A home near Disney World, Florida offers something most overseas properties can’t: a near-constant stream of potential guests and one of the most resilient short-term rental markets in the United States.
Orlando draws almost 77 million visitors annually [1], making it one of the busiest tourist destinations in the United States. That footfall doesn’t slow in winter, and it doesn’t fade mid-week. For buyers looking to combine a family holiday bolthole with a serious rental income, the theme park belt of Central Florida offers a compelling case – if you know which postcode to target.
This article explores five locations where British buyers are finding the best balance of lifestyle, rental yield and long-term value.
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Why buy near Disney World?
The parks are the obvious draw. Walt Disney World alone spans four theme parks – Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom – plus two water parks and a retail and dining district. Universal Orlando has expanded steadily too, with the Volcano Bay water park opening in 2017 and further resort development ongoing.
But the appeal stretches well beyond the rides. Central Florida has become a year-round destination in its own right. World-class golf courses (including Disney’s own Lake Buena Vista and Magnolia layouts), championship-level fishing on the lake systems, spa resorts and outlet shopping keep visitors returning long after their children have outgrown the queues for Space Mountain.
Florida also has no state income tax, which is a genuine advantage. However, UK buyers should be aware that rental income is still subject to US federal tax, and must usually be declared to HMRC as well. Short-term rentals also attract Florida sales tax and a local tourist development tax, which can add around 12% to 13.5% depending on county on top of your rental rate in the Orlando area. The good news is that a wide range of expenses can be offset against your taxable income, often reducing the bill significantly.
Direct flights from the UK to Orlando International Airport take around nine hours, with return fares widely available at competitive prices – making it an easy sell to prospective tenants.
Five places to consider near Disney World
1. Kissimmee
Kissimmee sits in Osceola County, directly south of Orlando, and is where the bulk of the region’s short-term holiday rental market is concentrated. It’s less than 30 minutes from the main theme parks, but it’s more than a staging post. The city borders Lake Tohopekaliga – a wide, quiet lake popular for fishing, kayaking and early-morning wildlife spotting – and its downtown area has a lively restaurant and bar scene that holds its own independently of the parks.
Lakefront Park is a good indicator of why families keep coming back: two playgrounds, a splash pad and generous shaded picnic areas make it a low-cost, high-satisfaction afternoon for young children and grandparents alike.
The rental market here is one of the strongest in the state, with larger properties – five bedrooms or more – seeing the highest demand. West Kissimmee in particular is considered the sweet spot for investor buyers, where rental consistency is strongest.
Property prices: Median home values in Kissimmee currently sit at approximately $380,000-$420,000, a significant rise from pre-pandemic levels that reflects sustained demand from both buyers and renters.
2. Davenport
Davenport, in Polk County, sits around 50 minutes from the main Disney attractions – further than some buyers want – but its position on Interstate 4 makes it easy to reach Orlando, Disney, Tampa and Lakeland without the congestion that affects some closer-in areas.
It’s also home to ChampionsGate Golf Resort and The Highlands Reserve Golf Club, which attract their own visitors independently of the theme parks. That broadens the rental audience, which is useful when the school holidays are over.
AirDNA (a company that specialises in short-term rental data and analytics) rates Davenport highly for rental performance, with well-managed properties achieving annual occupancy in the region of 70-74% and a nightly rate of roughly $200-$220. That said, average occupancy across all listings sits closer to 50-55% – properties that perform at the top end typically offer larger bedroom counts, private pools and professional management.
Property prices: Prices are broadly similar to Kissimmee, with median values around $370,000–$390,000, though the supply of larger resort-style homes tends to be more consistent here. That makes it a reliable market for buyers targeting the family rental segment.
3. Winter Park
Winter Park occupies a different corner of the market entirely. Fifteen minutes north-east of downtown Orlando and around 30 minutes from the Disney parks, it’s consistently regarded as one of the most desirable residential addresses in Central Florida.
The streets here are wide and oak-lined, the architecture is varied and carefully maintained, and the lakes – including Lake Virginia – make waterfront living genuinely accessible rather than an estate agent’s aspirational shorthand. The Morse Museum houses one of the world’s finest collections of Tiffany glass; the weekly farmers’ market is a fixture of local life; and the restaurant scene is several notches above what you’d find in the more theme-park-adjacent suburbs.
This is a better match for buyers prioritising lifestyle and capital appreciation over raw rental yield, though Airbnb occupancy rates in the area still track at around 60-65%.
Property prices: Winter Park commands a premium for detached family homes, with values typically above $750,000. The wider market – which includes condos and townhomes – has a median closer to $450,000-$500,000, so there is range here depending on property type.
4. Lakeland
Lakeland has a practical advantage that no amount of marketing can manufacture: geography. It sits almost exactly equidistant between Orlando’s theme parks and Florida’s Gulf Coast beaches, which means renters can split a fortnight between two very different experiences without long drives on unfamiliar roads.
The city itself has a distinct character – it takes its name seriously, with nearly 10% of its total area made up of lakes. The Cleveland Heights and Grasslands areas attract buyers looking for established neighbourhoods with good amenities, while the wider Lakeland market offers more affordable entry points than areas closer to Disney.
AirDNA data shows Airbnb accounting for around three-quarters of short-term rentals in Lakeland. Average occupancy runs at around 55-60% annually, with February consistently the peak month.
Property prices: Median values sit at approximately $300,000-$320,000, making Lakeland one of the more accessible entry points in Central Florida for buyers working with a tighter budget.
5. Haines City
Haines City is positioned between Davenport and Kissimmee, which gives it a useful dual pull: it’s around 25 minutes from Disney World and within reasonable reach of the Gulf Coast beaches. Tampa is an hour away, which opens up a further set of attractions for tenants who want variety during a longer stay.
For buyers focused on yield, the numbers are worth examining. Well-managed holiday rentals in Haines City can achieve annual occupancy of 70-74%, with February and March seeing figures above 90% – though typical occupancy across the wider market sits closer to 50-55%. The average daily rental rate sits around $155-$165, and monthly revenue can average around $2,400-$2,600 – peaking higher in summer.
Larger homes are available here at a lower cost than in Kissimmee, which makes Haines City an attractive option for buyers wanting to maximise bedroom count – and rental income – without stretching the budget to its limit.
Property prices: Median values currently sit at approximately $330,000-$350,000. The market has seen strong growth since 2020, but Haines City remains one of the more competitively priced options in the Disney belt.
What UK buyers need to know before committing
The Central Florida rental market is well-established and relatively straightforward to navigate, but there are a few practical realities that don’t always appear in the headline figures.
Most resort-style communities come with Homeowners Association (HOA) fees, which typically run between $400 and $800 per month. These cover shared amenities, maintenance and community management – but they’re a fixed cost regardless of whether your property is occupied, and they can make a meaningful dent in net rental income. Always factor HOA fees into your yield calculations before committing.
Short-term rental licensing is also a requirement in Florida. State law requires a DBPR (Department of Business and Professional Regulation) licence for any property rented out for periods of less than 30 days, and most counties require a separate local permit on top. Regulations vary by area – in some parts of Orlando city proper, whole-home short-term rentals are not permitted unless the host is present. The areas covered in this article are generally well-suited to holiday letting, but it’s essential to confirm the rules for any specific property and community before you buy.
A good local lawyer and a property manager with experience in the short-term rental market will make both processes considerably simpler.
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