Residence Inn by Marriott at Flamingo Crossings Review (Near Disney World)

Wow. Before we start, I want you to get out the list of places you are considering staying on your next Walt Disney World vacation. Now, I want you to put the Residence Inn by Marriott at Flamingo Crossings at the top. I’m not kidding. I can’t tell you the last time I had such a delightful time at a hotel for such a reasonable cost.

It’s no secret that inflation is up, and times are tough. So Resorts Gal is committed to seeking out a variety of hotel offerings, including budget-friendly hotels near Disney World. For this review of the Residence Inn by Marriott at Flamingo Crossings, we’ll look at what we usually cover in a resort review. However, I will take that a step further and discuss how a stay at this hotel can considerably help cut other expenses.

So get out your suitcase and plan to do things differently this time. We’re off to Disney World for a stay at an affordable hotel only minutes from Disney property. Seriously, take a look and see for yourself. It kinda looks like the Grand Floridian.

First, we’ll look at the studio, which is the starting room type at the Residence Inn. This room is 440 square feet and has a king-size bed.

When I opened the door to this space, I was beyond impressed and knew I had made a good decision. The room had a convenient layout and plenty of amenities.

One of the things that impressed me the most was this large desk. Several blog posts were written at that very spot.

The television was positioned on a swivel stand. So, when you sit in the living room, you can turn it to that area. Then, if you want to watch something before falling asleep, you can turn it to the bedroom. The living space featured a sofa and ottoman. If I had to make one complaint about the room, it was that the sofa wasn’t comfortable. It was one that sits low to the ground, so you have to consciously make more of an effort when you go to get up.

A counter-height table for two makes up a small dining area.

The kitchen was impressive. I had plenty of room to prepare meals during this stay.

The room has a full-size refrigerator with a freezer.

Tip: When I buy groceries for a longer stay, I usually put most of them in a carry-on bag with rollers to bring from the car to the room. Of course, you could have groceries delivered if desired. Additionally, if I have several items, such as cases of water, soft drinks, etc., I will get one of the luggage carts and use it to carry everything up.

Here is the built-in microwave.

Our unit had two stovetop burners. They worked well, but it took longer to heat up than usual.

I appreciated the small dishwasher. It was nice to be able to let it do the dishes.

An individual-cup coffee maker sits toward the back of the counter. Since the hotel serves a complimentary breakfast every morning, I picked up my coffee downstairs.

There were plenty of plates, bowls, mugs, and glasses.

A toaster oven was also provided.

Several pots and pans were stored in the cabinet underneath the stovetop.

It was nice to have a cutting board and cooking utensils. Everything was of good quality and suitable for preparing meals.

There was a vegetable peeler, can opener, corkscrew bottle opener, measuring spoons, and cups.

In drawer number two, we have dish rags, pot holders, a decent sponge, salt and pepper shakers, and dishwasher detergent.

Lastly, there were mixing bowls (with lids), a colander, and a large measuring cup.

Overall, there was almost anything you could want or need to prepare a meal. Having access to these extras makes a world of difference when traveling. The studio room at the Residence Inn has a king-size bed and can accommodate up to two guests. If you have a larger party, the hotel offers one and two-bedroom suites.

While I’m not sure if I received an upgraded view, it felt like one. My window looked out to the beautiful pool area.

The guest bath had a separate vanity from the actual bathroom area.

It was nice to have enough space to spread out a bit, and I used the built-in shelf for my sunscreen, hairspray, and other similar products.

Here’s a look at the layout of the space.

The shower had a glass door that opened both ways. Note the faucet is on the opposite side of the shower. It was convenient to turn the water on and let it heat up without having to lean in the entire shower.

Speaking of convenience, there’s a nice little ledge on the back of the shower, which is helpful for shaving. The shower also has a higher ledge to place other necessities. Built-in shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were available. You may remember we saw these same features next door at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott at Flamingo Crossings a few months back. That’s another excellent option if you don’t need a kitchen during your trip.

Related: Fairfield Inn at Flamingo Crossings Review

You can watch the video of the room below if you would like a different perspective.

Now that we’ve reviewed the room’s details let’s examine a few other amenities. Below is a photo of the laundry facility, which is located on the ground floor.

The laundry machine takes quarters. If you don’t have any change, the front desk has plenty on hand.

An exercise room sits next door to the laundry room.

I was able to get in a couple of workouts during my stay and felt there was a good variety of machines and weights.

A bottle refiller with filtered water was provided.

The hotel’s lobby is substantial.

A small shop with convenience items was available near the front desk.

Here’s a look at what’s immediately available in case you need something.

However, technically, you can walk across the street to the Target Market. But it’s still nice to have a few things available, especially if you come in after everything else has closed.

Items ranged from snacks to microwaveable meals.

Most hotels have a selection of over-the-counter medicines and similar convenience items.

Here is a better look at the lobby.

This space gets pretty crowded in the mornings with the overflow of guests enjoying the hotel’s complimentary breakfast.

The hotel had a bar that was open in the evenings. However, since my room was located toward the back of the resort, I used a separate elevator to come and go through the hotel’s back door. So, I never came through the front entrance other than when I first arrived.

One evening, though, we had a terrible lightning storm. It got so bad that I decided to come down to the lobby, and that’s when I noticed the bar was open. If it hadn’t been for the storm, I would have never realized that the hotel offered a nightly bar service. (I was here for nearly two weeks!)

Also, if you stay toward the back of the hotel, make sure to locate the stand-alone elevator. It’s near the laundry room. I could literally park, enter the building with my room key, and be in my room within three or four minutes.

One of the nicest benefits of staying at this hotel is the complimentary breakfast. Now, I enjoy splurging on a lovely breakfast here and there during vacation. But we all know that breakfast for a family of four can be outrageous. At a table-service restaurant, you can quickly spend $100.00 or more. The hotel’s breakfast had enough offerings that I was able to enjoy every day for the entirety of my stay.

Here is a look at the buffet area, which includes a choice of meat and a vegan substitute each morning. Meat choices are rotated between pork sausage, turkey sausage, andouille sausage, and bacon. Scrambled eggs were also available every day. Toward the end of the left-hand side, there was an oatmeal station with more toppings than I’d ever seen.

On the right-hand side each morning, the fruit selection consisted of apples, bananas, and oranges. Individual yogurt cups and small cartons of milk were also available. We also had a bread box with bagels, blueberry and apple muffins, sliced bread, and English muffins. Accompaniments included cream cheese, spreads, butter, and hard-boiled eggs. A selection of various cereals and juices were also available.

In the main dining room, guests could prepare make-your-own Mickey waffles. I’ve stayed at a few hotels that charge for these same waffles. Lastly, the hotel sets up a coffee bar with regular and decaf coffee, hot water, and iced coffee, along with the usual accompaniments.

Since I was at the hotel for an extended stay, I’d enjoy different things here and there to break up the routine. For example, sometimes, I would grab a few extra slices of bacon and use the bread in my room to make a bacon sandwich for lunch later.

Every now and then, I would get a muffin or yogurt for a snack. Now, don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t loading up my plate with extras. But it was nice to have access to a warm breakfast each morning. More than anything, I noticed large families gathering at the tables each morning to have breakfast with their loved ones. Everyone seemed refreshed and excited about the day ahead.

As a single mom, I couldn’t help but think how it must be a blessing to some of those families not to have to worry about the expense of breakfast each morning. Vacations are expensive.

Off the hotel’s dining area, you’ll find the double doors leading to the pool area. Complimentary towels are provided.

The pool was open daily from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.

Since the pool is in a courtyard, there’s plenty of shade on one side and full sun on the opposite.

While I noticed plenty of guests using the pool, it never appeared crowded.

A pool bar was also available.

Regardless, there were many lovely places to lounge and relax near the pool.

Plenty of tables and chairs were also available if you want to dine outside.

One of the things that impressed me the most was these two gas grills near the pool. You could easily pick up steaks, burgers, or hot dogs from the grocery store and enjoy a meal by the pool.

Before we wrap things up, I wanted to mention housekeeping at the hotel. Someone serviced my room every day of my stay. Of course, I only requested trash removal some days because I didn’t need full service. But I couldn’t help but note that the housekeepers I met were considerate and kind.

Since some days I stayed at the hotel all day to work, I could tell they worked long hours. On the days I was out, I was often greeted with a thank you note for leaving a tip. Unfortunately, it’s rare to receive such excellent service these days. The humble attitude of the staff at the Residence Inn completely won me over, and I’m thankful for having had the opportunity to meet many of them.

Residence Inn’s Proximity to Disney World

It takes 10-20 minutes to get to the theme parks from the Residence Inn. A few months earlier, during our stay next door at the Fairfield Inn, I timed our travels. It took 16 minutes to get to Epcot, including going through the main gate and parking. Magic Kingdom will take a few minutes longer. Animal Kingdom is the closest, and Hollywood Studios will take about the same amount of time as Epcot.

The resorts at Flamingo Crossings are about a mile from Disney’s Coronado Springs. When you pull out of Flamingo Crossings and take a left toward Walt Disney World, you’ll see the large Disney World gates, with Mickey and Minnie Mouse welcoming you to the property!

Final Thoughts

Overall, I was completely satisfied with my stay. If you’re looking for a place with room to spread out, a budget-friendly option, or just something new, I encourage you to book a stay here and see how you like it. I hope you enjoyed this hotel review. We also have a guide to choosing the best hotel at Flamingo Crossings. But I think you probably know that the Residence Inn tops the list.

For more off-property options, you might enjoy the following:

• Best Off Property Disney World Hotels
• Drury Plaza Near Disney Springs Review
• Bonnet Creek Resorts (and Why You Should Stay There)
• Benefits of Staying at a Disney World Resort

Or try our list of the best Marriott Hotels Close To Disney World.

In the comments:

After reading this review of the Residence Inn by Marriott, what do you think? Will you plan to stay there?