Meet the family inside Disney World

Cristie Anne of The Traveling Red owns a home in Golden Oak, a residential community inside Walt Disney World Resort.

Golden Oak designed by Disney Imagineers

This neighbourhood was designed by Disney Imagineers, and each home has its own distinct character.

Cristie Anne's cottage inspired by Beauty and the Beast

Cristie Anne, 39 and originally from Miami, Florida, told the Daily Mail: 'Ours was inspired by Belle's cottage from Beauty and the Beast, with Imagineer-designed details woven throughout the home'.

“Ours was inspired by Belle's cottage from Beauty and the Beast, with Imagineer-designed details woven throughout the home”

Family lives between Miami and Disney

Cristie Anne's family has spent the last six years living between their primary Miami residence and their Disney cottage.

Disney home is story-inspired

While many homes in Golden Oak incorporate subtle Disney touches or beautifully themed interior spaces, very few are designed around an entire Disney story the way ours is.

Golden Oak home collection

Her family home is in one of the smaller home collections within Golden Oak, filled with winding streets and an attention to detail that makes it feel 'like you've stepped into a storybook village'.

How they found the home

It actually wasn't something we were searching for. At the time, we were looking for a family vacation home where we could make memories together, and we were mostly looking at beach houses.

Parents discovered home

My parents were visiting friends who had recently purchased a vacation home in Golden Oak and happened to tour our house, which had just gone on the market that day.

Daughter's age

Our daughter was only three years old at the time, so the idea of a Beauty and the Beast-inspired home at Disney sounded like perfection.

Home price range

Currently, other homes for sale at Walt Disney World are on the market for around $8million (£5.9million), while reports of Golden Oak homes suggest that prices can range between $2million (£1.5million) and $20million (£14.8million).

Disney home proximity

Depending on which park we're visiting, we're usually just minutes away by car or our private Disney transportation van, which takes us and drops us right at the front of the park.

Winter visits

The family tends to visit more during the winter months when the weather is especially pleasant.

No pressure to do everything

One of the things we love most is that there's no pressure to do everything in a single visit. We can simply enjoy whatever we're in the mood for that day.

Disney park access

Back then, purchasing a home in Golden Oak included complimentary park admission for the first few years. After that, we had to purchase annual passes just like other guests.

Number of visits

Unsurprisingly, Cristie Anne has 'lost count' of the number of times she's visited the parks.

No tourists in Golden Oak

Never.

Privacy of Golden Oak

People are often surprised by how private Golden Oak actually is. Security is exceptional, and only residents and their registered guests are allowed inside the community.

No short-term rentals

Homes cannot be used as short-term rentals, which helps preserve the neighborhood as a true residential community.

Daily amenities

There aren't supermarkets or schools on Disney property itself, so for everyday errands like grocery shopping, we simply drive a few minutes off property.

Disney amenities

At the same time, we have Disney's incredible restaurants, resorts, golf courses, spas, recreation, and entertainment right at our doorstep.