Best Areas to Buy Airbnb Near Disney World
Four Central Florida markets compared side by side. Revenue, occupancy, home prices, tax rates, and resort communities for every investor profile.
Orlando attracted a record 76.7 million visitors in 2025. Disney World has been the anchor for decades, and Epic Universe (opened May 2025) added another reason for tourists to book a place nearby. For investors searching for rental properties for sale in Orlando, that kind of demand is hard to ignore.
Mike Chen, FunStay Florida’s licensed broker and STR consultant, has helped dozens of investors find the right property across these markets. He also works with owners ready to sell a vacation home in the corridor. Our team manages vacation rentals in Kissimmee, Davenport, Haines City, and the broader Orlando corridor. This guide breaks down the best areas to buy Airbnb near Disney World using AirROI’s 2026 market data, so you can compare revenue, occupancy, home prices, and tax structures in one place.
We wrote a detailed Davenport vs Kissimmee comparison for investors choosing between those two markets. This page covers the full Disney investment corridor, including Haines City and Clermont.
Best for: Disney proximity and guest volume
$38K
AVG. REVENUE/YR
46%
OCCUPANCY
$340K
MEDIAN HOME PRICE
10 min
TO DISNEY WORLD
Kissimmee sits closest to Disney World and it shows. The market has 9,604 active listings, making it the largest STR market in the corridor by far. Average annual revenue is $38,290 with a $291 nightly rate. The trade-off: heavy competition and Osceola County’s 13.5% combined tourist tax rate, plus a $410 STRO permit. Communities like Storey Lake and Windsor Hills consistently command premium rates thanks to resort amenities. Experienced Kissimmee property management helps properties outside resort gates compete for those same guests.
Top communities: Storey Lake, Solara Resort, Windsor Hills, Paradise Palms.
Best for: Maximum revenue potential
$48K
AVG. REVENUE/YR
49%
OCCUPANCY
$450K
MEDIAN HOME PRICE
30 min
TO DISNEY WORLD
Clermont is the revenue leader of the four markets, and it is not close. According to AirROI’s 2026 data, average annual revenue is $47,510 with a $331 nightly rate, the highest of any area in the Disney corridor. Occupancy holds at 48.6%. The 557 active listings put it well below Kissimmee and Davenport in competition. The catch: home prices run around $450K, so the entry cost is higher. Supply grew 237.6% over the past year, driven by Clermont’s standing as one of the most profitable Airbnb cities in Florida. Clermont sits in Lake County with an 11% combined tax rate, the lowest of the four markets, and low regulation.
Key draws: Highest revenue, $331 ADR, Lake County, lakefront properties.
Side-by-Side Market Comparison
This table puts all four best areas to buy Airbnb near Disney World next to each other on the metrics that matter most. Revenue data sourced from AirROI 2026. Home prices from Redfin, Q1 2026.
Performance Metrics
| Metric | Kissimmee | Davenport | Haines City | Clermont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. Annual Revenue | $38,290 | $31,874 | $18,471 | $47,510 |
| Occupancy Rate | 46.4% | 41.4% | 35.9% | 48.6% |
| Avg. Daily Rate | $291 | $278 | $207 | $331 |
| RevPAR | $134 | $113 | $76 | $172 |
Investment Metrics
| Metric | Kissimmee | Davenport | Haines City | Clermont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $340,000 | $320,000 | $319,000 | $450,000 |
| Active Listings | 9,604 | 3,243 | 427 | 557 |
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 21.8% | 21.4% | 14.5% | 80.8% |
| Distance to Disney | 10 min | 20 min | 25 min | 30 min |
| County | Osceola | Polk | Polk | Lake |
| Combined Tax Rate | 13.5% | 12% | 12% | 11% |
| Annual Permit Fee | $410 (STRO) | $60 | $60 | Varies |
The Epic Universe Factor
Universal’s Epic Universe opened on May 22, 2025 and has already changed the Central Florida rental landscape. The park welcomed roughly 10 million guests in its first year of operation, according to anniversary reporting. MoffettNathanson projects total Universal Orlando attendance reaching 27.6 million in 2026, up from a projected 24.1 million in 2025.
Resort Communities to Know
Resort-style communities drive premium nightly rates because guests get clubhouse access, pools, water parks, and on-site dining without leaving the neighborhood. Our full guide to the best STR communities in Orlando covers each one in detail. These are the communities that consistently outperform standalone homes in each market.
Davenport • Polk County
Kissimmee • Osceola County
Reunion • Polk County
Clermont • Lake County
Davenport • Polk County
Davenport • Polk County
Davenport • Polk County
Orlando • Orange County
Kissimmee • Osceola County
Kissimmee • Osceola County
Kissimmee • Osceola County
Polk County vs Osceola County: Regulations and Taxes
The best areas to buy Airbnb near Disney World fall across three different counties, and the Airbnb licensing and tax differences add up fast. Osceola County (Kissimmee) charges 13.5% combined with a $410 STRO permit. Polk County (Davenport, Haines City) charges 12% with a $60 registration fee. Lake County (Clermont) has the lowest rate at 11% with fewer STR-specific regulations on the books.
On a property generating $35K in annual revenue, the 1.5-point gap between Osceola and Polk counties means roughly $525 more in taxes per year in Kissimmee. Clermont’s 2.5-point advantage over Osceola saves even more. Add in Osceola’s higher permit costs, and the annual savings in Polk or Lake County run between $500 and $900 depending on revenue. Our county regulations guide covers every licensing step, zoning rule, and enforcement detail for Polk and Osceola.
Every property across every county needs a Florida DBPR license before listing on Airbnb or Vrbo. The state license is separate from county permits.
How to Choose Your Market
Picking among the best areas to buy Airbnb near Disney World comes down to a few honest questions.
What matters more, top-line revenue or operating margins?
Clermont generates the most gross revenue at $47,510 per year, commands the highest nightly rate at $331, and sits in Lake County with the lowest combined tax rate at 11%. But the $450K median home price means your upfront investment is also the highest. Davenport and Haines City earn less gross revenue but offer lower entry prices and Polk County’s 12% rate, which still beats Osceola’s 13.5%.
How much can you invest upfront?
Haines City and Davenport get you into a 4-bedroom pool home for around $319K to $320K. Kissimmee sits closer to $340K. Clermont requires $450K or more. That $130K gap between Haines City and Clermont matters for a first-time investor financing at current rates.
How important is Disney proximity?
Kissimmee is 10 minutes from the Disney gates. Guests searching for “near Disney” on Airbnb see Kissimmee listings first. That proximity also means 9,604 competing listings. Clermont is 30 minutes out but has only 557 listings and still pulls strong revenue, which tells you proximity is not the only factor driving bookings.
Do you plan to use the property yourself?
Clermont’s quieter, more residential feel and lakefront access make it the strongest dual-use option. Resort communities in Kissimmee and Davenport are designed around the guest experience, which is great for revenue but less appealing for a personal retreat. Getting the property set up right matters too. Our Airbnb essentials guide covers what every vacation rental needs for strong reviews.
About the Author
Mike Chen is a licensed Florida real estate broker and short-term rental property manager who leads FunStay Homes. He has helped investors close on vacation rental properties across the Orlando corridor, and his team currently manages a portfolio spanning Kissimmee, Davenport, and Clermont.
