Where would you hold a family reunion?

[SandrA9810]

New Post, page 4, post 48.

So here's the general concept.

3 day weekend
About 50 people or more, could easily get to a 100 if the price is reasonable.
Some place that has some activities for every one to join in, as well as a convention type center for a large lunch/dinner where every one can just get together and chit chat for a few hours. A playground would be nice to let the kids burn off energy without bothering the adults so much.
Some of the family has travel trailers, so I was thinking of a state park kind of place with RV camping and lodge accommodations.

My original idea would've been:
Christmas at Disney
3 days with reservations made between Wilderness Lodge and Ft Wilderness
1 dinner at the Hoop De Doo Review, followed by a wagon ride to see the fireworks
1 luncheon for general get together
1 night at a Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party for those wanting to attend
possibility of attending the ICE event at Gaylord Palms.

Every one would be there for the weekend, but any one could make reservations for longer and get park tickets if they want to. Which would be made as part of the group reservation and receive the discount. But it would just be way too expensive for most of the family.

Any ideas??

We're thinking winter in the south (since most the family is in Indiana, they'd get out of the cold). Or summer where ever. Preferable East of the Mississippi River where it probably would only take 1 day of traveling to get to for most. We're just clueless on someplace to go to that would have a few activities for every one to be a part of since we're talk 84yrs old down to little kids.


ETA: The few things that were appealing about Disney.
A) transportation: ME for getting to and from the airport. On property buses for getting around. And the two resorts are connected with internal buses and boats.
B) Activities: The swimming pools, playgrounds, Tri Circle D Ranch, biking, canoes, the nightly campfire movie, pool activities. A lot of free things to do for every one. And lots of relaxing places to be.
C) Accommodations: Something for every one. The cabins, the campgrounds, the villas at the Lodge. Pretty much anything to fit any size family.
D) Convention area: Plenty of options for having a great big lunch, get together. Plenty of food options too.
Plenty of room to be together, and plenty of room to be apart from each other. Along with the Disney Standard.

 

[wdwiala]

The Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area?

Tourist activities to keep the younger set entertained. Nature and peace and quiet if you wish for that as well.

We meet up with my family there once a year. Endless choices of cabins, many of them resorts. That way you can be close but still have some seperation between everyone.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

My first thought (of course) was Disney, too. Other than that...

* I like the idea of Smoky Mountains, but would it be too cold for the campers?

* Charleston -- lots of shopping and historic stuff for adults, beach and battleship for the kids -- Johns Island campground is fantastic

* Atlanta -- so much to choose from and camping at Stone Mountain -- they might have that "Snow Mountain," too, where they transform the laser show area into a snow hill! That would be great for everyone, too. Aquarium is amazing, World of Coke, shopping, historic parts.

I'd say Myrtle Beach, but that's always seemed more summery.

Hope you have fun with whatever you end up doing!

 

[mickeyplanner08]

My grandmother's family holds a 3-5 day reunion every 4 years. We usually end up at a church camp. There is a lake, gym, fishing, etc. but no other huge entertainment. We usually end up with some kids games that some of the parents plan, a softball game or two, frisbee golf, etc. It makes you slow down and actually talk to some of those folks you only see once every 4 years. If there are too many "things to do" no one actually gets to know each other. We've had the camp staff do our food, but a few years we've actually divided that up, too.

Good luck with the planning-we usually have 4 families "in charge" every 4 years, and it rotates....I'm getting old enough that I'm going to have to step up and help plan one soon.

 

[arminnie]

Check out the tourist bureaus of several states.

My family has held a large reunion on Mother's Day for over 60 years. We meet at Burns Park in North Little Rock, AR. We have the same pavilion every year. There are amusement rides, miniature golf, and lots of play areas for the kids.

We do potluck - but it would not be expensive to have something like BBQ catered. I remember playing miniature golf as a small child, now I see my cousin's great grandchildren out playing. This is a very large park with lots of facilities. I think most states have something like this.

This would be much less expensive than Disney.

We also used to camp every summer - easily had 50+ people with multiple boats. So much fun.

 

[fhtpdw20]

Since you are looking at Disney anyway, how about a 3 day Disney cruise? Everyone gets pampered and built in child care if you want a few hours of adult conversation. Your families could be together as much or as little you like in the family area. You would not have any issues with food choices/ allergies. You have access to on-board photography for generation family pics. Warm weather if you are looking at winter months and wide spread choice of cost depending on family's choice of cabin. Beware the week between Christmas and New Years as it is the most expensive time to go. The earlier you book the better the pricing.

 

[MissUndastood]

I don't like my extended family enough to spend the money on Disney. A big park that has cabins and activites for the kids woul be more suitable.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I agree with others about a state park.

For my family, most of them could not afford a Disney vacation (many have never been able to go to one).

I also think that doing games and other organized activities allows people to spend time with one.

 

[PebblesMK]

So here's the general concept.

3 day weekend
About 50 people or more, could easily get to a 100 if the price is reasonable.
Some place that has some activities for every one to join in, as well as a convention type center for a large lunch/dinner where every one can just get together and chit chat for a few hours. A playground would be nice to let the kids burn off energy without bothering the adults so much.
Some of the family has travel trailers, so I was thinking of a state park kind of place with RV camping and lodge accommodations.

My original idea would've been:
Christmas at Disney
3 days with reservations made between Wilderness Lodge and Ft Wilderness
1 dinner at the Hoop De Doo Review, followed by a wagon ride to see the fireworks
1 luncheon for general get together
1 night at a Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party for those wanting to attend
possibility of attending the ICE event at Gaylord Palms.

Every one would be there for the weekend, but any one could make reservations for longer and get park tickets if they want to. Which would be made as part of the group reservation and receive the discount. But it would just be way too expensive for most of the family.

Any ideas??

We're thinking winter in the south (since most the family is in Indiana, they'd get out of the cold). Or summer where ever. Preferable East of the Mississippi River where it probably would only take 1 day of traveling to get to for most. We're just clueless on someplace to go to that would have a few activities for every one to be a part of since we're talk 84yrs old down to little kids.

Are you planning that for this year?!? Either way, I think the Disney idea is pretty darn expensive. If most of the family lives in Indiana, why not just have a get together there? Most of my family is in Michigan and we just had our 100 year reunion. There were probably about 200 people that showed up at the rec center it was being held at. There's a lake and games and a kitchen (did a pot luck) and everybody had a great time. The point of family get togethers is to spend time with family. This just sounds like an excuse to get to Disney and not so much for the family time.

 

[happygirl]

You might check out Branson, Mo there are tons of things to do there, It might be a lot cheaper then Disney World

 

[agnes!]

You might check out Branson, Mo there are tons of things to do there, It might be a lot cheaper then Disney World

OP - Seems like both Branson and Pigeon Forge would be more centrally located than WDW or Myrtle Beach (even though I do like both). I would also look into state/regional/county parks and make reservations as soon as possible if your timeframe is sometime next summer.

agnes!

 

[golfgal]

I couldn't imagine trying to plan a Disney vacation for 100 people Disney at Christmas is VERY expensive too.

I would find a small resort and go there. There are a LOT in Northern MN that would be perfect. I am sure there are plenty elsewhere too. They would have cabins/townhouses for people to stay in, swimming/sports activities, etc. Something along this line: http://www.birchbaygolfresort.com/ . I am sure there are other places like this closer to you as well.

State park cabins can be VERY difficult to rent so planning for a group that size at a state park might be next to impossible.

 

[phorsenuf]

I couldn't imagine trying to plan a Disney vacation for 100 people Disney at Christmas is VERY expensive too.

And getting hotel reservations for that many this late in the game...and at Wilderness Lodge. You sure dream big Sandra. Do you have any idea how much that would cost!!!
Are you paying for all these people or do you expect them to cough up that insane amount. And who would be paying for you?

I think you would be better off finding something up near Indiana. I'm sure people are going to be tight as it is since it's Christmas and all.

Christmas at Disney for 50-100 less than 2 months out. Priceless.


ETA: For S&G I did a quick price out. 1 room at WL 2 adults, 2 kids under 10, with park hoppers and flights out of Indy Dec 23-26th $3,960. MVMCP - $155, HDDR - $204, ICE- $70. For a grand total (not including food or carriage ride) $4,388.

So $4,388 for a family of 4.

 

[scrapquitler]

We're thinking winter in the south (since most the family is in Indiana, they'd get out of the cold). Or summer where ever. Preferable East of the Mississippi River where it probably would only take 1 day of traveling to get to for most. We're just clueless on someplace to go to that would have a few activities for every one to be a part of since we're talk 84yrs old down to little kids.

I think Summer is probably going to get more people coming, if that is your goal. If you want to do winter, you're pretty much making anyone with kids take time off of school to travel, unless you do CHristmas week, which will likely cut out a large portion of people willing to attend.

 

[powellrj]

What about Holiday World or Indiana Beach. They are both set-up to do large groups and would be much more affordable for families that live in Indiana.

We do reunions for both sides of my family and we always use local parks with large shelter house. We always have around 50 people, but we also only stay for a few hours, not days.

 

[wvjules]

And getting hotel reservations for that many this late in the game...and at Wilderness Lodge. You sure dream big Sandra. Do you have any idea how much that would cost!!!
Are you paying for all these people or do you expect them to cough up that insane amount. And who would be paying for you?
I think you would be better off finding something up near Indiana. I'm sure people are going to be tight as it is since it's Christmas and all.

Christmas at Disney for 50-100 less than 2 months out. Priceless.


ETA: For S&G I did a quick price out. 1 room at WL 2 adults, 2 kids under 10, with park hoppers and flights out of Indy Dec 23-26th $3,960. MVMCP - $155, HDDR - $204, ICE- $70. For a grand total (not including food or carriage ride) $4,388.

So $4,388 for a family of 4.

Well duh! She'd be charging family members to make reservations for them. Then she'd have plenty of money. lol

 

[PebblesMK]

Well duh! She'd be charging family members to make reservations for them. Then she'd have plenty of money. lol

That and hold a yard sale full of her aunt's stuff.

 

[SandrA9810]

The family reunion idea has been up in the air for a year now. We starting thinking about it the last time we came here. We're having a great big dinner tomorrow night with some of the family, and we wanted to be able to throw some ideas out. Since last year, they were the ones to throw the idea out at my aunt she should plan one.

And it wouldn't be Christmas week at Disney, either early November or early December. Come on, you all should know Christmas starts the day after Halloween at Disney. And if the family had that kind of money, the booking would've been done a year ago.
Part of the idea for doing it at Disney, would've been because most the family probably wouldn't have the money to make their own family trip there. There's some good discounts for large groups like that. I also know the Disney standards, and everything would be taken care of.
Any case, Disney's out the window. So it doesn't really matter.

And I also don't mean before the end of this year. The earliest would be maybe February if the price was right. But we figured 6 months advanced notice would give them time to plan and save for it. So this coming summer or next winter.

The actual last large family reunion happened 30 years ago. So it's long overdue for one.

 

[Scurvy]

I would never have a family reunion at Disney World. If I'm spending the money to go there I'd want the focus to be on experiencing Disney, not spending time with family I haven't seen in a long time. For family reunions, I agree with other posters that state parks are great options. The Smoky Mountains are also good. We typically either use a state park or a family member's home, but the home is also a bed and breakfast in a tourist area, so it works well as a destination. I think a beach town might also be a good option. I wouldn't choose a theme park since I think it would be difficult to fully enjoy the parks and also spend time catching up with 50 to 100 family members. Basically, I would choose someplace that has activities to choose from, but not someplace where the activities are the point of the place, if that makes sense. I'd like someplace where I could go play mini golf (or horseshoes or go for a hike or a swim or whatever) if I felt like it, but where I wouldn't feel I had wasted my money if I spent most of the time sitting around visiting with family members, since to me that's the point of a family reunion.

 

[SandrA9810]

OP - Seems like both Branson and Pigeon Forge would be more centrally located than WDW or Myrtle Beach (even though I do like both). I would also look into state/regional/county parks and make reservations as soon as possible if your timeframe is sometime next summer.

agnes!

Pigeon Forge sounds nice. I was thinking of Gatlinburg too.

some place that could house all of us, but not have every one together the entire time. A few activities to bring some together, but left optional.