At The Retreat West, we believe in transparency. No student should sign a year-long lease without knowing the details that shape daily life, from location and floor plan options to amenities, parking, policies, and support. This FAQ page brings together the information students, parents, and guarantors usually want to know before choosing their off-campus apartment, so it is easier to weigh what matters most and make a confident decision.
Living in Orlando means balancing class, commuting, social plans, and downtime, and The Retreat West is built for that kind of hectic lifestyle. With cottage-style layouts, resort-style amenities, furnished interiors, and a location just minutes from the University of Central Florida, The Retreat West offers student apartments near UCF that are designed around how Knights actually live. The questions below cover the key details of these apartments in Orlando, FL, so prospective residents can get a clear picture of what it’s like to live at The Retreat West.
1. Location & Proximity to Campus
The Retreat West is 2.8 miles from the University of Central Florida, which puts campus within a short drive for class, library visits, game days, and student events.
The Retreat West sits near several UCF landmarks that students visit often for academics, campus services, and events, including:
- UCF Memory Mall, 2.4 miles away
- Millican Hall, 2.4 miles away
- John C. Hitt Library, 2.5 miles away
- BA2, 2.5 miles away
- Engineering I, 2.6 miles away
- College of Sciences Building, 2.7 miles away
- FBC Mortgage Stadium, 12 minutes by car
- Addition Financial Arena, 10 minutes by car
That mix of academic buildings and campus gathering spaces makes The Retreat West a practical choice for students who want student apartments near UCF with convenient access to both class and campus life.
The Retreat West is close to several dining and daily-stop options that fit a typical student schedule. Nearby spots include Kobé Japanese Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Fresh Kitchen, and Chick-fil-A. For errands and essentials, students are also near Publix Super Market at Rio Pinar Plaza, Walmart Supercenter, Walgreens, and Waterford Lakes Town Center.
Yes. The Retreat West is near some of the most convenient shopping and entertainment areas in this part of Orlando. Waterford Lakes Town Center is 4.0 miles away, Alafaya Trail Corridor is 2.0 miles away, and Oviedo on the Park is 5.5 miles away. Students living in these Orlando apartments also have access to major area attractions such as Aquatica Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Universal’s Volcano Bay, and Walt Disney World Resort when they want to head off campus.
Yes. The Retreat West is 3.0 miles from UCF Research Park, which is helpful for students involved in internships, research, or professional opportunities connected to the university area. That location also adds to the appeal for students looking at apartments in Orlando, FL, that keep both campus and nearby career-oriented destinations within reach.
The Retreat West offers a central Orlando, FL, location that keeps students near campus while still close to restaurants, shopping, and other off-campus destinations. The area around 11037 Retreat Ave places residents near UCF, the Alafaya corridor, Research Park, and some of East Orlando’s most visited retail and entertainment spots, which helps balance school responsibilities with everyday convenience and entertainment.
2. Floor Plans, Furnishings, & Furniture Packages
The Retreat West offers cottage-style layouts in two-, three-, four-, five-, and six-bedroom configurations. That range gives students the ability to choose a setup that fits a quieter household, a larger roommate group, or something in between.
The Retreat West is built around cottage-style living rather than a standard stacked apartment format. These UCF off-campus apartments feature multi-level layouts, more separation between shared and private space, and bedroom setups designed for students who want a little more room to spread out.
Yes. The Retreat West includes furnished interiors, with furniture provided in both the common area and each bedroom. This is especially helpful for students moving to Orlando for school and wanting student apartments in Orlando, FL, without the extra work of furnishing an entire home from scratch.
The shared living area includes:
- TV, with size varying by unit
- Sofa
- Coffee table
- Side table
- TV stand
- Dining table with four chairs
- Two barstools
Some TVs are smart TVs and some are not, depending on the unit.
Each bedroom includes:
- Queen bed and bed frame
- Desk and desk chair
- Two stackable dressers with two drawers each
- Side table
The Retreat West also offers private bedroom options, which give each resident a more independent setup within the larger cottage layout.
Yes. Bedrooms at The Retreat West include private en-suite bathrooms, so residents do not need to share a bathroom with the full household. Individually keyed bedrooms are also available, which adds another layer of privacy within the unit.
The Retreat West apartments include a finish package centered on practical, darker-toned interiors with upgraded kitchen details. Features include:
- Stainless steel refrigerator, stove, and microwave
- Granite countertops
- Peninsula or bar with overhang
- Bar seating for two
- Pendant lighting over the peninsula
- Dark espresso cabinetry
- Crown molding
- Built-in pantry cabinet
- Wood-look plank flooring
These apartments near the University of Central Florida also feature hardwood-style flooring in common spaces, which helps the shared areas feel more durable and easier to maintain day to day.
Yes. Every unit includes a full-sized washer and dryer, so laundry stays in the apartment instead of turning into an off-site errand.
Yes. Select homes at The Retreat West include:
- Balconies
- Private bedroom balconies
- Poolside locations
- Lakefront locations
- Walk-in closets
3. Amenities
The Retreat West leans into the parts of student living that usually matter most once classes get busy: places to work, places to reset, and places to spend time with other people without leaving home. The amenity suite includes fitness and wellness spaces, study support, outdoor hangout areas, and entertainment-focused features that give these apartments near UCF a more active, social feel than your average off-campus setup.
Yes. The Retreat West has a resort-style pool and a hot tub, so there is a dedicated outdoor space for swimming, lounging, or taking a break between classes and evening plans. Poolside units are also available.
The fitness setup at The Retreat West includes both cardio equipment and strength training equipment, which gives residents room for everything from a quick workout to a more structured lifting routine. Fitness equipment includes:
- Treadmills
- Ellipticals
- Stair climber
- Spin bikes
- Strength training machines
- Cable machines
- Power rack
- Free weights and barbells
- Benches
The Retreat West also includes a sauna, which adds a wellness feature that is not always part of standard student apartments in Orlando, FL.
Yes. The Retreat West includes a technology center with computer stations, giving students a dedicated place to work, study, or handle assignments outside the apartment.
The Retreat West includes several indoor spaces for hanging out and unwinding, including a clubhouse, clubroom, pool tables, golf simulator, and coffee bar.
The Retreat West includes a strong mix of outdoor amenities, with a resort-style pool, hot tub, dog park, grilling area, hammocks and cabanas, cornhole area, basketball court, volleyball court, pickleball court, and green space.
Yes. Along with the expected pool, fitness, and study spaces, The Retreat West includes features like a golf simulator, sauna, and a larger mix of outdoor recreation areas.
Yes. High-speed WiFi is available throughout The Retreat West, so internet access extends beyond the apartment interior into the broader property. That is especially useful for students who move between home, study space, and shared amenity areas during the day.
4. Management, Maintenance, & Community
Yes. The Retreat West has an on-site management team that helps with day-to-day questions, package delivery, maintenance coordination, and lease support during office hours.
The Retreat West has an on-site team that helps residents with maintenance requests and follow-up when something in the apartment needs service. For the latest instructions on submitting requests, check the resident portal or contact the leasing office.
Yes. The Retreat West plans community events that bring residents together in a more casual, social way. Events include giveaways, food parties, and sports tournaments, along with other resident activities built around meeting neighbors and staying involved.
Resident life at The Retreat West is shaped by a mix of social, academic, wellness, and philanthropic programming. The P.A.W.S. model employed in our UCF off-campus apartment community is built around helping residents feel connected, supported, and part of something beyond their individual cottage.
Residents should contact the on-site team at The Retreat West for help with lease questions, apartment support, maintenance follow-up, and general resident needs. The leasing office can also help with current office hours, resident services, and next steps for specific requests.
5. Safety, Security, & Transportation
The Retreat West uses a gate with clicker access and a call box at the entrance. Amenity spaces and the clubhouse also use FOB-controlled access, which adds another layer of controlled entry across key shared areas.
Yes. The Retreat West has roaming security seven days a week. Security cameras are also in place at the clubhouse and outside the clubhouse.
Yes. The Retreat West offers parking for residents for an additional annual fee. Covered parking is also available for a slightly higher yearly cost.
Yes. Guest parking is available at The Retreat West.
6. Pet Policies
Yes. The Retreat West allows pets.
Yes. The pet fee is $300 per pet at move-in, with monthly pet fees of $35 per pet.
Yes. The Retreat West includes a dog park, giving residents a dedicated outdoor space for their pets on site.
Yes. The Retreat West has breed restrictions as part of its pet policy. Contact the leasing office for the full restricted breed list, weight limits, and pet approval details.
7. General Leasing Information
Yes. The Retreat West uses individual housing contracts, so each resident signs for their own bedroom space rather than sharing one lease across the full cottage. That structure helps keep each resident’s financial responsibility separate from the other roommates in the home.
Yes. The Retreat West offers roommate matching through RoomSync. The app helps students match based on lifestyle preferences such as cleanliness, study habits, sleep schedules, and other compatibility factors, with gender-inclusive matching tools built into the process.
Monthly installments are paid through the resident portal. For help with payment timing, accepted payment methods, or account questions, contact the leasing office.
Yes. Residents can either enroll in the Damage Waiver Program for a monthly fee or provide proof of separate liability insurance through the leasing office.
Applications for The Retreat West can be completed online. The leasing office can help with current availability, next steps, and any questions that come up during the application process.
The Retreat West offers multiple floor plan options, online leasing resources, and a price calculator that helps break down monthly base pricing and required monthly fees before selection. For the most current availability, application steps, and housing contract details, the leasing office can help with the next step.