From Disneyland Paris to Hong Kong’s Ocean park, these iconic theme parks each have group hotels that are known to cater for large families.
If you’re planning a family reunion or other group booking, the group organiser travels for FREE with these cool options for group hotels! Book now!
Disneyland Paris, France
You never forget your first trip to Disneyland Paris – the only Disneyland resort in Europe, and also the continent’s most-visited theme park. Opened in 1992, the entertainment complex attracts around 15 million visitors a year. In terms of rides, enduring classics include the Space Mountain roller coaster and the Phantom Manor haunted house. Meanwhile, modern movies like the Toy Story franchise and Ratatouille have inspired newer attractions. This one also holds the distinction of being the only Disney resort to have an robotic dragon hiding underneath Sleeping Beauty’s iconic castle!
Where to stay: Disneyland Hotel
With 496 rooms and suites, the Disneyland Hotel is also home to two restaurants and the Cafe Fantasia piano bar.
Universal Orlando
Opened in 1990, the rides and attractions at Universal Studios Florida are of course themed around movies and TV shows, such as The Simpsons and The Mummy franchise. The resort has since expanded to include Universal’s Islands of Adventure – home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Marvel Super Hero Islands – and Universal’s Volcano Bay water park.
Where to stay: Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
The retro-styled Cabana Bay has a mammoth 2,200 rooms and suites, plus the super cool Cabana Courtyard and Pool plus the Galaxy Bowl bowling alley.
Ocean Park, Hong Kong
Opened in 1977, Ocean Park Hong Kong is themed around marine-life and animals, and major unique selling points include its educational nature and its commitment to animal conservation – not to mention its 44 attractions, including four roller coasters. From the Arctic Fox Den to the Amazing Bird Theatre and the Hell Raiser coaster and the retro Ferris Wheel, there’s something for everyone at Ocean Park. But perhaps its coolest attraction is the Cable Car, which scales a mountain and connects the Waterfront and Summit areas of the resort.
Where to stay: Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel
Last on our list of group hotels and located right by the park’s Waterfront entrance/exit, the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel is box fresh and ultra modern – it only opened late last year! It meanwhile has 471 rooms and suites available, including three types of family-themed room types.
If you’re organising a family reunion or another type of group booking sometime in the future and are looking for group hotels, book with us now to get your room totally for free!
Stay tuned! In our next post due next week we will talk to you about some of the best group hotels for traveling work crews. Are you planning group travel in the near future? Then let’s make the booking!
From Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort to the Hyatt Regency Orlando, these huge group hotels offer great accessibility to the theme parks of the city.
Orlando, Florida is one of the most-visited US cities, so of course there are countless giant group hotels to cope with demand – here are 5 of the best.
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
The largest of all of Orlando’s group hotels, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort boasts 2,200 rooms that are perfect for families and groups of all sizes. The suites sleep up to six, complete with kitchenettes that include a microwave and a refrigerator. This budget-friendly three star is of course part of the Universal Orlando complex, meaning all the individual parks are highly accessible. It’s known for the beautiful Cabana Courtyard and Pool, and the Galaxy Bowl bowling alley. It still feels box-fresh after its 2014 opening, with a retro 60s/70s vibe running throughout the resort that’s at once throwback and modern.
Orlando Marriott World Center
Shortly behind Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort in terms of size and scale is the Orlando Marriott World Center, with 2,009 rooms. It’s a four star hotel with no less than seven suite types: all with a sofa bed for additional guests, and many with balcony views of the hotel’s 18-hole golf course and swimming pool (which has two 200-foot waterslides). There’s also a full service spa on site, plus a shuttle service to Walt Disney World available for guests.
Hyatt Regency Orlando
One of Orlando’s most centrally-located group hotels, the Hyatt Regency Orlando has 1,641 rooms across 32 levels. This actually makes it the second-tallest building in metropolitan Orlando. It almost doubled in size after a massive 2010 renovation. For on-site dining, you could try Floridian food at Urban Tide or perhaps grab a steak at the Fiorenzo Italian Steakhouse. For classic American comfort food, head to B-Line Diner. You’ll see groups of business travelers as well as families and groups of friends here, as the hotel is connected to the massive Orange County Convention Center next door, which hosts huge conferences every week.
Grande Lakes Orlando
With 1,584 rooms all boasting opulent luxury, Grande Lakes Orlando – comprised of a JW Marriott and a Ritz Carlton Orlando – is one of the world’s leading luxury group hotels. Take the Royal Suite, covering 3,804 square feet: it has three bedrooms, seven private balconies (with views of the lakes and golf course), a walk-in closet, a dining table for 10 people, a pantry and a personal butler service! Meanwhile, there are no less than 12 dining options to choose from, plus 500 acres of parkland to explore.
Rosen Shingle Creek
Finally on our list of group hotels in Orlando is the four star, 1,501-room Rosen Shingle Creek, which covers 255 acres. Of the rooms, 191 are suites. It has a distinctive style, combining Spanish and 1900s Floridian tones. Be sure to check out the 13,000 square foot Spa at Shingle Creek, the 18-hole golf course, four outdoor swimming pools, two tennis courts, basketball court, volleyball court and nature trails. Indeed, the grounds are steeped in natural beauty, with Shingle Creek acting as the headwater of the stunning Florida Everglades. Indeed, this is the perfect spot for exploring the diverse natural landscapes of the second most popular US state for tourism (behind California) – not to mention the theme parks!
The Henry Plant Museum interprets the turn-of-the-century Tampa Bay Hotel and the lifestyles of America’s Gilded Age. Critical to the success of this mission is the restoration and preservation of this National Historic Landmark, an opulent 1891 railroad resort, and the artifacts significant to its history and the life and work of Henry Bradley Plant.
Through educational exhibits and events, the museum transports visitors of all ages and backgrounds to the late Victorian period, the beginnings of Florida’s tourist industry, and the early years of the city of Tampa. This quintessential Victorian palace features unique Moorish revival architecture, opulent European furniture and art treasures of the original railroad resort. The past will delight you at the Henry Plant Museum.
Great Group Travel Attraction for: Corporate Events / Outings Friend / Family Reunions Team Building Events Special Occasions Foodie Groups Professional / Client Meetings Spouse / Dating Programs Travel / Adventure Clubs
Henry Bradley Plant Museum: Online:http://www.plantmuseum.com Address: 401 West Kennedy Boulevard Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 254-1891
Or contact us at grouphotels.com would be happy to book your group reservation for you.
The Zoo is comprised of seven main exhibit areas: Asian Gardens, Primate World, Manatee and Aquatic Center, Florida Wildlife Center, Free-Flight Aviary, Wallaroo Station Children’s Zoo and Safari Africa . Asian Gardens: Malayan tapirs, tigers, komodo dragons, Lorikeet Free Flight Aviary (feeding allowed), Indian rhino, sloth bears, babirusa pigs, Asian python, anoa, the Sulawesi Aviary and clouded leopard. Safari Africa: African elephants, giraffe (feeding allowed), Grant’s zebra, Grevy’s Zebras, African penguins, white rhinos, flamingos. The “Ituri Forest” area in Safari Africa opened in 2007 and is named after a deep jungle in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This area features cheetahs, striped hyenas, red river hogs, pygmy hippos, shoebill storks, ring-tailed lemurs, greater African flamingos, great white pelicans and okapis.
Florida Wildlife Center: Bald eagles, whooping cranes, deer, black bear, red wolves, skunks, Florida panther, crocodiles, alligators, flamingos, and river otters. The zoo is the only wildlife center in the world where you can find the most comprehensive collection of Florida’s endangered native species.
Manatee & Aquatic Center: Has the famous manatee & aquatic center with manatees, aquariums, reptiles and sting rays. The zoo’s David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Hospital is the only non-profit manatee hospital in the world specifically dedicated to the treatment of sick, injured and orphaned manatees.
Free Flight Aviary: A sub-tropic rainforest with over 200 species of birds from around the world.
Primate World: Habitats include chimpanzees, siamangs, orangutans, colobus monkeys, marmosets, lemurs, mandrills and Guenon.
Wallaroo Station: The zoo’s four-and-a-half acre Australian themed children’s zoo features Eastern gray kangaroos, Bennett’s wallabies, ponies (Pony Trek ride), llamas, goats (petting area), New Guinea singing dogs, flying fox bats, emus, laughing kookaburra and koala. This is the childrens area. Animals include kangaroos, horses, singing dogs, fruit bats, emu, and other animals native to Australia.
Families can get hands-on at interactive exhibits like giraffe and white rhino feeding, Stingray Bay, the Kangaroo Walkabout, Lorikeet Landing and a petting zoo.
Enhance There are fun rides for every size like The Safari Ride, Treetop Skyfari Skyride, Jungle Carousel, Camel Safari and Gator Falls water flume ride. Children always enjoy cooling off in the zoo’s water play areas located at Manatee Fountain at the entrance and at the Billabong in the zoo’s Wallaroo Station.
The Florida Environmental Education Center or “Zoo School” at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo was developed to serve as an educational resource for the community and to provide exciting, nature-based programs for children of all ages.
The Zoo School offer year-round, onsite daycare, preschool and kindergarten programs for children ages one through five, licensed by the Hillsborough County Child Care Licensing Office. It is the only accredited school in the country run by a zoo itself.
Great Group Travel Attraction for: Corporate Events / Outings
Friend / Family Reunions
Team Building Events
Special Occasions
Foodie Groups
Professional / Client Meetings
Spouse / Dating Programs
Travel / Adventure Clubs
Lowry Park Zoo: Online:http://www.lowryparkzoo.com/ Address: 7530 North Boulevard Tampa, FL 33604 Phone: (813) 935-8552
Or contact us at grouphotels.com would be happy to book your group reservation for you.
Want all the fun a theme park in Orlando has to offer but less crowd and travel distance? Busch Gardens of Tampa Bay is the place to visit on your next trip to Tampa, FL.
Busch Gardens offers a little bit of everything for everyone old and young. If you’re into roller coasters, you’re in luck, because Busch Gardens offers many large coasters including a wooden roller coaster and the new Shekria which takes you on a wild ride with twists, turns and a 90 degree drop! Florida gets hot in summer, so what’s better then a water ride to cool you down? With three fun water rides you’ll have a blast going down a steep drop in a log or spinning under a waterfall while on the Congo River Rapids. If rides are not your thing, check the times for the different shows that Busch Gardens has to offer. The animals are abundant in the park, with a bird aviary, zebras, hippos, giraffes, lions, monkeys and more; you’ll feel as if you’re right in the heart of Africa.
Great Group Travel Attraction for: Corporate Events / Outings Friend / Family Reunions Team Building Events Special Occasions Foodie Groups Professional / Client Meetings Spouse / Dating Programs Travel / Adventure Clubs
Busch Gardens: Online:http://www.tampaelectric.com/manatee/ Address: 3000 East Busch Blvd. Tampa, FL 33612 Phone: (813) 987-5082
Or contact us at grouphotels.com would be happy to book your group reservation for you.
Big Cat Rescue, a non profit educational sanctuary, is devoted to rescuing and providing a permanent home for exotic (i.e. wild, not domestic) cats who have been abused, abandoned, bred to be pets, retired from performing acts, or saved from being slaughtered for fur coats, and to educating the public about these animals and the issues facing them in captivity and in the wild.
The sanctuary is home to the most diverse population of exotic cats in the world, with 14 of the 35 species of wild cat represented among more than 100 residents. These include tigers, lions, liger, leopards, cougars, bobcats, lynx, ocelots, servals, caracals and others, many of whom are threatened, endangered, or now extinct in the wild.
The sanctuary began in 1992 when the Founder, Carole Baskin, and her then husband Don, mistakenly believing that bobcats made good pets, went looking to buy some kittens. They inadvertently ended up at a “fur farm” and bought all 56 kittens to keep them from being turned into fur coats.
In the early years, influenced by breeders and pet owners, they believed that the cats made suitable pets and that breeding and placing the cats in homes was a way to “preserve the species.” Gradually they saw increasing evidence that not only was this not the case, but that it was leading to a consistent pattern of suffering and abuse.
Today the sanctuary is devoted to its Vision of a world where animals are treated with respect, and its Mission of providing the best possible home for the animals in our care and trying to stop the flow of animals needing sanctuary by educating the public about the plight of the animals and supporting stronger laws to protect them.
Great Group Travel Attraction for: Corporate Events / Outings Friend / Family Reunions Team Building Events Special Occasions Foodie Groups Professional / Client Meetings Spouse / Dating Programs Travel / Adventure Clubs
Big Cat Rescue: Online: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/ Address: 12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625 Phone: (813) 920-4130
Or contact us at grouphotels.com would be happy to book your group reservation for you.
Tampa Electric’s environmental education facility features new exhibits, games for kids and a hurricane simulator. That’s in addition to the vibrant Florida plants and birds on display and – when the water temperature of Tampa Bay falls below 68 degrees Fahrenheit – manatees up close in the wild. From Nov. 1 through April 15, join the more than 2.7 million visitors who since 1986 have to come to experience a unique destination in Apollo Beach. From home, you can also operate our two Web cameras at the center. No pets, please, but service dogs are permitted. Admission and parking are free!
The Manatee Viewing Center is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 1 through April 15. (The center is closed Thanksgiving, at 3 p.m. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Easter.) From home, you can operate the center’s east and west Web cameras. Make your reservations here for your class or group to visit the Manatee Viewing Center.
Directions to the Manatee Viewing Center. The Manatee Viewing Center is proud to feature free parking and admission for its guests. Any donations you choose to make to the center are greatly appreciated and go directly toward the purchase and maintenance of educational exhibits and publications that can help teach more visitors about the manatee and the many animals and plants that share its habitat.
Great Group Travel Attraction for: Corporate Events / Outings Friend / Family Reunions Team Building Events Special Occasions Foodie Groups Professional / Client Meetings Spouse / Dating Programs Travel / Adventure Clubs
Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center : Online:http://www.tampaelectric.com/manatee/ Address: 6990 Dickman Rd Tampa, FL 33572 Phone: (813) 228-4289
Or contact us at grouphotels.com would be happy to book your group reservation for you.
For groups of 15 or more, Kennedy Space Center’s Reservations Center will assist you in planning your group tour to America’s spaceport. For Kennedy Space Center group tours or corporate events of 45 or more, the following options are available: Kennedy Space Center Tour KSCVC buses depart continuously from the bus boarding area to shuttle your guests to their two tour destinations. Timed Departure The Kennedy Space Center tour bus will depart at the designated time for first stop.
Kennedy Space Center is one of several NASA centers that perform vital tasks for the space program. Others include Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The responsibilities range from astronaut training to mission operations and important research functions. To ensure that these centers are constantly working together, NASA launched the One NASA initiative encompassing how NASA accomplishes challenging projects through all of the centers. A One NASA approach emphasizes a unified strategic plan, a strong commitment to teamwork, and tools and capabilities for greater collaboration across the agency. John F. Kennedy Space Center is America’s gateway to the universe and NASA’s launch headquarters. Just 45 minutes from Orlando, it is a working government facility where more than 10,000 men and women push the limits of scientific knowledge each day.
Corporate Events / Outings
Friend / Family Reunions
Team Building Events
Special Occasions
Foodie Groups
Professional / Client Meetings
Spouse / Dating Programs
Travel / Adventure Clubs
Kennedy Space Center Group Tours Online: http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/groups.aspx Group Services Hotline: 800-303-5107 Address: SR 405, Kennedy Space Center, FL
Or contact us at grouphotels.com would be happy to book your group reservation for you.
Universal Orlando Resort has created some of the world’s most innovative theme park attractions based on pop culture’s most compelling films and stories. Guests experience two exciting theme parks – Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure as well as Universal CityWalk, a 30-acre restaurant, shopping and nighttime entertainment complex; and three magnificently themed on-site Loews hotels – the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and the Loews Royal Pacific Resort. Flagship experiences featured in the theme parks include “The Simpsons Ride,” “Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride,” “The Incredible Hulk Coaster” and “The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man.”
Universal Studios Orlando:
Universal Orlando Resort is a theme park resort in Orlando, Florida. It is a joint partnership between NBC Universal and the Blackstone Group. The resort consists of two theme parks (Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure), Universal CityWalk (a night-time entertainment destination), and three Loews Hotels. Universal Orlando Resort is the largest property owned by Universal Studios Theme Parks; it is also the second-largest resort in Greater Orlando, after the Walt Disney World Resort.
Corporate Events / Outings
Friend / Family Reunions
Team Building Events
Special Occasions
Foodie Groups
Professional / Client Meetings
Spouse / Dating Programs
Travel / Adventure Clubs
Universal Studios Information Online: www.universalorlando.com Group Services Hotline: 800-303-5107 Address: 6000 Universal Boulevard Orlando, FL 32819
Or contact us at grouphotels.com would be happy to book your group reservation for you.
For over half a century, Gatorland has been creating fond vacation memories for millions of visitors who have entered through its gaping gator mouth entrance. Families, friends and employees alike have ventured through the glass double doors on their way to a journey through this natural, low-tech adventure. Located between Orlando and Kissimmee on the South Orange Blossom Trail, Gatorland is one of Central Florida’s oldest attractions, and provides a unique and natural alternative to the larger theme parks of today.
Gatorland Group Tours:
Founded by the late Owen Godwin in 1949, and still privately owned by his family today, Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve, combining “Old Florida” charm with exciting, new exhibits and entertainment. Known internationally as the “Alligator Capital of the World,” Gatorland today provides affordably priced family-fun with thousands of alligators and crocodiles, a breeding marsh with boardwalk and observation tower, one-of-a-kind reptilian shows, aviary, petting zoo, swamp walk, educational programs and much, much more.
Corporate Events / Outings
Friend / Family Reunions
Team Building Events
Special Occasions
Foodie Groups
Professional / Client Meetings
Spouse / Dating Programs
Travel / Adventure Clubs
Gatorland Information Online:http://www.orlando-tours.com Group Services Hotline: 800-303-5107 Address: 14501 South Orange Blossom Trail Orlando, FL 32837
Or contact us at grouphotels.com would be happy to book your group reservation for you.
