Family Reunion Locations

11 Magical Family Reunion Ideas in Orlando

What city might very well be the best city to have a family reunion? Orlando, FL of course! Florida is a tourist state, and being so, must have many tourist attractions, some great for a family reunion! Orlando is the home of Disney World and many other theme parks and attractions, so lets explore exactly what there is to do there!

Have a Fun Florida Family Reunion!

If you are planning on having a family reunion in Orlando, then you better get working on that family reunion itinerary! With all of the things to do in Orlando, you’ll need some kind of schedule to keep the family on task without getting divided.

Here are some things to do in Orlando that are sure to be a blast during your reunion:

Theme Parks

Disney World

We already touched on Disney World, but it is worth a mention again because it is hands down Orlando’s #1 attraction! People come from all over the world just to visit Disney, and seemingly grow a pair of Mickey Mouse ears while leaving with smiles on their faces. From the many different kingdoms to choose from, Magic Kingdom is probably the most popular and well-known park in Disney. There is certainly something to do there for every age and stage!

Universal Studios

Also in Orlando is Universal Studios, packed full of activities and many simulator rides. Make sure you swing by Diagon Alley for some rides and shopping with Harry Potter and his friends! Don’t miss the Simpsons ride; it’s a real crowd pleaser! Then there’s the Oh, and how can I forget The Mummy ride? It’s a blast!

Islands of Adventure

Islands of Adventure is the neighbor park to Universal Studios, and you can even buy “park hopper” passes to go to both parks during your stay. One of the biggest attractions at Islands of Adventure is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Sip on some birch beer while you are captivated by your surroundings, something every young wizard or witch should experience for themselves.

SeaWorld

Love aquariums and amusement parks? SeaWorld is the place to go and is great for a family reunion! Don’t miss the famous Shamu performing tricks for an entire audience, and all of the great water animal exhibits throughout!

Universal Studios Volcano Bay

There are quite a few big water parks to choose from when planning your family reunion. Orlando has nice water parks such as Volcano Bay, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and Aquatica! Check the websites for each park to see which one would suit you the most.

Dinner Shows

Medieval Times

Medieval Times is the nation’s #1 and longest running dinner attraction, putting you right in the middle of the Medieval era, complete heroic knights on horseback, live jousting, falconry, and a hearty four-course supper fit for a king!

Sleuths Mystery Dinner

It’s a real life game of Clue where you and your family are the detectives, working to solve these hilariously outrageous mystery crimes! But of course, what sly sleuth can solve a mystery on an empty stomach? Dine on a tasty three-course dinner and unlimited refreshments to help you keep your crime-solving energy up!

The Outta Control Dinner Show

Get ready to laugh at this hilarious comedy dinner show! You and the entire family, kids included, will have a great time laughing and participating in this high-energy, interactive show, while dining on unlimited hand-tossed pizza, salad, and popcorn! Oh, and there’s also unlimited beer, wine, and soda, if you like that sort of thing…

More Fun Stuff

Blue Man Group

Anyone going to Orlando should see the Blue Man Group perform! Watch these guys bang their drums of many different colors as they please the audience with their talent! They put a whole new meaning behind flying colors!

Disney Springs

If you love Disney, but your family isn’t ready to buy park passes for the weekend, check out the eclectic boutiques, unique eateries, and family friendly entertainment in Disney Springs! Want to know the best part? No cost of admission!

Old Town

Take a break from the busy tourist-packed theme parks and enjoy a relaxing stroll through this fun district full of unique shopping, dining options, and family amusements, like classic car cruises, arcade games, and magic shows!

It is no doubt that Orlando is the perfect destination for a family reunion. Orlando is the kind of city where you cannot possibly have the words “I’m bored” escape your lips. It truly is a magical city with lots to see and do, so see about having a family reunion there! You know you want to…

Photo attribution: MickeyViews

Top 10 Texas Family Reunion Destinations

Mix a little southern hospitality with a big chunk of your family, and what do you have? The perfect recipe for a Texas family reunion! When it comes to family reunion locations, Texas knows how to do it right, and then some!

If you’ve ever heard the saying “everything is bigger in texas,” it is absolutely correct even when it comes to parties such as family reunions. ‘The bigger, the better,’ they always say! So grab that big hat, slip on your boots, and let’s giddy up to explore some of the best locations for a Texas family reunion!

In no particular order (because it’s so hard to choose), here are the top 10 Texas family reunion destinations:

Top Family Reunion Location Ideas In Texas

Lazy Hills – Ingram, TX
The Southern Cross – Dallas, TX
Shady Lakes Ranch & Resort – Cleburne, TX
Sandy Lake Amusement Park – Carrollton, TX
Six Flags Fiesta Texas – San Antonio, TX
Sea World – San Antonio, TX
Crowne Plaza Suites – Houston, TX
Moon River Ranch – Satin, TX
Beach Houses – Surfside Beach, TX
Mill Creek Ranch Resort – Canton, TX

More Details About These Texas Reunion Venues

Lazy Hills, Ingram

Get loud and rowdy at your family reunion on this 725 acre ranch! Enjoy a dip in the swimming hole, or take a zipline ride, pedal boat, or kayak out in the water! Complete with hiking trails and a playground, nobody can be bored at this retreat!

The Southern Cross, Dallas

Located just minutes from downtown Dallas, this dude ranch really has something for all ages! Equipped with a playground, sporting areas, fishing areas, and, of course, horseshoe pits, your family will have a great time!

Shady Lakes Ranch and Resort, Cleburne

From sack races to water games and sports, Shady Lakes is a great place for any Texas family reunion! They offer to cater your food so you don’t have to while you enjoy the gorgeous view by the 12 acre lake.

Sandy Lake Amusement Park, Carrollton

Make your reservations at this fun park for a family reunion you won’t ever forget! With rides, a swimming pool, mini golf, an arcade, and so much more, how can you go wrong? You can’t.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio

Have a more “extreme” family? Problem solved! Six Flags Fiesta Texas has something to do whether you’re 8 or 80! Take advantage of the great group discounts and see all that Six Flags has to offer!

Sea World, San Antonio

Want to enjoy sea life in an amusement park setting? Then SeaWorld has everything you need from shows to roller coasters! Don’t forget to get your group rates, and if your group is bigger than 100, be sure to schedule your all-you-can-eat picnic!

Crowne Plaza Suites, Houston

Reserve your family reunion dates in a more luxurious setting for a great price! Nearby attractions include a zoo, a waterpark, and a space station. With banquet rooms and a one-hour reception to kick off your reunion complete with appetizers and drinks, this one will be grand!

Moon River Ranch, Satin

Looking for one of the best Texas family reunion locations? At Moon River Ranch, you’re right smack in the middle of Texas! Have a true Texan party in a barn with good food and dancing! Go horseback riding or relax by the pool and lake!

Beach Houses, Surfside Beach

Not too far from Houston lies many beach houses rentals calling your family for an unforgettable family reunion! Relax on the beach to catch some sun, or explore what it means to play in the salty waters of the Gulf of Mexico!

Mill Creek Ranch Resort, Canton

Whether you’re looking for some outdoor Texas fun, or a formal, indoor party, this place has it all! From hiking and horseshoes to live entertainment, your family will not be disappointed!

With so many Texas family reunion locations, you might just have to plan one every year to explore them all! Whichever one you choose this year, it can’t possibly be a bad decision. Don’t forget to bring your cowboy hats and bandannas for some pictures!

Top 10 Family Reunion Destinations

A destination can make or break any kind of large gathering, including a family reunion. Sometimes it can be tough finding the perfect place, where it will be possible to entertain your entire family. You have to make sure there’s things to do for the kids, places to kick back and relax, or just fun for the whole family in general. After all, you don’t want any family member to look back and remember how boring the family reunion was, do you? I didn’t think so!

Picking the Right Destination

One of the biggest questions you’ll have when your committee is planning a family reunion is “Where will we have it?” Well it all depends on several factors. Here is a list of things that you might want to consider when deciding amongst family reunion destinations:

Cost: One of the first things you need to do before doing anything else when planning a family reunion is to set a budget. It is important that you stick to this budget and consider it during every step of the planning process, especially the venue; they can get expensive!
Activities/nearby attractions: Your family will more than likely stay for longer than the reunion, thus making a vacation out of it. Plan the reunion in a place that has other things to do: Zoos, theme parks, beaches, museums, aquariums, festivals and so on.
Nearby lodging: Everyone will be needing a hotel to stay in, or vacation rentals, so be sure that the hotels aren’t too far away from the venue.
Distance from home: If all of your family lives in one town, be sure to run it by them first if you would like to have the reunion far from home.
Scenic areas: This is definitely a huge bonus to family reunion destinations. If your reunion will be held outdoors, make it a pretty one!
Memorable: Is there just something about the venue that just stands out, something everyone will always remember?

Top 10 Destinations for a Family Reunion

Orlando, FL: Take time to have a family reunion in sunny Orlando, FL. Stay in the Disney Resort and meet all of the Disney characters at Disney World, or catch a Blue Man Group show while visiting Universal Studios or Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Enjoy the water? Then take a trip over to SeaWorld, or have a water day at Wet n’ Wild or Aquatica!

Washington D.C.: Stay in a hotel resort in Washington DC and don’t pass up the opportunity to take pictures with the many monuments, and tours through the many history museums in the area! There is also the Smithsonian Zoo and the National Aquarium. With all there is to do and see, the place for your reunion might e D.C.!

Tampa Bay, FL: If you enjoy FL beaches, then the white, sandy beaches of the Tampa Bay area are where to go! Take the ferry from Dunedin Beach out to Caladesi Island, or take a boat tour at the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs. There is also Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, the Museum of Science and Industry, Lowry Park Zoo, and many beach resorts to choose from

Orange County, CA: Stay at the Disneyland resort and get a multi-day pass to Disneyland, or venture over to Los Angeles to go to Universal Studios Hollywood, and see all of the attractions that Hollywood has to offer!

Grand Canyon, AZ: Have you ever wanted to see those deep canyons in person? Well, make a family reunion of it! Stay in a nearby hotel, campsite, or resort and enjoy the many outdoor activities offered in the area, along with zoos and parks.

Chicago, IL: Set up a family reunion at the Windy City! Eaglewood Resort & Spa is just a half-hour from downtown and boasts of beautiful scenery and a reservable, private, six lane bowling alley!

Savannah, GA: Shop in the malls or in the streets of the downtown historic district in Savannah. Forsyth Park is a must see before you stroll the many squares of Savannah to reach River St, where the real party is. Stay a night in the beautiful, Victorian-style landmark hotel, River Street Inn.

Las Vegas, NV: Not just casinos here, folks. It’s a great place for family reunions, with lots of things to do for all ages! Stay at the Circus Circus Hotel on the North end of the Las Vegas Strip, and enjoy gourmet dining, rides, a casino, and circus performances–all right inside the resort!

Nassau, Bahamas: Every family can use a cruise, so take a Caribbean cruise to Nassau, Bahamas where you will find crystal-clear waters, and the great Atlantis resort, featuring a waterpark and a beautiful beach. Enjoy Island food while sipping on a few local beverages!

Niagara Falls, ON, Canada: If you’ve never been to Canada, this is a wonderful place for any kind of family gathering! Take your next full-family portrait right at the falls while exploring the breathtaking scenery that Niagara Falls has to offer.

You truly cannot go wrong by choosing any of these family reunion destinations for your next family reunion. Even if you have to save up for a while for this reunion, it will be well worth the wait!

Save Money with Family Reunion Vacation Rentals

Let’s face it, although family reunions are always a great time, they are expensive for both the planners and attendees, alike! But, they don’t have to be expensive. There is actually quite a few ways that you can slash those dollars without taking away from the fun of it. Actually, I have a suggestion that can make a family reunion more fun and cheaper! How, you ask? The answer is quite simple. Family reunion vacation rentals.

What are Vacation Rentals?

For those who don’t know what a vacation rental is, it is typically a condo or house that a family rents for a vacation, usually found in touristy areas such as on beaches or in major cities. Rather than paying a monthly rate to rent a home, the landlord or owner will set a fixed rate for weekly terms, and some even offer rentals by the day.

Vacation rentals are for those who want to feel more at home, rather than feel like they’re in a hotel setting. Sort of like a home away from home!

The fun never stops until the rental contract expires! Meaning, the reunion goes on all day, into a slumber party, into the next day and so on! Adults can enjoy drinks without having to worry about driving anywhere, and kids cannot possibly come up with the statement “I’m bored!”

How Do You Book a Vacation Rental?

There are many vacation rental sites you can browse that can lead you to your perfect family reunion destination!

These sites will help you find the exact rental you’re looking for. Looking for a condo for just a single family or a 6+ bedroom beach house that can sleep 45, no problem! These sites will help you sort through the rentals and find the perfect one for your reunion!

How Much Money Will We Save?

The real question here, folks, should be “how much money will you not need to spend?” Just stop for a moment, and let’s go over a few costs that are eliminated by having a family reunion vacation rental:

Hall/park rental fees: You won’t be needing another venue with a vacation rental!
Gas: Not just your gas, but everyone’s gas. You have a single destination!
Lodging: Everyone will be lodging at the same place, splitting one single fee!

When you rent out a hall, or reserve space at a park, you typically have to pay a fee which may or may not be refundable. If you think about it, when you rent an event hall, you will still have separate expenses of gas and lodging, so why not reduce all expenses?

Saving on gas is not only good for your pocket, but great for the environment. If there is only one destination, rather than a hotel and a venue, guests don’t have to drive as much, which means it can also eliminate the need for car rentals, leading to using a shuttle service instead.

Now as for saving on lodging, this is pretty cut and dry. Say the vacation rental is $2,800 for the week, you will take this cost and divide it amongst the amount of people attending, say 30 people. The cost per person for the entire week is about $93! Staying in a decent hotel for a week can cost upwards around $1,000-$2,000 or more. If that’s not a good way to save, then I don’t know what is!