All Holiday Resorts are not Equal – Reunion Resort Orlando

Three years ago as a family of four we headed off for our first family vacation just the 4 of us to a holiday resort in Lanzarote. It was cheap, would be warm and there would be stuff for the kids to do and us to do as a family – but I was really disappointed – I didn’t enjoy it and since then we have avoided holiday resorts because of that experience favouring villa holidays like our Mallorca trips for the last few years. When we booked our James Villa, Villa this year for Orlando Florida I was a bit surprised that it was in a Holiday Resort and didn’t know quite what to think, but arriving back it was one of our best holiday experiences yet and a place that we will likely return to in years to come.

Reunion Resort Florida

If you read our last Friday’s post about Why a Villa is a Smart Choice for an Orlando Vacation you will see that it was a fantastic find – the perfect place to rest and unwind and spend time visiting the theme parks and enjoying yourself. The villa itself was in a community called Patriots landing within Reunion Resort a HUGE complex of different communities and facilities offering some really unexpected areas that we loved exploring and visiting.

 

Reunion Resort is just 30 minutes from the car parks of the 6 main parks within Walt Disney World and around the same from the attractions along International Drive like Sea World and Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Within 30 minutes of the airport along clear roads, it was also incredibly easy to find following the directions provided by James Villas.

With security to enter the resort you are given a pass for your car that allows you to come and go as you want through the 24hrs a day manned entrance just off of the I4 one of the main roads that access Walt Disney World Resort and International Drive you are within easy reach of everything you will or could want to visit.

Unlike the holiday resorts of Europe – which put us off visiting them this has different types of accommodation in different areas of the resort all with self-catering options. From the executive apartments to vacation homes to the Reunion Grand Appartments in the elegant Reunion Grande.

Facilities in Reunion Resort

Just because we stayed in a villa it didn’t mean we weren’t part of the resort, we were able to use the facilities in the resort as part of the package from the water park to booking a round of golf on one of the 3 spectacular golf courses or even a lessons with one of the pros.

Of course my eye turned towards the more relaxing spa which is housed in one of the villas and would be a fantastic place to relax and take the weight off your feet after the madness of theme park walking for days.

Even though the vacation homes general have pools which was fantastic for us, if your kids are like ours and love company and seek out making friends then there are communal pools around the resort that you can use as well as the water park which is ideal for kids of all ages with different parts for different ages, our kids loved the big bucket the tipped over regularly and soaked them!

There is also a kids club – perfect if you want to take a break and rest from the kids especially if you are all theme parked out and need some time to be an adult.

And whilst you are doing that there are restaurants and snack bars around the resort including the spectacular Eleven which is found on the 11th floor of Reunion Grande and servers amazing steaks so I have been told.

The Clubhouse right next door to Reunion Grande is a perfect way to set off your day with a delicious breakfast and whilst we were there a special offer with kids eating free with a paying adult. Not just delicious food but plates full -ideal to starve off those hunger pains and avoid snacking in the parks which can cost you a few bucks.

Accommodation Choices

Staying on Reunion Resort you are not limited to a single choice, there are multiple choices for your budget, ranging from the budget option of a studio apartment which includes a kitchen, laundry facilities, amazingly comfortable beds, plus spacious bathroom through to the Grande Apartments in the Reunion Grande which were just amazing to view.

If you have a group no matter what the size there are options of different vacation homes many with their own pool for you to relax and rest in our villa was a 10 person villa with 5 bedrooms but there are accommodation with up to 13 rooms available which would be ideal for a family reunion trip to Orlando for everyone.

All of the different options are decorated in the same beautiful style and with access to the facilities in the resort.

Would we return?

When can we return is more like it – after our first experience of a holiday resort I was willing to avoid them at all cost however, Reunion Resort in Orland Florida has changed our opinion and when we book our next family vacation to Orlando (3 years time, before my eldest turns 10 when the park tickets increase in price!) this will be top of our list of accommodation options. Staying in one of the communities as a villa is a smart choice for our family.

We stayed in reunion resort as part of a press trip with James Villas – all words expressed are our own please see our disclosure policy for more information.

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