Near Disney World Hotel Review: SpringHill Suites at Flamingo Crossings
Is stepping outside the Disney bubble a smart move for your vacation budget? On a recent visit, we decided to test out another off-property option to see how it stacked up.We booked a stay at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Orlando at Flamingo Crossings Town Center. It sits just a quick hop from Walt Disney World, and we found it to be a solid, spacious choice for an Orlando vacation!
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The Flamingo Crossings Location
The Flamingo Crossings area is booming right now. The SpringHill Suites sits right in the middle of it, just a short walk from Target and a variety of quick dining options. This is perfect for stocking up on park snacks or grabbing dinner without the theme park markup. The best part is that you are practically next door to Disney, and the commute is incredibly fast.
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.
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The Room at SpringHill Suites at Flamingo Crossings
The main thing to note about the room at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Orlando at Flamingo Crossings Town Center was how spacious it was! Because this is a suites property, our room offered a fantastic amount of extra space. We loved having a dedicated sitting area to unwind and relax after a long day in the parks. While there is no way to cook full meals in this room, it does come equipped with a mini fridge to store your leftovers and cold beverages.
The hotel overall felt just a little more dated than the nearby Fairfield Inn and Residence Inn that are also in Flamingo Crossing, but it still provided a very comfortable experience. One of the absolute highlights of our specific room was that we actually had a view of the Disney fireworks right from our window!
When it came to resting, the beds were not quite as plush as some other spots we have visited. However, after walking miles around the theme parks all day, you are going to sleep incredibly hard anyway. We still certainly got plenty of rest!
The bathroom was wonderfully spacious, giving us plenty of room to get ready in the morning. However, we have to mention one big drawback: the sliding barn door. If you have been following us for a while, you know how much we despise these doors for their total lack of privacy. We were hoping for a real door, but at least the large vanity area made up for it slightly. Bring back real doors!
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The Springhill Suites 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 hot breakfast every morning along with free coffee and tea. Grabbing a meal here before hitting the parks is a huge money saver for a family. We also loved that this hotel had mickey waffles like Disney properties do!
Marriott Bonvoy Points: Unlike staying at a Disney-owned resort, you can rack up (or use!) your Marriott points here.
The Pool: The pool area is a great spot to relax outside the parks and escape the afternoon heat.
Fitness Center: There is a fitness center on site if your park days do not wear you out completely.
Free Shuttle to the Parks: There is a daily scheduled shuttle service to the Disney World parks available to all guests at no additional charge.
Trade-offs of staying Off-Property: Transportation and Timing
We do acknowledge that there are a few things you give up by staying here rather than staying on Disney property. You won't find any Disney theming in the hallways or rooms (though you’ll still find it in the elevators), 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 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. Instead of flying, we like to drive to Disney and park our own car at the parks. 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!
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Is a Stay at the Springhill Suites at Flamingo Crossing Worth It?
When it comes to space and value, this stay definitely beats out Disney's Value resorts! It is much cheaper per night, and the large room with the sitting area gives you room to relax and spread out. We definitely took advantage of the free breakfast and the mini fridge, which kept our food budget low. For us, the pros outweigh the cons. If you want a spacious, budget friendly home base with the chance of a fireworks view, this is a great choice! But if we have to be the most honest, we preferred our stay at the Residence Inn at Flamingo Crossing instead!