What better place for a destination family reunion than the amazing city of Orlando? Regardless of ages, interests, and family size, there's something entertaining waiting for everyone! With over 825 miles of nearby beaches, fabulous theme parks, and endless activities, it could be your families' next family reunion of a lifetime.
Begin planning your next family reunion today! It can be overwhelming coordinating vacation homes, activities, dates, and overflowing questions from family members. However, with this helpful guide, you'll have your whole gang smiling and creating memories in no time at all.
Make a Guest List
Family reunions are all about going big! Feel free to invite whomever you wish, but if you have a very large family tree, consider making a boundary for who you will invite. (Ex. stopping at first or second cousins.)
Pick Dates and Length of Reunion
If your whole family gets together a few times a year, a long weekend may be the perfect amount of time. However, if you have lots of family coming from far away or you haven't seen them in years, a week or longer may be a better option to be able to spend more quality time together.
Utilize social media or apps to create calendars and to figure out dates when everyone (or majority) can attend!
Book Vacation Home Rentals
The most affordable type of accommodations for your large family will be vacation rental homes. There are plenty of luxurious vacation rentals within 15 minutes of major theme parks and come with a variety of amenities such as private pools, separate living/sleeping areas, full kitchens, washers, and dryers.
Depending on the size of your reunion, you'll likely need to rent a couple houses with 3-6 bedrooms each. When you're deciding who should be in each home, keep in mind the ages of each family. Separating houses by kids, families, older couples, singles can allow for different sleeping and living patterns.
Plan an Itinerary
Shared Florida experiences are a fun and unique way to bond while you're all together in the same city. Plan a few group activities that bring everyone together. You could also plan a dolphin tour, a sand castle building contest, a cornhole tournament on the beach, or a simple board game tournament! The possibilities are endless.
First, you need to decide how easy or how complex you want the reunion to be. This can also vary based on the length of stay, how large your family is, and the overall budget you're looking to spend.
One simple option is to host your family reunion at a Florida park. It's cost-effective and requires very little planning. Many picnic areas feature grills next to the beach, fishing, canoeing, swimming, kayaking, boating, and shore-diving. Another easy type of reunion can take place at a resort or restaurant. Simply make reservations, plan a few activities nearby and let your family know when and where to meet!
If you're planning a larger/longer family reunion or wish to explore Orlando's awesome theme parks, centering it around Disney World or Universal Studios is a great idea. Thrills, great food, and memories that will last a lifetime await you!
Remember not to over plan, since family members will want some free time to relax and simply enjoy their time off work and with each other.
Don't Forget About Adult Activities
In the theme park capital of the world, it's easy to plan everything around the kids, but there are tons to do in Orlando for adults too! Drink around the world at the World Showcase in Epcot, take a history tour, visit Titanic: The Experience, or plan to shop at Downtown Disney.
If family members are in need of childcare to slip away for the night, there are plenty of highly rated, certified and licensed babysitting services available in Orlando. They'll come to you and take care of the kids. Adults in your family can also take turns each night watching the kids if you don't feel comfortable hiring a service.
Communicate Often
Your family is busy with work, school and everyday life, so mailing out invites, maintaining updated budgets, and keeping everyone in the loop will ensure the reunion goes off without a hitch. A few weeks before the reunion, send reminders through social media or the mail regarding the expected weather, planned activities, things they should bring, and what everyone owes. Remember, when planning a family reunion, communication is key!
The last thing to do is pack your bags, make sure you have your sunscreen, sunglasses, and swimsuits, and get ready for an amazing family reunion in Orlando!
Jeeves Florida Rentals offers the finest, luxury vacation rentals in Orlando. Contact us for help in booking your next destination family reunion!