Encore Resort vs Reunion Resort: Which Is Better for Your Orlando Family Vacation?

Encore Resort and Reunion Resort sit less than two miles apart in the Reunion area of Kissimmee, and both put you about 15 minutes from the Walt Disney World gates. They are two of the most requested gated communities for families who want a private vacation home instead of a hotel room. Because they are neighbors and both aim at the same traveler, they get compared constantly.

They are not interchangeable. One is built around family water-park energy and newer homes; the other is a larger, golf-first resort with a wider spread of home styles and a more grown-up feel. Below is how they actually differ, so you can match the resort to the trip you are planning.

The quick answer

• Choose Encore Resort if your group is focused on the kids, wants a lively on-site water park, and prefers a newer, all-villa community where everything is close together.
• Choose Reunion Resort if you want championship golf, a more upscale and spread-out resort, or a specific home style — from condos to ten-plus-bedroom mansions.

If you cannot decide, the deciding factor for most families comes down to golf vs. water park and how much variety of homes you want to choose from.

Distance to Disney and location

Both resorts are in the same pocket off Highway 27 and Sinclair Road, roughly 6 to 8 miles from Walt Disney World — a 15 to 20 minute drive depending on traffic and which park you are heading to. Neither has a meaningful location advantage for the parks. You will want a rental car at either one; there is no walk-to-Disney option this far out, and that distance is exactly why the homes are so much larger than anything closer to the gates.

For everyday errands, both are close to the Highway 192 and ChampionsGate corridors, with grocery stores, restaurants, and outlet shopping within 10 to 15 minutes.

The homes

This is where the two really separate.

Encore Resort is an all-villa community — no condos or townhomes. Homes generally run from 4 up to 13 bedrooms, they are relatively new construction, and many come with themed bedrooms, private pools, game rooms, and modern open-plan interiors built specifically for large groups. If you are traveling with several families or a multi-generational group and want everyone under one roof, Encore's inventory is built for exactly that.

Reunion Resort has a much wider range. You can rent anything from a 1 or 2 bedroom condo or a golf villa up to enormous 10-plus bedroom mansions near the golf courses. That variety is Reunion's strength: a couple or small family can find a right-sized condo, while a wedding party or reunion can book a mansion, all in the same resort.

Browse what is available in each before you decide — the specific home often matters more than the resort name. You can see current Encore Resort homes and Reunion Resort homes, or view every vacation home we manage.

Water parks and pools

Both communities lead with water, which is a big reason families pick them over a hotel.

Encore centers on a resort water park with slides, a lazy area, and splash zones aimed squarely at kids, plus family-friendly on-site amenities that keep younger children entertained on a no-park day. Nearly every home also has its own private pool.

Reunion has a multi-acre water park of its own, along with a large number of community pools spread across the resort and, at the Grande tower, a rooftop pool. Reunion's water park is a genuine highlight, but because the resort is physically large, it can be more of a short drive within the community rather than a two-minute walk.

For a family whose main goal is "the kids in the water all afternoon while we relax," both deliver. Encore feels more compact and immediate; Reunion feels bigger and more resort-like.

Golf and sports

This is Reunion's headline feature and Encore's clearest gap.

Reunion Resort is a golf destination first. It has three signature championship courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson — a genuine draw for golfing groups, and something no other vacation-home community in the area matches. Reunion also has tennis and a full spa.

Encore is not built around golf. It leans into family recreation — sports courts, the water park, and on-site activities — rather than a course. If a round of golf is part of your trip, Reunion wins outright.

Dining and on-site amenities

Encore keeps things convenient with an on-site restaurant/marketplace and concierge-style services, which is handy when you have a house full of kids and do not want to drive out for every meal.

Reunion has more on-site dining options across the resort, including course-side and tower dining, in keeping with its larger footprint and more upscale positioning.

The vibe: who each resort is for

• Encore Resort feels newer, more contained, and more explicitly kid-focused. It is a strong fit for one or several families traveling with children who want the water park and modern themed homes without a lot of driving inside the resort.
• Reunion Resort feels larger, more established, and more premium. It suits golfers, groups that want a specific home size, and travelers who like the polish and range of a big resort — and do not mind that "big" also means more spread out.

Side-by-side

| | Encore Resort | Reunion Resort |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to Disney | ~15–20 min | ~15–20 min |
| Home types | All villas, 4–13 bed | Condos to 10+ bed mansions |
| Home age | Newer construction | Mix of newer and established |
| Water park | Yes, family-focused | Yes, multi-acre |
| Golf | No | 3 championship courses |
| Best for | Families, water-park days | Golfers, variety, upscale groups |

The verdict

Both are excellent, and you will not "lose" by picking either. The honest tie-breaker:

• Traveling with kids and want the easiest, most contained family base? Encore Resort.
• Want golf, a specific home size, or a more upscale resort feel? Reunion Resort.

Whichever you choose, book the home directly with the local manager rather than through a third-party listing site. You will deal with the team that actually manages the property, avoid the extra service fees stacked on by the big platforms, and get local support during your stay.

Ready to look? Compare live availability and pricing for Encore Resort and Reunion Resort, or search all of our Orlando-area vacation homes.