Wondara Retreat: A Dream Vacation Home Near Disney
Wondara Retreat: A Dream Vacation Home Near Disney
Wondara Retreat is a new themed vacation rental located just six miles from Walt Disney World and close to Universal Studios. Designed to offer exceptional amenities at an affordable price, this home stands out among Orlando rentals for its creativity, comfort, and unforgettable family experiences.
Finding the Perfect Location
The journey began with choosing the right community. After exploring neighborhoods like Solara Resort, Windsor Hills, Solterra Resort, and Champions Gate, one stood out above the rest—Reunion Resort. With its winding, tree-lined roads, lush landscaping, and world-class amenities, Reunion was the obvious choice. The resort boasts three championship golf courses—Palmer, Watson, and Nicklaus—as well as seven restaurants, ranging from fine dining at the Chophouse to rooftop bites at Eleven. Guests can enjoy the Drifters Bar & Grille by the water park, clubhouses with bars and dining, mini golf, pickleball, tennis courts, and a spa and wave pool coming soon. With so much to offer, Reunion Resort became the ideal home for Wondara Retreat.
The Pool: A Backyard Oasis
Planning Wondara Retreat began with designing the ultimate pool. Since a large pool tops nearly every renter's wish list, we went big—55 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 6 feet deep. We wanted a modern look, steering away from the typical faux-rock slides. Enter Brett Holland of Holland Aquatics, who brought our vision to life with a sleek, architectural design. The pool includes a hidden grotto with a rain sheer and secret exit, LED-lit steps leading to the slide, and a stunning fireplace behind a second rain sheer for evening ambiance. Guests can unwind in the oversized hot tub, relax at the water table, or soak on water loungers beside lighted fountains. The pool also includes a basketball hoop, a firepit for cool evenings, and thoughtful touches for both fun and relaxation.
Immersive Themed Bedrooms
Inside the house, we focused on creating memorable themed rooms, starting with the two-story Imperial Bedroom and the Golf Theater. The Imperial Room draws inspiration from Star Wars, complete with bunk beds in the imperial barracks and a hidden playroom. Young adventurers can climb rock walls, pass a towering stormtrooper, and enter the AT-Walker command center—only to escape via a two-story slide down to the base, where gaming consoles await their next mission.
The Golf Theater is a one-of-a-kind space in Reunion, combining a 12-seat movie theater with a high-definition golf and sports simulator. With 11 speakers, two subwoofers, and a 200” 4K screen, the theater immerses viewers in the action. The HD Golf system uses real-world photos and satellite data for lifelike gameplay, and with the added HD Sports package, the entire family can enjoy games like bowling, bocce ball, football, hunting, and dodgeball.
Princess Castles and Gotham Adventures
We couldn’t stop with just two themed rooms. For our princess-themed room, we enlisted the help of Gary Ritchie and Tatianna to bring Frozen to life. The result is a majestic, 12-foot-high castle room complete with two queen and two twin beds, hand-painted murals, and sculpted cement details that make the space feel like Arendelle itself.
For the boys’ room, we faced a challenge—many ideas had already been done. But when Gary suggested a LEGO Batman theme, we were sold. The result is a gothic LEGO Gotham City, lit by twin bat signals and filled with muraled heroes. With two queen and two full beds, the room sleeps 6–8 guests and features a hidden catwalk and ladders connecting the bed towers for hours of imaginative play.
A One-of-a-Kind Shooting Gallery
We wanted one more entertainment feature, something truly unique to Orlando rentals. After scrapping the idea of a laser maze, we settled on an old-fashioned shooting gallery—Last Chance Mining Co. Marino and his team designed a detailed mine shaft full of targets, and Danny from Electronic Shooting Galleries brought it to life with 23 animated targets, including a talking skeleton, slithering snake, and exploding mine cart. With three gun stations, color-changing scoreboards, and interactive props, the gallery offers hours of family fun and competitive play.
Bringing the House Together
With so many unique features, we needed a designer to tie everything together. That’s when we found Debby Dearth of McNally Design. Initially hesitant, Debby came to see the house—and once on board, she delivered beyond expectations. Not only is she a brilliant designer, but also an efficient project manager. She pulled together a complete design plan in just two weeks, sourcing custom furniture, textures, and colors that elevate the house into a luxurious retreat. Highlights include a handcrafted dining table that seats 14 and beautifully customized beds.
The Journey and the Joy
Building Wondara Retreat has been a long and emotional journey—full of hard work, tough decisions, and no small amount of investment. Creating a themed rental home isn’t for everyone, and we had our doubts along the way. But seeing it all come together has been incredibly rewarding. We hope every guest who stays at Wondara Retreat makes magical memories that last a lifetime.
Many people would say that it is absolute madness to keep on doing the same thing, time after time, expecting to get a different result or for something different to happen.
Daniel hosts in Yogyakarta to earn extra money
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