Near Disney World Hotel Review: Fairfield Inn at Flamingo Crossings
It is the age-old debate for Disney travelers: is it actually worth staying off-property to save some cash, or do you lose too much of the magic? On our last trip, we decided to step outside the "Disney bubble" to see if the savings were worth the trade-off.
We stayed at the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Orlando at FLAMINGO CROSSINGS® Town Center. It is located just one stoplight away from Disney property, and after spending a few nights there, we found it to be a serious contender for your next Orlando stay.
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The Flamingo Crossings Location
The Flamingo Crossings area is growing fast, and for good reason. The Fairfield is in a prime spot because it is within walking distance of a Target and several restaurants. This is a huge win if you want to grab snacks, ponchos, or a quick meal without paying theme park prices. While you are technically off-property, you are so close to the action that it hardly feels like a commute. Each drive typically takes less than twenty minutes!
Here is a breakdown of the typical drive times we found:
Disney's Animal Kingdom: This is the closest park, taking only about 9 minutes to reach.
EPCOT: You can usually make it to the EPCOT parking lot in about 10 minutes.
Disney's Hollywood Studios: Expect a quick drive of around 11 minutes.
Magic Kingdom: Even though this is the farthest park from the hotel, it still only takes about 14 minutes to arrive.
Disney Springs: If you are heading out for dinner or shopping, it typically takes about 15 minutes.
The Room at Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Orlando
Our room at the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Orlando at FLAMINGO CROSSINGS® Town Center absolutely blew us away, especially compared to what you usually get at a Disney Value Resort. The space was much more generous, with comfortable beds that actually let us get some real rest.
The bathroom was another major win. The lighting was excellent, the water pressure was great, and it ACTUALLY had a real door! If you have stayed at a Disney resort lately, you know the struggle of the sliding barn doors that offer zero privacy. This shouldn’t be the rarity that it is, but man! If you also hate that the world is turning to glass and barn doors for bathrooms, please check out this website, Bring Back Doors!
There is also a full-length mirror on the back of the front door so you can check your outfit before heading out to the parks.
One of our biggest surprises was how quiet the room remained throughout our two-night stay. The hotel was full of school groups during our visit, which usually means a lot of noise. However, we could not hear a single person in the hallways or the neighboring rooms! We did not even realize how many young people were staying at the hotel until we headed down for breakfast.
The Hotel Perks and Amenities
If you are looking for value, the Fairfield hits the mark. Here are the main perks we enjoyed:
Free Breakfast: They serve a full breakfast that includes Mickey waffles, along with free coffee and tea, which helps keep that Disney magic alive without the extra cost. This is a huge savings as a family!
Marriott Bonvoy Points: Unlike staying at a Disney-owned resort, you can rack up your Marriott points here.
The Pool: The pool area is large and perfect for a mid-day break from the Florida heat. It was not crowded and even featured a pool bar that offered snacks and drinks, like at the Disney resorts!
Fitness Center: There is a fitness center on-site if you haven't logged enough miles at the parks. (Though after clocking 26,000 steps each day, we didn’t check this out for ourselves.)
Free Shuttle to the Parks: There is a daily scheduled shuttle service to the Disney World parks that is available to all guests at no additional charge! If you’re in no rush, it’s a fabulous free resource.
The Honest Trade-offs of staying Off-Property: Transportation and Timing
We always want to be honest and acknowledge that there are a few things you give up by staying here. You won't find any Disney theming in the hallways or rooms, like there is while staying at a Walt Disney World Resort. You also lose out on Early Theme Park Entry, which is a perk reserved for those staying on Disney property. However, if this isn’t your once-in-a-lifetime Disney vacation and/or if you’re not a “must-ride-everything” or a morning person, the extra 30 minutes to rope drop one ride before everyone isn’t make or break. We found we could still rope drop and ride plenty before everyone finally gets to the parks!
The biggest hurdle is probably the transportation. While the hotel offers a daily shuttle, it runs quite infrequently compared to Disney resort buses. If you are trying to hit rope drop or stay late for the fireworks, the shuttle schedule probably won't cut it.
Since we are Annual Passholders and get free parking at the parks, we chose to just take our own car. It gave us the flexibility the shuttle lacked. If you aren't driving your own vehicle, we highly recommend budgeting for rideshare services like Uber or Lyft. Waiting on a shuttle that only comes around every now and then for many guests is a quick way to burn through your precious vacation time.
Is It Worth It?
When it comes to value for the price, this stay beats out Disney’s Value and even most Moderate resorts! It was about $50 cheaper per night than a Disney Value Resort, yet the room felt much more spacious, relaxed, and functional, and like a great value for the price! We definitely took advantage of the free breakfast and coffee, which would have cost us about $30 total each day for both of us! For us, the pros clearly outweigh the cons. If you want a spacious, quiet, and budget-friendly home base that is still seconds away from the parks, this is it.