KISSIMMEE — Theme parks may be the headline attraction in Central Florida, but a recent visit to Kissimmee showed just how much can be packed into an itinerary beyond the park gates — from a sunset cruise and outlet shopping to space exploration, Florida wildlife, immersive games and evenings out in Old Town.

And with a vacation home serving as the base, travellers can experience it all without packing up and moving from hotel to hotel.

The FAM, hosted by Experience Kissimmee, showcased everything from Kissimmee’s much-loved theme parks, to outdoor adventure, the new Latin Culinary Trail and more.

The trip began at Home by Jeeves by Casago, where a resort-style vacation home offered a spacious alternative to the traditional Orlando-area hotel stay. Multiple bedrooms, common areas and private amenities make this type of accommodation particularly well suited to families, multigenerational groups and friends travelling together.

Vacation homes are a major part of Kissimmee’s tourism offering, with more than 30,000 properties ranging from two- and three-bedroom homes to large luxury residences with as many as 20 bedrooms. Depending on the property, amenities can include private pools, movie theatres, bowling alleys, arcade rooms and themed children’s bedrooms.

Private pool views at a vacation home with Home by Jeeves by Casago

CANADIAN MARKET SHOWS SIGNS OF A REBOUND

The pace changed considerably in nearby St. Cloud, where Old Riverboat Company took the group onto the water for a sunset cruise. The experience offered a quieter glimpse of Central Florida, far removed from roller coasters and attraction queues.

“We have the best of both worlds,” said DT Minich, President and CEO, Experience Kissimmee. “We have amazing man-made attractions, but we also have incredible Mother Nature-made attractions.”

And what about the Canadian market? Minich said this market is showing early signs of a rebound, keeping in mind that summer is typically a slower period for Canadian visitation. He said Experience Kissimmee expects a clearer picture this fall season, especially with additional seat capacity into Orlando International.

Ready for a sunset cruise with the Old Riverboat Company

GO-TO THEME PARKS

Kissimmee and Osceola County offer kayaking, airboat rides, ziplining and tree-based adventures. The region is also home to Shingle Creek, considered the northernmost headwaters of the Florida Everglades.

Theme parks remain part of the equation, including Universal Epic Universe. Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park adds four themed worlds — Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe — connected by the central Celestial Park.

For travel advisors, Epic Universe adds another full-day option for multi-day Central Florida itineraries and gives repeat Orlando visitors another reason to return.

From theme park thrills, to classic Florida wildlife: a visit to Gatorland took the group to one of the Orlando area’s longstanding attractions. Known as the ‘Alligator Capital of the World,’ it offers encounters with alligators and crocodiles, along with snakes, birds and other Florida wildlife. Experiences such as the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line and Gator Gauntlet add an adventure component, while shows and feeding experiences provide a more traditional wildlife-park experience.

Another new addition came at Disney Springs, where Level99 offers a different style of entertainment in Walt Disney World’s shopping, dining and entertainment district. The attraction combines physical and mental challenges in interactive rooms, making it an option for families with older children, groups of friends and travellers looking for something beyond shopping and dining.

A day trip to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Florida’s Space Coast provided one of the biggest changes of pace. Exhibits and experiences exploring NASA’s human spaceflight program, rockets and the history of space exploration allow Kissimmee-based travellers to add an educational component — and a completely different Florida experience — without changing accommodations.

Food can be an itinerary in itself. Experience Kissimmee is promoting its Latin Culinary Trail, highlighting 40 restaurants throughout Osceola County and showcasing the area’s Latin American and Caribbean influences.

“Travel advisors play a valuable role in connecting Canadian travellers with the right vacation home for their needs,” said Cristina López, Global Sales Manager, Experience Kissimmee. “With so many options available, advisors can help clients navigate these choices and find a home that offers the space, prime location and amenities that make a Kissimmee vacation feel truly special.”

COMMISSION OPPORTUNITIES

For advisors, vacation homes can also provide a commission opportunity, although the amount varies by booking channel, property and rate.

Advisors can book directly with participating accommodation partners and inquire about commission, with some direct vacation-home bookings offering approximately 12% to 15% on the base net rate. Bookings made through a GDS or wholesaler can offer considerably less, depending on the reservation and rate structure. Advisors should confirm the applicable commission with the partner before booking.

Instead of treating Kissimmee simply as the gateway to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort, advisors can use a vacation home as the anchor for a broader Central Florida itinerary — pairing theme-park days with sunset cruises, wildlife encounters, shopping, interactive entertainment, local restaurants, outdoor adventures and a day on the Space Coast.

“That flexibility allows advisors to create a vacation for their guests that offers more experiences, more quality time together and a great value that goes well beyond the price of the accommodation,” López said. In other words, the theme parks can still be part of the vacation, but they don’t have to be the whole vacation.

For more information check out ExperienceKissimmee.com.

Lead image caption: Universal Helios Grand Hotel, located within Universal Epic Universe and offering guests an on-site stay at the new theme park (all photos courtesy Anna Chala)