The Residence Inn is one of my favorite hotels at Flamingo Crossings — but it can also be the most expensive per night, and that's the trade-off you're weighing before you book.
After 47 trips to Disney, here's the honest read on what you're actually getting.
This is the higher-end, smaller property in the group. The parking lot is smaller and there are fewer elevators, but it's never a problem — there just aren't as many rooms, and that's the whole point. It's not really built for high school bands or youth groups the way some of the others are, so you skip a lot of the crowd friction. This is the opposite end of the cost spectrum from the Fairfield Inn and Suites, which is usually the cheapest pick out here but smaller, with not everything at the higher-end level.
The Residence Inn feels new top to bottom — the front staff is great, the hallways and doors all feel fresh, and it carries the same Disney feel as the rest of Flamingo Crossings without the volume.
Walk into the room and it actually feels like a small apartment. You get a full kitchenette with a three-quarter-size refrigerator, a burner and a hot stove, a dishwasher, a nice microwave, big counter space, and lots of silverware. It's a suite, so the bedroom is its own space. The bathroom is all very nice with an upgraded walk-in shower — be aware it gives you a half glass door, you may or may not like, you almost have to see it on the walkthrough to get how nice it is.
Here's the honest friction. The biggest one is price — this can run the most per night of any hotel at Flamingo Crossings, so it has to be worth it to you. Breakfast is the real-silverware setup in a smaller area, which means fewer people fighting for it. The exercise room is very nice and the pool is smaller and quieter.
On the shuttle, the Residence Inn is the last pickup for the Flamingo Crossings group — so your wait is short, but depending on how many people boarded at the other five hotels first, you may have to stand.
I love the Residence Inn. But not all amenities are created equal, and not every hotel is perfect for every trip. If a quieter, newer, apartment-style stay is worth paying a bit more for, this is the one — just watch the video and do a full walkthrough with me first.
One more thing before you book:
if you want the full picture on how all six Flamingo Crossings hotels actually compare, read my
complete guide to Flamingo Crossings hotels
before you lock anything in.
And grab the free
Disney Hotels Hidden Fees Guide
so you know the real nightly cost for 36+ Disney budget hotels before you book.
Don't book the wrong hotel. Stop guessing.