Evermore Orlando Resort opens in Lake Buena Vista

As the theme park capital of the world, Southwest Orange has long been a favorite destination spot for local and international vacationers. And once here, many travelers never leave the area. And if they do, it’s likely for a beach day on one of the coasts.

But now, they don’t even have to do that.

Following five years of planning and building, the $1.5 billion Evermore Orlando Resort opened to the public Jan. 1 at 1590 Evermore Way, Orlando.

Located north of Walt Disney World, the 1,100-acre resort offers a new approach to vacationing, featuring a large-scale community of varying accommodation styles solely built for the purpose of vacation renting, operating with hotel-quality standards. 

Although the resort features a multitude of amenities, the star of the oasis is Evermore Bay, a man-made, eight-acre pool designed to look like a natural lagoon. 

“After five years of meticulous planning and building, we are thrilled to open Evermore Orlando Resort,” said Christopher Kelsey, president of resort developer Dart Interests. “We’re proud to have created Orlando’s first beach paradise designed intentionally for groups, friends and families to effortlessly vacation together.”

PARADISE AWAITS

Evermore features 2,013 bedrooms throughout 69 houses ranging in size from five to 11 bedrooms; 206 four-bedroom flats; and 41 two-and four-bedroom villas. 

Evermore also showcases Orlando’s first Conrad Hotel, Hilton’s luxury brand, featuring 433 contemporary-styled guest room accommodations, including 51 suites, 10 spacious family suites and the Conrad Spa with an outdoor water garden.

The design of the hotel was inspired by the natural springs of Central Florida. 

The hotel features its own amenities, including a zero-entry pool, cabanas, fire pits, a Kids Club and an arrival/departure lounge. 

Conrad Orlando offers five unique dining experiences, including an elevated Mexican rooftop restaurant. 

Additionally, the hotel features 65,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor technology-focused event space with floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer desirable natural light throughout and stunning views of the golf course and waterfront.

“We are incredibly excited to expand on our strong presence in the Orlando market and introduce the Conrad brand to a new city,” said Danny Hughes, executive vice president and president of Americas, Hilton. “Conrad Orlando at Evermore will undoubtedly be a sought-after destination for Orlando travelers and will provide guests with outstanding service and impactful experiences when they visit the city.”

Nils-Arne Schroeder, global head for Conrad Hotels & Resorts, agreed.

“The signing of Conrad Orlando marks a significant milestone for the brand as we continue to grow our portfolio in iconic locations around the world to better meet the needs of our discerning travelers,” he said. “This hotel’s ideal location within Orlando and near Walt Disney World, along with Conrad’s prestigious reputation for delivering intuitive service, infinite connections and modern design will ensure guests leave feeling truly inspired by their stay with us.”

Evermore boasts its own amenities, including a 20-acre tropical beach complex; an 8-acre crystalline water amenity by Crystal Lagoons; 15 restaurants, bars and food markets; and two 18-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses.

The dining options located at the resort include Twin View Restaurant, Sophia’s Trattoria, Papaya Club, Ceiba, Sandhill Provisions, Little Spoon and Barbara Ann’s Beach Bar.

Other resort features include private cabanas, water slides, kayak and paddle board rentals, pickleball, fitness classes, and a full list of monthly activities for all ages. 

The resort has a 24/7 security and maintenance team. Safety is kept in mind throughout the entirety of the resort with pool alarms, sprinkler systems and noise monitors. 

Evermore is resort-owned and operated, founded and managed by professional hoteliers. 

“With the launch of the Evermore project, Dart is introducing an entirely new hospitality category that will change the landscape of vacation rental homes,” Kelsey said. “We are creating the first-ever wholly owned, large-scale community of purpose-built vacation rental homes and operating them with hotel-quality standards and world-class resort amenities. Our approach solves the No. 1 problem for vacation renters: uncertainty in the quality of the home. Almost all vacation rentals are owned by individuals, each with their own unique tastes and willingness to maintain the properties. Our centralized ownership model makes it possible for our guests to be certain that they are getting a first-class home with superior safety standards. Our scale also means that we can deliver a wider array of services to our guests making their visit easier and more enjoyable.  Plus, our range in sizes makes us the perfect destination for any group, including large multi-generational or multi-family gatherings.”

BEHIND THE BRAND 

Wally Zak, managing director at Evermore, has been part of the project for the last four years. 

Zak remembers being a “geeky child” and coming to Orlando for the first time from his hometown in upstate New York. 

“I came to Disney World, and I remember being fascinated by the resorts and the hotels,” he said. “I had never seen anything like it. It’s incredible to be a part of something that creates a hotel or a resort this special. It’s part of a legacy that’s going to be so impactful in the community.”

Although there are a wide variety of aspects that make the resort special, Zak said the staff members are the ones who make the biggest impact. 

“Of course, the product, we think, is spectacular, as well as all of the careful thought and touches we’ve put into it,” he said. “It’s a hospitality, luxury stay that you won’t get in a normal vacation house. … But, what really sets us apart is our staff in our departments all around Evermore. … All of these departments are passionate about Evermore. They’re ready to create something new for guests that we think is really special.”

Jeff Yost, director of transportation, has been with the property for about 25 years. He was with it when it was still the Grand Cypress Golf Club. 

Watching the project evolve has been something he will never forget. 

“It’s very unique and it’s exciting,” he said. “It’s new, and you can’t help but do anything but smile when you talk about it. … I mean, look around. We’ve been looking for a way to keep guests on property, and now we have everything you could need here. … It doesn’t really feel like work. It’s something we’ve been waiting to see happen. Now, it’s here.”

Vincent Cani, executive chef at Evermore, is yet another one of the staff members that helps create memories for guests. 

“Food and beverage, for us, is an experience,” he said. “It doesn’t have to just be a meal. … We’re conscious of the different backgrounds and of dietary restrictions and allergies. We try to engineer menus that are friendly for everyone. How awesome is it to be able to have something like this at home? These homes and these tables are going to bring people together. … Whether it’s something that’s an elegant dinner, or a catered meal, we can bring that to the home. We can stock the refrigerators while you’re out at the parks so that when you come home you have things to nosh on. We also can drop off ready to be heated meals. … The one thing I can always promise is you’ll be able to experience organic, genuine hospitality. We’ve hand-selected a group of people who are able to do this and who truly enjoy what they’re doing at the same time.”

When guests leave the resort, Zak hopes they take away the feeling of being part of a family.

“You come back because you want to see the people,” he said. “Hopefully, we become a part of people’s vacation plans and make those impacts with our team members for years to come.”

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