Home2 Suites by Hilton at Flamingo Crossings Review

It’s no secret that we are big fans of the hotels at Flamingo Crossings here on Resorts Gal. This location is incredible for its proximity to Walt Disney World, and the area has grown exponentially since we first discovered it almost a decade ago. When it comes to choosing a hotel here, you’ll have six options. For this review, we’re taking a look at the Home2 Suites by Hilton at Flamingo Crossings. I’ll share my experience and a few observations of things you’ll want to be aware of if you decide to stay here. It’s worth noting that we’ve stayed here twice in the last few months and have found both experiences to be fairly consistent.

The Home2 Suites sits adjacent to the Homewood Suites by Hilton. The Homewood option will be slightly more expensive with larger accommodation options. It’s a nice setup with the shared swimming pool, and while this area is considered budget-friendly, you get the look and feel of a nicer hotel.

port cochere entrance of Flamingo Crossings Home2 Suites

I would imagine that for most people, the largest considerations for staying here are price and proximity to Disney World. As far as pricing goes, standard rooms are typically in line with the value resorts at Disney World. The big perk is that this hotel offers a complimentary breakfast each morning of your stay. (You will not get that at a Disney Resort Hotel.)

The other big thing is complimentary transportation, but it’s a tricky subject you’ll want to really think about in its entirety. When I’m staying off-property, I always have my car and track how long it takes to get to the parks. The Flamingo Crossings hotel area is less than a mile from the West Gate to Disney World. When you turn out of the hotel circle, you’ll take a left. Within a few minutes, you’ll see the Disney World gates, with Mickey and Minnie Mouse welcoming you to the Most Magical Place on Earth.

From the hotel, it takes 10-20 minutes to get to the theme parks. For reference, it took approximately 16 minutes to get to Epcot. That time included going through the main gate and parking. Magic Kingdom will take a few minutes longer. Animal Kingdom is the closest, and Hollywood Studios is about the same as Epcot.

Now I know you’re probably wondering about the complimentary transportation options offered by the hotel. A group called Firefighters All Services provides complimentary (scheduled) transportation to and from all the Flamingo Crossings hotels. During our stay, we had the option of two morning pickup times and three early- to late-evening return times. If you decide to use this transportation option, you will need to schedule it in advance. It’s also important to be aware that this service drops off at the Transportation and Ticket Center for both Magic Kingdom and Epcot. So when you get to the TTC, you’ll have to take the ferry or monorail to Magic Kingdom, or the Epcot monorail to Epcot.

Using complimentary transportation has its advantages and disadvantages. I will be the first to admit that I drive my car to the parks. I lived in the area for several years, and it became the norm for me. I also have an annual pass, so I don’t have to pay additional parking fees at the parks. Personally, I would hate to be on such a tight schedule that I had to be somewhere at a very specific time to catch a bus back to my hotel.

For example, if Epcot or Magic Kingdom’s fireworks start at 9:00 or 9:15 p.m., there is no way you could make it back to the TTC for a 9:30 p.m. pickup. For many, the fireworks serve as a grand finale to the day. They are big-ticket items that you’ve paid to see. On the flip side, free transportation might sound great if it means avoiding a $35.00 or more parking fee at the theme parks. So these are things you’ll want to weigh when you’re considering a stay here or any off-site versus on-site stay.

Speaking of parking, this hotel charged a $20.00 parking fee per day during our stays. You can check the current daily parking fee for this hotel here. I hate to say it, but when a hotel charges you to park, it’s a money grab. Unfortunately, it’s become the norm at most off-property hotels. So while these hotels are newer and nicer than comparably priced hotels on Disney property, you need to consider the following:

Parking Fees at the Hotel
Parking Fees at the Theme Parks (if you have a car)
Whether or not you’re okay being restricted to limited transportation times if you opt to take advantage of complimentary transportation.

a lobby area inside the entrance of Home2

Now that we have those major things out of the way, let’s take a look at the room. I was impressed with the overall space and layout. If this room looks familiar, it was almost identical to the one from our Home2 Hilton Winter Garden Review from last fall, when the Flamingo Crossings area was fully booked.

room layout of the HIlton Home2 Suites at Flamingo Crossings

I booked this room for a rate of $130.97 a night back in May, and then for $113.25 a night in August. The hotel placed an extra $25.00 hold on my charge card when I arrived, along with the $20.00 daily parking charge. The hold was refunded to my account a few days after checkout. This room is a king-bed studio suite that sleeps up to four guests. In addition to the king-size bed, it had a sofa with a pull-out queen-size sleeper. A curtain in the middle of the room can be extended to create a partition between the bed areas. This is a nice feature if you have children or someone who might fall asleep earlier.

a sofa bed on one side of the room in the Home2 Suites Hilton Flamingo Crossings

Here is the king-size bed. Plenty of outlets were built into the lamp and one of the nightstands.

a king-size bed in the Hilton at Flamingo Crossings

Here are a few photos of the room’s amenities, which include a combined space to hang items and store luggage, an iron with an ironing board, a desk area with a chair and a roll-away table option, a flat-screen television, and plenty of storage space in the dresser. The windows have sheer and blackout shades.

a closet with iron and ironing board in our room at the Home2 Suites by Hilton at Flamingo Crossings

a roll out desk with chair in the hotel room

The room’s foyer offers a kitchenette area with a full-size refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and sink. This is a tremendous amenity if you prepare a few meals in the room during your stay. This type of option is also considerable for longer, more extended stays. You may remember that we stayed at the neighboring Residence Inn for two weeks a while back with a similar setup. We have a separate review of the Residence Inn at Flamingo Crossings if you want to compare.

the kitchenette at the Home2 Suites by Hilton at Flamingo Crossings

I took a few photos of the kitchen amenities, which include an individual cup coffee maker, a toaster oven, cookware, silverware, and utensils. There was a note that a hot plate was available upon request.

a closeup of the appliances: microwave, coffee maker, sink, and dishwasher

Here is a look at the bathroom, which features a decent-sized countertop with one sink and adequate storage. I appreciated the extra hooks for wet towels on the wall.

the full size bath features one sink with plenty of counterspace in the Flamingo Crossings Home2 Hilton Hotel near Disney World

This room had a walk-in shower with glass shower doors and a built-in ledge that works well for shaving legs.

a walk in shower at the Home2 Hilton at Flamingo Crossings

Built-in toiletries were provided. The room has shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner.

shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner installed in the shower at the Homes2 Hilton at Flamingo Crossings

The hotel’s outdoor grounds and pool area were a big selling point to me. Since the pool is shared, it’s larger and feels more like a resort setting than the average hotel.

a couple of chairs sitting near the pool at Home2 Suites Flamingo Crossings

The lighter hotel in the background is the Homewood Suites. This photo shows how the hotels enclose the pool area between them.

a view of the pool that's shared between the Home2 Suites and the Homewood Suites at Flamingo Crossings

This pool also has a significant water slide, which is not something you’ll find at the other hotels in this area. I thought this was a nice touch and an extra that’s worth considering if you have children who will want to spend time at the pool.

Here are a few more photos of the pool area.

The Home2 shared a few more outdoor spaces with the Homewood Suites like this outdoor bar and seating area by the pool.

an outdoor bar and grill near the Hilton shared pool

I took a few extra photos of the area for those who like to see everything.

the walkway between the Home2 and Homewood Suites Hiltons at Flamingo Crossings

Back inside, I found a hotel gym that’s combined with a laundry facility.

exercise equipment in the hotel gym at Home2 Suites by Hilton at Flamingo Crossings

Here is the laundry area that sits toward the front of the fitness center.

These photos represent the exercise equipment, weights, and sitting area for the laundry room.

a glass wall that shows how the laundry and exercise rooms are combined at Home2 Suites

On both stays, I took advantage of the complimentary breakfast buffet. I’ve said this many times on the site, but it’s true. I’m always happy to find a complimentary offering. Free breakfast is a big plus for an off-site hotel. At Disney, the average cost of a quick-service breakfast is $15.00 for adults and about $10.00 for children. That’s $50.00 plus tax for a family of four for breakfast. At the very least, it will help offset some of those parking charges.

the dining room where guests take advantage of complimentary breakfast

Here are a few photos of the dining rooms, but don’t let them deceive you. On both stays, I waited in a long line of guests for breakfast. These pictures were taken at the very end of breakfast service when almost everything had been tidied up. As far as food offerings, make-your-own Mickey waffles were available each day, along with breads like toast, bagels, and muffins. There were other standard items like fruit, yogurt, juice, water, and coffee. Then, each day there was a unique selection of protein (bacon, sausage, eggs) and a few other hot items. I felt like there was plenty of variety, even for the picky eaters.

Near the reception desk, there is a small pantry-style market with convenience items. However, the big plus at Flamingo Crossings is the shopping center that sits in front of the hotel. It has several restaurant options and a smaller, neighborhood-style Target. To give you an idea, I tracked my walk from the hotel’s entrance to Target, and it was 0.18 miles, which took less than 4 minutes. So you will be within 5 minutes walking distance of at least 8 restaurants, several shops, and Target.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I was happy with both stays, and felt this hotel offers a great value for most guests. Just don’t forget to take into account extra parking fees and transportation restrictions. Don’t get me wrong. Complimentary transportation is a plus, but having to be somewhere at a very specific time can add stress to your day. Of course, you will run into these same circumstances with nearly every off-site hotel you consider.

As far as comparing the hotels in the Flamingo Crossings area, you might also consider the SpringHill Suites, and we have a review of the Fairfield Inn and Suites. We’ve stayed at each option, and I don’t think you’ll find any major differences, other than the pool at Home2 is larger and has a water slide.

As far as the Hilton Home2 at Flamingo Crossings is concerned, I would happily return. I hope this review was helpful if you’re considering it. You might also enjoy our guide to the best off-site hotels near Disney World. Check back with ResortsGal.com for more updates.

In the Comments

We hope this review helped with your planning process. Have you ever stayed at this Home2 or at Flamingo Crossings? We love to hear your feedback, opinions, and any related questions you might have. Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.