Why are Polk’s vacation rentals concentrated in Davenport?
The figure everyone quotes comes from the county’s own tourism office. On its Davenport page, Visit Central Florida states that more than 80% of Polk County’s vacation rental homes are located in Davenport. The page carries no date and no methodology, so read it as the tourism office’s position rather than an audited count.
Geography does most of the explaining. Davenport sits near Four Corners, which Orange County describes as the place where the Lake, Orange, Osceola and Polk county lines meet. From Aquamara, Magic Kingdom parking is 18.4 miles by OSRM routing (details below). Visit Central Florida itself is headquartered in Davenport, at 101 Adventure Court.
Inventory is wide. The same office lists rental options in Davenport and Haines City ranging from 2-bedroom villas to 8-bedroom homes. If you are new to the segment, start with my overview of vacation homes near Disney and a comparison of the most popular short-term rental resorts.
Sources: Visit Central Florida, Davenport (undated, as of November 14, 2026) · Visit Central Florida, vacation rentals in Davenport and Haines City · Visit Central Florida, office address · Orange County Government, Four Corners, September 17, 2025
How many visitors does Polk County get?
From April 2024 through March 2025, 5,552,500 tourists visited Polk County, up from 5,261,100 in the prior twelve months, roughly a 5% gain. The figures are Visit Central Florida’s, published by the Central Florida Development Council (CFDC) on September 26, 2025.
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Polk tourists, Apr 2024 to Mar 2025 | 5,552,500 | CFDC, citing Visit Central Florida |
| Polk tourists, prior period | 5,261,100 | CFDC |
| Sports tourism impact over 3 years | more than $200 million | CFDC |
| LEGOLAND Florida visitors per year | more than 1.5 million | CFDC |
| Public golf courses in Polk | more than 40, with 630+ holes | Visit Central Florida |
| Orlando visitors in 2025 (different region) | 76.7 million | Visit Orlando |
The Orlando number is context only. It covers a different area, comes from a different agency and cannot be added to Polk’s. What it shows is the size of the neighboring market a Davenport guest can reach by car. Golfers should also see golf courses near Davenport.
Sources: CFDC, September 26, 2025 · Visit Central Florida, Polk County golf courses · Visit Orlando, press release, May 7, 2026
How long is the drive from Aquamara to the major parks?
Distances start at US 17-92 and Ernie Caldwell Blvd, where Aquamara is under development. They are OpenStreetMap (OSRM) routes without traffic, as of November 14, 2026, and rush hour can add time. For the parks, the destination is the guest parking area rather than the middle of the park.
| Destination | Miles | km | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPCOT | 17.3 | 27.9 | 29 |
| Magic Kingdom parking (TTC) | 18.4 | 29.7 | 29 |
| LEGOLAND Florida / Peppa Pig Theme Park | 22.5 | 36.3 | 35 |
| Epic Universe, Parking South | 24.5 | 39.4 | 38 |
| Universal, Structure South garage | 25.5 | 41.0 | 39 |
| Orlando International (MCO), Terminal A | 32.7 | 52.7 | 47 |
LEGOLAND Florida in Winter Haven shows up in the Polk tourism figures cited by the CFDC and is just over half an hour from Aquamara. The Peppa Pig Theme Park sits only steps from its entrance.
Sources: Routing: OpenStreetMap via OSRM, as of November 14, 2026 · Visit Central Florida, Peppa Pig Theme Park
What taxes apply to a short-term stay in Polk County?
In 2026, a short-term rental in Polk carries three layers: Florida’s 6% tax on transient rentals, a 1% county discretionary surtax and the 5% Tourist Development Tax (TDT). Combined, the official rates add up to 12% of the taxable rent, which includes mandatory charges such as the cleaning fee.
The 5% TDT is paid monthly to the Polk County Tax Collector. It is due on the 1st of the following month and delinquent if not paid by the 20th. Since August 17, 2026, monthly returns go through the Phenix Online portal. According to the state EDR, 5% is already the most the county can levy (2% original, plus 1% additional, 1% professional sports and 1% high tourism impact).
Airbnb says it collects and remits Polk’s TDT and the state taxes on bookings made through its platform, while hosts remain responsible for everything else. Work with a Florida CPA to set up filings, and read the rule at the Polk County Tax Collector. The full walkthrough is in Polk County tourist tax.
Sources: Florida Statutes 212.03 (2026) · Florida DOR, DR-15DSS, 2026 surtax rates · Polk County Tax Collector, Tourist Development Tax · Florida EDR, 2026 local option tax rates · Airbnb Help Center, Florida taxes (the platform describing itself)
Aquamara
How Aquamara fits
Aquamara sits in this same corner of Polk, inside Davenport city limits. At the Davenport Planning Commission meeting on March 16, 2026, Pulte said every home would be a short-term rental, with the restriction set in a recorded declaration (Planning Commission minutes). In other words, the community is planned for this market from the start.
Before buying, run the fixed costs with my guide to what it costs to own a vacation home. Aquamara pricing and floor plans have not been released yet; join the Aquamara VIP list to see them first.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 80% figure for Davenport an official statistic?
It is what Visit Central Florida, Polk’s tourism office, publishes. The page has no date and does not explain the method, so treat it as a reference point, not a hard statistic.
Is Davenport within 10 miles of Disney?
Not from Aquamara. By OSRM routing it is 18.4 miles (29.7 km) to Magic Kingdom parking and 17.3 miles to EPCOT, without traffic. Shorter figures you may see are probably straight-line or measured to the edge of Disney property.
Who is responsible for paying Polk’s tourist tax?
The owner or the property manager, who must open a TDT account with the Tax Collector. Platforms like Airbnb remit on their own bookings; direct bookings remain your responsibility.
Does Polk County get more tourists than Orlando?
No. Polk had 5.55 million tourists from April 2024 to March 2025. Orlando, a separate region, reported 76.7 million visitors in 2025, according to Visit Orlando.
Published . Updated . For information only; not legal, accounting or tax advice.