Mouse Extra

Disney World is usually not able to do much building in secret.  When new attractions or even resorts go up, there can be thousands of watchful eyes with cameras documenting the progress of the project and splashing it all over the internet.  But thanks to a relatively remote location, Disney’s biggest current expansion, the project along the Western Beltway, has been able to proceed almost completely unnoticed by guests.  Only the occasional internet reporter ventures out there.

But make no mistake about it, even though we are all focused on the Contemporary Resort project for the Disney Vacation Club and the new Pixar Place, Flamingo Crossing, as it is known, will be Disney’s biggest expansion in years.  It is also Disney World’s most unusual expansion and the first of its kind at the Mouse.  When it opens Flamingo Crossing will be home to “value” level third party shopping and hotels.  As an example of what we will find, I am hearing now that Red Roof Inn will be one of the hotels.

To me, this news is good news.  Yes, I appreciate the incredibly themed hotels Disney World offers.   Nobody loves them more than I do, but I am not one who thinks allowing more affordable units like Red Roof Inn somehow takes away from that.  In fact, with economy going south and airfares going very north, cheap rooms can only be considered a net positive for those who will really start to struggle to afford a plane ticket.