A Flamingo Crossings Hotel Overview (Budget-Friendly Options Near Disney)

List of Hotels at Flamingo Crossings

Here are the hotels you’ll find at Flamingo Crossings:

• TownePlace Suites by Marriott
• SpringHill Suites by Marriott
• Home2 Suites by Hilton
• Homewood Suites by Hilton
• Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott
• Residence Inn by Marriott

Before we look at each of these hotels individually, I want to discuss a few considerations that will apply to any of these hotels.

What to Consider Before Staying at Flamingo Crossings

Any of the hotels at Flamingo Crossings could be a good alternative to staying at a value or even a moderate Disney Resort. That said, there are a few things that I feel are worth bringing up earlier rather than later. These hotels have a lot going for them: spacious accommodations, complimentary breakfast, and a convenient location near Walt Disney World. However, staying off-property comes with a few trade-offs, particularly when it comes to transportation and parking.

Transportation to Disney

Each of the Flamingo Crossings hotels offers some type of complimentary transportation to the Disney theme parks. This can be a nice perk, especially if you’re not comfortable driving around the area or simply want to avoid navigating to the parks yourself. It can also be helpful for families who want to keep things as simple as possible.

The downside is that the transportation operates on a limited schedule. You’re generally working around the hotel’s shuttle times rather than having transportation available whenever you’re ready to leave. Drop-off and pickup locations can also be less convenient than you might expect.

This is especially important if you plan to stay late at the parks. Depending on the schedule, you may have to leave earlier than you’d like to catch the last shuttle. That could mean missing fireworks, nighttime entertainment, or simply staying in the park until you’re ready to go.

For that reason, I personally prefer to drive. The complimentary shuttle can be a valuable option for some guests, but I wouldn’t choose a Flamingo Crossings hotel solely because it offers free transportation to Disney.

Hotel Parking Fees

Parking is one of my biggest complaints about staying at the Flamingo Crossings hotels. If you have a car, you’ll pay a daily parking fee at these hotels, and you’ll also need to account for parking at the theme parks unless you’re like me and have an annual pass.

The hotel parking charge can make a seemingly inexpensive room less of a bargain once you add up the extra costs. Be sure to check the current parking fee when comparing rates, particularly if you’re staying several nights.

For me, this isn’t as much of an issue because I normally drive, and I have an annual pass that includes theme park parking. I realize that puts me in the minority, though, so it’s something I think every traveler should consider when comparing Flamingo Crossings with a Disney Resort.

How to Decide

Ultimately, I wouldn’t let the transportation or parking considerations automatically rule out Flamingo Crossings. The hotels are extremely close to Disney, the rooms are spacious, breakfast is included, and the surrounding area has restaurants, shops, and Target within a short walking distance.

If you plan to drive to the parks and don’t mind paying for hotel parking, Flamingo Crossings can offer excellent value. If you don’t have a car, the complimentary shuttle may be useful, but you’ll want to look closely at its schedule before deciding whether it will work for your plans. You might even take the complimentary transportation to the parks and use a rideshare service to get back to the hotel later.

Flamingo Crossings Hotel Overview

With those considerations in mind, let’s take a closer look at the six hotels at Flamingo Crossings. While they share the same convenient location and many of the same advantages, each property has its own personality and offers slightly different accommodations and amenities.

We’ve stayed at five of these hotels, so the following overviews are based on our firsthand experiences whenever possible. I’ll also point you toward our individual hotel reviews where we’ve covered a property in greater detail.

TownePlace Suites by Marriott

TownePlace Suites is one of the original hotels at Flamingo Crossings, but the property has since been completely renovated, including updates to the rooms and exterior. Since our stay took place before those renovations, I don’t think it would be fair to use our older experience to judge the hotel’s current condition.

One thing we can speak to from our stay is that this is a pet-friendly hotel. During our visit, I woke up several nights after hearing dogs barking and their owners taking them outside in the early morning hours. That’s simply something to keep in mind when choosing a pet-friendly hotel, particularly if you’re a light sleeper.

For travelers with a pet, the TownePlace Suites could be a particularly appealing option. Rooms include a small kitchenette, living area, and desk, giving you more space and some of the conveniences of home. The hotel also offers a complimentary breakfast each morning.

Because the hotel has been renovated since our visit, I’d encourage you to look at the current property with fresh eyes rather than relying on our older review. You can read about our previous experience here: TownePlace Suites at Flamingo Crossings Review.

SpringHill Suites by Marriott

Immediately next door to the TownePlace Suites is the SpringHill Suites by Marriott. We’ve stayed here many times, and it was actually our go-to hotel in this area before Flamingo Crossings became the busy development it is today. Although we don’t have a formal review of this hotel, it is one we have always enjoyed staying at.

The SpringHill Suites is a more traditional hotel compared to the TownePlace Suites. The rooms are spacious, with plenty of room to spread out, while the TownePlace is designed more like an extended-stay hotel with a kitchenette and separate living area. The two hotels are sister properties and share a large pool area and some other amenities.

The SpringHill Suites also offers a complimentary breakfast each morning. It is not pet-friendly, which may be an advantage for travelers who prefer a quieter hotel environment.

This hotel has also been completely renovated since our last stay, so the current property should not be judged solely on our previous experiences. If you find a significant price difference between the SpringHill Suites and the other Flamingo Crossings hotels, I wouldn’t hesitate to consider it. We have always found this to be a comfortable and convenient place to stay.

Home2 Suites by Hilton

The Home2 Suites by Hilton is a great option for families or anyone who wants a little more space and the convenience of a kitchenette. We’ve stayed here twice recently, and both stays were consistent. The rooms are spacious, with a king bed, sleeper sofa, full-size refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and plenty of storage. The hotel also offers a complimentary breakfast each morning, which can make a significant difference when budgeting for food.

This hotel shares a larger pool area with the neighboring Homewood Suites. It has a pretty significant water slide that makes this one of the more appealing pool options among the Flamingo Crossings hotels. I would happily stay here again, particularly when the rate makes sense for the amount of space and amenities you receive. For more photos and details from our stays, see our Home2 Suites by Hilton at Flamingo Crossings Review.

On a side note, we had planned to stay at this hotel last Fall and weren’t able to get a room during the busy time period. So we ended up staying at the Home2 in Winter Garden, which is a little further out. However, it’s a great option if you’re driving in and looking for somewhere to stay the first night. See our review of the Home2 Suites by Hilton at Winter Garden for more details.

Homewood Suites by Hilton

The Homewood Suites by Hilton sits adjacent to the Home2 Suites we just discussed. Like the other hotels at Flamingo Crossings, this one gets rave reviews. Rooms at Homewood Suites range from a king-size suite to larger family suites. Amenities like small kitchens and spacious floor plans can come in handy at a reasonable price. Complimentary breakfast is available at this hotel, and it’s pet-friendly. This will likely be the most expensive option when comparing rates for this area.

Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott

Like the other hotels at Flamingo Crossings, the Fairfield Inn and Suites offers a particularly good combination of price, location, and amenities. We stayed in a king guest room, and I was impressed with how much we received for the price we paid.

The hotel offers a complimentary breakfast each morning, and our room had both a microwave and a mini-fridge. While it isn’t a full kitchen, those amenities are enough to prepare something simple, store leftovers, and reheat a meal. The rooms are comfortable, and like the other hotels we’ve discussed, you have the convenience of being able to walk to shopping and dining, and select other businesses.

Another perk I enjoyed was the television. Marriott hotels typically offer premium television channels, and during our stay, we watched a few new-release movies in the room. It’s a small detail, but those little conveniences can make a hotel stay more enjoyable.

For me, the biggest takeaway from this stay was the value. The Fairfield Inn & Suites provided the space and amenities we needed without the price feeling excessive. It’s a hotel I would happily stay at again. See our Fairfield Inn and Suites at Flamingo Crossings Review for more details.

Residence Inn by Marriott

Of the five Flamingo Crossings hotels where we’ve stayed, the Residence Inn is my personal favorite. We had an extended stay here for nearly two weeks, and I enjoyed it so much that I caught myself thinking more than once that I could live there full-time. The hotel has a plush, comfortable feel, and we’ve found some very reasonable rates for the generous accommodations. It even makes our list of the best Marriotts near Disney World.

The suites are especially appealing for longer stays. Our suite had a full kitchen, which allowed me to prepare dinner instead of eating out every night. Breakfast is also included each morning, and those two features helped us save considerably on food compared to many of our Disney World stays.

The combination of spacious accommodations, a full kitchen, complimentary breakfast, and the convenient Flamingo Crossings location makes this an especially appealing option. If the rate is right, this is the hotel I’d choose for myself when staying off-property. Keep in mind, I haven’t stayed at the Homewood Suites yet, and I do believe these are very comparable. For more details, see our Residence Inn at Flamingo Crossings Review.

What We Love About Flamingo Crossings

Before we wrap things up, I felt there were two significant reasons worth mentioning when considering any of these hotels. Those reasons are the price and the proximity to Walt Disney World. It’s no secret that guests tend to “go down the rabbit hole” when racking up debt to finance their Disney vacation. When my son was younger, we made many trips to deluxe resorts that could have been paid upfront had I decided to stay at a budget-friendly hotel like one of these at Flamingo Crossings.

I love hotels, in general, and had there been a blog back then that encouraged me to stay in my price range, I might have listened to their advice. So, for that reason, I try to be candid.

Yes, I love to stay at Disney’s Beach Club or splurge for a relaxing weekend at the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek. But what I want and can afford are entirely different matters. So, coming from me, don’t feel you have to stay at the nicest resort. Instead, stay at Flamingo Crossings or somewhere that works for you. Then, when you can, put a little extra money back for that “next time” resort.

Flamingo Crossings is also worth considering because of its proximity to Walt Disney World. On my last stay, I timed a few of my trips. It took approximately 15 minutes to travel from my hotel’s parking lot to Epcot’s parking lot. You could give or take a few minutes from that average for every other destination at Disney. However, this exit has become a high-traffic area.

So you’ll want to take into account extra traffic in the mornings up until about 9:00 a.m. and in the evenings from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The road between Coronado Springs and Flamingo Crossings gets exceptionally congested during these times because of shift changes and cast members returning to their living quarters in the immediate area.

Flamingo Crossings vs On-Site at Disney World

If you’re comparing a Flamingo Crossings hotel with a Disney Resort Hotel, there are a few additional details worth considering before you make your decision. We’ve touched on some of these throughout this guide, but it’s helpful to have them together in one place when you’re comparing the overall value and convenience of staying off-property.

Shuttle Service to the Theme Parks: Each hotel will provide access to some sort of shuttle service to the theme parks. These shuttle services are often complimentary but need to be scheduled in advance. We list those details in our individual resort reviews. While we update regularly, our best advice is to confirm details with the hotels before you make a reservation. Comparison Factor: Disney resorts offer complimentary transportation to the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs.

Parking Charges at the Theme Parks: If you drive your car to the theme parks, you will have to pay daily parking charges. This can get very expensive. So make sure you’re aware of the cost of parking at Disney World. (Check Current Prices Here) Comparison Factor: If you stay at a Disney Resort Hotel, you’ll receive complimentary parking at the theme parks.

Proximity to Other Amenities: These hotels wrap around a shopping center that contains a Target (a small format), multiple fast food locations, table service restaurants, coffee shops, and more. You can walk across the hotel service road to reach any of these destinations. Comparison Factor: When you’re on Disney property, you’re inside the “bubble” and will not be within any proximity to these types of things.

No Early Entry Benefits: Guests of Disney Resort Hotels are privy to benefits that off-site hotel guests do not receive. One of those is early theme park entry, where guests can enter any theme park 30 minutes before it opens each morning. Comparison Factor: The ability to access the theme parks earlier than off-site guests is a considerable touring advantage.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Flamingo Crossings has reasonably priced hotels near Disney World. Anyone looking for extra rooms or budget-friendly options should consider these hotels. We’ll try to get back to the Homewood eventually for a proper review. But I can’t imagine you’ll have any issues.

We hope you enjoyed this overview of Flamingo Crossings. If you’re considering other off-site hotels, see our guide to the best off-site hotels near Disney World. Make sure to check back with Resorts Gal for more resort reviews and updates.

In the Comments

Have you ever stayed at any of the Flamingo Crossings Hotels? What do you think of this area? Let us know in the comments below.