Vacation Rentals by Owner

The perfect place to stay

Guest: Walter J. (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
Date of Stay: 02/20/12 Review Submitted: 04/02/12

What a great way to visit Orlando. It's tough to find a place to accommodate 11 people and spend quality time while the children are asleep. The Dimond on the Island is perfect, pool, spa, clubhouse, bar. And, all the Orlando attractions only minutes away. I happily give the property five stars.

Owner response:We pride ourselves in providing a place that exceeds the expectations of the guest. And we did it again!!

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THANKS FOR A WONDERFUL VACATION

Guest: joanne c. (galloway nj usa)
Date of Stay: 12/07/11 Review Submitted: 01/01/12

JOHN THANKS SO MUCH FOR A WONDERFUL VACATION FOR MY 50TH BIRTHDAY HOUSE WAS WONDERFUL EVERYONE HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH ROOM PERFECT LOCATION THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOME WITH ME AND MY FAMILY SEE YOU NEXT YEAR JOANNE

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First time home rental

Guest: nicole h.
Date of Stay: 09/21/11 Review Submitted: 10/04/11

Hi John, Thank you so much for the house rental. We had a fantastic time at your house and could not have been happier with our decision to rent from you. Everything was perfect! We had our two families there with so much room we were not on top of each other and the kids really loved to unwind after a day at the parks in the pool. All of us adults really enjoyed the spa and pool as well after the kids went to bed each night! We will all be recommending your place to everyone we know that goes to Disneyworld. As we were packing all the kids said Thank you to us for finding a great house to stay at instead of having to stay at a hotel. They really enjoyed it.

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Disney

Guest: cathy
Date of Stay: 05/16/11 Review Submitted: 10/03/11

John, Thank you so much for the use of the house on our Disney trip. It was too good to be true. The house was much more than we ever expected. I will never stay in a hotel again. We will see you again next May !!!!! It was also a pleasure to meet your family, Im very happy our vacations crossed so we were able to see eachother in person. LOVE THE VOLPE FAMILY !!!!!!

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GREAT HOUSE!!

Guest: Jess B. (Pittsburgh, PA)
Date of Stay: 01/01/11 Review Submitted: 03/30/11

We had a fantastic time in this house earlier this year!! The decor and furniture is majestic and just being in this gorgeous house was a vacation within itself; it has everything you could ever want, high-end appliances, great beds, quality linens, etc. We have 4 children, from 9-17 years old. Initially we had plans of parks and attractions every day, but after enjoying our first evening by the pool on the lanai with the music playing, we decided to do the same thing the next day and just enjoyed the house and pool as we planned the rest of our week. We loved the house and will surely be back next year!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Best Vacation Ever

Guest: Vern (Illinois)
Date of Stay: 12/30/10 Review Submitted: 01/14/11

Most of our family does not take vacations, just a day or two here and there. For some it was the first real vacation in their lives. For all it was the best vacation they could of ever ask for. The house was so big and comfortable, lots of room, and very comfortable. The location was perfect for Disnet as well as for those who love to shop. Disney was wonderful, and for most it will probably be the only time they ever get to experience something of this magnitude. The weather was absolutely perfect. The kitchen was big and spacious, and gave me ample opportunities to show off my Pennsylvania Dutch cooking skills which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. There were 17 of us, and not one had any negative comments about this home. The kids tried to wear out the pool and hot tub, and the rest just spread out and enjoyed the spaciousness. From comments given by the family this was the best and most enjoyable vacation they have ever had. They are just now looking back and re-living the memories of a life time. Thank you so much for all the planning and effort in making our stay as good as it will ever get. I would recommend our experiences to anyone as some of the very best. Thank you for all you did and do. Vern and Deanna Ream and the entire Prairie family from Kankakee, Il.

Owner response:We are so pleased you had the "Best vacation Ever". Before we owned a rental home, we had several experiences with renting homes. Some were good and others not so good. When we took ownership of the Diamond on the Island, we vowed to do all we could do to make every guest's experience one that they would want to remember for a long time. Obviously we succeeded with your vacation experience and we will continue to provide whatever we can to ensure that future guests have the same opportunity to have the "Best Vacation Ever". John and Barbara .

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children.

EXELENTE

Guest: kennethbog (nj)
Date of Stay: 11/24/10 Review Submitted: 12/03/10

EXELENTE HOUSE WE ENJOY THIS VACATIONS

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

Cannot wait to come back!!

Guest: Shamika (Florida)
Date of Stay: 11/12/10 Review Submitted: 11/18/10

I forgot to mention in my first post that it was 11 of us (4 couples and 3 small children).. Everyone had plenty of space!!

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Can"t wait to come back!!

Guest: Shamika (Florida)
Date of Stay: 11/12/10 Review Submitted: 11/18/10

It was a family and friend weekend getaway for us. I cannot stress the beauty and comfort of Diamond on the Island enough!! There was ample space for everyone and it topped any hotel we could have went to. The location of the house is very convenient....very close the 1-4. We are planning another trip very soon and will definitely be booking the house again! John was so friendly and really worked with us during the booking process. Plus, the house was just so unbelievably spotless! We are still talking about how much fun we had! Thank you so much for making our family weekend so memorable.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

A Diamond on the Island

Guest: Happy Camper (Corvallis, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 10/23/10 Review Submitted: 11/04/10

We couldn't have asked for a better place! The house was perfect with enough space that everyone had plenty of room to do their own thing from an activity in the dining room, watching TV in the living room, swimming outside, or just taking a nap or resting in one of the large bedrooms. The kids had a blast and adults did too. Everyone really enjoyed the resort and felt safe in the gated community. Looking forward to staying there again in the future. Thanks John!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

AWESOME HOUSE

Guest: izz (fairlawn,nj/usa)
Date of Stay: 09/04/10 Review Submitted: 09/19/10

BOTH THE RESORT AND HOME WERE BEAUTIIFUL. THE LOCATION WAS PERFECT; CLOSE TO ALL PARKS AND ATTRACTIONS. WE WILL WILL DEFINETLY BE BACK AND WE WILL RENT FROM MR. BECK AGAIN.

Recommended for:Families with young children

Diamond on the Island

Guest: Kim and Evan (Staten Island)
Date of Stay: 08/26/10 Review Submitted: 09/19/10

My family stayed here in late August and truly felt at home. It was a pleasure to be able to come back from a long, hot day and just relax in a very comfortable home. Although the house was very big, it was not overpowering and it was simply decorated which made it a humble, low-keyed environment. We were very pleased with our stay.

Recommended for:Families with young children

House

Guest: ruthan (pennsylvania)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 07/15/10

Our party of 12 found the house perfect for us. Plenty of room for everyone. Although we only stayed at the house after long days at Disney, it was really nice to come back to and get a hot shower. We will definitely be back.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.

2010 florida vacation

Guest: jossie (north arlington, nj 07031)
Date of Stay: 06/26/10 Review Submitted: 07/13/10

nothing to complain about the property, its like home away from home. everything that will make you comfortable while you're away from home were all there. also, convenient & accessible to any luxury you would like on your vacation. the house is clean, well maintained & the security systems are perfect. we highly recommend it to all our friends. looking forward to have a chance to stay there on our next florida vacation.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Awesome

Guest: Mary Beltman
Date of Stay: 06/18/10 Review Submitted: 07/08/10

This home was awesome. I would never again rent a hotel room. The house was spacious, the pool, jacuzzi and lanai area was wonderful. It was close to the major attractions. The Emerald Garden Resort was beautiful and clean and safe. John was great to work with. I have already recommended John's house to friends!

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Guest: Priscilla Cammisa (Tenafly, NJ)
Date of Stay: 05/23/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/10

We had the pleasure of staying at this lovely home the week of May 9, 2010. This home is wonderful for a relaxing time with family and friends. It is very spacious, clean and beautifully decorated. The private pool is a big plus. It is well worth the value and 100 times better than staying in a hotel room. I would not hesitate to recommend this home to family, friends or colleagues.

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Guest: Lillian6 (Hillsborough, NJ)
Date of Stay: 05/10/10 Review Submitted: 05/10/10

This was our second stay at the house and we loved it again. The kids loved the princess and Buzz Lightyear bedrooms. The space is the house is great to have and relax in, the pool and hottub are great and the location to the parks is wonderful. Thanks again for a great stay?

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Guest: Christa Clark (Tipton, In)
Date of Stay: 03/09/10 Review Submitted: 03/09/10

We rented this house originally because of how close it is to all of the theme parks. We found it to be so much more than we expected! We absolutely loved the house. It was large enough for our large family. The fact that shopping and dining were so close was a very big bonus! The Clubhouse was very nice and everyone there was very friendly. The security staff also were very friendly. All and all, we had a great time and have suggested this house to all of our friends and famuly. John, Thank You soooo much! We will rent from you again,

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Guest: Steve & Darlene Vecchio (Hillsborough, NJ)
Date of Stay: 12/07/09 Review Submitted: 12/07/09

Thank You John for renting us the house. It was a pleasure to rent a house with 24hr gated security who were very polite and knowlegable of the area if you had any questions. The house and private pool/spa were more than expected. It was very clean and well furnished with all the amenites. Disney and shopping were all close by. We had a terrific time and will be renting with you in the future. Thank you again.

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Guest: Beverly Morrow (Knoxville, Arkansas)
Date of Stay: 11/30/09 Review Submitted: 11/30/09

We stayed in the Beck's house the week of Thanksgiving and enjoyed it very much. The house is very spacious and was extremely clean. It is close to Disney, restaurants, and shopping. We would love to stay at the house again when we return to the Orlando area. Thank you, John, for all of the information and for renting us your house.

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Guest: Luann5 (Wichita KS)
Date of Stay: 11/11/09 Review Submitted: 11/11/09

It's the only way to go if you have a big family! We had our daughter (husband and 3 kids) and our son a total of 8. The house is HUGE and beautiful in decor with a enclosed pool and hottub. Everything you need even a washer/dryer for keeping up with the laundry. Best of all it's close to Disney and shopping. Emerald Island is a beautiful gated area making security not a problem. John even has them stock the kitchen with items for breakfast till you have time to go and shop. I have already given brochures to my boss and co-workers recommending it to them!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/24/09 Review Submitted: 10/24/09

My family and two other families stayed in this beautiful home. I am a person who enjoys privacy/peace and NOT once did my privacy get invaded. There was enough room for everyone to enjoy some much needed peace after a hectic day at Disney! John is helpful and will provide you with many helpful "inside" Disney tips that will make your vacation even more enjoyable. Would I recommend this home to my family and friends? WITHOUT A DOUBT! If you are lucky enough to find availability for this home - DO NOT HESITATE! Quality home, safe neighborhood, close to Disney property, great pool and everything you need for a magical vacation home.

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Guest: Pam and Tim Seekins (Washougal Wa.)
Date of Stay: 09/21/09 Review Submitted: 09/21/09

If you are looking for a magical time in Florida and having your family all under one roof this is a perfect location home. Emerald Island is a safe secure neighborhood with gated security and only minutes of easy access to the theme parks and beyond. The house was more then we expected, spacious and with 6 adults and 4 kids more then enough room. The pool, what a pleasure to come home anytime of day and have our own private pool. The kids loved it. John was always available for any questions. Call me if you have any questions on this wonderful vacation destination. Thank you John

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Guest: MaKeba Hart (Byron, Ga)
Date of Stay: 07/28/09 Review Submitted: 07/28/09

This is a perfect home for a large family on vacation. This home looked exactly like the internet pictures. John Beck was wonderful to work with. He was honest and knowledgeable about different inexpensive activities for the family. Our family enjoyed. The home is beautiful and well taken care of. I would rent this home again without any hestitation! Thank you Mr.Beck.

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Guest: Matt Perry (Marysville, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 07/28/09 Review Submitted: 07/28/09

I would like to thank Mr. Beck for allowing us to use his rental property during our trip to Disney. The house was great. We had plenty of room and there were fourteen of us. It was wonderful having our own pool and hottub to use whenever we wanted. The property is in a great location. I beleive it took us about ten minutes to get to the Disney parks and fifteen to get to Sea World. I thought it was nice of Mr. Beck to call the first day that we were there to make sure everything was in proper working order. I would definitely recommend this rental property to others which I have already done to many of my friends. We will be looking to rent this property again next year. Thank you Mr. Beck for such a wonderful experience.

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Guest: Tonya McHann (Starkville, Mississippi)
Date of Stay: 06/28/09 Review Submitted: 06/28/09

I would like to thank Mr. Beck and his family for letting us stay in their home. We were there from June 20-27. Mr. Beck is such a nice guy to do business with. He called us when we arrived to make sure everything was ok in the home. We were really surprised at how nice the home was. I can not begin to tell you how nice it was and the people at the resort were nice people to deal with also. I felt very safe at the resort with my children their. We didn't use the club house or the resort pool considering we had our own pool at the home. Mr. Beck takes great pride in his home though. If we had any problems all we had to do was call on him and he would help us out on getting if figured out. Thanks again Mr. Beck for renting us your beautiful home. If we ever come back to Orlando I will definately rent from you again. Thanks, The McHann Family

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Guest: Karl Main (Kotzebue, Alaska)
Date of Stay: 06/04/09 Review Submitted: 06/04/09

My wife and I along with our three kids stayed at the property from May 9, May 21, 2009 and to say that it was an excellent experience doesn't do the property justice. We arranged to have family and friends meet us in Orlando and when we found out they would have their own king size beds with private bathrooms we were excited to have everyone come. The pool and hot tub was a nice way to relax when we weren't at the park and the kids loved it. The property was so close to the parks it was easy to drive to the park in a rental car, spend the day, come back for an afternoon nap, and then return in the evening. We will certainly stay at the property the next time we are in Orlando and have already recommended it to other friends.

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Guest: David and Donna Anderson (Gilford, NH)
Date of Stay: 05/16/09 Review Submitted: 05/16/09

We stayed at the Beck's house during the last week in April, and it was more than we expected! The pool and jacuzzi were wonderful, in great working condition, we used both everyday. The house itself was incredible. We only had the four of us, but in the future plan to vacation with two other families as it was so big. We took the master bedroom downstairs, and our daugters each took a master bedroom upstairs, and loved having their own full bath and t.v.. The beds were very comfortable, as was the family room furniture. It was nice to have the full kitchen as we cooked dinner several nights.(There is a grocery store just 3 minutes down the road, as well as an "Outback" restaurant which does curbside pickup) We rented a car, so really appreciated the one car garage. The air conditioner worked well, a cool 70 degrees, but we adjusted it to 74 most days for our comfort level. Washer and dryer came in handy also. Of course it was a great treat to arrive Sunday night to find cereal, milk, juice, eggs, etc. ready for breakfast. The house is fairly close to Disney(10 min. to Epcot and Magic Kingdom using his shortcut), and Seaworld(20 min.) We really didn't use the Resort pool or clubhouse, but found the people to be friendly and courteous when we checked in. Also felt very safe knowing that there was a guard at the gate 24/7. John called to check on us when we first arrived, and was available by phone if we had any problems or questions. Overall we highly recommend staying at the Beck's house... we plan to rent again next year!! "

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Guest: Donna Anderson (-)
Date of Stay: 05/16/09 Review Submitted: 05/16/09

We stayed at the Beck's house during the last week in April, and it was more than we expected! The pool and jacuzzi were wonderful, in great working condition, we used both everyday. The house itself was incredible. We only had the four of us, but in the future plan to vacation with two other families as it was so big. We took the master bedroom downstairs, and our daughters each took a master bedroom upstairs, and loved having their own full bath and t.v.. The beds were very comfortable, as was the family room furniture. It was nice to have the full kitchen as we cooked dinner several nights.(There is a grocery store just 3 minutes down the road, as well as an "Outback" restaurant which does curbside pickup). We rented a car so really appreciated the one car garage. The air conditioner worked well, a cool 70 degrees, but we adjusted it to 74 most days for our comfort level. Washer and dryer came in handy also. Of course it was a great treat to arrive Sunday night to find cereal, milk, juice, eggs, etc. ready for breakfast. The house is fairly close to Disney(10 min. to Epcot and Magic Kingdom using his shortcut), and Seaworld(20 min.) We really didn't use the Resort pool or clubhouse, but found the people to be friendly and courteous when we checked in. Also felt very safe knowing that there was a guard at the gate 24/7. John called to check on us when we first arrived, and was available by phone if we had any problems or questions. Overall we highly recommend staying at the Beck's house... we plan to rent again next year!!

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Guest: Beth86 (Virginia Beach, VA )
Date of Stay: 05/11/09 Review Submitted: 05/11/09

We had a wonderful time in this beautiful home! We have stayed in homes at various beaches in the past, and this by far was the cleanest we have ever seen. The pool was a huge hit. The kids wanted to leave Disney to go swimming. We all slept great, the beds were so comfortable. It is obvious that Mr. Beck takes great pride in his home. We would highly recommend this home, and would love to stay there again!

Owner response:Mrs. Beck and several of our adult children ALSO made significant contributions to make our house one of the best. We also have an excellent property management company. So please allow me to give credit to all of those who helped Beth, the other members of her group and the many other groups who have stayed at the Diamond on the Island really enjoy their vacation time. John Beck

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Guest: Sherrie Mattson (Olney, MD)
Date of Stay: 05/04/09 Review Submitted: 05/04/09

This was the absolute best vacation we've ever had! All 14 of us (8 kids and 6 adults) enjoyed seven nights at the Beck's home. It was beautifully decorated and very family friendly. The Magic Kingdom, Sea World, and all their components were just minutes away. The pool, the hot tub, and the interior of the home were clean and delightful. All amenities were available, including an ironing board, iron, computer and internet service, and so on and so on. It was simply the nicest vacation home we have ever rented. John is most kind and put up with my never ending requests to again send me info. It was so enjoyable to spend the day at the parks and then come home, make a meal, let the kids jump into the pool, and sit back and relax. Thank you so much for sharing your home with us, Beck families. It meant alot to the Mattsons! We'll be back! Love and best wishes, Rich and Sherrie Mattson

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/20/09

John was such a warm and inviting charatcer on the phone that we were not at all surprised at how warm and inviting his home was. We had a last minute change and needed to find accomodations very quicly and John was a huge help in getting us into the house without complication and even early. I can not thank John enough for his hospitality. The house is comforatable with tons of space. The kids absolutley loved the pool and although we had some pool issues the management company and pool attendants were there immediatly to try to rectify the situation. It was a wonderful vacation from beginning to end. Having the kitchen to grab a snack or cold bevearge was a delight. We made dinner several times in the very well equiped kitchen and enjoyed sitting all together at the dinning table. I do wish however there was more seating on the lanai for meals. There is only a table with 4 chairs. We wished we could have sat outside all together. The neighbors were close but we enjoyed getting to know people from all over the world and had lots to talk about at the end of the day while comparing theme park experiences. There is an empty house next door with a dirty pool that was quite an eyesore but spend a few moments relaxing in the spa and you dismiss it in no time at all. I would recommend this house for anyone who needs lots of space and wants to be close to Disney. It was so convenient and the short cut was a super time saver thanks to Johns notes. Some things that may need attention are new place mats that appear dirty and pillows for the couch that look worn from overuse. Short of that the house was very nice. Thanks to John and his family for sharing their home and helping us out last minute. Andrea Kennedy

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/19/09

This house is beautiful and spacious. Having four master suites is such a plus and the beds are so comfortable. The kids rooms are precious. The resort is also beautiful. This home is so close to the parks and to stores, restaurants, etc. We had a wonderful time! We only wish that we would have been able to stay longer.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/09 Review Submitted: 01/05/09

my family had a wonderful time on this vacation and your house was instrumental in making it possible. the house was lovely, clean and comfortable. we were a little disappointed in the pool heater as we did not think it reached the appropriare temperature, but the whole experience was very positive

Owner response:Barbara didn't tell me the water wasn't warm enough when she was there. I'm quite sure we could have made it warmer.

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Guest: Joel Payne
Date of Stay: 10/08/08 Review Submitted: 10/07/08

Thanks for the opportunity to share your home from 1 Oct. until 8 Oct. We had a wonderful time. The house was quiet and well stocked. We especially enjoyed the basic foods that were left for us. The individual cereals were a big hit. It was nice to come home, and relax in the Jacuzzi after a tiring day in the theme parks. Speaking of parks, we found the short cut diagrammed in the house folder to be a big time saver. Thanks again and we'll certainly consider your home on our next trip.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 07/02/08

There is no picture or video that can accurately show you what you will experience in this home. What you may not be able to see on his video is that Mr. Beck has decorated and furnished this home lavishly. The furniture is exquisite and tasteful. Having worked in the furniture business for over 15 years, it was the first thing my husband noticed. He went in to each room in awe that someone actually spent that much money to furnish a home that they didn't live in every day. It was a wonderful experience for my family to feel so while on vacation. Everything was as he promised and then some. Visiting this home should not be a decision you have to make. You should simply start hoping he has the time you want to visit left open. You will not be dissapointed. I am sure we will retuen next year and many years to come. Thank you again Mr. Beck. You figured out a way to add more magic to a Disney vacation! Peaches.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/01/08 Review Submitted: 05/04/08

We would like to thank Mr. Beck and his family for allowing us to stay at his home for the week. Everyone enjoyed all the ammities in the house and the conveniences that were close by. It made our vacation a very pleasant and relaxing time. The pool and hot tub were a great hit, the children (as well as some of the adults) were in the pool from morning until the system turned off in the evening. The beds were very comfortable and each room had more than enough space for each couple. The girls especially liked the Princess Room and were glad they had a bathroom to themselves. Your directions to the house were right on and we were amazed at how well marked everything was for the Disney parks. Our children had never been to Orlando and had no touble finding the house and all the attractions in the area. Thank you again for allowing us to stay in your lovely home.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/08 Review Submitted: 04/27/08

We had a family of 15 to stay at this home with children under the age of 11. It was so relaxing to just let the children have fun in the pool when they wanted to and you didn't have to worry about crowded pools or hotels. This place feels like home away from home and the beds feel like you are sleeping on the clouds they are truly comfortable. I could have stay in the bed all day. We will use this home again in the future because we truly enjoyed the management staff and owner if you needed anything they made sure to take care of it ASAP. Thanks for a Great Vacation

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/28/08

We had a group of 12 (4 children, 8 adults) staying in the Diamond on the Island for 9 days in February 2008. We were a little nervous of what to expect, as we had never booked over the internet with a private owner before, but this home exceeded all of our expectations! Everything was as John had said. It was very clean, accomodating, and decorated very nicely. We felt spoiled, like we were in 5 star luxury. Each Master bedroom had a King sized bed, beautiful furniture, and their own bathrooms. This kids loved their Disney rooms, and also enjoyed their own bathroom. It was a perfect size for our group of 12 (we had one empty bed). We thoroughly enjoyed the pool and hot tub. The surrounding neighbours houses were close-by, but we did not see anyone most of the time. It was very private and quiet. The house was well-stocked with dishes, cooking utensils, and the laundry facilities were a great advantage. The quiet neighbourhood felt very safe, and we enjoyed using the Community tennis and basketball courts, nature walk, and there was even weekly movie nights for the kids at the Community Centre. Once we arrived, we could not get the internet working, so we called John, and he immediately fixed it within a few minutes. It was really nice to have some bacon, eggs, bread, milk, butter etc in the fridge when we arrived, so we could wait until the next day to buy our groceries. The location was perfect, as it was very close to grocery and shopping stores, and many restaurants. It was also a very short drive to Disney, which was perfect! We would be happy to recommend this to any of our friends, and look forward to returning again.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 01/16/08

Sorry this review is so late! We stayed at the Diamond Thanksgiving week for a family reunion. We were 7 adults and 5 kids. We had a wonderful time! The house is very spacious and beautifully furnished. We had such a nice Thanksgiving dinner at the beautiful dining room table. The pool and hot tub were wonderful- great temperature and very well kept. The only minor annoyance that we encountered was being severely scolded by the cleaning people for showing up too early. Maybe they were just having a bad day. We left and came back a while later and everything was clean. The house is close to its neighbors, but that did not bother us. It was very quiet, and we never saw anyone in either house next to the Diamond. Mr. Beck obviously cares greatly about his property and his guests. He is very helpful and accomodating. We would stay here again. It is a great place for a large family that wants to have plenty of space.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 01/08/08

We really enjoyed our stay at the "Diamond on the Isle". The boys thoroughly enjoyed the swimming pool and each having their own bedroom. The privacy was great. We also appreciated the call from John the evening we arrived. The informational booklets about the house were very precise and thorough. There is no doubt if we are in Orlando again, that we would rent this house. Thank you!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Angela Bowes_HAC117163 (RIDGEFIELD CT)
Date of Stay: 12/01/07 Review Submitted: 12/14/07

We just got back today and had such a lovely 7 night stay at the house. The kids really enjoyed the pool when we were there long enough for them to swim. Quiet neighborhood. Such a lovely complex that the house is on and the entrance is impressive. John's customer service is top notch and he was very helpful. Outback steak house, grocery store and shopping plaza just 2 minutes away. It takes no time to get to Disney and everything was so easy. With so many bedrooms everyone had there own space and it was great having a crib already at the house for us to use. I would rent this house again without even thinking about it!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Peter J_HAC115581 (Not Specified)
Date of Stay: 11/01/07 Review Submitted: 11/27/07

This is the first time we have rented a house. With a large group of 3 adult couples and one single adult, as well as 4 small children under 4 years of age, it seemed to make sense to try it. After investigating a number of houses, we selected John Beck's home based on our need for 4 master suites and 2 kid's rooms as well as the proximity to Disney World. The house was wonderful. The brochures do not do it justice. It is huge, with all kinds of bedroom spaces and a large downstairs kitchen/family area gathering spot. Everything in the house worked well and the house was clean and very well-furnished. The beds had wonderful mattresses. John monitors all the major house systems from New Jersey, and he called within 15 minutes of our arrival to make sure everything was OK. All kinds of restaurants and food stores are in the immediate area. Unfortunately the pool and hot tub heater did not work on arrival. John immediately worked with the management company to try to fix it, and in the meantime we took the kids to the clubhouse pool and hot tub (about a mile away)for a few days, which was toasty warm. When the house pool was fixed near the end of the week, the pool and hot tub were great.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Rene Wong (Toronto, Ontario)
Date of Stay: 11/01/07 Review Submitted: 11/17/07

I found out about this house through some message boards and this was my first time renting a house as opposed to staying hotels. We were a group of 9 (6 adults, 3 kids) and started off our trip staying in a hotel for the first 3 nights, with the plan to be in a house for a more relaxing time. Everything about the experience was top notch. Booking and payment was seamless and was always secure. Getting instructions to get to and access the house was clear. The house itself was amazing. There is nothing like having your own pool and hot tub. Every room was clean and it was a nice surprise to see a few grocery items already in the house awaiting us, so that we could at least wait until later in the day to get the rest of the groceries. Driving to the parks only took a few minutes and the location itself was close to all important amenities. What I didn't expect but was happy to see were a couple of things. One, the day we arrived the owner called us to ensure everything was OK - it was something that wasn't necessary but always adds to a level of security you want during a vacation. Two, the house itself was 'wired up' very well. It had a built in security system, you could have music from the stereo system piped into the pool area, the pool itself had lights to allow swimming at night, and the phone was set up such that when someone called, it announced on the house speaker system who was calling. Three, the service from the management company was top notch. Mid way through our trip, the hot tub didn't seem to bubble as much as before. Upon calling Paul at the Management Company, he came within a few hours to address the situation and fixed it quickly. While staying at Disney hotels does have some perks, there is nothing more relaxing than having a great vacation home. You will feel safe in booking this house. If I need lodging for a big group again I would have no hesitation in staying here again. I'd love to go back ASAP!

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Guest: Steve Shick (Indianapolis, IN)
Date of Stay: 10/01/07 Review Submitted: 10/27/07

The house was great! Plenty of room for our extended family of 10 people. We have rented homes in the Orlando area twice before and this house was by far the nicest. John was wonderful to work with. I would highly recommend this house without hesitation.

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Guest: Britten (piscataway, NJ)
Date of Stay: 10/01/07 Review Submitted: 10/14/07

I was in the process of planning a Disney vacation when i came across the flier for this house, and i am soooooo glad i did! The house was spacious, clean, comfortable, affordable and beautiful! Not to mention how friendly and helpful John was through the whole process. My family is probably going to book this house again very soon...even if we dont go to Disney. This was one of the best weeks of our lives. Thank you, John!

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Guest: Robin_HAC109809 (Aurora, CO)
Date of Stay: 10/01/07 Review Submitted: 10/09/07

Thanks John! Beautiful home and wonderful 'customer service' in dealing with all my questions! We love staying on site at WDW, but after staying in a beautiful rental home like this, I'm not sure we could ever go back to a single room! We will certainly be in touch with you when we start to plan our next Disney vacation!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/30/07

To The Becks I'm so sorry it took so long to write. My family and I would just like to tell you how much we enjoyed our stay at your home. Not only is Emerald Island a BEAUTIFUL Community, your home is equally if not more impressive. From the minute we entered the home you could see this home is very well cared for just as you described. Staying in a home like this was the perfect vacation for our family of 10. My parents used the first floor master suite. My husband and I and children were on the second floor along with my brother and his family. We all felt very comfortable and appreciated the privacy as well. I would absolutely recommend this home to anyone. Thanks again for all of your help and great information of the area. We will definitely stay here again!!! Jeannie Woburn, MA 8/11-8/18 2007

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Guest: Jen & Joe Pease (Escanaba Michigan)
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/26/07

We just stayed at the Diamond. I am so pleased at picking the Diamond. The pictures really do not do the home justice. I loved the fact that I could use the kitchen any time I needed to. I loved the fact that we had the pool all to ourselves. My daughters loved having their own rooms and space for privacy. On friday night we played bingo at the clubhouse, and on saturday we joined in for the caribean night. This was our first time renting a home and I'm am so glad we did. I was nervous at first because we always stayed on property at Disney, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. They even left a welcome gift for us. Thank you John sooooo much. I hope to stay in your home again.

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Guest: Toni Wells (Greenwood, S.C.)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/24/07

My family and I chose to have our family reunion at the Emerald Island Resort. It was the best experience ever! Mr. John Beck assisted me in renting 3 of the homes, his included. No one knew what to expect upon arrival, but when we entered the houses we were swept away with the beauty and the welcoming feeling. There were 36 people in our party and plenty of room in the houses. My family really enjoyed themselves. Everything felt just like home. The heated pools were an added bonus. We enjoyed the resort, the serene atmosphere, the beauty, and the peace and quiet. The clubhouse was a favorite for my younger family (and the men). We are now trying to plan another trip back. Again this was a great experience for me and my family. Mr. Beck is a wonderful guy. I thank him for all he did to make our stay comfortable. We will not want to stay at a hotel in the future after being at the resort. Thanks for creating a wonderful place! Toni Wells and the Oliver & Smith family.

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