Best Vacation Ever! Home Away From Home!

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, 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