Are you trying to figure out how to find one of the best vacation home rentals for your upcoming Disney trip?
Well, look no further!
I am here to help.
When planning your vacation to Walt Disney World, one of the first things you’ll need to start with is a place to stay.
There are so many wonderful options to choose from while you’re here and I’ve stayed at quite a few of them to help you decide which one is the best option for you.
Today I will give you the ultimate guide (along with expert tips) for you to make your final decision.
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Why It’s Important to Choose the Best Vacation Home Rental Near Disney
Before you start picking out your perfectly themed vacation rental near Disney World, you should get familiar with some of the basic information.
An Orlando, Florida vacation home gives you the option to stay on a property in a resort community with options to have a condo, townhouse, or single-family home.
This allows you to have the comfort of home with resort-type amenities all within a gated community.
These types of homes always have plenty of room and are perfect alternatives to hotels or extended stays (over 4 days) and trips with large groups.
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Why Should I Book an Orlando Vacation Home Rental?
The Orlando vacation home rentals near Disney affords you the ability of convenience, because you’ll no longer have to worry about where to store food from that bucket list restaurant or how to avoid going over your food budget at the Disney Parks.
You’ll be treated with fully equipped kitchens, multiple bedrooms, a spacious living room, and most of the time your own private swimming pool with a nightly rate that averages less than a hotel.
Especially a hotel on theme park property.
What are the Advantages of Staying in an Orlando Vacation Home Rental?
As mentioned before, most luxury vacation home rentals come with a fully equipped kitchen, a private dining area, larger square footage, and FREE amenities. This means you can save money dining and travel lighter.
Just in case those weren’t enough things to show how awesome the vacation home rentals near Disney World are, check out my top advantages of staying in one of these luxury homes.
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3 Reasons to Stay at a Resort Home in Orlando
Now that you understand why it’s important to pick the best vacation home rental for your Disney World vacation, it’s time to go through why you should consider staying at one for your trip.
1. You Will Save Money
You will save a significant amount of money on your Walt Disney World trip, by booking a vacation home.
Most people think a home rental will break the bank, but this is not true.
Not only will your accommodations cost less, you’ll save on food because you will not be required to eat on theme park property or at a hotel. Dining can add up quickly on a vacation.
2. You Will Get More Space
The average vacation home rental in Orlando that’s near Disney is 1,800+ square feet versus a hotel room which is around 325 square feet.
3. You’ll Avoid Hidden Fees
Amenities vary per hotel and some are associated with extra charges. Hidden costs such as:
- high parking fees
- bottle water fees
- energy surcharge fees
- pool fees
- internet fees
These are just a few of the unexpected charges you may face when staying in a hotel when compared to staying at one of the Disney vacation homes nearby.
8 Expert Tips for Choosing a Vacation Home Rental Near Disney World
Let’s go over some of the best tips I’ve discovered when picking out a Disney vacation rental.
1. Find a Vacation Home Close to Walt Disney World Resort
Depending on the location you choose, you could be driving over 45-minutes if you don’t find the best area to get your holiday rental.
Orlando is a large city in size and along with the monstrous traffic. You could be commuting up to an hour to Disney if your location is not strategically chosen.
Not the best way to start your magical vacation.
So, focus your search on family-friendly luxury vacation homes within a 20-minute drive to Walt Disney World.
2. Get as Many Rooms as You Need
One of my favorite advantages of getting a vacation home is the option to get as few rooms or as many rooms as necessary.
At a top-notch luxury resort such as, the Encore at Reunion Resort, it’s not uncommon to find a home with at least 11-bedrooms. This is one of the best options for large reunions or family vacations.
There’s not much of a difference in price if you get a home with an additional bedroom.
If you’re on the fence about booking a 5-bedroom vs 6-bedroom vacation rental in Orlando, then I recommend going with the higher number just to be on the safe side.
Book your discounted Orlando Vacation Home with TopVillas TODAY!
3. Look for Disney World Packages When Booking Luxury Resort
I recommend booking a Walt Disney World vacation package that includes park tickets.
Many of the luxury vacation homes in Orlando are authorized Disney ticket providers and are usually able to give a great deal. You’ll want to avoid buying tickets at the park gates, as you’re more likely to pay a higher cost.
4. Pay Attention to Payment Options
Many of the Orlando vacation home rentals will allow you to make payment arrangements based on the length of your stay.
However, there are other rental agreements that require the vacation cost to be paid in full.
If you’re not ready to pay the full amount, then I suggest working with Top Villas. They only require a deposit of 20-50% of the total coast to get your reservation.
After that, all you will have to do is pay the full amount 56 days out from your Orlando trip.
I also love how easy it is to use their website and how easy it is to communicate with them both before and during your vacation.
Hipster Power Tip: Always ask your rental provider for a full list of fees. It’s not uncommon to pay a small cleaning fee or similar, but if the fees you’re expected to pay end up doubling the price then avoid booking with that company.
5. Review the Cancellation Policy
Be sure that the company you’ve booked your vacation home with, has clear and detailed cancellation policy.
You don’t want to be stuck in a vacation home agreement that will not allow you to cancel if you’ve made proper notice.
Also check to see if there are possible options for rental agreements that have to be terminated last minute. This will give you peace of mind when booking your vacation home stay.
Are you planning a Disney vacation soon? Read the Disney World Vacation Planning Guide for your next dream trip!
6. Pick a Company with a Great Reputation and a Variety of Orlando Vacation Homes
I recommend choosing one website that houses a variety of vacation villas and homes in the Orlando area.
This will give you plenty of options and availability when it comes to choosing a home based on amenities, location, and price.
Visiting multiple sites can get cumbersome, so shoot for a website such as Top Villas to see each selection of homes near Disney World.
Don’t forget that a trusted company with an impeccable reputation goes a long way and will save you any grief. Top Villas’ process is super simple and convenient.
Ready to start planning your next Disney World vacation? Listen to the latest podcast episode on Apple or on your non-Apple device now!
7. Choose a Place with Great Amenities
Empowering yourself with the knowledge that your vacation home will come with basic features such as a fully equipped kitchen, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms is good to know.
However, you should also check on little details that may affect your stay. Such as:
- Is a large kitchen important to you?
- What about a luxurious clubhouse in the resort?
- How important are washers and dryers to you?
- What about a private rec room or movie theater inside your Orlando vacation rental home?
- Do you want an Orlando vacation home rental with a pool?
These are just a few amenities you should think about when choosing your Orlando vacation home near Disney.
Hipster Power Tip: Most vacation homes in Orlando come with a private swimming pool and sometimes a private hot tub as well.
8. Use a Vacation Home Rental Specialist
On most rental websites you have the option to book your stay online (which is what I do most of the time). However, I recommend working with an expert directly who can help you select the best home for your trip.
Many of the vacation home specialists have superb information on the area you want to stay in.
They also know what details to mention to you, that you may not think of when choosing your home.
A rental specialist will walk you through every step of picking your Walt Disney World vacation home rental.
This allows you to take it easy and count down the days to the start of your magical vacation!
You can take advantage of all the special offers Top Villas has going on by using this link for a discount off your visit at Reunion Resort.
Ready to plan your theme park trip? Watch the best vacation planning tips on YouTube. Get started here!
My Final Thoughts on Vacation Home Rentals Near Disney World
For lots of different reasons I recommend Top Villas, which offers 24/7 guest support. They also have an office in Orlando, which makes it more convenient to connect with them.
Choosing the right vacation home rental near Disney should not be stressful. I hope I was able to provide you with the best tips for selecting your perfect place.
5 Best Vacation Home Resorts in Orlando, Florida
Before you go, these are my top picks just for you for ALL budgets:
You can read more tips for choosing the 5 Best Orlando Family Resorts with a Water Park here.
Have you ever stayed at a vacation home near Walt Disney World? If so, what did you like best about doing your Disney trip this way? Leave your comments below.
If you enjoyed this article, then you’ll love these:
- Disney World Packing List
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort Review
- CLC Regal Oaks Vacation Home Resort Review
- Top 10 Themed Vacation Rentals Near Disney World that Won’t Make you Miss Staying on Property!
- 3 BEST Disney Moderate Resorts for Solo Travelers
- Review & Guide: Universal Orlando Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
My name is Nikky. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor, and a writer who loves ALL things amusement park related!
Traveling alone to the parks has changed my life and I want to show how you can create your own solo theme park memories.
Connect with me on Instagram!
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(Original Article Written in 2018/Updated on September 21, 2024)
We love the Windsor Palm Resort located about three miles from Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You can’t beat the price (>$100/night) and the savings on eating breakfast and a few meals ‘at home’ is incredible.
Windsor Palm is an excellent resort! I know doing vacations this way may not be idea for some people, but I love exploring the vacation home resorts near Walt Disney World. The amenities are just as good (if not better) as the onsite hotels.
Renting a place nearby often is cost effective. We stay on property sometimes, but usually we stay off property for the many benefits that we enjoy. You have shared some very nice recommendations!
Thanks!
I love exploring all the offsite resorts near Disney. They usually have lots of space with amazing amenities 🙂