Orlando, Florida Vacation Home Guide: Best Areas, Things to Do & Places to Stay

Welcome to the Orlando Vacation Home Guide — a local guide to where to stay, what to do, and which landmarks are actually worth your time in Orlando, Florida and the surrounding cities. Whether this is your first family trip to Walt Disney World or your tenth winter escape to Central Florida, where you sleep shapes the whole vacation.

Why a vacation home beats a hotel in Orlando

Orlando is built for vacation homes. Private pools, full kitchens, game rooms, and space for the whole crew usually cost less per person than two or three hotel rooms — and you get your own lanai instead of a hallway. Families coming for the theme parks love having a washer and dryer after a long park day, and golf groups love the resort communities south of Disney where the villas sit fairway-side.

What this guide covers

Best Areas to Stay in Orlando: honest neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdowns — from Kissimmee and Lake Buena Vista near Disney to Winter Park's brick streets north of downtown. Start with our area hub: Best Areas to Stay in Orlando.

Best Things to Do in Orlando: the theme parks plus the Orlando most visitors miss — springs, airboats, local dining districts, and easy day trips.

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