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Wondering where to stay in Orlando? Compare Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista, Davenport, International Drive and more, including the best areas for villa holidays.
Choosing where to stay in Orlando can be almost as important as choosing which theme parks to visit.
Orlando is a large, spread-out destination, and the area you choose can have a big impact on your holiday. The right location can make getting to the parks easier, give you more options for restaurants and shopping, or give your family the extra space that comes with a private villa.
For many visitors, especially families travelling from the UK, a vacation home or villa is a popular choice. Having multiple bedrooms, a kitchen, living space and often a private pool can make a two-week Florida holiday feel much more comfortable.
The good news is that there are several excellent areas to choose from. The best one for you really depends on what you want from your trip.
Here are some of the most popular areas to consider when booking your Orlando accommodation.
For families staying in a villa, Kissimmee is one of the first areas worth looking at.
The US 192 corridor runs through Kissimmee and has a huge range of restaurants, shops, supermarkets, entertainment and vacation accommodation. It also puts you close to Walt Disney World, making it a popular base for families planning several Disney days during their stay.
One of the biggest advantages of staying in this area is the choice of accommodation. You can find everything from hotels and resort-style properties to larger vacation homes designed for families and groups.
A villa can be particularly appealing when you're travelling with grandparents, several children or another family, as everyone can stay under one roof rather than booking multiple hotel rooms.
Kissimmee is also convenient if you want your holiday to include more than Disney. Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, shopping outlets and other Central Florida attractions are all within reach, while day trips further afield can also be arranged.
There is one thing worth remembering when booking accommodation here: Kissimmee covers a fairly large area. Two properties described as being "in Kissimmee" can have quite different journey times, so it's always worth checking the exact address before booking.
For anyone planning a holiday centred heavily around Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista is another popular choice.
The area is right alongside the Disney resort and includes a wide range of hotels, resorts and vacation accommodation. The Disney Springs area also has plenty of restaurants, shops and entertainment, making it useful for evenings when you don't want to visit a theme park.
Staying closer to the parks can be particularly appealing if Disney is the main focus of your trip and you want to minimise the amount of travelling involved.
There are also a number of resort-area hotels offering different types of accommodation, including suites and villas, so you don't necessarily have to stay inside a Disney Resort hotel to be close to the action.
For families who are planning a mixture of Disney days, shopping, restaurants and other Orlando attractions, however, it is worth comparing Lake Buena Vista with Kissimmee and the surrounding villa communities before making a decision.
If having a little more space is high on your list, look towards Davenport and the ChampionsGate area.
Located southwest of the main Orlando tourist areas, Davenport has become particularly well known for vacation homes and resort-style communities. Many properties are designed for larger families and groups, with several bedrooms, private pools and shared resort facilities.
Visit Central Florida notes that the Davenport and ChampionsGate area has a large concentration of professionally managed vacation rentals, making it a popular choice for visitors looking for the space and flexibility of a vacation home.
This can be a great option for longer stays. Instead of everyone sharing a hotel room, you can have separate bedrooms, a kitchen for preparing meals and a living area where everyone can relax after a busy day.
The trade-off is location. You are further from some of the main attractions than you would be in Lake Buena Vista, so transportation becomes something worth thinking about before you book.
For many families, that extra space is worth it. It just means you should plan how you are going to get to the parks, restaurants and other attractions during your stay.
International Drive is a very different kind of Orlando experience.
Rather than being primarily known for vacation homes, I-Drive is a busy tourist corridor packed with hotels, restaurants, attractions, shops and entertainment.
Visit Orlando describes the International Drive Entertainment District as one of the city's major tourist areas, with easy access to attractions including Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando.
It's a good option for visitors who want plenty to do close to their accommodation. ICON Park, restaurants and numerous attractions are all found in the area, and there are plenty of options for an evening out without having to travel far.
International Drive can work particularly well for shorter trips, couples, families staying in hotels or visitors who want to divide their time between different attractions.
For a large family looking for a private pool villa, though, Kissimmee or Davenport may offer more of the type of accommodation you're looking for.
For something a little quieter, you could also consider Celebration.
The planned community was developed by The Walt Disney Company and is located close to Walt Disney World. It has a charming town centre with restaurants, cafés, shops and community spaces.
It's not the obvious choice for visitors who want to be right in the middle of the tourist action, but it can appeal to families and couples who prefer a more relaxed setting.
It's also worth considering for visitors who already know they will be using private transportation. Being slightly removed from the busiest tourist corridors doesn't necessarily mean you need to miss out on anything.
There isn't one area that suits every Orlando visitor.
Think about what matters most to you before you book.
Choose Kissimmee if you want:
A wide choice of vacation homes and villas, plenty of restaurants and shops nearby, and convenient access to Disney and the wider Orlando area.
Consider Lake Buena Vista if you want:
To stay particularly close to Disney and spend most of your holiday around the Disney resort area.
Look at Davenport and ChampionsGate if you want:
More space, larger vacation homes and resort-style amenities, particularly for bigger groups or longer stays.
Consider International Drive if you want:
Lots of restaurants and attractions close by, with a hotel-based holiday and easy access to Universal and SeaWorld.
Look at Celebration if you want:
A quieter setting with a town-centre atmosphere while still being close to the main attractions.
One of the most important things to remember is that Orlando accommodation listings can use broad area names. Always check the property's exact location before booking, rather than assuming that everything described as "Orlando" is close to the parks.
A private villa can give you much more space and flexibility than a traditional hotel, but it also means thinking about how you'll get around.
Most vacation homes aren't within walking distance of the theme parks or major attractions. You may also want to make supermarket trips, visit different restaurants, travel to the airport or take a day trip to somewhere further away.
That doesn't necessarily mean you need to hire a car for your entire holiday.
Acre Cars provides private transportation specifically for guests staying in vacation homes and short-term rentals, including airport pickups, grocery trips, theme park journeys and local transportation around Orlando and Kissimmee.
This can be particularly useful when travelling as a family or group. Rather than worrying about directions, parking, toll roads or who's going to drive at the end of a long day, you can arrange your transportation in advance and travel directly from your villa.
It's also useful for those bigger day trips. Acre Cars provides transportation to a wide range of Central Florida destinations, including Kennedy Space Center, SeaWorld, Gatorland, Clearwater Beach, and daytrips to anywhere in Florida - even to Miami!
For villa guests, the journey doesn't have to be complicated just because your accommodation is outside the main tourist area.
Don't know whether a rental car or private transportation is a better fit for you? Check out this article to discover the pros and cons of both options.
One of the best things about staying in Orlando is the choice.
You can stay close to the Disney parks, choose a villa with a private pool in Kissimmee, find a larger vacation home in Davenport or stay amongst the restaurants and attractions of International Drive.
The key is to think about the type of holiday you want before choosing your accommodation.
If you're travelling with a larger family or group, a spacious villa further from the parks may give you a much more comfortable place to stay. And with private transportation available, you don't necessarily have to sacrifice convenience to get that extra space.
Wherever you decide to stay, planning your transportation alongside your accommodation can make the whole trip easier.
Acre Cars offers private transportation for vacation-home and villa guests, from airport transfers and supermarket runs to theme park days and longer journeys around Central Florida.
You can view the full range of destinations and transportation services on our website and arrange your journeys before you arrive.