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Our Family's Happy Place--Make It Yours As Well! • 4 King Rooms • Near Disney

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A hotel room with a brick wall, a flat-screen TV, a plaid bedspread, and several Hogwarts-themed decorations.
A covered patio area with a pool, wicker furniture, and a ceiling fan.
A residential house with a garage, a lawn, and a palm tree.
A modern kitchen with grey cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and a central island with stools.
A swimming pool with a glass enclosure, surrounded by outdoor furniture and a covered patio area.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits
    Top-rated for families.
  • Outdoor pool
    The outdoor pool is a refreshing retreat under the open sky - a rare gem in this area.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
7 bedrooms4+ bathroomsSleeps 14

Popular amenities

  • Private pool
  • Spa pool on site
  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Kissimmee, FL
  • Place, Island H2O Live!
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Mystic Dunes Golf Club
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Orange Lake Golf
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Airport, Orlando, FL (MCO-Orlando Intl.)
    ‪36 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

7 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Beach

1 King Bed

Cars Room

2 Single Beds

Frozen

2 Single Beds

Harry Potter Room

1 King Bed

Paris King

1 King Bed

Queen

1 Queen Bed

Star Wars

1 King Bed

4 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Beach Bath

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Downstairs Restroom

Toilet

Paris Bathroom

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Upstairs Bath 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Upstairs Bath 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area

About this property

Our Family's Happy Place--Make It Yours As Well! • 4 King Rooms • Near Disney

COME MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME.

This isn't just our vacation rental.

It's our home.

When we're in the States, this is where our family chooses to live. It's our happy place—the place where we've celebrated, laughed, rested, eaten way too much food around the table, enjoyed the pool, and made some wonderful family memories.

We hope it becomes your happy place too.

A VACATION HOME DESIGNED BY A FAMILY--FOR FAMILIES.

We have 11 children and 15 grandchildren, so we understand two things very well:

Family vacations are priceless. Family vacations are also expensive.

We've spent most of our lives living on a budget, and we know what it's like to want to give your family an amazing vacation without spending money foolishly.

That's why we try to offer something different: A beautiful, spacious vacation home where families and friends can enjoy something special together at a price that still makes sense.

Why squeeze everyone into hotel rooms when you can come home after a long day at Disney, kick off your shoes, put the kids to bed in rooms they'll actually be excited about, grab something cold from the refrigerator, and relax beside your own private pool?

That's our idea of a vacation.

THE POOL DECK IS OUR FAVORITE ROOM--AND ISN'T EVEN A ROOM.

Okay, we're a little biased about this one.

Our home has one of the largest private pool decks in Emerald Island, and it's where our family spends a LOT of time.

Swim. Sit in the shade. Play games with the kids under the covered lanai. Eat burgers around the table. Enjoy your morning coffee beneath the ceiling fan while everyone else is still asleep.

Or do absolutely nothing.

You're on vacation. You're allowed.

After you've walked approximately 47 miles around Disney—or at least that's what your feet will tell you—turn on the private hot tub and let the day's stress bubble away.

The hot tub has its own gas heater separate from the pool, so you don't have to heat the entire swimming pool just to enjoy a hot soak.

SEVEN BEDROOMS--AND NOBODY GETS STUCK WITH THE BORING ROOM

One of the things we love most about our house is that it still feels like you're on vacation when you go to bed.

We have seven bedrooms, including four king bedrooms, one queen bedroom and two themed twin bedrooms, giving large families and multiple families plenty of room to spread out.

And because our children helped us design the rooms, several of them have a story.

FROZEN ROOM

Our youngest daughter loved Frozen, so naturally we needed a Frozen-inspired bedroom.

Twin princess carriage beds help little imaginations enter the story, and we've added playful touches throughout the room to make bedtime part of the vacation instead of simply the thing kids have to do before tomorrow.

CARS ROOM

Our boys loved Cars when they were younger, so this room was designed for little racers.

The twin race-car beds look ready for the starting line, the dresser resembles a toolbox, and even the racing signal light flashes red, yellow and green.

Getting them into bed may be easy.

Getting them out in the morning could be another matter.

HARRY POTTER ROOM

Our older daughters are Harry Potter fans, so one of our king rooms received a little magic of its own.

You'll find school-inspired insignias, favorite quotations, flying keys and perhaps even a Golden Snitch hiding somewhere.

And don't overlook the light switch. That was our daughter's favorite detail.

BEACH MASTER

We love the beach, and this upstairs king suite reflects it.

Bright, relaxing colors, seashell lamps, real shells and coastal touches make the room feel like you've escaped to the shore—while still enjoying that wonderful Florida air conditioning.

Even the bathroom gets into the act.

A LITTLE BIT OF PARIS

My wife designed our downstairs king suite.

For our 30th wedding anniversary, the two of us went to Europe and fell in love with Paris. So she brought a little bit of Paris home with us.

The bedroom and bathroom carry the theme throughout and make this downstairs suite a wonderful retreat for Mom and Dad, grandparents, or anyone who would rather not climb stairs at the end of a long day.

We also have another comfortable king bedroom with a European feel and a relaxing queen room that works especially well for older children, grandparents or additional adults.

Everyone gets a real bedroom. Everyone gets closet and dresser space. And nobody has to spend the week living out of a suitcase.

OUR KITCHEN WAS STOCKED BY A MOTHER OF 11

Enough said.

Well...almost.

We enjoy eating out too, but feeding a large family at restaurants three times a day can require a second mortgage.

So our kitchen is designed to be actually usable, not simply photographed for a vacation listing.

You'll find stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, plenty of cookware and the everyday equipment you'd expect—coffee maker, electric kettle, blender, mixer and much more.

My wife raised 11 children and now has 15 grandchildren.

When she says a kitchen is stocked, she means it.

Whether you're making a full family dinner, throwing together sandwiches before heading to the parks, or cooking burgers to eat beside the pool, we want you to have what you need.

And because we'd rather make memories than do chores, there's also a large-capacity washer and dryer.

Less laundry time. More vacation time.

CLOSE TO THE MAGIC--WITHOUT BEING TRAPPED INSIDE OF IT

Location is one of the reasons we love Emerald Island.

Our secure, gated resort is just a few miles from Walt Disney World, making it easy to spend the day in the parks and still come home to your own private space.

But Orlando is much bigger than Disney.

Universal, SeaWorld, water parks, outlet shopping, golf, restaurants and countless other attractions are all within easy reach.

Groceries and everyday necessities are nearby too, so a forgotten toothbrush doesn't have to become a family crisis.

And when you want to eat out, you'll have everything from fast food to family restaurants to international cuisine within an easy drive.

One of our favorite things about the area is that you're close to the action without feeling like you're sleeping in the middle of it.

WANT A DAY AWAY FROM THE PARKS?

We love the beach.

Florida's Gulf Coast makes a wonderful day trip, or you can head east toward the Atlantic and the Space Coast.

One day Mickey Mouse.

Another day your toes in the sand.

That's not a bad vacation.

THE LITTLE THINGS MATTER TOO

We've tried to include the things that make traveling with a family easier: linens and towels, high-speed Wi-Fi, televisions throughout the house, strollers for park days, a portable crib for the tiniest Disney fans, toddler cot, high chair, hair dryers in the bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and plenty of space to unpack and settle in.

You'll also have access to the amenities at Emerald Island Resort, including the clubhouse, community pools, fitness facilities, playgrounds, sports courts and other resort features.

Best of all, our home is an easy walk from the clubhouse.

ONE IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW ABOUT OUR HOME

Our home was created for families and friends to enjoy being together.

It was not created as a party house.

We want you to laugh, swim, celebrate, play games, stay up talking, make memories and have a wonderful time. But out of respect for our neighbors and the resort community, parties and disruptive gatherings aren't permitted.

We've never had a serious problem with this, and we'd like to keep it that way. :)

A COUPLE OF THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE BOOKING

**Pool heat:** $30 per day or $200 per week.

Resort vehicle fee: Emerald Island currently charges a one-time $20 fee per vehicle for resort access. This fee is charged by the resort rather than by us, so it is not included in our VRBO rate. The resort will provide the payment information directly.

MORE THAN A RENTAL

There are thousands of vacation homes around Orlando.

We know that.

So we're not going to pretend that we're the only house with a swimming pool, Wi-Fi, a nice kitchen or comfortable beds.

What we can tell you is that this house means something to us. It is our pride and joy.

We didn't purchase it simply to fill it with renters.

We purchased it because we love being here with our children and grandchildren.

We've celebrated milestones here. We've eaten meals together here. We've laughed around the pool. We've come home exhausted from Disney. We've made memories here that we'll carry with us for the rest of our lives.

And when you stay here, we want you to feel like you're our guest—not simply reservation #692995.

Our goal isn't just for you to have a good stay.

We want you to love your vacation, love our home, and want to come back.

And maybe somewhere along the way, you'll make a few memories here that your family will carry home too.

WELCOME TO OUR HAPPY PLACE

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
We LOVE kids.
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Events

No events allowed
Resort has a quiet at 10pm policy.
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Remove personal items and take out the rubbish
Lock the doors
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 692995vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Resort has a quiet at 10pm policy.
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Kissimmee

Located in Kissimmee, this holiday home is near theme parks and near a water park. Mystic Dunes Golf Club and Reunion Resort Golf Course are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's popular attractions can visit Walt Disney World® Resort and Old Town. Travelling with kids? Make time for Disney's Hollywood Studios®, or head to an event or a match at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Take some time off to enjoy the health/beauty spas in the area, or get some fresh air with adventures like hiking nearby.
Map
Kissimmee, FL

What's nearby

  • Island H2O Live! - 4 min drive - 4.4 km
  • Mystic Dunes Golf Club - 4 min drive - 5.4 km
  • Orange Lake Golf - 5 min drive - 5.1 km
  • Bonanza Golf & Gifts - 6 min drive - 5.8 km
  • Flamingo Crossings Town Center - 6 min drive - 8.5 km

Getting around

  • Kissimmee Station - 26 min drive
  • Kissimmee, FL (ISM-Kissimmee Gateway) - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Studio Movie Grill Sunset Walk - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Giordarnos - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Miller's Ale House - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Our Family's Happy Place--Make It Yours As Well! • 4 King Rooms • Near Disney have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Our Family's Happy Place--Make It Yours As Well! • 4 King Rooms • Near Disney pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Our Family's Happy Place--Make It Yours As Well! • 4 King Rooms • Near Disney?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Our Family's Happy Place--Make It Yours As Well! • 4 King Rooms • Near Disney?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Our Family's Happy Place--Make It Yours As Well! • 4 King Rooms • Near Disney?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Our Family's Happy Place--Make It Yours As Well! • 4 King Rooms • Near Disney located?

This family-friendly Kissimmee holiday home is within 3 mi (5 km) of Island H2O Live! and Bonanza Golf & Gifts. Walt Disney World® Resort and Surfari Water Park are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 34 out of 39 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 39 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 39 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 39 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 39 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our stay was amazing! The house had everything we needed and was super clean! Smart TVs in every room and had plenty of extra towels and blankets! Would def come back any time we are in the Orlando area!
Stayed 11 nights in Aug 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 3 September 2026
I am so happy you enjoyed your stay. I just read this at the end of a tough day at work, and you made me smile! Please, come visit us again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Getaway

Home was large enough for our family of 10. It had everything we needed. The kids loved the pool and outdoor area.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Archival

10/10 Excellent

LOVED IT!

We absolutely LOVED our time there. Joe and Denise are extremely helpful with any and all needs that you might have during your stay. The house was beautifully decorated and we loved the murals! We absolutely loved our stay!
Stayed 15 nights in Oct 2016
Response from VrboOwner on 30 July 2021
I am so glad that you vacation was all that you wanted it to be. As you said on the phone, "We look forward to seeing you again!"
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice

Great Experience, everything was just as advertised!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location, and great time!

The location of the house is close to parks. House is just like it was described. Easy check in, and easy check out. There was a total of 9 (5 Adults, 4 Kids) of us staying at house, and we were all comfortable The theme rooms were cool our kids liked them. Having the private pool was great as well, we all got to enjoy it. If available in future we would book again. Thank You
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Friendly

Our stay was great!!! Kids jad an amazing time. The ONLY problem was thag the air didnt work for a few hours and they sent someone within a timely manner. Thank you So Much!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Best Place We Have Ever Stayed!

We loved our stay at Emerald Island. Joe and Denise were wonderful to work with. We contacted them on four different occasions because this was our first time to use VRBO to rent a home. They respond within hours and were so friendly. The house delivered everything as promised on the website. We will come back. You will not find a better place to stay near Disney.
Stayed 11 nights in Aug 2015
Response from VrboOwner on 30 July 2021
I love hearing it when guests both have a good vacation and compliment our communication. We have been going to Disney for many years as guests and learned how important it was to have a host with great communication. That is our goal. Thank you for the rating and for your return visit!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Orlando @ New Year's.

Wonderful place for our 4 families, 9 adults and 5 children. Beds were great, kitchen well stocked. Nice to have washer and dryer. Kids enjoyed the pool, only downside was that the hot tub heater quit and they weren't able to get it fixed while we were there. The outside temperature was warm enough so the kids didn't mind the cooler water. Would rent again if we come back to Orlando for a family gathering.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

disney trip

house was a great location, easy to get to from the airport, and had easy access to and from both Disney and Universal studios. Many of the high touch surfaces were sticky and the washing machine was dirty but this was easily cleaned by ourselves. The hosts have really thought about the little details that make arriving nice. They were easy to contact with little issues we had during our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The home fit 11 of us perfectly- there is enough space for everyone to spread out and relax. The main tv doesn’t have app availability so if you are wanting to watch something specific (football!!) bring your own Roku. But the location was perfect! Only suggestion would be extra paper products, dish rags and a mop. But we made due and tried to clean up the best we could.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Family vacation

The house was not all bad but, the water does not get very hot ! The pool wasn’t very clean ! some lights did not work in some rooms .
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely Wonderful

The check in to the gated community was easy. The house was just as pictured. It was a wonderful stay. We spent one day just at the house enjoying the pool and hot tub. We were very close to Disneyworld which is why we vacationed in Florida. The themed rooms were nice. The little girls room was so cute even though the little ladies we brought both 3 years old didn’t even sleep in the room. It was a perfect vacation 10 out of 10. The owner was very responsive it was perfect and plenty of room for 6 adults and 4 children that we were not on top of each other.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Garage parking

Garage parking very confusing! Need written directions on how to access in and out tickets.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 17 February 2023
Mahalo for the 5-star review, Kathy, and thank you for taking time to share your feedback! Hope you can plan a return visit soon! Captain Cook Resorts
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Cleanliness

Not what we expected

My first priority in renting is cleanliness. The mattress covers and shower curtains were stained, the floor had not been vacuumed thoroughly. The pool deck was dirty and the outdoor table was broken.The pool and spa heaters were not working. The owner refunded the heating fee but we chose the property for the pool. Our group was disappointed.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 31 March 2025
I am so sorry you did not enjoy your stay. The pool heater breaking really stunk. It broke the day of your checkin and we could not get it repaired. For people reading this review, I ask you to look at our other reviews. Colleen was very disappointed about the pool heat, and rightfully so. As a result of that, other things were exasperated. For example, a loose table leg is not a broken table. This is a rare example of when we could not deliver fully on our effort to give everyone a five star stay. The broken pool heater was out of our control. We got a pool tech out within hours of being told it wasn't heated, but the part needed was not in stock and we did not get it repaired for a couple of days. I am sad this happened and we do all we can to prevent things like this, but, occasionally, equipment breaks. Please read our other reviews.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Huge house that met all of our needs and more

This place is huge....seven bedrooms and it met all of our needs and exceeded our expectations. Our children loved the decorated rooms in the themes of Cars, Frozen, Star Wars and Harry Potter. The three other bedrooms were very nicely decorated as well as the rest of the house. It was well stocked with plenty of dishes, towels, extra bedding and even beach towels and coolers. I saw a portacrib, highchair, and strollers too even though we didn't have anyone small enough to use those. This was by far the best house we've stayed in in all of our 30 years of going to Disney World. We are so glad we found it and we will definitely be back. Oh yeah, and my favorite part was the pool and hot tub area. There was plenty of shade, room for dining around the table, and lots of sunning chairs and even more sitting chairs. Thanks Joe and Denise for a great stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 30 July 2021
So glad that you had an awesome time! Please come back. Joe
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Okay, but needs a lot of updates

The layout of the house is great and accommodated our extended of 10 well. Each of the four kids had their own room, which was a perk. However, the house is generally a bit run down and there were several things that were broken or not working properly. The hot tub didn’t work, the ice machine in the fridge didn’t work and it needed a new filter, the dishwasher didn’t work well, one of the lights had loose wiring that caused it to go on and off on its own, and a few chairs had loose legs. The house was fine enough for a 3-night stay, but definitely didn’t have the wow factor we thought it would from the listing photos.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Overall, this was a great place for my family of 10 (5 kids/5 adults) to stay. We didn't spend alot of time there, other than sleeping because our days were filled with theme parks.By day 2, we ran out of toilet paper in all 5 bathrooms and had to go buy more. Did not have new full rolls to begin with. We had adequate bath towels for 10, but not hand towels nor wash clothes. There was 1 kitchen towel but no dish clothe to wash dishes with. There were large spider webs near the ceiling in the foyer. All air vents could use cleaning with some quite dirty/dusty. Doors were sticky/dirty near door knobs. Throw rugs need to be laundered. Couldn't locate any hot pads or cooling racks in the kitchen. Nicely decorated and comfortable.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2025
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Marvelous Time

Our holiday was absolutely marvelous because of this property and the Holmans. Pros: Almost everything. The location. The home decor. The resort. Most of all, the communication with Denise. She answered every email within hours, responded instantly to our text. Cons: The pool was not heated when we arrived, although it was supposed to be. Emailed and texted Denise. She contacted their management company, who had made the error. Someone came out within hours. Although the pool heat was free, so we did not lose any money, Denise sent us $75 to eat out as an apology, so even our con became a pro. Next time we return to WDW, we will be renting this property again.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 30 July 2021
Your review made my day/week. Thank you. We love hearing that our guests loved their stay here.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Would stay here again.

I would bring my family here again. Some things not mentioned is that there is a Blu ray player in the living room with a drawer full of children's movies. Very nice! You should know that the spa is NOT a hot tub. Not being from Florida, I did not know there was a difference. There were some minor housekeeping issues when we checked in. The owner immediately responded via text. The issues were corrected by the management company the next day. The only negative issue is that you can't check in until 4pm. If you find a problem then the local management team only responds to non emergency problems until 5pm. I contacted them at 4:10 pm and they could not respond that day. But again I received 5 star service because of the owner's quick response and remedy to unforeseen circumstances.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 30 July 2021
Thank you for your good review. I am sorry about the hiccup At the beginning. I am glad that they got worked out. Next time you come, if possible we will get you an early check in. We have had several comments about this. It is our management company that has this policy, but we think we have a "work around" that might work. :) Please excuse typos. Typing on my device without my glasses. 😀
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

House was everything that was expected.

I would definitely rent again.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay

House was clean. Adequate space. My only concern was the garage turned game room was extremely hot due to no air conditioning. The ice maker on refrigerator didn’t work. There was an ice maker that was on the kitchen counter however if multiple people needed ice there isn’t enough. We just went and bought bags of ice. Otherwise great stay
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mother's Day Brunch

The kids really enjoyed the themed rooms and the pool. The adults really enjoyed the space and the set up of the house. We had a good time and a nice brunch.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 1 June 2022
I am so happy you had a great time! Please come back.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Kado vacation

No complaints very pleased
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 18 May 2022
I am so glad you enjoyed yourself
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Beautiful home. Well taken care of and perfect for our group of 10

Kids were up and in the pool first thing in the morning last thing at night. Everything we needed to make breakfast before leaving for Universal Studios and Sea World was there. The bedrooms were a great size and everyone found one they felt good in. Thanks Joe for all your assistance and emails. We truly felt right at home in your home.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Just Like the Pictures!

My family and I had an incredible time at this property. The rental was exactly like the pictures. It was clean, spacious, and the location is close to everything! There was actually a sign that welcomed us and the personal touch was thoughtful. I had car trouble during check out time and the Manager was calm and worked with me. Five stars indeed; and we can’t wait until next year to re-visit this awesome property again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018

About the host

Hosted by Joe and Denise Holman

Host profile image
Hello! We’re Joe and Denise, but around here we’re better known as Papi and Gigi.

This isn’t simply a vacation rental to us. It’s our home.

In 2006, we left the United States to serve as missionaries—first in Bolivia and now in Ghana, West Africa. Because our work keeps us overseas most of the time, we bought this home to give our children something important: a place in America they could always think of as home.

Apparently, it worked a little too well. 😄 As our kids grew up and started families of their own, many of them settled nearby. Today we have 15 grandchildren, and about every two years we come home and this house fills up with kids, grandkids, laughter, food, noise, swimming, stories, and everything else that happens when a big family gets together.

For those few weeks, this really is the happiest place on earth.

And that's a big part of why we enjoy sharing our home with other families.

We know how special a family vacation can be. Years later, nobody remembers whether everything went perfectly—but they remember swimming with Dad, staying up too late with their cousins, going to Disney for the first time, and laughing around the dinner table.

Those are the kinds of memories this house was made for.

So when you stay here, we don't think of you as simply another reservation on the calendar. You're a family staying in our family home, and we sincerely want you to enjoy it as much as we do.

Make yourselves at home. Make some memories. That's what this place is for.

Why they chose this property

We’ve been coming to Walt Disney World since 1992, when we lived in Texas. At this point, I honestly couldn't tell you how many Disney vacations we've taken! Along the way, though, we learned a few secrets about doing Disney well.

The first was discovering vacation homes. We rented our first one in 1995, and there was no going back. Having bedrooms to spread out, a kitchen, a living room, laundry, and your own pool simply changes a family vacation.

The second thing we learned was that we love being close to Disney—but not stuck inside the Disney bubble.

That's what we call Disney AND.

Disney AND hundreds of restaurants. Disney AND shopping. Disney AND a day at the beach. Disney AND coming home in the afternoon, throwing the kids in the pool, making dinner, and putting your feet up before heading back out for the evening.

So when the time finally came for us to buy our own Florida home, we knew exactly what we were looking for.

We chose Emerald Island Resort.

It's close to the parks and all the action, but once you drive through the gates, it feels like you've come home. It's an established, beautifully maintained resort community with 24/7 gated security, a clubhouse and fitness center, tennis and basketball courts, volleyball, playgrounds, walking trails, grills, and plenty of room to slow down.

After all those years of visiting the Disney area, we could have chosen a lot of places.

We chose this one. And we'd choose it again.

What makes this property unique

So what makes our home better?

For us, it starts when you open the back door.

Our pool area feels like your own little private resort. The pool deck is the largest in Emerald Island, and our pool area is wonderfully private. Add the large covered lanai with plenty of shade, and this becomes one of our family's favorite places in the entire house.

Morning coffee. Breakfast outside. Kids in the pool. Burgers for dinner. A quiet soak in the hot tub after a long day at Disney. Even when Emerald Island is full, back here it feels like your own little corner of Florida.

The other thing you'll notice is that our house doesn't feel like a rental.

That's because it really is our home.

My wife, Denise, decorated it as a home—not as an investment property. The furniture, paintings, rugs, colors and little touches throughout the house are things we've chosen because we enjoy living here. Our hope is that when you walk through the door, you don't feel like you've checked into another vacation property.

You feel like you're staying at a friend's home.

But we're also a family that loves to have fun, so we didn't want everything to be too grown-up. :)

We asked our kids how they would want their rooms decorated, and that's where some of the personality of the house really came alive. You'll find Frozen, Cars and Harry Potter-inspired rooms, while other bedrooms reflect things Denise and I love, including Paris and the beach.

And then there are our six boys.

They wanted Star Wars.

So, naturally, the game room got a little more adventurous. :)

That's really what makes our property unique. It's not a house we decorated for imaginary vacationers.

It's a house our family created for ourselves.

A private pool. A huge outdoor living area. Comfortable spaces for adults. Magical spaces for kids. Plenty of room to be together—and enough room to get away from each other occasionally, too.

It's our family home. We'd love for your family to make it yours for a while.

Languages:

English, Spanish

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