Westgate Lakes vs Vacation Villas: Which Orlando Westgate Wins?

Westgate runs two of the largest off-site resort complexes in Orlando: Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa near Universal and SeaWorld, and Westgate Vacation Villas Resort in the Disney/Kissimmee corridor. On paper they look similar, with condo-style villas, on-site water parks and a long list of amenities. In practice, they feel very different. This comparison takes a close, real-world look at location, room types, water parks, fees and what it is actually like to stay at each, so you can decide which Westgate best fits your Orlando plans.

Location: Universal & SeaWorld Corridor vs Disney & Kissimmee

Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa sits on Turkey Lake Road, just off Interstate 4 and a short drive from Orlando’s main convention and theme park corridor. Westgate lists the resort at about 2 miles from Universal Orlando Resort, roughly 1.5 miles from SeaWorld Orlando and around 6 miles from Walt Disney World. In practical terms, that usually translates into a 5 to 10 minute drive to Universal on a normal weekday morning, and 10 to 20 minutes to Disney depending on I‑4 traffic.

Westgate Vacation Villas Resort is in Kissimmee on Westgate Boulevard, just behind US‑192 and generally about 1 mile from the western entrance to Walt Disney World according to Westgate’s own fact sheets. In normal conditions, many guests report a 5 to 8 minute drive to Disney’s Animal Kingdom parking booths and about 10 to 15 minutes to Magic Kingdom’s Transportation and Ticket Center. Universal and SeaWorld are farther, usually 20 to 30 minutes by car if traffic is average along I‑4.

If your trip is built around Universal parks such as Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, or if you plan to visit SeaWorld, the Turkey Lake location of Westgate Lakes usually requires less drive time each day. For example, a family staying at Westgate Lakes can often leave the resort at 8:30 a.m. and still be through Universal’s front gates by rope drop without a very early start. By contrast, guests at Vacation Villas typically budget closer to half an hour to reach Universal in morning traffic.

On the other hand, if the heart of your vacation is Disney, Westgate Vacation Villas holds the clear location advantage. Many guests intentionally choose this Kissimmee base to pop back to their villa for an afternoon swim and lunch between morning and evening park sessions. That break is simply easier when you can be from your parking spot at Animal Kingdom back to your villa pool in under 20 minutes on a typical day.

Resort Atmosphere and Layout

Westgate Lakes stretches along the shore of a sizeable lake, with multiple mid-rise buildings, seven pools and hot tubs spread across the property, and a central area that includes Treasure Cove Water Park, restaurants and the spa. The feel is that of a large, busy lakefront resort close to the action, with water views from many balconies and a constant backdrop of I‑4 and theme park traffic in the distance. Guests can rent swan pedal boats or kayaks on the lake and watch fireworks from some vantage points on clear nights.

Westgate Vacation Villas, by comparison, feels more like a sprawling villa neighborhood tied into its sister property, Westgate Town Center. Low- to mid-rise villa buildings fan out from the main Shipwreck Island Water Park and amenities core. The atmosphere is decidedly family-oriented, with golf carts zipping by, kids biking between pools, and parents grilling outside some of the buildings. Because the resort is set back off US‑192, once you turn onto Westgate Boulevard the feel is more residential and less convention-corridor.

In day-to-day use, the layout matters. At Westgate Lakes, staying in a building close to Treasure Cove or the main pool means you are near restaurants and activity hubs. Guests placed in outer buildings sometimes use their car or internal shuttles to avoid long walks, especially in summer heat. At Vacation Villas, the footprint is even larger because of the connection to Town Center. Some guests happily walk 10 to 15 minutes from a quiet building to Shipwreck Island; others prefer to request a unit closer to the water park or rely on the on-property shuttle and golf carts that operate throughout the day.

For travelers who like a self-contained, resort-style stay with enough size to feel like a small town, both properties deliver. The key difference is aesthetic: lakeside high-rise and convention-corridor proximity at Westgate Lakes versus villa neighborhood and classic Kissimmee surroundings at Vacation Villas.

Villas, Space and In-Room Comforts

Both Westgate Lakes and Westgate Vacation Villas focus on condo-style accommodations, beginning with studios and running up through multi-bedroom villas with kitchens. This is a central reason many families choose either resort over conventional hotel rooms. It is not uncommon, for example, for a family of five to book a two-bedroom villa at Vacation Villas with a full kitchen, separate living room and washer/dryer, then stock up at a nearby supermarket and prepare breakfast in the room every morning.

At Westgate Lakes, typical villas also offer living and dining space, kitchenettes or full kitchens, and many include jetted tubs and balconies. The resort’s fact sheets highlight accommodation ranging from studios suitable for a couple up through four-bedroom layouts that can host larger groups sharing costs. For a multigenerational group visiting Universal and SeaWorld, a three-bedroom unit at Westgate Lakes often allows grandparents and parents each to have their own bedroom while children share a room and the group splits the nightly rate.

Westgate Vacation Villas, intertwined with Westgate Town Center, also offers a wide range of layouts. Many of the one- and two-bedroom villas feature full kitchens, multiple bathrooms and sofa beds in the living room to maximize sleeping capacity, which can be helpful for two small families traveling together. A typical scenario might be two parents and three children sharing a two-bedroom villa where the older children take the living room sofa bed and the youngest shares a bedroom with a parent.

In terms of decor and condition, recent traveler reviews often describe both resorts as a mix of renovated and older units. Some buildings have been updated with more modern finishes and furniture, while others show wear like older carpeting or dated tile. Guests who prioritize newer interiors frequently contact the resorts in advance to request a renovated building or emphasize that preference at check-in, understanding that requests are not guaranteed but are sometimes honored when occupancy allows.

Water Parks & Pools: Treasure Cove vs Shipwreck Island

Water play is where these two Westgate properties stand out. Westgate Lakes features Treasure Cove Water Park, a themed complex that includes multi-story water slides, a lazy river, splash areas, and pools along with cabanas and a bar and grill. For many families, this becomes an attraction in its own right, especially on non-park days. A typical off-park day might see parents grabbing loungers along the lazy river while teenagers lap the body slides and younger kids alternate between the splash playground and the main pool.

Westgate Vacation Villas is home to Shipwreck Island Water Park, a pirate-themed, two-level water park with slides, a large water playground, splash zones and a meandering river-style pool. Shipwreck Island is integrated into the larger Vacation Villas and Town Center complex, with surrounding pools and activity areas. Families often plan at least one full day here, sometimes more, especially if traveling with younger children who may find Shipwreck Island’s theming particularly engaging.

At both properties, water park admission is not automatically included with every reservation type. Westgate’s own descriptions note that, unless otherwise specified in a particular offer or owner package, admission to Shipwreck Island at Vacation Villas or Treasure Cove at Westgate Lakes is an extra charge, and those fees can change seasonally. Guests frequently encounter per-person, per-day admission pricing or added-value bundles that include water park access, so it is sensible to budget for those fees and confirm current pricing directly with Westgate before arrival.

Outside the headline water parks, each resort includes multiple standard pools and hot tubs. Westgate Lakes lists seven pools throughout the property, which allows guests in outlying buildings to swim close to their villa without trekking to Treasure Cove each time. Vacation Villas, together with Town Center, highlights more than a dozen heated outdoor pools scattered among the buildings, so families can enjoy a quieter swim near their unit on days they do not plan a full Shipwreck Island visit.

Dining, Groceries and On-Site Activities

Food options at both resorts are designed so guests can go several days without leaving the property if they choose. Westgate Lakes offers a mix that typically includes a main restaurant, poolside bars and grills, a coffee and ice cream outlet, and a marketplace with groceries and grab-and-go items. It is common, for example, for guests to grab pizza and salads from an on-site eatery after a long day at Universal rather than driving back onto Turkey Lake Road to search for a restaurant.

Westgate Vacation Villas, linked with Town Center, also provides multiple dining venues such as casual restaurants, a sports bar, pizza delivery to the villas and a market for groceries and snacks. Many guests combine these with full kitchens by doing an initial grocery run at a nearby supermarket on US‑192 or along US‑27, then using on-site dining for lunches at Shipwreck Island or late-night snacks. The resort’s proximity to the busy 192 corridor means an even wider variety of off-site dining is available within a 5 to 10 minute drive, from national chains to independent family restaurants.

Beyond dining, both resorts advertise a broad roster of activities, particularly during peak seasons. At Westgate Lakes, guests will typically find scheduled pool games, trivia, arts and crafts sessions for kids, mini golf on the 18-hole course, and access to sports courts such as basketball and tennis. The lake adds another dimension, with rental swan boats and kayaks offering a change of pace from the pool.

Vacation Villas mirrors many of these offerings with multiple playgrounds, mini golf, bike and surrey rentals, planned activities at various pools, and even seasonal extras like an ice skating rink during certain times of year according to resort activity listings. For families looking to build in resort days between theme park visits, both properties can comfortably fill the schedule without needing to leave the grounds.

Costs, Fees and Value for Different Travelers

Nightly rates at Westgate Lakes and Westgate Vacation Villas shift widely by season, day of week and how you book. In slower periods, travelers sometimes report studio or one-bedroom units at either resort pricing competitively with midrange hotels, especially when using promotional offers tied to timeshare presentations. In peak windows such as late December or mid-summer, rates generally climb and can approach or exceed some on-site theme park hotels, particularly for larger villas.

Both resorts typically charge a daily resort fee, and Westgate’s published materials note that Wi‑Fi can be subject to an extra charge for some guests. Westgate Lakes documents a resort fee in the high‑20 to low‑30 US dollars per room, per night range, plus tax, in recent partner listings, though the exact amount can change. Vacation Villas also notes that fees may apply for resort services. Parking, by contrast, is generally described as complimentary at both properties, which can represent significant savings over on-site theme park hotels that charge nightly parking.

Water park admission is another cost to factor. Westgate’s information for Shipwreck Island at Vacation Villas and Treasure Cove at Westgate Lakes indicates that standard room bookings do not always include admission, and that resort guests are often charged a per-person fee unless their package states otherwise. A family of four planning to spend two full days at the on-site water park, for example, may find that water park tickets add a meaningful amount to the overall budget compared with using only the regular resort pools.

Value varies depending on how you travel. A couple focused on visiting Universal and SeaWorld, staying in a studio at Westgate Lakes, cooking simple breakfasts in-room and using the lakefront pools may find the resort fee worth the trade-off for extra space and kitchen facilities. A large family prioritizing Disney, splitting a two- or three-bedroom villa at Vacation Villas with grandparents, may calculate that the cost per person per night is favorable compared with booking multiple standard hotel rooms, even after accounting for resort and water park fees.

Transportation, Parking and Getting Around Orlando

Both resorts are fundamentally car-oriented. While Westgate Lakes advertises a shuttle to Universal Orlando on some partner sites and both properties may offer limited shuttle services to surrounding parks at various times, schedules are often limited and may require reservations and specific departure times. Most guests report that having a rental car or driving their own vehicle is by far the most convenient way to get between the resorts and the theme parks.

Parking at both Westgate Lakes and Westgate Vacation Villas is generally described as complimentary, which is a practical advantage over many Orlando hotels that now charge nightly parking rates. In real terms, a weeklong stay for one vehicle can save well over 100 US dollars versus properties where parking is billed nightly. Do note that theme parks themselves still charge for parking unless you have an annual pass or special package that covers it.

Inside each resort, the size of the complexes means you may still rely on your car, golf carts or internal shuttles. At Westgate Lakes, some guests choose to drive from their building to the main amenities rather than walking across the entire lakefront property in midday heat. At Vacation Villas, it is common to see families loading towels and snacks into their car for the very short drive from a distant villa building to the Shipwreck Island parking area, particularly with younger children or grandparents.

If you would prefer to avoid driving, it is important to understand that neither resort replicates the seamless, frequent transportation offered by on-site Disney or Universal hotels. Guests staying at Westgate but wanting a car‑free vacation often rely on a mix of ride-share services, occasional scheduled shuttles and taxi-style services, which can add ongoing per-trip costs.

Which Westgate Is Better for Your Trip?

Choosing between Westgate Lakes and Westgate Vacation Villas usually comes down to your primary parks, your group size and how much you value the specific water park at each property. For travelers who plan to spend most of their time at Universal Orlando and SeaWorld, Westgate Lakes offers the location advantage and a strong selection of lakefront amenities and pools anchored by Treasure Cove Water Park. A long weekend centered on Universal’s Halloween or Mardi Gras events, for example, often pairs more smoothly with Westgate Lakes due to its shorter drives and proximity to International Drive.

For Disney-centric trips, especially those involving young children or extended family, Westgate Vacation Villas in Kissimmee is typically the more practical fit. Its location near Disney’s western gate, combined with villa-style layouts and Shipwreck Island Water Park, appeals to families who might alternate full Disney days with pure resort days. A 10‑night stay where grandparents, parents and kids share a multi-bedroom villa, take midday breaks from Magic Kingdom, and spend at least two days at Shipwreck Island is a pattern that matches the strengths of Vacation Villas well.

If you are splitting time fairly evenly between Disney and Universal, other factors may break the tie. Guests who like lake views, the spa, and proximity to the convention center often lean toward Westgate Lakes. Those who prefer a more neighborhood-like setting, quick access to the restaurant and shopping density of US‑192, and slightly closer proximity to Disney tend to choose Vacation Villas.

In all cases, it is wise to confirm current resort and water park fees, request a renovated unit if that matters to you, and budget for the reality that these are large, busy resorts rather than boutique hotels. For many travelers, the trade-off of space, kitchens and on-site water parks at these Westgate properties is worth it, as long as expectations are set around size, activity level and the extras that are not included in the base room rate.

The Takeaway

Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa and Westgate Vacation Villas Resort share a common brand and many similar features, but they fill distinct niches in the Orlando area. Westgate Lakes is the logical choice if Universal and SeaWorld are your focus and you want a lakefront setting with Treasure Cove Water Park, multiple pools and easy access to the convention corridor. Westgate Vacation Villas is better aligned with Disney vacations, providing a large inventory of villa-style accommodations close to Disney’s western entrance, backed by the family-friendly Shipwreck Island Water Park and extensive pools.

Neither property is a quiet, intimate escape; both are large, activity-heavy resorts that suit families and groups who want plenty to do on non-park days. Guests willing to navigate the scale of the complexes, drive themselves to the parks, and budget accurately for resort and water park fees often find strong value in the space and amenities on offer.

Ultimately, if you picture early-morning drives to Universal and evenings on a balcony overlooking a lake, Westgate Lakes likely fits your style. If your mental image is a short hop to Disney’s gates, kids racing down pirate ship slides and large villas where extended family gathers around a home‑cooked meal, Westgate Vacation Villas in Kissimmee is probably the Westgate that will feel most like home base.

FAQ

Q1. Which Westgate resort is closer to Walt Disney World, Westgate Lakes or Westgate Vacation Villas?
Westgate Vacation Villas in Kissimmee is generally closer to Walt Disney World, sitting about a mile from Disney’s western entrance, while Westgate Lakes is roughly six miles away.

Q2. Which resort is better if my vacation is focused on Universal Orlando and SeaWorld?
Westgate Lakes typically works better for Universal and SeaWorld visits, as it is only a few miles from both and offers shorter, more predictable drive times to those parks.

Q3. Do Westgate Lakes and Westgate Vacation Villas include water park admission in the room rate?
Standard room bookings at both resorts often do not include water park admission by default. Admission to Treasure Cove or Shipwreck Island is usually a separate per-person charge unless your package specifically states otherwise.

Q4. Are the villas at both resorts suitable for large families or groups?
Yes. Both Westgate Lakes and Westgate Vacation Villas offer multi-bedroom villas with kitchens and living areas, which can comfortably host larger families or groups sharing costs.

Q5. Is a rental car necessary when staying at either Westgate Lakes or Westgate Vacation Villas?
While limited shuttles may be available, most guests find that having a car is the most convenient way to travel between the resorts and area theme parks and restaurants.

Q6. Which resort has more of a neighborhood or residential feel?
Westgate Vacation Villas, connected to Westgate Town Center, tends to feel more like a sprawling villa neighborhood, while Westgate Lakes has a denser, lakefront resort layout near the convention corridor.

Q7. Are there grocery stores and off-site dining options near both resorts?
Yes. Westgate Lakes is close to the International Drive and Turkey Lake Road corridors, while Vacation Villas sits just off US‑192 in Kissimmee. Both areas offer supermarkets and many restaurant choices within a short drive.

Q8. Do either of the resorts charge for parking?
Westgate’s materials and recent partner listings generally describe parking as complimentary at both Westgate Lakes and Westgate Vacation Villas, which can reduce overall trip costs.

Q9. How do the on-site water parks differ between the two resorts?
Treasure Cove at Westgate Lakes offers multi-story slides, a lazy river and lake views, while Shipwreck Island at Vacation Villas is a pirate-themed, two-level water park with slides and large splash areas.

Q10. Which Westgate is the better choice if my family wants equal time at Disney and Universal?
If your time is evenly split, either resort can work, but Westgate Lakes slightly favors Universal and SeaWorld access, while Vacation Villas provides an edge for Disney. Your preference for lakefront vs villa-neighborhood atmosphere and proximity to either corridor should guide the final choice.