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T+L editor in chief Jacqui Gifford brings the whole brood to Orlando, Florida, only to find the perfect multigen family house waiting at Evermore Orlando Resort complex.
The 11-bedroom, three-story house was tricked out with so many toys, our multigenerational group felt like proverbial kids in a candy store. We challenged each other to Jenga and cornhole by our private pool, where we swam after a long day at the Magic Kingdom. As Gen X–age parents, my husband and I gravitated to the mini-arcade, which included Ms. Pac Man—an ‘80s blast from the past. To prepare for Epcot and its “Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure” ride, our son ordered up the Disney film in our screening room; he then acted as a “little chef,” doling out individual popcorn bags from the theater’s snack stand.
Indeed, our home at 1236 Dazzle Court—part of the sprawling Evermore Orlando Resort complex, which also encompasses a Conrad hotel, a 20-acre private beach, and a human-made lagoon with sleek cabanas—had all the comforts of home. And then some. At bedtime, the kids trooped up to their third floor sleeping “zone,” which had two bedrooms with bunk beds; open closets; and spacious bathrooms. With an outdoor grill, full washer and dryer, and ensuite bathrooms for each bedroom, our party of six could have camped out for a full month–and never bothered to see a theme park.
I’ve been visiting Orlando for several decades, and can attest that the travel experience is becoming more luxurious—a nod to today’s discerning traveler. Domestic, and increasingly, international visitors, can now expect five-star branded resorts, Michelin-starred restaurants, VIP guide services, and interactive shopping. And now, they are settling in at residential-style accommodations–a must for those who are booking celebratory travel. “For decades, the hospitality industry has been built around couples, individual travelers, and hotel rooms,” Elizabeth Mullins, president of Evermore Hospitality, told me. “We took a different approach. We designed an entirely new kind of destination where extended families, multigenerational travelers, and groups of friends can stay together in beautifully designed homes and villas without sacrificing the service, amenities, and experiences of a world-class resort.”
Opened in January 2024, Evermore Residences consists of multibedroom “flats” and five-to-11 bedroom homes: there are 69 homes and 206 apartments in the portfolio. Our kitchen had top-of-the-line appliances and two refrigerators; it also came stocked with Veuve Clicquot and Sea Smoke wine (my favorite niche California producer). Before check-in, we pre-ordered staple provisions like cheese, eggs, milk and bacon from the on-site grocer, Sandhill Provisions Marketplace, located at The Landing, the main reception.
Our party also made use of a golf cart to zip around the property, though walking was a pleasure, with a Jack Nicklaus golf course for a backdrop and well-manicured paths leading to Evermore’s main attraction: the blue bay. The bay has areas for boats, swimming, waterslides, and sunbathing on the sand. When we did venture out to the theme parks, they were a short drive (10 to 30 minutes, depending on the destination) away.
Here is what it is like to stay at Evermore–one of Orlando’s newest luxury resorts.
The Homes
Spread out over a series of orderly, Mayberry-esque streets, the vacation homes at Evermore start at an impressive 3,700-square-feet and have more than enough space for kids, grandparents, friends, you name it. Our home, with 10 bedrooms, had a generous open-plan kitchen on the ground floor, which also encompassed a living and dining room. Every morning, we gathered over cups of coffee and fresh muffins, delivered each morning via a “room service” golf cart. Housekeeping services were available upon request, too, from a full service to a quick tidy up.
Relaxation was woven into each floor: each had a living area with games like pool and foosball. The furniture leaned more functional (a necessity given kids, wear, and tear), but premium touches included four-poster beds, open shelves in the kitchen, and deep soaking tubs. Some of the 10 and 11-bedroom models also come with specialty features like the screening room (who doesn’t love a 221-inch projection system?) or, much to any kids’ delight, an indoor slide. For something slightly smaller but still spacious enough for a large family, the “flats” are four-bedroom, four-bathroom condos, staggered in a series of apartment-like towers closer to the lagoon.
Food and Drink
The Evermore complex has several standout restaurants, emblematic of an elevated Orlando dining scene (the city is now rated by Michelin). I highly recommend the wood-fired pizzas at Sophia’s Trattoria, which has both indoor-outdoor space at the Conrad. We also made our way upstairs to the superb Mexican restaurant, Ceiba, popular with locals thanks to its specialty salsa menu; guacamole topped with trout roe and blue crab; and pescado zarandeado, a chile-and-ancho-marinated fish that could easily serve four. (Time your visit right, as we did, and you can also see two sets of Disney fireworks from the outdoor terrace or floor-to-ceiling windows.) There are food trucks ringing Evermore Bay—don’t miss a coconut mojito and smashburger from Barbara Ann’s, set in a retro-red VW van—as well as a food hall and bar, Ebb + Flow, at the Landing.
But my personal highlight was the in-home dining experience, led by executive chef Vincent Cani (he also caters meals in the resort’s stunning private garden, which grows eggplants, plum tomatoes, sage, and lavender, among other things). A fleet of staffers seamlessly poured wine; cleaned our dining room table; and ensured we felt like we were on vacation, but in our home. With a full kitchen at his disposal, chef Cani whipped up seared mahi for adults, penne pasta for the kids, alongside an incredible beet hummus and plenty of fresh-cut veggies, all laid out on our kitchen island. His team even packaged up the leftovers for us. To make life even simpler, I also pre-ordered his family-size meals–ribs, chicken enchiladas, eggplant parmesan—which we then threw in the oven on evenings when we didn’t feel like leaving the house.
The Spa and Other Activities
Orlando theme parks can leave even the most-seasoned travelers shattered. I would budget at least three days, if not more, at Evermore–and make sure you prioritize relaxation as much as the roller coasters. The Conrad’s spa is a great place to unwind, with 11 treatment rooms and a quiet indoor-outdoor setting that includes a 12,000-square-foot “Water Garden” with a cold plunge, hot plunge, and vitality bath. Exhausted after a few days of Disney, I tried the “Mediterranean Botanical Duet” because it combined a collagen-stimulating facial and massage in one.
Other Orlando-area resorts have marquee pools and water parks. To me, what makes Evermore Bay stand out is the lagoon itself (eight acres) and the materials used (20 acres of sand, no hot concrete). We took advantage of amenities like kayaks and private cruises (the electric Chris-Craft makes for a great photo-op); the “Blue Hole”, where I stood in-line with tween girls and grown men, all nervously waiting to try a rope swing; a four-person-wide waterslide; and cabanas, serviced with food and cocktails by the cheerful staff. The water could be chilly; the heated “Boardwalk” pool, a convenient stroll from the house, made for another great option.
Accessibility
Evermore Bay and all pools across the property are ADA accessible. A complimentary ADA-accessible trolley service is also available to guests. Evermore Residences offer ADA-compliant accommodations, including Houses and Flats. Each ADA accommodation type is compliant with wheelchair accessibility including a roll-in shower, lower countertops, and wheelchair clearances throughout. Every House at Evermore allows for barrier-free entry and wheelchair access to a master on the main floor. At the Conrad Orlando at Evermore, mobility and hearing accessible suites are available. Ramps are also found throughout the hotel. There are also accessible outdoor fire pits and beachside seating areas. Evermore Bay is accessible with a rollout walkway mat and Conrad Pool has a lift.
How to Book
Guests who book Conrad Orlando at Evermore using the Amex app will receive the following: an upgrade on arrival, subject to availability; complimentary breakfast buffet for two guests to be utilized at Sophia’s ($45 per person daily credit); a $100 Experience Credit (applicable toward Ceiba, Sophia’s, Apero, Little Spoon, In-Room Dining, Papaya Club, Conrad Recreation and Conrad Spa); and early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability.
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