Champions Gate vs Reunion Resort — Which Is Better for STR Investment in 2026?
These are the two most frequently compared communities in the Disney corridor for STR investors. Both are strong markets. The right choice depends on your budget, risk tolerance, and the type of property you want to own.
Quick Comparison
Location and County
Champions Gate is in Davenport, Polk County — approximately 15 to 20 minutes from Disney World via I-4. Combined Polk County tourist development and state sales tax: approximately 11%.
Reunion Resort is in Kissimmee, Osceola County — approximately 10 minutes from Disney World. Combined Osceola County tax rate: approximately 12%.
Both offer excellent Disney proximity. Reunion is slightly closer to Disney's main gate, which matters at the margins for marketing but is rarely the deciding factor on its own — both communities are well inside the range guests search for when filtering by Disney proximity.
Entry Price
Champions Gate: Mid-range townhomes from approximately $350,000 to $450,000. Large luxury villas $600,000 to $1.2 million+. The wide range of available property types makes Champions Gate workable across a broader range of investor budgets.
Reunion Resort: Entry-level properties start higher. Luxury villas range from $700,000 to $2 million+ for the largest properties. Reunion is, in practice, a community for investors with a larger initial capital outlay.
Revenue Potential
Champions Gate: Well-managed six to eight bedroom luxury homes generate $100,000 to $180,000 annually. Mid-size four to five bedroom homes generate $55,000 to $90,000.
Reunion Resort: Well-managed five to eight bedroom homes generate $80,000 to $150,000. The largest luxury villas (10+ bedrooms) can generate $150,000 to $250,000+ for top performers — a revenue ceiling that no other community in the Disney corridor consistently reaches.
Guest Profile — A Bigger Difference Than Most Comparisons Mention
Champions Gate's guest base is broad — families of all budget levels booking a Disney trip, drawn by the Oasis Club and straightforward family-resort positioning. Reunion's guest base skews toward higher-spending families, multi-generational groups, golf travelers, and a meaningfully international guest mix who are specifically seeking a premium experience and are often less price-sensitive. This translates into different guest expectations, different average length of stay, and in many cases a different level of property care expected.
Amenities
Champions Gate: Oasis Club with lazy river, waterslides, pool, cinema, fitness center, dining. Two championship golf courses. Exceptional for families.
Reunion Resort: Water park, three championship golf courses (Palmer, Nicklaus, Watson), multiple pool complexes including the signature Seven Eagles pool, spa, tennis, on-site dining. The most comprehensive amenity set of any community in the Disney corridor.
HOA Complexity
Champions Gate: Standard resort HOA with clear STR permissions. Manageable for most operators without specialized local knowledge.
Reunion Resort: More complex HOA with multiple sub-associations. Golf membership status adds further nuance. This is a reason to work with a manager who already understands the community's specific structure.
The Verdict
Choose Champions Gate if: You want strong, consistent performance at a more accessible entry price, with straightforward HOA compliance, excellent family-oriented amenities, and a broader resale market when you eventually decide to exit the investment.
Choose Reunion Resort if: You are targeting the luxury market, want the highest revenue ceiling in the Disney corridor, are prepared to manage the more complex HOA landscape and higher entry price, and are comfortable serving a guest base with higher expectations in exchange for higher returns.
Edge manages properties in both communities and can give you a property-specific revenue projection for either, based on actual comparable performance data rather than market averages alone.
