Encore Resort at Reunion Review: Homes, Water Park, Fees

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Encore Resort at Reunion is a gated vacation-home resort in Kissimmee, about 6 miles by road from Disney’s Animal Kingdom parking entrance and 10 miles from the Magic Kingdom lot, where every rental is a whole house with 4 to 13 bedrooms and, Encore says, its own private pool. One company runs the front desk, the guests-only Encore Aqua Park and the restaurants and arranges complimentary theme park shuttles, so it feels closer to a hotel than to a typical rental.

It suits big families and reunions of 8 to 28 people who would otherwise book a block of hotel rooms. The trade-offs: a resort fee that Encore doesn’t publish, a car-dependent location southwest of Disney, and shuttle rules that exclude groups of 10 or more. We checked Encore’s own pages in October 2026.

Quick answer: Book Encore if you want one big house with a private pool, a walkable water park and shuttles to Disney, Universal and SeaWorld, and you don’t mind a 15- to 30-minute drive to the parks. Before you pay, confirm your home’s resort fee, the deposit and pool heat; the lead guest must be 21, and the free breakfast is for direct bookings only.

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Encore Resort photos

These shots of the homes, the Encore Club, the Aqua Park and the restaurants come from the resort’s own Booking.com gallery. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or see the full gallery and current rates on Booking.com.

Where Encore Resort at Reunion is and how far the parks are

Encore sits at the northern end of the Reunion area, off Sinclair Road and Old Lake Wilson Road where SR 429 meets I-4, about 2 miles north of the Reunion Grande and 5 miles by road from the Omni at ChampionsGate. Encore’s FAQ puts Walt Disney World “just 7 miles (about 15 minutes)” away and SeaWorld and Universal 20 to 25 minutes; the Disney figure fits Animal Kingdom only. Our road routes from the clubhouse, without traffic:

Destination	Road distance	Typical drive
Animal Kingdom parking	About 6 mi	14 min
EPCOT main lot	About 9 mi	17-21 min
Magic Kingdom (TTC lot)	About 10 mi	19 min
Disney Springs	About 11-12.5 mi	21-22 min
SeaWorld Orlando	About 15 mi	25 min
Universal (all three parks)	About 18 mi	26-28 min
Orlando airport (MCO)	About 27 mi	40 min

Allow extra time at park opening and rush hour. Island H2O Water Park, which Encore puts 15 minutes or “just under 5 miles” away, is about 5.5 miles by road. Nearby, see our guide to hotels in Davenport, Florida.

Vacation homes: 4 to 13 bedrooms with private pools

Encore’s FAQ says every home has a private pool, though not all have a spa (you can request one). Every home has a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, Wi-Fi and cable TV in every bedroom; theaters, game rooms, pool tables, grills, hot tubs and putting greens are in select homes only.

The terms cap occupancy at two per bedroom plus two. Encore’s Stay page lists 4-bedroom homes of about 2,300 to 3,000 square feet sleeping 10, up to 13-bedroom Elite homes of 6,430 square feet sleeping 28. The collections:

• Vacation Resort Homes: the standard houses, 4 to 11 bedrooms.
• Elite Resort Homes: 4 to 13 bedrooms with larger pools and pool areas plus a game room, a theater room or both.
• Celebrity Homes: celebrity owners’ personal homes (one 8-bedroom home at last check).
• Reunion Village: 5- and 6-bedroom homes “just up the road” off I-4, with Encore amenities and clubhouse transport; the page doesn’t mention a private pool.

On Booking.com, Encore’s own listing sells Eastside, Westside and Elite Westside homes by bedroom count, plus 5- and 6-bedroom Reunion Village homes. The listing says cribs and extra beds aren’t available, but Encore’s concierge delivers Pack ‘n Plays, high chairs and twin rollaways for a $10 fee each (the daily rental is covered by the resort fee). See also our guide to Orlando vacation homes with a private pool.

Encore Aqua Park, private pools and the East Side Amenity Center

The Encore Resort Aqua Park (10 acres, per Encore) sits beside the clubhouse, within walking distance of the homes. It’s open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. year-round, weather permitting (hours can change), and it’s for registered Encore guests only: you need a wristband, and passes aren’t sold to anyone else.

• Slide tower (48 inches and up): Stormchaser, a capsule launch into a 60-foot near-vertical drop; WaveRacer, side-by-side mat racing; and Tsunami, rafts through an enclosed tube. Encore’s home pages say “6 premier slides”, but the Aqua Park page lists these three plus four kids’ slides.
• Surfing Safari Kids’ Splash Area: for guests under 48 inches: four small slides, water cannons, fountains and climbing bridges.
• Resort pool, cabanas and extras: a spacious resort pool, cabanas for up to 8 or 20 guests at unpublished seasonal rates, free towels, rental lockers and The Bis Grill, which delivers to your lounge chair. No outside food, and no lazy river or wave pool; our guide to Orlando hotels with water parks and waterslides covers resorts that have them.

Your private pool is unheated unless you pay: $40 a night from May through October and $60 from November through April; below 55 degrees the heat may fall short, with no refunds. The East Side Amenity Center adds a covered pavilion with grills, a playground, a splash pad, a basketball court and a sand volleyball court.

Island H2O Water Park on check-in day

Encore’s pages say guests get free Island H2O Water Park admission (next to Margaritaville Resort Orlando) on check-in day only, during the park’s March-to-October season, with tickets from the front desk; it’s also bundled in a direct-booking offer. Island H2O’s hotel page lists four partner resorts and says “Encore Resort Orlando is not included in complimentary access”. Ask at check-in; Island H2O opens on select dates, and its 2026 season ends October 31.

Restaurants, breakfast and in-home dining

Encore lists four places to eat and drink on site (hours at last check):

• Finns Restaurant: casual American, with a breakfast buffet from 7 to 10 a.m. and lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• The Bis Grill: burgers and hot dogs steps from the slides, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (seasonal).
• Shark Lounge: cocktails, beer, wine and snacks, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with weekday happy hours.
• Encore Coffee House: Starbucks drinks and grab-and-go food, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Encore’s Finns page says the buffet is free each morning only for guests who book directly with Encore or Rentyl; third-party bookings don’t qualify. The Booking.com listing’s host text calls breakfast “on the House for Encore Resort Guests”, so confirm with Encore. Finns and the Bis Grill add an 18% service charge, the restaurants deliver on orders over $25, Nico’s Pizza delivers on weekends ($6 fee), and the concierge can stock groceries or book a private chef.

Resort fee, deposit, parking and other charges

Encore says resort fees “vary per home” and asks you to contact it for your rate, so check Booking.com’s price breakdown before you pay. Per the FAQ, the fee covers local calls, in-home coffee, attraction transportation, pool and water park access with towels, Wi-Fi, entertainment, the fitness center, concierge services and self-parking; the Stay page adds a check-in tour and a starter kit.

• Deposit: $500, refundable, per the FAQ and the Booking.com listing (released within 14 days); the Stay page says $1,000 and the terms mention a $100 pre-authorization, so confirm.
• Parking: complimentary in your garage or driveway, with overflow lots. The FAQ bans street parking; the terms allow it on designated sides only. No RVs, trailers, boats or branded commercial vehicles.
• Pets: the terms allow dogs only (30 pounds or less, two per home, $40 per night each, approval required); the FAQ lists a $40 plus tax daily fee.
• Cleaning and damage: the terms offer housekeeping only on request. Before you leave, wash the dishes, bag the trash and pile the linens; unbagged trash costs $25, an excessively dirty home at least $500 and damage at least $250.
• Occupancy and visitors: only the people on your guest list may stay or use the amenities ($150 per unauthorized overnight guest over the limit); the Booking.com listing bans parties and sets quiet hours of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Check-in is at 4 p.m. and check-out at 10 a.m. at the clubhouse, where the lead guest (21 or older) shows a photo ID and matching credit card; late check-out isn’t guaranteed. Encore is in Osceola County, where the hotel tax is 13.5%. Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book.

Theme park shuttles and getting around

Per the transportation page (updated January 2026), you reserve online at least 24 hours before departure, seats are first come, first served, and groups of 10 or more may not use the courtesy shuttle. Strollers must be folded and luggage isn’t allowed.

Park	Leaves Encore	Returns
Magic Kingdom and EPCOT (via the TTC)	9:20 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 12:50 p.m.	5:45, 8:00 and 10:00 p.m.
Hollywood Studios	10:40 a.m.	5:30, 7:45 and 9:45 p.m.
Animal Kingdom	9:20 a.m.	5:15 p.m.
Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure	7:30 a.m.	7:15 p.m.
Epic Universe	7:30 a.m.	7:00 p.m.
SeaWorld Orlando	7:30 a.m.	6:45 p.m.

Magic Kingdom and EPCOT riders use the Transportation and Ticket Center, continuing by monorail or ferry (EPCOT riders return by monorail). With a first departure at 9:20 a.m., rope drop means driving: Disney’s standard parking was $35 a day at last check, Universal’s $35 including tax. Off-site guests book Lightning Lane three days ahead, not seven. Airport transfers cost extra (price not published), and Rentyl doesn’t rent golf carts.

Amenities: fitness, sports, arcade, spa and kids’ activities

• Fitness center: a clubhouse gym with treadmills, bikes, ellipticals and weights; the sports page lists 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., the FAQ says 24 hours, so assume the shorter hours.
• Sports: two tennis courts (reserve at the clubhouse), basketball and sand volleyball courts and a soccer field behind the water park.
• Arcade and spa: a clubhouse arcade (7 a.m. to 11 p.m., games on e-cards); no spa building is listed, but Mobile Spa Services offers in-home massages and facials and poolside massages.
• Activities: the October 2026 calendar lists daily crafts, pool games and sno cones plus trivia, tie-dye and slime sessions, with seasonal “AquaLife” programs through December, without saying which are free. Encore mentions a kids’ activity center, but no supervised drop-off club is described.
• Other: surrey bike rentals, a clubhouse shuttle (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.), a concierge desk open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and 24-hour security with a manned gate.

Encore vs Reunion Resort: what’s shared and what isn’t

Encore and Reunion Resort & Golf Club share a name and the same corner of Kissimmee, but they are separate resorts with separate gates, about 2 miles apart. Reunion’s water park page is explicit: “Encore Resort guests and members do not have access to the Water Park.”

Golf is the gray area. Encore’s golf page promotes Reunion’s Nicklaus, Palmer and Watson courses and offers tee-time help, while Reunion’s FAQ says access for homes managed by a Preferred Rental Partner “varies by home” (Rentyl is on Reunion’s partner list). Ask the concierge how tee times work, or see our guide to Orlando golf resorts.

Who Encore Resort suits

Encore works best for extended families and friend groups of 8 to 28 who want one roof, a private pool and a walkable water park, and have at least two cars. It’s a weaker fit for couples, small families, anyone without a car, and groups of 10 or more counting on the shuttle. Our list of Orlando resorts for large groups has more options.

Pros

• A private pool at every home, per Encore’s FAQ, and houses of up to 13 bedrooms for 28 people.
• A guests-only water park with three big slides, open year-round and included in the stay.
• Complimentary shuttles to Disney, Universal, Epic Universe and SeaWorld, covered by the resort fee.
• One management company, a staffed clubhouse, restaurants, home delivery, a manned gate and 24-hour security.

Limitations to know

• The resort fee isn’t published and varies by home, so the headline rate understates the total.
• Groups of 10 or more can’t use the park shuttles, and the first Disney departure is 9:20 a.m.
• No Early Theme Park Entry, housekeeping only on request, no lazy river, and pool heat costs $40 to $60 a night.
• Check-out is at 10 a.m., the lead guest must be 21, and only people on the guest list may stay or use the amenities.

What to check before you book

• The home itself: each home differs; confirm the bed setup, a spa, a game room or theater, and whether a Reunion Village home has a pool.
• The total: ask Encore (407-635-8105) for your home’s resort fee, then add 13.5% tax, the deposit and pool heat in the cooler months.
• Shuttles and Island H2O: reserve seats early (groups of 10 or more should plan to drive), and confirm the check-in-day water park ticket with the front desk.
• Booking.com terms: the listing’s rates have their own cancellation rules, check-in is 21-plus, and Encore’s direct-booking perks, including the free Finns breakfast, don’t apply to third-party bookings.

Nearby alternatives

For condo-style villas with a water park and golf 2 miles south, read our Reunion Resort Orlando review. For a full-service hotel with a wave pool about 5 miles away, see the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate. Margaritaville Resort Orlando, next to Island H2O off US 192, has cottages (some with private pools) and a walkable dining strip. See also the best hotels in Kissimmee and where to stay in Orlando.

Hotel or house? see Orlando hotel vs vacation home: park perks, fees, taxes and space compared.

Frequently asked questions

Does Encore Resort at Reunion have a shuttle to Disney World?

Yes. Encore offers complimentary shuttles to all four Disney parks, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe and SeaWorld, covered by the resort fee. Reserve online at least 24 hours ahead; seats are limited, and groups of 10 or more can’t ride. Disney buses leave at 9:20 a.m., 10:40 a.m. and 12:50 p.m.

How much is the resort fee at Encore Resort at Reunion?

Encore doesn’t publish it: its FAQ says resort fees “vary per home” and asks you to contact the resort. The fee covers Wi-Fi, the Aqua Park and towels, theme park transportation, the fitness center, concierge services and self-parking. Pool heat ($40 to $60 a night), pet fees and the refundable deposit are extra.

Is the Encore water park included if you book on Booking.com?

Encore’s water park page says a valid wristband is required and that eligible guests staying through licensed rental companies receive one; the FAQ limits the park to Encore guests staying on property. The Booking.com listing, managed by Encore, says your stay includes water park access, but confirm your wristbands at check-in.

How far is Encore Resort at Reunion from Disney World?

Encore says about 7 miles and 15 minutes. Our routes from the clubhouse give about 6 miles (14 minutes) to Animal Kingdom’s parking entrance, 9 miles to EPCOT’s lot and 10 miles to the Magic Kingdom lot, around 20 minutes without traffic. Universal and Epic Universe are about 18 miles, or 26 to 28 minutes.

Can Encore guests use the Reunion Resort water park and golf courses?

Not the water park: Reunion’s page says Encore guests and members have no access, and Encore guests use the Encore Aqua Park instead. Encore’s site promotes golf at Reunion’s Nicklaus, Palmer and Watson courses, but Reunion says partner-home access varies by home, so confirm with Encore’s concierge before you book.

Are pets allowed at Encore Resort at Reunion?

Yes, with limits. Encore’s FAQ calls it pet-friendly, with a $40 plus tax daily fee. The terms allow only well-mannered dogs of 30 pounds or less, up to two per home, at $40 per night per dog, with approval before arrival; unauthorized pets cost $75 a day. Certified service dogs are exempt.

Bottom line

Choose Encore Resort at Reunion when your group is too big for hotel rooms and you want a private pool, a water park and shuttles in one booking. Budget for the unpublished resort fee, deposit and pool heat, bring two cars, and book shuttle seats early.

Check your dates for Encore Resort at Reunion on Booking.com

Sources checked in October 2026: Encore Resort FAQ, Encore Resort homes and resort fee, Encore Aqua Park, Encore theme park shuttle schedule, Encore terms and conditions