There are over a dozen Orlando villa communities available at AttractionTickets.com, ranging from 5-star estates at Reunion Resort to quieter, more residential retreats in Davenport. They’re not all the same, and the best Orlando villa for a couple celebrating an anniversary is very different from the best one for three families travelling together with nine kids between them.
The good news? Once you know what to look for, narrowing it down becomes much easier! Our team has been to Orlando hundreds of times between them - many have stayed in these very communities with their own families, including young children, babies and elderly relatives! That real-world experience is what shapes our advice below. Here’s how our team thinks about it:
Step 1: Start with location
The single biggest factor in choosing the best villa resort in Orlando is which team parks you’re planning to visit and how often you want to drive to them.
It’s worth knowing that a couple of the communities take the driving question off the table entirely. Encore Club at Reunion Resort includes a free shuttle to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando for guests in participating villas. Villatel on International Drive also runs a complimentary daily shuttle to both Universal and Walt Disney World (advance seat reservation is required). For all other communities though, a hire car is the practical choice.
The majority of Orlando villa communities sit in the western corridor: Kissimmee and Davenport, both south and west of the city. Walt Disney World is the closest major park to both areas, which is why villas near Disney World are so popular.
Universal Orlando Resort, and the new Universal Epic Universe nearby, are further north - around 20-35 minutes from Kissimmee communities, and around 10 minutes from Villatel on International Drive.
Here’s a quick reference for all 13 communities:
Distance to Disney and Universal from our Orlando Villas
Community | Area | Mins to Disney (by car) | Mins to Universal (by car) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Reunion Resort | Kissimmee | ~15 mins | ~25 mins | Luxury, golf, large groups |
Encore Club at Reunion | Kissimmee | ~15 mins | ~25 mins | Themed rooms, big water fun |
Villatel Orlando Resort | I-Drive | ~20 mins | ~10 mins | Universal / Epic Universe access |
Solara Resort | Kissimmee | ~10 mins | ~20 mins | Modern resort, surf simulator |
Windsor Island Resort | Kissimmee | ~15 mins | ~25 mins | Families with young children |
Windsor Hills Resort | Kissimmee | ~10 mins | ~25 mins | Closest villa community to Disney |
Windsor Palms Resort | Kissimmee | ~10 mins | ~25 mins | Mid-range families, cinema on-site |
Windsor at Westside | Kissimmee | ~15 mins | ~25 mins | Large groups, sports and pool |
Storey Lake Resort | Kissimmee | ~10 mins | ~20 mins | Lakeside feel, water activities |
ChampionsGate Resort | Davenport | ~15 mins | ~35 mins | Golf and waterpark on-site |
Solterra Resort | Davenport | ~20 mins | ~35 mins | Value, lazy river, peaceful |
Highlands Reserve | Davenport | ~25 mins | ~40 mins | Golfers and quiet retreats |
High Grove | Clermont | ~20 mins | ~35 mins | Smaller groups, quiet setting |
Our recommendations:
- If Walt Disney World is your priority, the best area for villas in Orlando is Kissimmee, specifically Windsor Hills Resort (4 miles from Disney) or Storey Lake Resort (also just minutes from the parks).
- If Universal and Epic Universe are more important, Villatel on I-Drive is in a different class altogether for access.
Step 2: Match bedrooms to your group
Getting the bedroom count right matters more than most people expect. Too few and everyone feels cramped. Too many and you’re paying for empty rooms. As a rough guide:
- 4-5 bedrooms: Ideal for single families of up to 8-10 guests - consider Highlands Reserve, High Grove, Windsor Palms or Encore Club
- 5-7 bedrooms: Suits two families or extended groups up to 16 - consider Windsor Hills, Storey Lake, Solterra, Windsor Island or Encore Club
- 8-10 bedrooms: Large groups or multiple families - consider Windsor Island Resort or Windsor at Westside
- 10-13 bedrooms: Very large groups, multi-generational stays - consider Reunion Resort
Reunion Resort has the widest range of any community in our portfolio - from 4-bedroom homes sleeping 8 to 13-bedroom estate villas sleeping 33. If your group is large or unusually sized, Reunion is usually the place to start.
Step 3: Think about resort facilities
All 13 communities include access to communal facilities, but what’s on offer varies significantly. Here’s how to match the facilities to your priorities.
If waterparks and pools are priority:
For families where the kids want waterslides and splash zones as much as the theme parks, these communities lead the way:
- Reunion Resort* has the most impressive setup of any community in Orlando - a full 5-acre waterpark with multiple slides and a lazy river, all within the resort grounds.
- Encore Club at Reunion* also has its own waterpark with a lazy river and splash zones, plus an exceptional range of leisure facilities.
- ChampionsGate Resort has the Oasis Club waterpark - one of the best in any villa community in Orlando, with slides, a lazy river and a beach-entry pool.
- Windsor Island Resort and Solterra Resort both have resort pools with waterslides.
- Solara Resort goes one further, with a FlowRider surf simulator - the only villa community in the area to offer one!
*Access to the waterparks varies by villa, so please check individual listings or speak to our team to confirm what’s included.
If golf matters:
- Reunion Resort is the standout choice for golfers, with three PGA championship courses (Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus designs) all within the resort.
- Highlands Reserve in Davenport also has a championship golf course at its heart, and is particularly popular with golfers looking for a more peaceful, residential setting.
- ChampionsGate Resort is named for its proximity to the Champions Gate Golf Club.
If you want a quieter setting:
Highlands Reserve and High Grove are the most residential and peaceful communities in the range. They don’t have the same scale of facilities as Reunion or ChampionsGate, but they offer spacious 4 and 5-bedroom villas at accessible price points with a calmer atmosphere - ideal for golfers, older groups or families who want space without noise.
Unique features worth knowing about:
- Villatel Orlando Resort is the only villa community in our range on International Drive, just 2 miles from the new Universal Epic Universe park. It features show-stopping estates with private pools, in-home arcades and private cinemas.
- Storey Lake Resort sits alongside a genuine lake, with kayak and canoe rentals available. The lakeside setting makes it feel different from the typical Kissimmee villa resort.
- Windsor Hills Resort has its own 48-seat cinema, arcade room and The Marketplace & Grill restaurant - more resort infrastructure than many communities double its size!
Step 4: Consider your budget
Orlando villa pricing varies significantly by community, season and villa size. As a very general guide across the portfolio:
- Most accessible price point: Highlands Reserve and High Grove (4-5 bed villas in peaceful locations)
- Mid-range: Windsor Palms, Solterra Resort and Windsor Hills Resort (strong facilities with competitive rates)
- Premium: ChampionsGate, Windsor Island, Windsor at Westside and Storey Lake (higher-spec resort amenities)
- Luxury tier: Reunion Resort, Encore Club and Villatel Orlando Resort (5-star facilities with premium villa interiors)
For larger groups, it’s often worth looking at the per-person cost rather than the total villa price. A 12-bedroom villa at Reunion Resort divided 12 ways can be very competitive against hotel rooms, once you factor in meals you’re saving.
Quick match guide - which villa community is best based on types of holidays?
If you’re still unsure, this table maps out common trip types to the communities that tend to work best:
Your trip | Best match |
|---|---|
Closest villa to Walt Disney World | Windsor Hills Resort |
Closest villa for Universal / Epic Universe | Villatel Orlando Resort |
Luxury 5-star experience | Reunion Resort or Encore Club at Reunion |
Best waterpark on-site | Reunion Resort (5-acre park) or ChampionsGate (Oasis Club) |
Largest villas (10+ bed) | Reunion Resort |
Best for golfers | Reunion Resort (3 PGA courses) or Highlands Reserve |
Best value 4-5 bed villa | Highlands Reserve, High Grove or Windsor Palms Resort |
Surf simulator / FlowRider | Solara Resort |
Lakeside setting with water activities | Storey Lake Resort |
Closest to International Drive | Villatel Orlando Resort |
Quietest, most residential feel | Highlands Reserve or High Grove |
Large villas with resort pool and sports courts | Windsor Island Resort or Windsor at Westside |
Mid-range families wanting space and facilities | Solterra Resort or Windsor Palms Resort |
Cinema and arcade | Windsor Hills Resort or Windsor Palms Resort |
Lagoon pool on-site | Windsor Hills Resort |
Orlando Villa FAQs
What is the best area for villas in Orlando?
Kissimmee is the most popular area for Orlando villa rentals, and the best choice if Walt Disney World is your main destination. It has the highest concentration of villa communities, the shortest drives to Disney, and the widest range of resort facilities.
Davenport is slightly further out but quieter and often better value - a good option if you want more space and a more relaxed pace, and don’t mind a 15-20 minute drive to the parks.
What is the best villa community near Disney?
Windsor Hills Resort, at just four miles from Walt Disney World, is the closest villa community in our range to the parks. Storey Lake Resort is also very close! Both are excellent choices if minimising drive time to Disney is your priority. Villatel on I-Drive is the best choice if Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Epic Universe take priority.
Are Orlando villas better than hotels?
For groups of six or more, villa rentals in Orlando almost always work out cheaper per person than hotel rooms, particularly when you factor in the cost of meals you’ll cook at home in the villa kitchen.
For couples or solo travellers, a hotel is often more practical. The sweet spot for villa value is typically three or more families travelling together, or extended groups making full use of the bedrooms.
Can I book theme park tickets with my villa?
Yes! At AttractionTickets.com, we offer Orlando villas alongside Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort tickets, so you can handle both in one booking. Our team can also advise on which parks to visit on which days, and how to split your time based on your villa’s location. Simply reach out to us today and we’ll be able to help!
Ready to find your perfect Orlando villa?
Browse all Orlando villa communities and filter by location, bedrooms, facilities and price to find the right fit for your group. Our team of Orlando experts is available to help if you’re not sure where to start!
