Orlando welcomed 75.3 million visitors in 2024, making it the most visited destination in the United States. That number isn’t slowing down. With Disney expanding across multiple parks in 2026, new attractions at Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios, demand for short-term rentals in the Disney corridor remains one of the strongest in the country.
But here’s the real question most STR owners are asking: Is my property actually performing at what it’s worth?
The market shifted in 2025. Orlando’s median home prices dipped from $407,000 to $387,000 before stabilizing. Some investors panicked. Others saw an entry point. The smart ones did the math.
Continue reading to learn the exact numbers, neighborhood benchmarks, cost breakdowns, and valuation methods you need to get a clear, data-backed answer on what your Disney-area STR is worth in 2026.
What Is the Orlando STR Market Worth Right Now?
Let’s lead with the numbers. As of 2026, the median Orlando STR generates $31,137 in annual revenue at a 46.8% occupancy rate and an ADR of $227 (AirROI, 2026). Those are market-wide figures. Proximity to Disney changes everything.
Lake Buena Vista, the closest STR zone to Disney’s gates, ranks #1 in the entire U.S. for STR investability (Airbtics, 2026), with a 69% occupancy rate and $58,698 in median annual revenue. That’s nearly double the Orlando-wide median.
Disney-Area STR Revenue Benchmarks by Location (2026)
| Location | Median Annual Revenue | ADR | Occupancy Rate |
| Lake Buena Vista | $58,698 | — | 69% |
| Kissimmee | $35,581 | $263 | 47.4% |
| Davenport | $30,997 | $265 | 43.3% |
| Orlando (Market-Wide) | $31,137 | $227 | 46.8% |
Sources: AirROI 2026, Airbtics 2026
Top-performing resort communities push these figures significantly higher:
- Storey Lake (Kissimmee): $65,000–$90,000/year for 5–6 BR homes
- Encore Resort villas: $60,000–$100,000+/year for large villas
- Well-managed 8–10 BR resort homes: Can exceed six figures annually
STR Valuation Snapshot: Cap Rates & Yields
For investors thinking in terms of asset value, here’s what the math looks like at current market prices:
- Typical cap rates: 5–7% for Orlando STRs
- Gross rental yields: 8–12% in high-performing resort communities
- A median-priced $400,000 STR near Disney: Generates roughly $20,239 in net operating income after a 35% expense ratio, a cap rate of approximately 5.1%
How Location Within the Disney Corridor Affects STR Value
Distance from Disney’s gates is one of the single biggest predictors of STR performance. Here’s how each major submarket stacks up:
Lake Buena Vista
The closest STR zone to Disney World. 69% occupancy and $58,698 median annual revenue make this the gold standard for Disney Airbnb revenue. Supply is constrained, which further protects asset value.
Kissimmee (Storey Lake, Reunion, Formosa Gardens)
The largest and most active STR market near Disney, with 8,849 active listings and 47.4% average occupancy. Median figures understate the opportunity. Top-tier resort communities here reach 87%+ occupancy at the top 10% performer level.
- Top 10% of properties: $8,098+/month, 87%+ occupancy, $445+/night ADR
- Top 25% of properties: $5,466+/month, 75%+ occupancy, $314+/night ADR
- Median properties: $3,363/month, ~52% occupancy, ~$224/night ADR
Davenport / Four Corners
A strong market for large-group-focused properties. 94.3% of Davenport STRs accommodate 6+ guests, with an ADR of $265 and 43.3% occupancy. Revenue growth year-over-year is 14%. The fastest of the three submarkets.
- Top 10%: $7,567+/month, 84%+ occupancy
- Median: $3,092/month, ~46% occupancy
Celebration
Premium brand appeal, limited STR supply, and a projected 5-year property appreciation of +8.15%. Not the highest current revenue market, but a strong long-term hold for appreciation-focused investors.
STR Resort Communities vs. Residential Rentals
Properties within STR-approved resort communities (Windsor Hills, Encore Resort, Solterra, Storey Lake) consistently outperform generic residential rentals. These communities offer hotel-competitive amenities, water parks, lazy rivers, and concierge services that drive higher ADRs and repeat bookings.
What Drives or Destroys Your STR’s Revenue Potential
Property Size
Size matters significantly in this market. 85.8% of Kissimmee STRs accommodate 6+ guests; in Davenport, that figure rises to 94.3%. Larger homes command higher ADRs and attract group travel bookings, which typically mean longer stays and higher total revenue.
In Davenport, the most common listing configuration accommodates 8+ guests, accounting for 85.2% of the market. Properties designed for groups of 8 or more are not a niche. They are the standard.
Amenities
A private pool is the #1 differentiating amenity in both Kissimmee and Davenport. Beyond that, the bar has risen. Themed rooms, game rooms, home theaters, and “Instagrammable” design features are now table stakes for top-performing properties. Not optional upgrades.
Investors losing ground in 2026 are typically those with outdated furniture, generic photos, and no marketing strategy. Properties spending $20,000–$50,000 on immersive decor are the ones capturing top-tier ADRs and occupancy.
Management Quality
Professional management directly correlates with performance. Top hosts in Kissimmee, like one operator managing 351 properties, generate $25M+ in annual revenue. A well-managed property maintains high occupancy during shoulder seasons; a poorly managed one hemorrhages revenue in the same window.
Seasonality & Pricing Strategy
Understanding seasonality is non-negotiable. Here’s how Kissimmee breaks down:
| Season | Months | Avg. Monthly Revenue | Occupancy | ADR |
| Peak | Dec, Mar, Jul | $4,837 | 55.7% | $277 |
| Shoulder | — | $4,095 | 51.9% | $266 |
| Low | May, Aug, Sep | $3,320 | 45.5% | $239 |
Davenport follows a similar pattern:
| Season | Months | Avg. Monthly Revenue | Occupancy | ADR |
| Peak | Jul, Mar, Dec | $4,524 | 52.6% | $274 |
| Shoulder | — | $3,767 | 48.3% | $256 |
| Low | Jan, May, Sep | $3,050 | 37.8% | $261 |
Properties without a dynamic pricing strategy during the low season leave thousands on the table annually.
Disney Expansions in 2026
New attractions across all four Disney parks, including a Zootopia-themed 4D experience at Animal Kingdom, upgrades at Magic Kingdom, and a new Muppets-themed ride at Hollywood Studios, are expected to drive incremental visitor volume and extend average trip duration. More guests staying longer means stronger year-round demand for Kissimmee short-term rentals.
The Real Costs Eating Into Your STR Value
Gross revenue is not net revenue. Operating costs typically consume 30–40% of gross income. Here’s what that looks like line by line:
| Expense Category | Estimated Cost |
| Cleaning (per turnover) | $140–$350 (size-dependent) |
| Property management fees | 10–20% of gross revenue |
| HOA / CDD fees | $300–$550/month |
| Transient occupancy tax | ~13% (6% state + 6% county + 1% city) |
| Insurance | $1,500–$3,000+/year |
| Maintenance | 5–10% of gross revenue annually |
HOA fees by community:
- Storey Lake: ~$400–$550/month
- Solterra / Windsor at Westside: ~$400/month
- Windsor Hills: ~$300/month
A real example: A Kissimmee 5-bedroom home grossing $70,000/year could realistically net $42,000–$49,000 after expenses. That’s still a compelling return, but only if you modeled it correctly going in.
How to Accurately Estimate Your Specific STR’s Value
There are three primary valuation methods for STR properties:
1. Income Approach (Cap Rate Method)
Divide your net operating income (NOI) by the prevailing cap rate.
Example: $20,239 NOI ÷ 5.1% cap rate = ~$397,000 property value
Orlando STR cap rates range 5–7%. Use this method to benchmark your asking price against actual income production.
2. Comparable Sales
Identify recently sold, similarly performing STR properties within your resort community. Properties with proven income history, regulatory compliance, and professional management command a measurable premium. The median days to pending for Orlando properties in 2026 is 46 days (Zillow, 2026). This is a liquid market when properties are priced accurately.
3. Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM)
Divide the property value by gross annual revenue. Orlando STRs typically trade at a GRM of 8–12x.
Example: $400,000 property ÷ $40,000 gross revenue = 10x GRM (healthy range)
Recommended Tools for Live Benchmarking
- AirROI – Neighborhood-level revenue, occupancy, and ADR data
- AirDNA – Market-wide STR analytics and comp sets
- Airbtics – Investability rankings and annual revenue projections
Critical note: Always use trailing 12-month (TTM) revenue data, not projected figures. Projected income is a selling tool. TTM data is the truth.
Get a Real Number, Not a Guess
The Orlando STR market remains one of the most resilient and high-demand STR environments in the country but performance is increasingly bifurcated. Well-positioned, professionally managed properties in top-tier communities are thriving. Poorly managed properties in the same zip codes are stagnating.
The four biggest levers of Orlando STR value in 2026 are clear: location within the Disney corridor, property size, management quality, and amenities. Get those right, and the numbers follow.
Your next steps:
- Pull your property’s trailing 12-month data on AirROI or AirDNA
- Stress-test your cash flow at 35–40% occupancy (conservative scenario)
- Compare your NOI against a 5–7% cap rate to gauge your current asset value
- Speak with an STR-specialist realtor who can validate your numbers against actual sold comps in your specific community
Find out exactly what your asset is worth in today’s market.
Work With an Orlando STR Expert: Mike Chen
If you’re considering selling or simply want a clear picture of what your Airbnb is truly worth, it helps to speak with someone who understands both the investment side and the operational side of short-term rentals.
Mike Chen is widely recognized as a leading short-term rental Realtor in the Orlando market and the co-founder of FunStay Homes, a vacation rental property management company overseeing 100+ properties across the Disney corridor.
Because he actively works with investors and manages performing STRs, Mike can help you:
- Evaluate your property’s true market value based on real revenue data
- Compare your home with recent STR sales and income benchmarks
- Identify opportunities to increase performance before selling
- Determine whether it makes more sense to sell or hold, or optimize the asset
If you’re buying, selling, or evaluating an investment property near Disney, working with a specialist who understands both real estate and vacation rental operations can make a major difference.
Know what your Orlando Airbnb is really worth.
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