Home rental - best location for both Disney and Universal

[Jennkneefir]

Hello!

Looking at a 2026 trip to both Disney and Universal with a group of 10 (6 adults and 4 children).
We will be splitting our time between Disney and Universal and hoping for a home rental we can all share (5+ bedrooms). Ideally it would be located equal distances between the two, though i know that's a tough ask.
Anyone have any resort communities to recommend that are well positioned between the two parks? I was looking at Storey Lake, but wondering if there is anything else that's (hopefully) a shorter drive.

Most of the Airbnb options are significantly closer to Disney than Universal.

Thank you!!!

 

[HopperFan]

I think one of your issues is that Orange County has strict short term rental rules and so any house you rent will have to be in a zoned "vacation" community, not residential. There just won't be many houses available in the area you are talking about. An example is Storey was built to be a vacation community. Between Disney likely drawing bigger families and the price of land ... there will not be many vacation built HOUSE communities closer to Universal. If you do find a house in a residential neighborhood it is likely an illegal short term rental and I'd avoid it.

As someone who has done many trips including both the parks, Storey is not a bad drive at all. I often stay in that area, drive to both parks.

 

[hertamaniac]

Have you looked into Evermore Orlando Resort? It recently opened and I did a quick drive over/review/pics on here although we didn't stay (I live about 40 minutes from WDW/Evermore). The homes can be very large.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/evermore-resort-orlando.3940810/

It's right by Port Orleans Riverside and fairly close to UOR/IoA (~12 miles). And depending on which WDW park you visit, the distance is comparable (AK).

https://evermoreresort.com/accommodations/houses

 

[Jennkneefir]

I think one of your issues is that Orange County has strict short term rental rules and so any house you rent will have to be in a zoned "vacation" community, not residential. There just won't be many houses available in the area you are talking about. An example is Storey was built to be a vacation community. Between Disney likely drawing bigger families and the price of land ... there will not be many vacation built HOUSE communities closer to Universal. If you do find a house in a residential neighborhood it is likely an illegal short term rental and I'd avoid it.

As someone who has done many trips including both the parks, Storey is not a bad drive at all. I often stay in that area, drive to both parks.

This is super helpful! Thank you for the info. And good to know about Storey. I checked google maps but its so hard to know if that drive time is accurate or not.

 

[Jennkneefir]

Have you looked into Evermore Orlando Resort? It recently opened and I did a quick drive over/review/pics on here although we didn't stay (I live about 40 minutes from WDW/Evermore). The homes can very large.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/evermore-resort-orlando.3940810/

It's right by Port Orleans Riverside and fairly close to UOR/IoA (~12 miles). And depending on which WDW park you visit, the distance is comparable (AK).

https://evermoreresort.com/accommodations/houses

I'll take a peek! Thank you!