A local owner's guide
Things to Do Near Disney World
There's more to Central Florida than you think. Here's our curated guide to the best experiences near our homes, including the ones that need no park ticket at all.
Plan around the drive
The single biggest difference between a smooth Orlando trip and an exhausting one is how much of it you spend in the car. Here is roughly what each drive costs you from each of our homes.
| Where you are going | Kissimmee homeRest & Relax at Sunset by the Lake | Four Corners homeFairway Green at Polo Park East |
|---|---|---|
| Parks & attractions | ||
| 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 |
| Day trips | ||
| 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 |
| Getting there | ||
| 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.
The headliners. Book tickets ahead for all of these, and plan the big-park days early in your stay while everyone still has energy.
Walt Disney World
TicketedThe most magical place on earth — four theme parks, two water parks, and Disney Springs, all just minutes from our properties. Plan 3-5 days to experience Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.
Best for: The main event, 3 to 5 days
Universal Orlando Resort
TicketedHome to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and the new Epic Universe. Don't miss The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the VelociCoaster.
Best for: Older kids and thrill seekers
SeaWorld Orlando
TicketedMarine life exhibits, thrilling roller coasters, and spectacular shows. A great option for a change of pace from the bigger parks.
Best for: A slower park day
LEGOLAND Florida
TicketedPerfect for families with kids ages 2-12. Located in Winter Haven, just under an hour from both homes, with over 50 rides, shows, and attractions.
Best for: Ages 2 to 12
You do not need a park ticket to eat well here. These are the places we point guests to when they want a proper night out.
Disney Springs
No park ticketWorld-class dining at The BOATHOUSE, Morimoto Asia, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, and dozens more. No park ticket required!
Best for: A night out without a park day
International Drive
No park ticketMiles of dining options from casual to upscale. Try Cafe Tu Tu Tango for tapas, Taverna Opa for Greek, or Tin Roof for live music and southern comfort food.
Best for: Groups who cannot agree
Celebration Town Center
No park ticketA charming planned community with restaurants like Columbia Restaurant (Cuban-Spanish), Celebration Town Tavern, and a lakeside boardwalk.
Best for: A relaxed evening stroll
Old Town Kissimmee
No park ticketA unique shopping and dining district with classic American food, Saturday night car cruises, and carnival-style rides.
Best for: Saturday nights
The Florida that is not a theme park. Two of these you can do without leaving the neighborhood.
Airboat Rides
Book aheadExperience the Florida Everglades up close! Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures is about 45 minutes away with guided tours through pristine wetlands.
Best for: A half day, all ages
Golfing
At the Davenport homeCentral Florida is a golfer's paradise. Our Davenport property sits right on the Polo Park East Executive 9-Hole Golf Course — grab a cart for just $26.75 and play a round without leaving the neighborhood. Other top courses nearby include Celebration Golf Club, Reunion Resort, and ChampionsGate.
Best for: A morning round on foot
Water Sports at Lake Toho & Lake Davenport
At both homesKayaking, paddleboarding, and bass fishing on some of Florida's best freshwater lakes. Lake Toho in Kissimmee is famous for trophy bass fishing, while Lake Davenport is right next to our Davenport property — perfect for a quick morning paddle or sunset on the water.
Best for: Early mornings and sunsets
Hot Air Balloon Rides
Sunrise onlySee Central Florida from above with a sunrise hot air balloon experience over the Orlando skyline and surrounding lakes.
Best for: A once-a-trip splurge
Worth the drive. Leave early, pack the car the night before, and treat these as a full day rather than an afternoon.
Cocoa Beach & Kennedy Space Center
Full dayJust 1 hour east — spend the morning at Kennedy Space Center learning about space exploration, then hit Cocoa Beach for sand and surf in the afternoon.
Best for: Space and surf in one trip
Clearwater Beach
Full dayAbout 90 minutes west, Clearwater Beach is consistently rated one of the best beaches in the US. Crystal-clear Gulf waters and powdery white sand.
Best for: The best beach day
Blue Spring State Park
Manatees Nov–MarA 45-minute drive north to see manatees in their natural habitat (November-March). Also great for kayaking, swimming, and hiking year-round.
Best for: Winter stays
St. Augustine
Full dayAmerica's oldest city, about 2 hours north. Explore the historic fort, walk cobblestone streets, and visit the stunning Flagler College campus.
Best for: History and a long drive
The four things we tell every family
After hosting a lot of Orlando trips, the same handful of suggestions come up again and again. None of them cost anything.
Take a pool day, on purpose
Both homes have a private pool, and the Kissimmee home adds a spa. Schedule at least one full day where nobody gets in the car. Families who plan a rest day in the middle of the week almost always say it was the best day of the trip.
Do the grocery run before you arrive
Both homes have a full kitchen, and a supermarket is a short drive from each. Ordering a delivery to land shortly after check-in means you skip the tired, hungry first-night shop, and breakfast at the house saves both money and an hour of park queueing.
Use the mornings, not the afternoons
Central Florida afternoons in summer bring heat and a reliable thunderstorm. Park mornings, pool afternoons is the rhythm that works. The same is true for golf at the Davenport home and paddling on the lakes.
Keep one evening completely unplanned
Disney Springs, Celebration and Old Town all work with no tickets and no reservations. Leaving one night open gives you somewhere to go when a park day runs long or the weather turns.
Common questions
What is there to do near Disney World without a park ticket?
Plenty. Disney Springs has world-class dining and shopping with no ticket required, Celebration Town Center has a lakeside boardwalk and restaurants, and Old Town Kissimmee runs a Saturday night car cruise. Beyond that, Boggy Creek airboat tours, golf at Polo Park East, and kayaking on Lake Toho and Lake Davenport are all close by and none of them need a park ticket.
How far is Your Disney Retreat from Walt Disney World?
Our Kissimmee home in the gated Sunset Lakes community is 4.3 miles and about 10 minutes from Walt Disney World Resort. Our Four Corners home in Fairways Lake Estates at Polo Park East, Davenport, is 7.1 miles and about 14 minutes. Both measured off-peak on Google Maps from the street addresses.
What is the best beach day trip from Orlando?
Clearwater Beach on the Gulf coast is consistently rated one of the best beaches in the United States and is around 1 hour 50 minutes west of both our homes, so it is a full day rather than an afternoon. If you want to combine a beach with something else, Kennedy Space Center is about 1 hour 15 minutes east and pairs naturally with Cocoa Beach.
When can you see manatees near Orlando?
Blue Spring State Park, about an hour north, is one of the most reliable manatee spots in Florida from November through March, when they gather in the warm spring run. The park is worth visiting year-round for kayaking, swimming and hiking, but the manatees are seasonal.
Is LEGOLAND Florida worth it with young children?
Yes, if your children are roughly 2 to 12. It is built for that age range in a way the bigger parks are not, with over 50 rides, shows and attractions. It is in Winter Haven, just under an hour from either of our homes, so treat it as a full day out rather than a half day.
Deciding where to stay?
Our two homes are only 2.1 miles apart, so it is less about the area than about which house suits your group.
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