Many visitors to Central Florida and Walt Disney World® are surprised to learn how many private homes are available for rent while on vacation. Vacation homes near Disney World are extremely popular.

Vacation homes near Disney World are located in the cities of Kissimmee and Davenport Florida. Many non-seasoned travelers to Central Florida think of Orlando as the closest metro area, but this is not the case. Davenport lies geographically to the southwest of Walt Disney World® and Kissimmee is to the immediate south and east of the Disney Parks. The city of Clermont Florida is also nearby, but due to the interconnecting roadways, the rental homes in Clermont are not as close as those in Kissimmee and Davenport.

Let’s first look at where the Disney World attractions are geographically:

• Magic Kingdom® is the most northern attraction in Walt Disney World®
• The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is the most southern attraction in WDW and thus, the closest to many vacation homes. Disney’s Hollywood Studios® is also adjacent to the ESPN Sports Complex where many sports groups and teams compete.
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park is situated in the western quadrant of Disneyworld
• Epcot® is most notably in the center of the Walt Disney attractions

The largest cluster of resort villas is located in western and south central Kissimmee which is part of Osceola County.  Most of these rental homes are accessible to the Disney Parks within about 30 minutes depending upon traffic. Interstate 192 (Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway) is the main artery running east and west that will carry you into the actual parks.

And of course the Disney park footprint is huge, as it covers almost 50 square miles of land mass. As such, there are many entrances to the various parks depending upon which attraction you wish to visit. Consult our individual resort reviews for specific distances to the various Disney parks.

There are other groups of vacation homes in the area including Clermont (as mentioned), south Davenport and eastern Kissimmee. However, rentals in these areas will typically require more driving time which takes precious time away from your vacation.

The most convenient group of vacation homes near Disney World perhaps lies in western Kissimmee. Due to this ease of accessibility, some of the top house rentals are in this vicinity. These prestigious communities include Encantada Resort, Emerald Island, Paradise Palms, Windsor Hills, Windsor Palms and others. Many of these resort subdivisions are quite new and offer the latest in in-home amenities and recreation. These rental homes are within a short drive of the attractions located in the southern part of Walt Disney World – ESPN Wide World of Sports and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

In terms of driving distance, many of the villas in south and central Kissimmee are just as adjacent to Disneyworld as any other, but many of the homes have matured. These homes were some of the first communities dedicated to short term renters (aka Disney visitors).  These communities include Villas of Somerset, Westminster, Lindfields and Sweetwater Club. Nevertheless, some great deals can be enjoyed by savvy renters at any of these resort communities.

Resort communities in northern Davenport Fl are also viable as vacation homes near Disney World. In fact, if Animal Kingdom® is a big part of your vacation itinerary, these villas are within minutes of this attraction. Animal Kingdom, as mentioned above, is on the western edge of WDW and thus near many Davenport vacation rentals. Some of the exclusive resorts in north Davenport include newer communities such as Tuscan Ridge, Hampton Lakes and Solana Resort.

All in all, the market for vacation homes near Disney World is unique. Perhaps no other city or area boasts as many quality vacation home rental choices as does visitors to Central Florida. Homes range anywhere from 3 to 9 bedrooms and offer a wide variety of in-home amenities. These amenities may include private pools, game rooms, self catering kitchens, spacious bedrooms and home theatres.

The choices can be confusing, but the team at Orlando Vacation Homes 360 (OVH 360) is ready to answer any questions you may have. Call the friendly experienced staff at 407-966-4144 or 1-888-826-0551 Toll Free. Although we profile many vacation home communities in the area, only a select number of rentals are chosen for our reservations inventory. Also, be sure to check our latest in Orlando vacation home rental news.