotels heading towards Orlando. The Western Way development is an attempt to create a more isolated hotel/motel environment where guests aren't in such close proximity to Sea World, Universal, and other competing venues.
Originally Posted By dshyates From what I've heard is WDW will build all the retail space to the standards people expect. Then lease the space. For the hotels they will lease the land, but tightly control the look and themeing of the hotels. All the hotels may not be "value" hotels, just not Disney hotels. I wouldn't be surprised if something like a Marriott or Hyatt property showed up there. With Disney controlling the entire look and feel of this complex i hope it will be good. That said, Disney is aiming for a more "value" oriented complex, and the last time they tried to appeal to the lower middle/upper lower class demographic, we ended up with the All-Stars. So there is reason to be concerned about the level of, shall we say, sophistication they will include. I hope it's not all Ruby Tuesday and Quizno's. They are fine, but it would be nice to include some unique eateries and lounges. Like one of the new Trader Vic's Mia Tia Bars, or the Grand Lux Cafe. It is a more upscale franchise from the people who own The Cheesecake Factory. There certainly needs to be a mix of cool lounges. And of course a new concept from the Rainforest/T-Rex Cafe people. (First Responder Cafe: Eat surrounded by emergency vehicles and once every 15 min. an earthquake shakes the walls and floors, fire erupts from all the walls, then all the squirting hoses, flashing lights and screaming sirens whip the kids into a frothy frenzy. The perfect place for a fun family vacation dining experience. and please stop by the gift shop our exclusive line of "First Responder Cafe hats, t-shirts and toys.)
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Is this that span of new highway that you can hit leaving WDW the "back way" out beyound the Animal Kingdom Lodge?
Originally Posted By dshyates Yes. SportG. I'm sure that isolating people is one of the goals. As this has been a Disney guiding prineple since Walt's days. I'm sure that another is that on the western end of US192 there is a large number of hotels already there but not many good restaurants, and absolutely no sort of nightlife. Almost everyone over there goes to DtD for their entertainment needs. That's a huge number of people that will utilize this because of proximity. That is provided it turns out attractive enough. There is already a Goody's center with 7-11 less than a mile from there on Orange Lake Resort property. But it truely is just a strip mall. My guess is Disney's will be better.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << I wouldn't be surprised if something like a Marriott or Hyatt property showed up there. >> I'd be surprised. Too far from the airport for a full-service hotel. This caters to the budget minded crowd that drives themselves around. Maybe a Fairfield Inn by Marriott or a Hilton Garden Inn, but nothing outside of that variety of lodging.
Originally Posted By dshyates "Maybe a Fairfield Inn by Marriott or a Hilton Garden Inn,.." That what I'm thinking. A Springhill or Residence Inn. Something by Marriott that is a (Famliy)Suites type property. I wouldn't expect a Full blown Marriott Resort or J.W. They are building their Marriott Nickalodeon Waterpark family suites resort over in LBV, and I wouldn't be surprised if anothe J.W. turned up near the Marriot resort near EPCOT.
Originally Posted By Lake Nona >>I use to go to WDW to get away from the ordinary, everyday way of life, not to see strip centers, and value motels. I thought the whole concept behind WDW was seperation from the outside world.<< One time while we were dining at The 50's Prime time, mom throws the check on the table and says...welcome to the real world. Well said. >> Is this that span of new highway that you can hit leaving WDW the "back way" out beyound the Animal Kingdom Lodge?<< Flordia State Toll Road 429 to Apopka and I-4. Would be nice if a new Publix is in the plans. A good wine is never bad
Originally Posted By magnet Publix makes nice sandwiches. It'd be great to drop by in the morning and pick up a few for the family to eat for lunch while in the parks. Wouldn't have to drop so much money on cash whales like Tutto Italia.
