An owner's honest comparison
Kissimmee vs. Davenport for Disney
We own a home in each, so we genuinely do not mind which one you pick. Every drive time below is measured, including the ones that do not flatter us.
The short answer
Kissimmee is closer to almost everything. Our Kissimmee home is 10 minutes from Walt Disney World against 14 from our Davenport home, and it wins on Universal, SeaWorld and the airport too. Davenport generally gives you more house for the money and more quiet, and it is a big area, so the part matters far more than the name.
One thing worth knowing before you agonise over it: our two homes are 2.1 miles apart. The Davenport one is in Four Corners, the closest slice of the Davenport market to Disney. So for our two houses this is not really an area decision at all. It is a question of whether you want a single-level lakefront home with a spa, or a golf-course home with no rear neighbors.
Side by side
| Factor | Kissimmee (Sunset Lakes) | Four Corners (Polo Park East) |
|---|---|---|
| Drive to Walt Disney World | 10 min, 4.3 miles. | 14 min, 7.1 miles. |
| Drive to Universal Orlando | 31 min, 18.8 miles. | 38 min, 22.4 miles. |
| Drive to Orlando airport (MCO) | 32 min, 26.4 miles. | 37 min, 31.9 miles. |
| LEGOLAND and the Gulf beaches | 56 min to LEGOLAND, 1 hr 48 min to Clearwater. | 58 min and 1 hr 51 min. Fewer miles, marginally slower. |
| Restaurants and shops within a few minutes | Dense. Sunset Walk, the 192 corridor, Old Town, Celebration. | Thinner. US-27 has the essentials, more driving for choice. |
| Golf | Championship courses nearby, but you drive to them. | An executive 9-hole course at the back of the house, cart ~$26.75. |
| Lake access | Two community lakes and a children's play area, inside the gates. | Fishing pier and boat ramp on Lake Davenport, plus tennis and basketball courts. |
| The view and the quiet | Gated and residential. Lake views. | No rear neighbors at all. The fairway starts at the pool screen. |
| Stairs | None. Single level throughout. | Master on the main floor, three bedrooms upstairs. |
Shaded cell marks the edge on that row. Kissimmee takes every drive-time row. Four Corners takes the rows about the house and the land it sits on. That is the real trade, and it is not close in either direction.
Measured drive times
| Destination | From Kissimmee | From Four Corners |
|---|---|---|
| Walt Disney World Resort | 10 min4.3 mi | 14 min7.1 mi |
| Disney Springs | 22 min10 mi | 28 min13.7 mi |
| SeaWorld Orlando | 27 min15 mi | 35 min18.5 mi |
| Universal Orlando Resort | 31 min18.8 mi | 38 min22.4 mi |
| LEGOLAND Florida (Winter Haven) | 56 min34 mi | 58 min31.5 mi |
| Kennedy Space Center | 1 hr 13 min69.6 mi | 1 hr 18 min75.3 mi |
| Clearwater Beach | 1 hr 48 min89.9 mi | 1 hr 51 min87.4 mi |
| Orlando International Airport (MCO) | 32 min26.4 mi | 37 min31.9 mi |
Measured on Google Maps from each home's street address, fastest route, August 2026. Off-peak times; traffic on I-4 and around the parks will add to these.
Common questions
Is it better to stay in Kissimmee or Davenport for Disney World?
Kissimmee is generally closer to Walt Disney World and has far more restaurants and shops within a short drive. Davenport generally offers more space for the money and is quieter, but it covers a wide area and some of it is a long way out. The important detail is which part of Davenport: the Four Corners area, where US-27 meets US-192, is the closest part of the Davenport market to Disney. Our Four Corners home is 14 minutes from Walt Disney World, against 10 minutes from our Kissimmee home.
How far is Four Corners from Disney World?
Our home at 408 Jaybee Ave in the Four Corners area of Davenport, FL 33897 is 7.1 miles and about 14 minutes from Walt Disney World Resort by the fastest route, measured off-peak on Google Maps. Four Corners is the unincorporated area where Polk, Lake, Orange and Osceola counties meet, and it is the closest part of the Davenport postal area to the parks.
How far apart are your two homes?
About 2.1 miles, roughly a four-minute drive. Our Kissimmee home is in Sunset Lakes off US-192 and our Davenport home is in Four Corners just west of it. They are not in different parts of Orlando, so choosing between them is really a question of which house suits your group rather than which area you want to be in.
Which is cheaper, Kissimmee or Davenport?
Davenport generally gives you more house for the money because the market extends further from the parks and is less densely developed. The gap is not dramatic and it can reverse on any given set of dates, so compare the two homes on your actual dates rather than assuming.
Do you need a car in Kissimmee or Davenport?
Yes, in both. Neither area has practical public transport to the parks, and vacation home communities are residential rather than walkable to attractions. Budget for a rental car in either location.
Two miles apart. Two different holidays.
Same owners, same standards. Pick the house, not the postcode.