Top Dream Getaway - Walt Disney World, 2004
Top 10 Getaways for Family Reunions
by
Fran Falkin
FTF's annual Top 10 survey of award-winners highlights Walt Disney World as one of 2004's best places to host your family's next reunion.
When I was growing up, my grandmother, aunt, uncle and two cousins lived down the block from me. Within walking distance, or maybe a short subway or car ride away lived many other relatives, and it was quite common for us to all get together for dinner on Sundays, especially while my grandmother was alive. While the grown-ups chatted, gossiped and complained, the cousins would play games (usually made-up ones), tease each other and make mischief. When I told my son about these get-togethers, he couldn’t imagine what it was like to have so much family nearby. Of course, many of his relatives live in Florida, North Carolina, Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois, Colorado and California, so visiting with them is a rare event. Today, the concept of "extended families" is somewhat unusual and due to jobs, climate and just personal preference, we find ourselves spread out across the country, or even in foreign lands.
In answer to this phenomenon, family reunions have become increasingly popular and, according to the Travel Industry Association of America, 34% of American adults have traveled to a family reunion in the past three years, and 22% have done so this past year. These events can range in size from a multi-generational trip with a few relatives to a genealogist’s fantasy of a few hundred people. If you choose the right location, everyone can reunite while enjoying favorite activities as well as a break from their normal routine.
Planning such an event can be a large undertaking. While there’s lot of practical information out there about the logistics of organizing the group, dividing the tasks and setting a budget, perhaps the biggest question is "where should it be." Considering several criteria such as geographic location (35% of reunion attendees travel 500 or more miles from home), available transportation, the variety of accommodations in different price ranges, activities to please every age, unique attractions, dining options and group discounts, FTF has selected the following as the “Top Ten Getaways for Family Reunions." More detailed information about each venue is available elsewhere on FamilyTravelForum.com.
TOP DREAM GETAWAY
Walt Disney World
Orlando, Florida
407/W-DISNEY
A trip to Walt Disney World is the dream of most families. The experienced folks at Disney want to help make every family’s dream come true with “Magical Gatherings,” their program for planning a group vacation at WDW. Click here to order or download your free
Vacation Planning Kit (for groups of eight or more). This guide and interactive website will assist you in organizing your reunion group’s needs and interests, and help in finding a value land-only or air-land package that includes theme park admissions, hotels and other benefits, designed just for reunions.
While the Magic Kingdom is the most popular for young children who are anxious to meet Mickey, Minnie and other favorite characters, there is much more to WDW. Grandma and Grandpa will most likely enjoy imagining that they are in Europe or Asia at Epcot’s World Showcase pavilions, relatives who like movies can find themselves right in the middle of “The Little Mermaid,” “A Bug’s Life” and other favorites at Disney Studios, and all ages will be awe-struck on their stay-at-home safari at Animal Kingdom. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks, tennis, golf and watersports at WDW hotels, and nightlife at Downtown Disney will keep everyone else busy and happy.
Due to frequent air service and intense competition, Orlando is easy and cheap to reach. The WDW on-site accommodations offer early admission to the parks and other perks and can be surprisingly good value. 2005 room rates range from $77-$126/N at Disney’s Value Resorts, to $133 to $209/N at their Moderate Resorts, to $229-$1,010/N for multi-room cabins, villas, or Disney’s Deluxe Resorts.
