We would like to go to Florida for a vacation (3 - families - 5 adults, 3 kids). We were hoping to rent a beach house on a nice, mellow, family friendly beach for a week, but, would also like to have access to Orlando for all of the attractions. Any suggestions as to where we could stay and accomplish this? Would like to stay away from hugely populated, crowded beaches. Am I asking too much?

I would suggest you take a look at VRBO websites and consider Clearwater, Tampa, Sarasota as potential cities...

Orlando is two hours away from the West Coast (Gulf of Mexico) beaches of Clearwater, St. Petersburg, etc. It is about 90 minutes away from the Atlantic East Coast beaches of Cocoa Beach and New Smyrna Beach. There are tolls all the way to Cocoa Beach, but none going to any of the others.

New Smyrna is very laid back, but remember the Atlantic is rougher than the Gulf. The sand is also finer on the Gulf side.

Crescent Beach is little known, except to locals. It is just 15-20 minutes south of St. Augustine and well within your 2-hour radius from Orlando (via I-95 & I-4). It is quiet, family friendly and just a great place to relax. It is also free from the sharks that often plague swimmers and surfers at Daytona and New Smyrna Beaches to the south.

Cocoa Beach is also a good choice, as is Melbourne Beach and Indialantic in the same general area. Also within the 2-hour radius from Orlando.

I think the place you are looking for is Anna Maria Island.