ITTN’s Julia Labedz is continuing the Expedition Kissimmee FAM trip, joined by Jo White of Experience Kissimmee, Charlotte Flach of Selling Travel, and 10 international media representatives. Today’s itinerary placed the spotlight on high-end hospitality, with exclusive access to luxury vacation homes, resort experiences, and even some festive entertainment across Kissimmee.
Joining Julia on the trip are: Ikram Casas, Daniel Guerrero, Amanda Leonel, Martha Vargas, Ann Rupenstein, Nancy Benettonsampath, Jill Weinlein, Lisa Niver, Khursheed Dinshaw, Christophe Hardin, and Marcos Ferreira.
The morning began with a visit to Reunion Resort & Golf Club, a 2,300-acre destination resort located just 10 kilometers from Walt Disney World. After a meet-and-greet in the Grande Lobby, the group received an overview of the what the resort has on offer, from luxury villas and private homes to its full suite of guest amenities. The tour included a stop at the on-site water park, complete with lazy river and slides, followed by a walk-through of several of the resort’s most impressive vacation homes.
With accommodations ranging from one-bedroom villas to 13-bedroom estates, Reunion’s portfolio caters to everything from FITs and multigenerational families to large groups and corporate incentives. The resort itself is set within a beautifully maintained golf and leisure community, and provides access to three signature courses. The resort delivers the ultimate high-end guest experience while still being within easy reach of Orlando’s main attractions.
What stood out most during the tour were the incredible themed children’s bedrooms, which ranged from Disney princess suites and Encanto-inspired décor to entire arcade-style game rooms and even an indoor basketball court. These fantasy-worthy rooms were a hit among the media group and showcased just how creatively tailored the properties can be for families. Each home we toured was exceptionally clean, immaculately maintained, and impressively spacious, with stunning private pools, expansive kitchens designed for entertaining, and sleek, modern finishes throughout. The combination of whimsical design and high-spec amenities makes these homes both playful and luxurious, truly enticing for families, multigenerational groups, or even celebrity guests.
Following the tour, the group headed to the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center for lunch at Wreckers Sports Bar. Known for having the largest sports screen in the area, Wreckers served up classic American pub food and hit the spot in more ways than one! Beyond the dining, the group had the chance to explore the resort’s indoor atrium, a vast, glass-enclosed space complete with cascading waterfalls, koi fish ponds, a cave system, and tropical landscaping. Boutique shops dotted the walkways, adding to the experience and making the resort feel like a self-contained town of its own.
Next on the agenda was a visit to ICE! at Gaylord Palms, one of Florida’s most unique holiday experiences, and probably the coldest, as the group moved from a lovely 28 degree full-sunshine heat to -12 degrees celsius. With this year’s theme centred around Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the attraction transformed the resort into what can only be described as a truly festive wonderland of ice sculptures, light installations, with plenty of storytelling to accompany each attraction.
Thanks to the low temperature, the holiday experience could include detailed, larger-than-life sculptures of Rudolph, Clarice, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, and Santa’s sleigh, all hand-carved from more than two million pounds of ice.
After thawing out from the sub-zero temps, the group had time to return to the resort and prepare for dinner.
To close the day, and the FAM, the group was welcomed to a private, luxury vacation home for a glamorous closing event. The event took place at the stunning Grand Palm Oasis, one of Reunion’s premier private homes managed and generously provided to the group as an event space for the night by Top Tier Vacation Rentals.
Julia spoke with Sharon Harley, Business Development Manager at Top Tier, who shared how the company curates “tailored stays and timeless memories” across its collection of approximately 60 luxury homes, ranging from 4 to 14 bedrooms. She emphasised their focus on pre-arrival coordination, such as arranging surprises for birthdays or making sure cribs are set up for babies, making sure each guest receives a personalised welcome.
Guests are greeted on arrival by a team member and guided through the home in a detailed orientation. Sharon also spoke a bit about the behind-the-scenes element of the upkeep of these stunning homes, and emphasised their proactive approach to maintenance, with regular inspections and full checks before each stay to guarantee a flawless experience.
The space itself is absolutely stunning – the foyer opens into a bright, airy interior where gold and black accents carry through the home, complemented by statement lighting pieces that add real character without overwhelming the room. Outside, the pool area is a standout feature in its own right, complete with a built-in bar and even a basketball court.
The kids’ bedrooms are a major highlight too, as they are fully themed and brilliantly imaginative, including a Barbie-inspired room with a life-sized Mattel box that adults inevitably end up posing in as well (guilty!). The house also has a private movie theatre which hosted many a round of karaoke during the event, a bowling alley, a golf simulator and a fully equipped games room, and that’s only scratching the surface of what this property offers. Thanks to these fabulous amenities, Top Tier’s properties set a new benchmark for vacation home excellence in Kissimmee.
After the short interview, Julia enjoyed the night with Jo White and Charlotte Flach, mingling, grabbing some bites and getting on a bit of a competitive edge by playing air hockey, bowling & pool. The event even featured artists set up in the foyer creating chic, fashion-style portraits of guests. Watching them paint was a lovely touch, and the finished pieces made for a brilliant keepsake to take home!
During the night, Julia spoke with the media group that have accompanied her on truly experiencing Kissimmee for the past week. She spoke to Lisa Niver, author of Brave-ish about their experience, and Lisa’s response summarised the trip perfectly;
“What I love about Kissimmee is how it holds every kind of magic in one place. You’re surrounded by world-class parks—new adventures like Epic Universe, and at EPCOT I rode the incredible new Guardians of the Galaxy coaster, did my longtime favorite Test Track, and even went scuba diving in the Living Seas before watching the fireworks light up the sky. This trip, I stayed at Margaritaville and loved starting my day with sunrise by one pool and ending it with sunset by another.
And then there’s the joy of coming ‘home.’ As the luxury vacation home capital of the world, Kissimmee is incredible for multigenerational travel. Families can wake up to simple breakfasts together, spread out in spacious homes with private water parks, and still have all the amenities of a resort.
But Kissimmee is just as rich in natural wonder as it is in man-made thrills. My first airboat ride with Captain Jeff at Wild Florida brought me nose-to-water with alligators, sweeping wetlands, and more bald eagles than you’ll see anywhere in the contiguous United States—second only to Alaska. With peaceful lakes perfect for kayaking, bike rides through Celebration, and the charm of Winter Park, Kissimmee blends heart-pounding fun with the real Florida wilderness in a way that feels unforgettable.”
The evening was a fabulous get-together celebrating the success of Expedition Kissimmee, bringing together media, hosts, and partners for one final toast to an unforgettable week. ITTN would like to extend its deepest thanks to Experience Kissimmee for the exceptional organisation, hospitality, and attention to detail throughout the Expedition Kissimmee FAM trip. From the moment of arrival to the final evening glass of bubbly, every element of the itinerary reflected the destination’s commitment to delivering world-class experiences for the international travel trade. Special thanks go to the many accommodation providers, attractions, venue hosts, and event partners who helped bring this programme to life.
