Storey Lake vs Solara Resort: Two Top Kissimmee Vacation Home Picks Compared

Kissimmee has more short-term rental resorts than any other city in the Disney corridor, and two of them come up in nearly every buyer conversation. Storey Lake sits on the east side near Osceola Parkway, close enough to the parks that guests plan their day around the drive. Solara Resort sits on the west side along Westside Boulevard, built around an amenity campus that guests plan their day around instead. Both are gated, both are zoned for nightly rentals, and both were built by national builders within the last decade.

The Storey Lake vs Solara decision comes down to what you want the home to sell to guests. One resort sells proximity and a lower entry price. The other sells a resort experience with a higher entry and larger homes. The sections below set the two side by side on location, price, amenities, and ongoing costs, then show which kind of buyer each one suits.

Storey Lake Vacation Homes Near Disney

Storey Lake is a gated, guard-attended resort community in Kissimmee built by Lennar. It sits just off Highway 192 and Osceola Parkway, roughly four miles from the parks, which puts most homes about 10 to 12 minutes from a Walt Disney World entrance at off-peak times. Few resort communities of this size sit closer.

The community offers townhomes with private splash pools and larger single-family pool homes, and short-term rental is permitted across both. Townhomes currently list from the high $200,000s, which gives Storey Lake one of the more accessible entry points among the newer Kissimmee resorts. Buyers who want more bedrooms can look directly at Storey Lake single-family homes.

The resort is built around its lake. Owners and guests have a lazy river, a water slide, a splash pad, and a resort pool, plus canoes and kayaks for the water itself. The clubhouse adds a tiki bar and grille, a fitness center, a putting green, and courts for tennis, basketball, and volleyball, with a playground for younger children. The resort is large, so some homes sit a short walk from the pool complex and others a short drive.

Solara Resort Vacation Homes in Kissimmee

Solara Resort sits a few miles west along Westside Boulevard, between Highway 192 and Highway 27, about 15 minutes from the Disney gates. Mattamy Homes launched the community in 2017 and is still building, so buyers can choose between new construction and furnished resales.

Homes here run larger. Solara offers townhomes, single-family homes, and villas, and the smallest homes on the market are 3 bedroom townhomes listing from about $390,000. Every home in the resort is zoned for short-term rental, and most are designed and furnished for it from the start.

The amenity package is the reason most guests book Solara. The Grand Clubhouse centers on a resort pool with a FlowRider surf simulator, a water slide, a splash pad, and a spa. The Solstice Bar and Grill serves a full menu with a poolside tiki bar, an ice cream and coffee bar, and a mini-market for essentials. A supervised kids' club, a wellness spa, a fitness center, and courts for basketball, volleyball, and soccer round it out. Gate security runs 24 hours a day.

Storey Lake vs Solara at a Glance

The table sets the two resorts side by side. Entry prices reflect the lowest active listings as of late August 2026 and move with inventory.

Cost of Owning in Storey Lake vs Solara

Entry price sets the floor, and three ongoing costs shape the return on either side of it.

HOA dues. Both resorts charge monthly dues that fund the pools, clubhouses, landscaping, and gate security. In many vacation communities the dues also bundle services an out-of-area owner would otherwise arrange separately, such as exterior care or internet, and the exact list varies by section. The association documents for any home on your shortlist will spell out what is included, and your agent can pull them before you offer.

Property taxes and insurance. Florida property tax applies to every owner, and a vacation home does not qualify for the homestead exemption a primary residence would, so budget for the full assessed rate. A non-owner-occupied rental also needs landlord and windstorm coverage, which costs more than a standard homeowner policy.

Rental performance. At both resorts, the homes that earn the most are the larger ones with game rooms, themed bedrooms, and private pools, because those are what large groups search for. Storey Lake's shorter drive tends to support occupancy through the year. Solara's amenity campus supports a higher nightly rate for guests who plan to spend part of the trip at the resort. Neither advantage replaces good furnishing and responsive management.

Before you offer in either resort, the closing cost calculator shows what the purchase costs beyond the list price.

Read: Condo vs Townhouse: What's the Difference

Read: Windsor Island Resort vs Solara Resort

Why Choose Storey Lake or Solara Resort

Each resort answers a different priority, and most buyers know theirs before they start touring.

Choose Storey Lake if

• The shortest possible drive matters most. At 10 to 12 minutes from the gates, it shortens every park day and gives listings a location line guests notice first.

• You want a lower entry. Townhomes from the high $200,000s let a first-time investor own in a newer gated resort without stretching to the $400,000s.

• A lakefront setting suits your guests. Kayaks, canoes, and a lazy river give families a reason to stay on site for an afternoon without a theme park ticket.

Choose Solara if

• The amenity campus is the draw. The FlowRider, the Solstice Bar and Grill, and the kids' club are features a listing can lead with, and they support a stronger nightly rate.

• You plan to host larger groups. Bigger floor plans and villas take the multi-family and reunion trips that smaller homes turn away.

• You want new construction. Buyers who prefer a builder warranty and a home nobody has rented yet can still purchase new from Mattamy.

Both communities sit minutes from golf, lakes, and dining well beyond the theme parks, so the choice is less about which resort is better and more about how the home will be used.

Choosing the Right Kissimmee Resort for Your Rental Plan

The two resorts look alike in a listing photo and perform differently in practice. A townhome at Storey Lake and a townhome at Solara can carry the same bedroom count and attract different guests, at different rates, with different HOA inclusions behind them. The right choice depends on the guest you plan to host and the budget you are working with, and both of those are easier to judge with rental histories and association documents in hand.

Florida Realty Marketplace works only with seasoned Central Florida real estate professionals, not the inexperienced agents the industry is full of. Our team knows both resorts from the inside and can compare real rental histories, flag the HOA and management costs that shape your return, and point you to the home that fits your booking goals.

Find Your Storey Lake or Solara Home with Florida Realty Marketplace

Storey Lake and Solara are two of the strongest short-term rental communities in Kissimmee, and either one rewards an owner who buys the right home for the right guest. The wider corridor is worth a look too, since vacation homes near Disney World range from condo-hotels to estate homes within the same 15-minute ring.

Browse Kissimmee Vacation Homes For Sale to compare current listings across both resorts.

Contact a Florida Realty Marketplace professional to talk through Storey Lake and Solara, or call (863) 877-1915.

Storey Lake vs Solara FAQ

Which resort is closer to Disney?

Storey Lake, at roughly four miles and 10 to 12 minutes from the gates. Solara sits about 15 minutes out.

Can you short-term rent in both?

Yes. Both resorts permit nightly vacation rentals across all home types.

Which is better for a first-time vacation home buyer?

Storey Lake offers the lower entry price and the shorter drive. Solara suits buyers who want larger homes, new construction, and a resort-scale amenity package.

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