Storey Lake Kissimmee Villa Review: A Family Base for Orlando Theme Parks

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Why Stay in a Villa in Kissimmee with kids

Many UK families choose villas over hotels when visiting Orlando, particularly for longer stays. The main reasons are simple: more space, a private pool, and better value compared to booking multiple hotel rooms.

Kissimmee is one of the most popular bases for families visiting both Disney and Universal, with a wide range of villa communities offering different house sizes, layouts, and themed interiors.

Our extended family of 11 booked a large villa in Storey Lake Resort, on Fable Street in Kissimmee for our April 2026 trip. We booked via Hotels.com for £4,066 total for 10 days, split between three families, making it a cost-effective option for a group of this size. To give some context to the cost, if every bedroom was utilised with 2 people that would equate to £20.33 per person per night stay across 10 days, that is without the house being at maximum capacity.

Location – How Close Is It to the Parks?

Location is one of the biggest advantages of staying in Kissimmee, particularly when you are visiting theme parks most days.

• Disney World – around 6 miles, roughly a 10-minute drive

• Universal Orlando – around 11 miles, approximately 20 minutes

• Discovery Cove – around 4 miles, roughly 15–20 minutes

There are also plenty of nearby supermarkets (within 5 minute drive) including Walmart, Target, and Publix, making it easy to stock up on food and essentials. Restaurants and takeaways are also widely available within a short drive. This convenience matters more than you might expect — when you are doing long park days, short drive times make a noticeable difference to how manageable the trip feels.

The Villa – Space for Families

The standout feature of this villa is the amount of space it offers, particularly for larger or multi-generational families.

• 10 bedrooms (3 single beds, 8 doubles, 6 kings, 1 queen – sleeps up to 25)

• 5 bathrooms, including 3 en suite

• Large open-plan kitchen with breakfast bar, connected to living and dining areas

• Spacious living and dining room

• Marvel-themed games room with pool table, ping pong, PlayStation, and retro games

• Upstairs TV/cinema area

• Washer and dryer

• Air conditioning throughout

• Starter essentials provided on arrival

The layout worked particularly well for our group, allowing everyone to have their own space while still sharing communal areas.

Private Pool – A Big Reason to Book a Villa

The private pool is one of the biggest advantages of staying in a villa.

• Kids can swim every day, without crowds

• Ideal for rest days between parks

• More relaxed than a hotel pool environment

• Pool heating was available at an additional charge ($35 per day, not necessarily needed from April through the summer months). I would recommend this in March/April, but doubt it would be required over the summer months.

Extended on Site Facilities

In addition to the private pool, we also had access to wider community facilities including a larger pool with water slides, and a lazy river, adding even more value for families. This did get quite busy during the day and the pool was not heated. The pool was open from 9am everyday, they did not allow any outside food or drinks at the pool, however did sell ice creams, slushies and food. They offered other activities at an additional cost such as mini golf and kayak hire.

There was a small on site gym, equipped with weights and cardio equipment. This was open from 9am everyday.

Villa vs Park Hotel

We also stayed one night at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando to take advantage of the Express Pass benefit. This worked well as a short stay strategy, but it highlighted the differences clearly.

The hotel offered convenience and queue-skipping perks, but it lacked the space, flexibility, and relaxed environment of the villa. With 11 people travelling together, the villa made it much easier to spend time as a group compared to being split across hotel rooms.

For more details on Hard Rock Hotel and fast pass access, see, Hard Rock Hotel Universal Orlando Review: Is the Free Express Pass Worth It for Families?

Pros and Cons of Staying in a Villa Instead of a Hotel

Pros

• More space for families

• Private pool

• Kitchen helps reduce food cost

• Washing machine and dryer

• Everyone can have their own bedroom

• Daily rubbish collection from your house (no need to take trash to a central location)

• Quiet location

• Easy check out, no cleaning or bed stripping required

Cons

• You need to drive to the parks

• No on-site restaurants - although plenty near by, even some walking distance

• No daily housekeeping (although there was daily rubbish collection, you just dropped it off right outside the house in a brown bin)

• Food and meals need to be organised (but this can also be a pro and part of the fun - we used the BBQ most nights, the gas needed filling up on arrival, this was $20 to change it in at Walmart)

Who This Villa Is Best For

This type of accommodation works particularly well for:

• Families visiting both Disney and Universal

• Families staying for 10–14 days

• Larger or multi-family groups

• Families who want rest days between park visits

Final Verdict – Is It a Good Base for Orlando?

Villas in Kissimmee are one of the best accommodation options for UK families visiting Orlando. They offer a strong balance of cost, space, and location, particularly for longer stays. Our specific house 2961 was amazing, and I would highly recommend it for families, the facilities were expectational and we were well looked after by the on site team during our stay. For families travelling in groups or planning a 10–14 day trip, a villa provides a far more practical and comfortable base than a standard hotel.

We opted to visit the Universal Parks during our stay in Orlando, for more tips on planning and what to expect (all the things we wish we knew before we went including fast passes, what you can and can’t bring and itinerary) start with our Universal Orlando with Kids: What Parents Should Know Before Visiting

Or for families planning a longer trip, see our 2-Week Florida Family Itinerary: Everglades, Florida Keys and Theme Parks for context on how to include the Everglades, Keys and Miami as part of a wider Florida road trip.

Planning a Family Trip to the USA

If you’re planning a family trip to the United States, we’ve created a collection of practical guides based on our own experiences travelling there with a child. In our USA Travel Hub, you’ll find advice on everything from ESTA requirements and travel insurance to driving, healthcare and managing jet lag with kids, alongside destination guides for places we’ve explored including New York, Colorado, South Dakota and Florida. It’s a useful starting point for parents researching how to plan a smooth and enjoyable family trip to the USA.