Emerald Island Resort Villas
Private pool villas inside a protected Florida conservation reserve, with native wildlife on the doorstep and Disney 3 miles from the nearest gate.
Emerald Island Resort Vacation Rentals
The parks are ten minutes away, but inside the resort you'd never know it, which is why a lot of families pick it.
Not sure which villa suits your group in Emerald Island Resort, Kissimmee, Florida?
Every enquiry is handled by a single villa specialist. They'll match you to the right property based on your group, dates and priorities.
From first conversation to checkout, the same person stays with you.
- Personalised shortlist (usually 2–3 options)
- Pre-arrival planning & local tips
- 24/7 support during your stay
Where are the villas located at Emerald Island Resort, Kissimmee, Florida?
Emerald Island wraps around a 300-acre conservation reserve off US-192. Use the map to place the villas, trail and Clubhouse.
Emerald Island Resort Surrounded by Nature
Do Emerald Island Resort villas have a heated pool?
Pool heating is an optional extra, not included as standard. It's most useful from October to March when Florida evenings cool off. Confirm the weekly cost when you enquire.
What is the largest villa at Emerald Island Resort?
Seven bedrooms, sleeping up to 16 under one roof, with a private pool, more than one living area and a games room in most cases. No need to split the group across two homes.
Are any Emerald Island Resort villas pet friendly?
Some villas take pets with prior approval. A pet fee applies and breed limits vary by home. Tell us when you enquire and we'll filter to the ones that allow it.
Do Emerald Island Resort villas have a games room?
Selected villas from 5 bedrooms, with a pool table, arcade machines and games consoles inside the home. With no villa bar, it's where the group tends to end up after the parks.
Is the conservation side of Emerald Island Resort worth it?
Yes, if quiet mornings, wildlife at the fence and trail access matter to your group. The trade-off is a slightly longer drive to the resort entrance and US-192.
Which part of Emerald Island Resort is closest to Disney World?
The entrance-side streets. One turn onto US-192 and you're heading for the parks. Best for groups doing daily park trips without crossing the resort first.
Which Emerald Island villas are closest to the Clubhouse pool?
Clubhouse-side streets put the communal pool, tennis courts and convenience store within walking distance, with no drive needed for guests who want the shared facilities close.
What is the difference between Emerald Island Resort villa locations?
Conservation side for wildlife and quiet. Entrance side for Disney speed. Clubhouse side for shared facilities. Interior streets sit between the three, which suits mixed groups.
Emerald Island Resort - The Distance Guide
| Destination | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Walt Disney World (nearest gate, Animal Kingdom) | ~3 miles | ~10 min via US-192 / Sherberth Rd |
| Disney's water parks (Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon) | ~5 miles | ~10–15 min |
| Disney Springs | ~10 miles | ~15 min |
| SeaWorld Orlando | ~15 miles | ~20 min |
| Universal Studios | ~18 miles | ~20–25 min |
| ICON Park / International Drive | ~18 miles | ~25 min |
| Celebration town centre | ~6 miles | ~10 min |
| Shops & dining on US-192 | ~1 mile | ~5 min |
| Orlando International Airport (MCO) | ~28 miles | ~35–45 min |
The Complete Guide to Emerald Island Resort Villas
Where is Emerald Island Resort? And, is it right for my family?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Kissimmee, Florida, off US-192 |
| Villa sizes | 3 to 7 bedrooms |
| Sleeps | Up to 16 guests in one property |
| Private pool | Every villa, included as standard |
| Conservation reserve | 300+ acres of protected Florida wetlands with a nature trail |
| Clubhouse | Main pool, gym, sauna, Tiki Bar, business centre |
| Games room | Selected villas from 5 bedrooms |
| Pet friendly | Selected villas, prior approval required |
| Disney World | About 3 miles to the nearest gate, around 10 minutes |
| Universal Studios | Around 20 minutes |
| Best for | Families and groups who want quiet, privacy and Disney close by |
Emerald Island Appeals to Families Seeking a Quieter Orlando Stay
It depends on what you're after. You get a private pool villa, a protected conservation reserve and Disney about ten minutes away, usually for less than the bigger Orlando resorts charge. If a water park or a poolside bar on-site is what you're picturing, look elsewhere. If you want space, quiet and the parks close by, few places match it.
- The whole place sits inside protected Florida wetland, so there's a nature trail straight off the gate and wildlife wandering through on its own.
- Every villa has its own pool. You don't pay extra for it and you don't share it.
- It's about three miles from Disney's nearest gate, which makes it one of the closest gated communities in Kissimmee for the money.
- There's no water park and no organised entertainment, so the resort stays calm even in peak weeks.
- The Clubhouse handles the basics: a pool, gym, sauna, Tiki Bar and front desk.
- If quiet matters to you more than on-site entertainment, it holds up well against most other Orlando villa resorts.
Villa Options for Small Families Through to Large Groups
Villa sizes here start at 3 bedrooms and go up to 7. That stretches from a small family in a three-bed right through to a group of 14 or 16 all sharing one house.
- A three or four-bed works for a family of six to eight. You get your own pool, open-plan living and a house that's entirely self-contained, nothing shared with anyone.
- Step up to five or six bedrooms and you'll usually pick up a games room and themed bedrooms for the children.
- The seven-bed homes are the ones for bigger groups, with more than one living area and a good amount of deck space around the pool.
- Whatever the size, the private pool comes with it. It's never something you're charged extra for.
- Need more than seven bedrooms? Our guide to mansions in Orlando for rent covers estate-level homes close to Emerald Island.
- Every villa is fully self-catering, so you've got a proper kitchen, a utility room and an outdoor dining area as standard.
What facilities does Emerald Island Resort have?
Everything shared sits at the Clubhouse. There's a main pool, a gym, a sauna, the Tiki Bar and a business centre, all open from 8am to 10pm. It's a useful set of facilities rather than a big entertainment hub, which fits the quieter feel of the place.
- The main Clubhouse pool is open to every guest and sits separate from your own villa pool.
- The gym and sauna are free for anyone staying on the resort.
- The Tiki Bar does drinks and casual food, open from 11am to 10pm.
- There's a business centre with meeting rooms and a printer if you're on a longer stay or need to work.
- The front desk handles local information, park tickets and sports equipment in one place
- Clubhouse hours run 8am to 10pm daily, through the day and into the evening.
Tennis, Volleyball and Outdoor Activities Within the Resort
Yes. There are two tennis courts, free for everyone staying, plus a volleyball court, Surrey bike hire and sports kit you can pick up from the front desk.
- Two tennis courts on-site, no booking fee, open to anyone staying.
- A sand volleyball court as well, also free.
- Surrey bikes for hire from the Clubhouse, good for a morning loop before it gets too hot; check they're available when you arrive.
- Sports kit from the front desk, though it's worth checking what's in stock on the day.
- The courts aren't lit, so morning or late afternoon is the time to play.
- Quieter than the same courts at the bigger communities, with no queues and nothing booked out in blocks.
Private Pool Heating for Autumn and Winter Stays
Yes, but it's an optional extra. Heating isn't part of the standard booking and won't come on unless you ask, and there's a weekly charge for it.
- You request heating when you book, not after you've arrived.
- The fee is weekly and changes by villa and season, so check the exact figure before you commit.
- It earns its keep from October to March, when the evenings cool down and an unheated pool gets cold once the sun goes.
- Most villas have a screened enclosure, which holds the warmth better than an open deck through winter.
- Book it ahead, because it can't always be sorted once you've checked in.
- If you're travelling between November and February, put the heating cost in your budget from the start.
Entertainment Spaces Inside Selected Villas at Emerald Island Resort
Some do, not all. Games rooms turn up in the larger villas, usually five bedrooms and above, rather than across the board.
- They start showing up from around five bedrooms and are rarer in the smaller homes.
- What's in them varies, but a pool table, arcade machines and games consoles is the common setup.
- It's your own room, separate from the Clubhouse games area, so nobody has to leave the house.
- The only bar on the resort is the Clubhouse Tiki Bar, so in the evenings the games room tends to be where everyone gathers.
- Useful on a wet day, a quiet night, or when the teenagers want their own space after dark.
- Mention it when you enquire and we'll point you to homes that have one, not ones where it's listed loosely.
Travelling with Pets at Emerald Island Resort
Some villas take pets, but there's no blanket resort rule. Each owner decides, and you'll need that confirmed before you book.
- Approval has to come first. You can't assume it or arrange it on arrival.
- Where pets are allowed, there's usually a fee or a refundable deposit.
- Breed and size limits change from villa to villa, so check before anything's confirmed.
- The quiet streets and the reserve trail make it an easy resort to bring a dog to.
- Fewer villas take pets than don't, so tell us early and we'll only show you ones that do.
- Garden and pool-deck space varies between homes, worth thinking about if your dog needs room outside.
One of Kissimmee's Closest Conservation Communities to Disney
Emerald Island sits about three miles from Disney's nearest gate, Animal Kingdom, roughly ten minutes by car on US-192 and the Sherberth Road shortcut. For the price, it's one of the closest gated communities in Kissimmee.
- Disney's nearest gate is about 3 miles, roughly 10 minutes.
- Close enough to do two park runs in a day, morning and evening, with time at the pool in between.
- Universal Studios is around 20 minutes.
- SeaWorld is also about 20 minutes.
- ICON Park and International Drive run to around 25 minutes.
- There's no park shuttle, so you'll want a hire car. We can also set up private transfers through the 5 Star Villa Holidays team.
Nature Trails, Pool Days and Relaxed Resort Living at Emerald Island
On most days you'll spend the bulk of your time at the villa itself: the pool, the screened deck, the games room after dark. The Clubhouse adds tennis, the bikes and the Tiki Bar. And when you fancy heading out, Celebration and Disney Springs are both about 15 minutes away.
- The screened pool deck works from first thing in the morning until late at night.
- At the Clubhouse you've got the main pool, gym, sauna and Tiki Bar, open 8am to 10pm.
- Tennis, the volleyball court and Surrey bikes are best in the morning before the heat builds.
- The reserve walking trail takes 20 to 30 minutes, shaded and quiet, and it's free; go before 9am.
- Celebration town centre is 10 minutes away, with waterfront restaurants and an easy evening out.
- Disney Springs is 15 minutes away for dinner, shops and entertainment without needing a park ticket.
A Family-Friendly Resort Surrounded by Florida Wildlife
Yes, particularly if you want a bit more than theme parks from the trip. The reserve gives children something most Orlando resorts can't, and a villa keeps everyone together without the constant noise of a big resort.
- The 300-acre reserve runs right up to the streets, so the quiet and the wildlife are just part of the day, not a separate outing.
- Sandhill cranes and gopher tortoises wander through freely, the sort of thing you only get backing onto wetland like this.
- The walking trail is 20 to 30 minutes, free and quiet, and fine for children from around six up.
- With your own pool, the kids aren't sharing a packed communal one with strangers.
- The five-bedroom villas and up tend to have the games room, which keeps teenagers busy once the parks are done.
- Disney Springs is 15 minutes away for a full day out with no park ticket, and the concierge sorts the bookings.
Dining Options Around Emerald Island Resort
There's no restaurant on the resort itself, just the Tiki Bar for drinks and casual food. Everything else is within about 15 minutes.
- Tiki Bar at the Clubhouse for drinks and casual food, open 11am to 10pm.
- US-192 is 5 minutes from the entrance, with chains, pizza, diners and the usual American casual places.
- Celebration town centre is 10 minutes out, with waterfront and independent restaurants; book ahead for Friday and Saturday nights.
- Disney Springs, 15 minutes away, has 50-plus places from counter service to proper sit-down meals, and the concierge books ahead.
- For a cooked meal at the villa, we can arrange a private chef, though we need at least 48 hours' notice.
- We can also have groceries delivered before you land, which saves a shop at the end of a long flight.
What is the best time to visit Emerald Island Resort?
There isn't really a bad month. It just depends on the kind of trip you want.
- June to August is peak: busiest parks, hottest weather, resort at its fullest, so book tickets and in-villa extras well ahead.
- October to March brings quieter parks and cooler evenings, and this is when paying for pool heating makes the most sense.
- Wildlife is easiest to see from October to March, when the cooler mornings keep things active and the trail is more comfortable.
- April, May and September tend to suit UK and Irish families best: lighter crowds, building heat, rates below the summer peak.
- The April and October school holidays line up nicely, with better value on orlando villa holidays and fewer people about.
- No month is a write-off; it comes down to what you want out of the week.
What Comes Included with Your Villa Stay
Each villa is ready to live in from the moment you arrive. The everyday things are in the price, so you're not walking into a bare house or facing a list of add-ons.
- WiFi through the whole villa, fine for streaming, video calls and keeping the kids online.
- Bed linen and bath towels are provided, with the beds made up before you get there.
- A full kitchen: oven, hob, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, microwave, plus a washer and dryer.
- Parking on the villa's own driveway, with space for more than one car.
- Clubhouse access is part of the booking, so the pool, gym, sauna and tennis aren't extra.
- A mid-stay clean depends on the villa and how long you're staying, so check yours when you enquire.
A Resort Designed Around Private Pools Rather Than Water Parks
No, and that's on purpose. The resort leans quiet rather than splashy, so there's no water park or lazy river here unlike other vacation rentals in Orlando’s high-reserve area. What you do get is a private pool at every villa, plus the main Clubhouse pool if you want to swim somewhere shared.
- No water park and no lazy river on-site, which is part of why it stays calm.
- A private, screened pool with every villa, yours rather than shared.
- The main Clubhouse pool for anyone who wants a communal swim, with the Tiki Bar nearby.
- You can pay to heat the private pool in the cooler months if you'd rather.
- Disney's two water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, are 10 to 15 minutes away.
- If an on-site water park is a deal-breaker, this isn't your resort, and we'd rather say so than push you into it.
Wildlife Encounters Around Emerald Island Resort
The conservation reserve is part of everyday life at Emerald Island. Sandhill cranes, gopher tortoises, rabbits, and native birds are regularly spotted around the resort, particularly along the nature trail and conservation-side villas.
- 300+ acres of protected conservation land
- Sandhill cranes and gopher tortoises regularly seen
- Nature trail through native Florida landscape
- A quieter, greener setting than most Orlando resorts
Emerald Island Resort — Kissimmee, Florida
Emerald Island sits just off US-192 in Kissimmee, one of the busiest areas for villas in Kissimmee. The map below shows how the villa streets, the reserve, the Clubhouse and the road towards Disney all line up.
Emerald Island Resort, Kissimmee, FL 34747, USA
Orlando Temperature Chart -
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Emerald Island Resort villa holidays and planning your stay.
What makes Emerald Island different from other Orlando villa resorts?
It's built around a protected nature reserve, not a great sprawl of slides and attractions. That's the draw for a lot of guests — calmer, greener, and you've still got your own private-pool villa just minutes from Disney. A different sort of Orlando stay altogether.
Can you see wildlife around Emerald Island Resort?
You will, yes. Sandhill cranes stalking about, rabbits, the odd gopher tortoise — the conservation areas and trails are full of native Florida wildlife. For the kids, half the fun is spotting what's wandered past the pool that morning.
Is Emerald Island Resort a good choice if we don't need a water park?
Definitely. If a giant water park and a packed activity schedule aren't really your thing, Emerald Island suits better than most of the bigger resorts. Private pool, quieter surroundings, no queue for anything — that's the whole appeal.
Are there villas that back directly onto the conservation reserve?
Yes — some back straight onto the protected land, so there's no one behind you at all. Those tend to go quickly, snapped up by guests who want a bit of privacy and a quieter outlook from the pool deck.
Is Emerald Island suitable for larger family gatherings?
It works nicely for them. Villas run from three to seven bedrooms, and the largest will sleep up to sixteen under one roof — room enough for a big family to stay together without tripping over each other.
Are pet-friendly villas available at Emerald Island Resort?
Some are, yes — they'll take pets with a bit of notice and prior approval. It varies from one villa to the next, though, so just flag it when you enquire and we'll find you one that says yes.
Can I spend a full day at Emerald Island without visiting the theme parks?
Plenty of guests do. There's your own pool to start with, then the nature trails, the clubhouse and the sports courts — and Celebration's just up the road if you fancy a wander. No need to go near a park.
How close is Emerald Island Resort to Disney World?
About three miles to Disney's nearest gate — which makes it one of the closest gated villa communities in the Kissimmee area. A few minutes in the car and you're there.
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