Are you looking for vacation rentals near Disney World or Universal Orlando? We stayed at the Encore Resort Orlando Florida and are sharing our review of this off-site Disney World vacation rental.
Encore Resort at Reunion in Orlando, Florida is your perfect home away from home when visiting Orlando, Florida. It is a great balance of relaxing at the pool and spending family time at the theme parks.
It is within a short drive of Disney World and Universal Orlando making it a great place for guests looking to visit both parks during their Orlando vacation.
Encore Resort Orlando Florida Review
We absolutely loved our stay at Encore Resort. The house was huge. It offered all the amenities of home and then some. We had a private pool and access to the water park.
It was amazing but is it great for your theme park vacation? That is a more complicated question. The short answer is it depends on what type of vacation you are looking for.
I will go into all the pros and cons of Encore Resort at Reunion to help you decide if it works for your Orlando vacation. Lets start with some basic questions.
Where is Encore Resort at Reunion?
Encore Resort is located South of Disney World and Universal Orlando. It is a short drive or shuttle ride to the theme parks and the resort.
If you have ever done research on rental homes near Disney World you will know there are so many options. It can be difficult and driving around Orlando can also be an added vacation stress. I was so impressed with the ease of getting to the parks and how quickly we went back and forth.
During our stay we visited SeaWorld in the morning, came back for an afternoon break, and returned back to the park with ease.
Below I share how far Encore Resort is from Disney World as well as the other Orlando theme parks. It is important to understand that Disney World has 4 parks and the distance will vary.
Distance from Encore Resort to Disney World + Theme Parks
- Magic Kingdom (11.5 miles)
- Epcot (15 miles)
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios (10.4 miles)
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (6.2 miles)
- Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure (18 miles)
- SeaWorld (15 miles)
It is very important to plan ahead when driving to the theme parks and factor in traffic. I always add an extra 15-20 minutes to our drive time to account for parking, walking to entrance, and traffic.
If you do not want to drive to the parks, Encore Resort offers shuttle services to all their guests. It has service to all of the parks mentioned above. Read more here.
This was the first time we have ever stayed off-site when visiting Walt Disney World. We decided to stay off-site because we were visiting Disney World and SeaWorld, and felt that an off-site location would be the best choice.
I have to admit I was a bit nervous about staying off-site. Encore Resort looked perfect for our family, but I didn’t know if we would like being outside the theme parks. I was pleasantly surprised and we can’t wait to stay again!
Property Amenities at Encore Resort Orlando
Encore Resort at Reunion is a resort near Orlando, Florida that offers rental homes and resort amenities. The rental homes range from 3 bedrooms up to 12 bedrooms, and is perfect for families and friends traveling together.
Most homes have a private pool, access to the on-site resort amenities, laundry, full kitchen, and lots of space.
Encore Resort has an on-site waterpark, grab and go dining, a sit-down restaurant, kids club, in house chef experience, and a fitness center.
There are also tennis courts, basketball courts, and soccer fields at the resort.
The second my kids entered the house they were busy exploring and checking out all the space. They ended up at the air hockey table which was an awesome surprise!
I loved that we had space to relax after a long day at the park. It is perfect for large families or multi-generational vacations.
One of my biggest concerns about staying off-site was the access to amenities that we enjoy at the theme park resorts. Encore Resort didn’t disappoint. There was so much to do and it was like a home away from home. It had great perks that a small hotel room doesn’t have for our growing family.
Dining at Encore Resort at Reunion
After a long day at the parks we come back and order a pizza or stop by the quick-service restaurant. At Encore we were able to do both.
Encore has so many options for dining. You can splurge and request an in-home chef experience, get groceries delivered, or make your own in your house kitchen.
This is great because it allows you to create the best vacation within your vacation budget. We usually do a mix of both. Splurge on a few meals and make our own at home. Having a house allows us to do both.
On-site you will find Finn’s Restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner options for take-out or eat in. Bis Grill is located at the waterpark and is a quick service option. There is also a Grab and Go option for a quick snack before the parks.
If you have a special occasion or just want to splurge you can have an in-home chef experience treat you to a cooking lesson or create a meal for you and your family.
Encore Resort also has a fitness center, a family activity area, and sports facilities. Your family can watch Disney fireworks from the third floor of the main building, and the resort offers daily family fun activities by the pool.
I have to say with all the amenities we wish we stayed for a week instead of a short weekend. The one perk of Encore at Reunion is the on-site waterpark. My kids couldn’t wait to check this out!
Encore Resort Orlando Florida Water Park
The water park is amazing! From the minute we arrived at the resort my kids couldn’t wait to start exploring the water park. The have a huge splash pad area, a nice size swimming pool, and 4 water slides.
I am so glad we made time to enjoy the water park. The kids basically had the place to themselves. As we arrived we checked in and got our bracelets and towels. You need the card they give you at check in to receive towels.
The Encore water park is for resort guests only. This keeps the crowds low. During the day a lot of people visit the theme parks and I suggest you take advantage and plan mid-day pool time.
Once we arrived the lifeguards were called out…because we were the only family using the water park at the moment.
It was a bit chilly for Florida standards, probably in the low 70’s, but for us it was good and the sun was out! The kids loved having the place to themselves.
It doesn’t get much better than no lines on the water slides and we took full advantage of it! Everyone got to ride on the slides and my husband even took a chance on the extreme slide. The one where the bottom drops from under you. I was not as brave!
I loved the small proximity of the park. It allowed me to find a central location and watch the kids explore the park together. Families can also rent cabanas for your day at the water park.
My kids loved the splash area. It had so many different areas to explore and slides to go down. They basically had the place to themselves and enjoyed it. I think it is great for all ages but best for kids under 10.
Why Stay at Encore Resort at Reunion
Staying at Encore Resort has given me so many reasons to consider rental homes near Disney World for our Orlando vacation. The perks of staying at Encore Resort were numerous and I narrowed it down to our top 7.
- Space for your family or large groups.
- Your own private pool.
- A kitchen to make meals at home.
- A large water park that is great for families.
- Affordable and comparable to on-site costs, often less expensive.
- Comforts of home away from home.
- Proximity to the parks and ease of traveling to and from.
The biggest con to staying at Encore Resort is that it is not on-site to the theme parks. There are a few perks to staying on-site like early entry and not having to drive but that may not sway you into paying the higher costs to stay on-site.
We love staying on-site because it feels all inclusive. We like the ease of the Disney transportation or Universal shuttles and enjoy being in “the bubble” of the theme parks.
If you are visiting multiple parks during your visit a central location may be a great choice. Renting a house at Reunion is also a great choice when traveling with multiple families or you just want a break from the theme parks.
There are great perks to staying to Encore Resort for your Orlando Family vacation. I was so happy with the resort and how it was easy for us to enjoy our vacation in Orlando. Encore Resort is a great option, especially when you are visiting different parks and experiencing more of Orlando.
Read Next: Encore Resort Weekend: Our Orlando Getaway Family Weekend
Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.
I’m not normally one to stay off of Disney property, but I think next time we head south, we will likely visit Universal Studios as well so this would be a good option. Plus that water park looks awesome!
Hi Kathryn-Thanks for reading! We are the same but it was really nice and would be perfect if you were going to multiple parks. The kids loved the water park for sure!
This place looks great! My husband is the one who loves to stay on property in Disney, but this is a great option for families in Orlando.
We love staying on-site at Walt Disney World too! Encore is perfect for large families or if you are visiting multiple destinations.
Since I frequently travel with a large multigenerational family, we love staying at house rentals. It’s perfect, allowing us to stay and play together…yet having our own space. And of course, it allows all of us to stay within a budget. I hadn’t heard of the Encore Resort, so I will definitely check it out next time I visit Orlando.
Hi Diana, Thanks for reading! Encore is great and it has so many perks-like the water park!! We love the space and it is an affordable option!