Fairfield Inn and Suites Orlando at Flamingo Crossings Review
If you’re looking for a reasonably priced hotel near Walt Disney World, I have found an excellent option for your consideration: the Fairfield Inn & Suites Orlando at Flamingo Crossings Town Center. This option is a newer, budget-friendly hotel near Walt Disney World. Located at the western entrance, it boasts a shuttle service to the theme parks and a free breakfast buffet.
Rare is the day that I start a hotel review on such a positive note. But after our three-night stay, we left more than slightly impressed. When it comes to value for the price, this option is going to be hard to top. This review of the Fairfield Inn and Suites at Flamingo Crossings will discuss the hotel in detail. We’ll look at a standard room, dining options, proximity to the Disney Parks, amenities, and nearby conveniences.
Fairfield Inn’s Proximity to Disney World
Flamingo Crossings was a once almost entirely abandoned toll road exit near the Walt Disney World Resort. Formerly, only two hotels were available at this stop, the SpringHill Suites and the TownePlace Suites. You may remember that the SpringHill Suites is another hotel that we recommend. However, we weren’t completely sold on the TownePlace Suites.
Disney began relocating its college program’s housing to Flamingo Crossings a few years ago. This move has accelerated growth and new construction in the area. That growth includes multiple budget-friendly and extended-stay hotels. New businesses include a Target Grocery Store, Walgreens, Starbucks, and a few fast-food joints.
What once seemed like a ghost town is now a busy, bustling exit. Unfortunately, that means more traffic, especially during busier times. But the most positive aspect is that the hotel sits right outside Walt Disney World’s gates on Western Way. For reference, Western Way deadends into Buena Vista Drive. Coronado Springs, one of Disney’s moderate resorts, sits on the corner.
During our stay, it took us 10-20 minutes to get to the theme parks from the Fairfield Inn. One day, I left the hotel at 11:21 a.m. and was in a parking spot at Epcot at 11:37 a.m. So it took approximately 16 minutes to get to Epcot, past the parking attendant, and into a parking spot. That’s not bad at all.
From the Fairfield Inn, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be the closest park. Magic Kingdom is the farthest away. However, Magic Kingdom is less than 5 minutes past Epcot, so it’s not much further. Hollywood Studios will be about the same as Epcot as far as travel time.
Our Stay at the Fairfield Inn
When we arrived at the Fairfield Inn, I was surprised. We have stayed in this area many times, so it was shocking to see four new hotels built within the last year. Flamingo Crossing’s Fairfield Inn is a pink hotel that blends attractively with its neighbors.
Parking is available around the hotel. An additional parking deck sits near the back of the parking lot. When we stayed at the hotel, there was no charge for parking. However, as of this update, that has changed and the hotel does now have daily self-parking charges. So you’ll want to consider this extra cost when comparing hotels.
A small check-in area sits immediately inside the lobby. Someone was always present when we left or returned.
The hotel’s lobby is tremendous, with multiple places to sit, dine, or work.
Here is an additional look at the area.
A small sundries shop sits in the corner of the lobby next to the check-in area.
Various snacks, water, soda, and a few frozen dinners were available.
An ATM and a few over-the-counter medicines were available. In the corner was a stand with plastic cutlery, napkins, and other items you might need. Paper plates were available at the front desk. We stopped to pick up a few during our stay.
A small workstation with a computer and printer was available around the corner from the lobby.
The back half of the lobby is dedicated to a large dining space.
This area is used for the complimentary breakfast that’s offered each morning. You can expect a crowd.
Here’s another look at one of the dining rooms. High chairs were available along the wall.
Here is the breakfast buffet. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any decent food photos since everything was covered.
However, we ate breakfast here each morning and got a good idea of what was available. Items included bacon, sausage, bagels, English muffins, fruit, cereal, yogurt, and Mickey waffles. The Mickey Mouse waffles were make-your-own. Below is a look at the area where you make them. (I’ve stayed at hotels that charge for the same breakfast, including the waffles.)
After enjoying a hearty breakfast each morning, you might want to work out. If so, the hotel offers a 24-hour fitness center. I don’t know about you, but I prefer to walk my calories off in the parks. But the gym is fully equipped.
Fresh towels and filtered water were available in the gym.
Laundry facilities were next door to the gym. We often do laundry when we travel. So, a hotel laundry room is always appreciated.
A pair of double doors off the lobby leads to a recreation area. There’s more than meets the eye with this swirl in the concrete. (It’s a splash pad.)
I thought the pool area was pleasant and liked how it backed up to a wooded area.
A fun water element was positioned on the far side of the pool.
The pool depth ranges from zero entry to five feet deep.
Towels are available at the pool, and there’s a place to dispose of them when you’re finished.
When I finished taking photos, I noticed someone had turned on the splash pad area. I thought this was a nice touch for the little ones. Parents can easily sit in the shade at one of the nearby tables.
The biggest surprise was the backyard multi-sport courts between the pool area and the parking deck.
There was an enclosed soccer field.
What a novel idea.
And here is the half-basketball court.
On the far end, there was a batting cage. Or pitching, if you desire. I assume this area was designed to accommodate school groups or travel teams. Orlando is a melting pot, and group travel is a huge business. Or maybe it was designed for family fun?
Before we wrap things up, let’s look at the rooms. I booked a standard king-size guest room for $129.00 per night plus tax for this stay. This is somewhat comparable to the cost of a room at the All-Star Resorts. While we love Disney’s All-Star Resorts, the rooms at Fairfield Inn are exceedingly nicer than any at Disney’s Value Resorts. Here is a look at the room at the Fairfield Inn. Everything was modern and minimal.
Looking across the room in the opposite direction, you can better understand the layout.
Amenities included a microwave, mini-fridge, and an individual cup coffee maker.
As far as the bed goes, it was plush and comfortable.
A built-in closet was tucked along the side wall. Inside, there was an iron and an ironing board. The only thing I noticed missing was the lack of an in-room safe.
We appreciated having the desk and a multitude of outlets. I was able to write a few blog posts at that very desk.
This bench doubles as a luggage rack with several storage drawers underneath. I always think this type of bench is an excellent place to remove and store shoes.
Here’s a look at that mini-fridge. It held many items, and we had dinner in the room most evenings.
Since we had the microwave, we were able to cook baked potatoes in the room. That’s always a simple, warm meal. If you’re on a budget, you can save a considerable amount of money by taking advantage of the complimentary breakfast and preparing meals in the room.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t impressed with the in-room coffee options. But I was able to get a decent cup at breakfast each morning. Or you could always walk across the street to Starbucks.
The bathroom had a convenient setup with plenty of counter space.
This walk-in shower won big points with me. First, it had two ledges along the back of the shower wall. You could use the top ledge to store personal items like soap or razors. And the bottom ledge provided the perfect space to shave your legs. Ladies, you know how difficult it can be to shave your legs when there’s no place to prop.
Built-in toiletries included shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. I’m not sure about the brand, but I was impressed with the quality of the product.
Here is a video of the room tour.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we enjoyed our stay at the Fairfield Inn at Flamingo Crossings. The hotel’s pricing was extremely reasonable, and there were hardly any complaints. I don’t think you can do much better if you’re looking for a budget-friendly hotel. Plus, the complimentary breakfast is a huge perk. A family of four could easily spend $80.00 or more for breakfast at one of Disney World’s quick-service restaurants. If you did a character meal, the meal could cost over $200.00. Free breakfast sounds better and better, doesn’t it?
Hopefully, this Flamingo Crossing Fairfield Inn review provided you with the information you needed to consider a stay here. You can expect the hotel to be busy, and you’ll run into some traffic congestion in the immediate area. But those can be expected almost anywhere.
Since we stayed at the Fairfield Inn, we have returned to visit the Residence Inn by Marriott, which sits next door. If you’re looking for a hotel that offers larger suites or a kitchen, it gets rave reviews, too. We have a separate Residence Inn Review at Flamingo Crossings. You might also like to browse the entire list of hotels at Flamingo Crossings.
For other options, try our list of off-property Disney World Hotels. Here are a few favorites:
- Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort Review
- Orange Lake Resort Review
- Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Review
- Hilton Buena Vista Palace Review
- Drury Plaza Hotel Review at Disney Springs
You might also like to preview our guide to the Disney World Resorts.
Other Hotel Details for Fairfield Inn:
Address: 631 Flagler Avenue, Winter Garden, FL 34787 (Check-in time is at 4:00 p.m. and check-out time is at 11:00 a.m.) Service animals are allowed, but this hotel does not accommodate pets. If you’re looking for a pet-friendly hotel, you might want to read our review of the TownePlace Suites at Flamingo Crossings.
In the Comments
After reading this review, what are your thoughts about the Fairfield Inn? Have you stayed in the Flamingo Crossings area before? Do you have any other questions? Let us know in the comments below.