There are the trips taken to get away, but perhaps even better are the trips taken to get together.And there’s not much I enjoy more than the trips I get to take with my extended group of friends, who might better be thought of as family at this point. One of the many things we have in common is Disney. So, it’s not unusual for various sets of us to meet up in Orlando a few times a year to enjoy the theme parks together. While that’s always a great time, what’s even greater is when we can all stay under the same roof.When I got the chance to return to Evermore Orlando Resort after seeing it briefly when I stayed at the Conrad Orlando earlier in the year — and this time try out one of its humongous houses — I couldn’t fire up the group chat fast enough.Previous slideNext slide1 of 5SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYLuckily, my friends were as game as I was to quickly say yes, get organized and experience what it was like to stay at a resort just minutes from Disney World. We would have not only all the activities and amenities at Evermore Resort at our disposal but also be able to laugh, sleep, swim and play in an almost 8,000-square-foot house complete with Pac-Man games, a private pool and an indoor slide.SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYSpoiler alert: This might have been the most magical house on earth.What is Evermore Resort?Before we get into the details about the house we stayed in, let’s talk about Evermore, as it is a lot more than just a big vacation home. The 1,100-acre Evermore Resort, located just minutes from Disney World, opened in early 2024 and has more than 2,000 bedrooms spread across 69 vacation homes, 206 four-bedroom flats, and 41 two- and four-bedroom villas.It’s also where you’ll find the newly opened Conrado Orlando and the crystal-blue, 8-acre Evermore Bay lagoon. The lagoon is the focal point of the resort, where you can paddleboard, swim, kayak or just relax by the water. There’s also a more traditional pool, a big waterslide perfect for races, a rope swing, and activities like fitness classes, karaoke, trivia and dance parties.Previous slideNext slide1 of 6SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYNote that the property does not offer day passes to access all this on-site fun — it’s all just for guests.Daily NewsletterReward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletterJoin over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s expertsIn addition to the convenient location and the very long list of amenities (and especially the gorgeous bay), what I love about Evermore is you can spread out with your crew in a large home or villa and not have to worry about some of the uncertainty that comes when you rent an individually owned vacation home. There’s a 24-hour on-site desk, hotel-quality sheets, towels and soaps waiting for you, on-site grocery ordering, prepared meal delivery service available and so much more.Previous slideNext slide1 of 5SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYIn fact, Evermore has a saying around the property: “Easy on purpose” — and after a three-night stay there, I can confirm that it’s really true.How much does it cost to stay at Evermore Resort?How much it costs to stay at the Evermore Resort depends on when you visit and which accommodation you book. If you want a single hotel room, then it’s likely best to just stay at the neighboring Conrad Orlando (which is on the Evermore grounds). Rates there often start around $500 or 90,000 Hilton Honors points (or a free night certificate) per night.Previous slideNext slide1 of 4Conrad Orlando. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYBut if you want more space than that, you’ve got plenty of options at Evermore, ranging from four-bedroom flats to the previously mentioned 11-bedroom houses that I just can’t get over.VillasFirst, Evermore has two- and four-bedroom villas which are located on and near the resort’s golf course. They have a decidedly traditional golf-clubhouse vibe. Prices start around $499 per night, and these villas can sleep from four to 16 guests, depending on the bedroom configuration you select, making them the smallest and most economical of the Evermore accommodations.Previous slideNext slide1 of 5SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYFlatsThe newly built Evermore Resort has four-bedroom, four-bathroom flats that sleep up to 11 guests and are all just steps from the beach that surrounds the lagoon. Each one is 1,900 square feet and has three king bedrooms and one bedroom with bunk beds and a queen-size bed. These flats would be perfect for a smaller group or perhaps two families to share.Previous slideNext slide1 of 6SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYThe price for these starts at $699 per night for those with a boardwalk view and a bit more for those with a view of the bay.HousesBut if you want more space and more people to join in the fun, like we did, then you need to start looking at the Evermore houses. These range in size from five bedrooms to the 11-bedroom house where we stayed.Previous slideNext slide1 of 3SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYHere, you’ll not only have a ton of space but also your own private heated pool, an outdoor kitchen, washers and dryers, and oversized common areas. And, depending on which house you choose, you may even have arcade games, table tennis, a theater room and an amenity that my inner 7-year-old could only dream of … a slide that takes you from one floor to the next.SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYJudging by the shrieks of delight from every adult who went down it, it’s more of a thrill than you might think!The 11-bedroom house we were in was 7,818 square feet and had 19 beds that could sleep up to 32 people. There are seven rooms with king-size beds, two with two queen-size beds, and two bunk rooms that each have three single-size bunks and one queen bed.Previous slideNext slide1 of 5SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYThere are 13 bathrooms in this enormous house — one for each bedroom plus a couple more for good measure.Previous slideNext slide1 of 8SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYIn my searches, five-bedroom houses start at $1,429 per night, seven-bedroom houses start at $1,605, and then prices jump up to around $2,700-plus per night for the 11-bedroom house. (If you’re thinking, “Um, that’s the amount of my rent or mortgage each month,” then me, too.)Previous slideNext slide1 of 5SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYHowever, these houses aren’t made for one family. Assuming that you are sharing the house with lots of families as we did, it often works out to about $245 per bedroom per night (before taxes and fees) for that massive 11-bedroom vacation palace, as I like to call it.That’s about the cost of a room at a Moderate Disney resort like Caribbean Beach Resort or Port Orleans Resort. But remember, for that average cost, here you’ll get not just some standard room but also a ton of communal space, a kitchen, washer and dryer, your own private pool and access to the 8-acre lagoon.Previous slideNext slide1 of 8SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYThings to do at Evermore ResortIt’s very possible that your biggest challenge while staying at Evermore on a bigger trip to the Orlando-area attractions could be not wanting to leave Evermore once you get there. While we had a fantastic trip, I very much wished we had devoted another day just to playing and relaxing at Evermore.Evermore Bay, pools and waterslideEvermore has an almost too-pretty-to-believe, 20-acre, white-sand beach area that includes an 8-acre lagoon. It’s a beach resort in Central Florida — which means you don’t have to deal with some of the downsides of a “real” coastal beach, like dangerous waves, currents, jellyfish and so forth. Instead, it’s just pristine blue water and sugary white sand.Previous slideNext slide1 of 5SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYTo set expectations appropriately, I didn’t actually get into the lagoon on either of my visits (in February and November) as the water was too chilly for me at those times, but others were in the water having a blast. And regardless, the waterslide was an absolute must.Previous slideNext slide1 of 4SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYFitness gym and classesI’m sure you’re expecting some treadmills and weights and mats in a fitness room, but were you expecting what looks like a Peloton studio? Because I wasn’t. I also wasn’t expecting a weekly lightsaber technique class or a ballet fitness class. Evermore has all the workout basics you might expect … and more things you might not.Previous slideNext slide1 of 4SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYPlaces to eat at Evermore ResortYou aren’t going to go hungry at the Evermore Resort as there are 13 different places to eat and drink. These range from some quick and easy options in the Evermore Food Hall to the rooftop Mexican restaurant, Ceiba, home to some of the best margaritas I’ve ever had. I’m also a huge fan of the Papaya Club, which is located beachside at the Conrad.Previous slideNext slide1 of 8SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYIf you want a traditional Florida full-service breakfast, lunch or dinner at Evermore (as opposed to in the Conrad), then Twin View Restaurant is likely your best pick.Here’s the full list of dining options at Evermore:
- Craft Burgers
- Props Pizza
- That’s a Wrap!
- Sandhill Provisions
- Sandhill Coffee
- Little Spoon
- Twin View Restaurant
- Sophia’s Trattoria
- Papaya Club
- Ceiba
- Barbara Ann’s Beach Bar
- Ebb + Flow
- Apero
Previous slideNext slide1 of 7SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYIf you want a particularly memorable night while staying in one of the five- to 11-bedroom homes at Evermore, there’s another, fancier dining option: an in-home private chef experience.Evermore let us try this and I’m not sure what I was expecting — but this far exceeded those expectations.Previous slideNext slide1 of 3SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYThis four-course meal was served by what looked and felt like a well-orchestrated ballet of professional chefs and servers who were dressed to the nines and came armed with a printed menu, excellent food and even better service.This is a splurgy experience, but for a special meal, I could see how it is worth it.Previous slideNext slide1 of 8SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYThis is especially true because if you have 20-30 people in a home, which you should in the larger homes, it’s going to be tough to find a restaurant that can accommodate everyone in the same way that the dining tables at the home will. Prices for the private chef experience are $125 per person for the four courses plus taxes and gratuity (the first two kids meals are free and then $24.95 per child).SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYIf you want to eat in the home (without cooking yourself) but aren’t looking for something quite as fancy as the private chef, Evermore also offers catered ready-to-eat meals that are delivered to your door. A four-course meal such as roasted chicken breast with a mixed greens salad, grilled seasonal vegetables, mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and fudge brownies costs $26-$48 per person.How far is Evermore Resort from Disney World?The Evermore Resort is just 3 miles from Walt Disney World and 10 miles from Universal Orlando. Of course, since nearby Disney World is the size of San Francisco, you aren’t 3 miles from everywhere on that property, but here are some time estimates to get to various major parts of Disney World from Evermore:
- Magic Kingdom parking at the Transportation and Ticket Center: 15 minutes
- Epcot: 14 minutes
- Animal Kingdom: 20 minutes
- Hollywood Studios: 15 minutes
- Disney Springs: 10 minutes
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYUnlike when you stay at the Conrad on the Evermore property, there’s not an included shuttle for the flats, villas and homes, so you’ll want to either use a Lyft or Uber (which can pull right up to your house) or have a car rental you park right in front of your home, as we did. Evermore does partner with Skyline Destination Orlando if you want to have it help arrange transportation (for a fee). I’m also personally a big fan of Orlando Magical Rides if you are looking for a car service option.How renting an awesome house at Evermore Resort can actually save you moneyEvermore is unquestionably a high-end place to stay in the Orlando area, and it will never be the most budget-friendly option. However, depending on your budget, staying here can actually bring down the total cost of your trip to the area while increasing the fun.If you can fill the home or flat you rent and share the cost with a number of other friends or families, you will often spend about the cost of a room at a Moderate Disney hotel per bedroom each night while getting so much more in return. Because this is a pretty common practice, Evermore has a Split Payment tool that makes sharing the cost of the home easy.It’s also so much easier to keep your meal costs lower by getting some groceries and using the full-size and fully stocked kitchen. We didn’t cook anything fancy ourselves, but we would make breakfast each morning and another easy meal or two, like sandwiches or a charcuterie board, most days.SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYYou also don’t need as many days of park tickets (and subsequent Lightning Lanes!) if you stay here because I promise you will want days of your vacation to actually relax here and be … on vacation.My only regret about our stay at Evermore is not having set aside time to have more waterslide races and Pac-Man tournaments and to enjoy all the huge complex has to offer.Accessibility at Evermore ResortEvermore has a dedicated accessibility webpage so that guests can determine if the resort’s accommodations will suit their needs. For specific questions, the resort recommends reaching out directly to the reservation specialists at 855-341-9527.The property has several Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant accommodation types, which have features like a roll-in shower, lowered countertops and wheelchair clearances in doorways. All houses at Evermore feature a barrier-free entry and wheelchair access to a master bedroom on the house’s main floor.Bottom lineOur three-night stay in Evermore’s 11-bedroom home was one of those trips that is likely to become a core memory.Previous slideNext slide1 of 2SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYAs gorgeous as the homes and flats at Evermore look when they are clean and empty, as shown in some of the earlier photos in this article, what will stick with me is what it was like when they were filled with friends, laughter, stories and snacks.SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYThe gorgeous house, the lagoon, the large waterslide, the in-home private dining and other features were obviously memorable aspects of the vacation, but they just are what provided the backdrop to have fun with a collection of good friends that don’t often have the luxury of enjoying the magical “in-between” moments of vacation together. And if that’s what you are looking for from your next trip to Florida, then I can’t recommend Evermore highly enough.SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYI hope we find ourselves again one day in a situation to have a big group of friends to fill up a flat or house there, have waterslide races during the day, stay up too late laughing, and make a whole lot of memories to take home with us.Related reading:
Source: thepointsguy.com