To celebrate upcoming National Grandparents Day on 6th October 2019, Visit Orlando has put together 10 memorable holiday ideas for grandparents & grandkids.

Recent data from Thomas Cook revealed that multi-generational holidays are still on the up with 64% of families either going on multi-generational holidays or considering it, up from 57% in 2017. Thomas Cook predicts split-generation holidays - where grandparents with more disposable income take the grandchildren away and give the parents a break - is the 'next big thing' in family holidays. Already, over a third of Brits (37%) either send their children away with grandparents or are considering doing so for future holidays.

One of the newest travel trends, “gramping,” gives grandparents the chance to bond with their grandchildren by taking them on a “skip-gen” holiday (leaving the parents at home). With the focus on connecting with their grandkids, grandparents can set their sights on exploring a nostalgic destination that they may have vacationed at themselves or with their own children.

With an activity for every age – from babies to 90-year-olds – Orlando is the perfect fit for a 'gramping' holiday, where the only goal is to make memories that will last a lifetime.

• From becoming a “fairy grandparent” by making a grandchild's princess dreams come true to the adrenaline rush from a ride on a classic wooden roller coaster, “Fairy Grandparents” can watch their grandchild transform into a shining knight or Disney princess with a makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Nothing is more magical than becoming part of a fairytale and sharing that unforgettable moment.

• Ollivanders at Universal Orlando's Wizarding World of Harry Potter is an unforgettable destination for any Potterhead grandchild; they can participate in a wand selection ceremony where the wand truly chooses the wizard. Receiving that first wand is a pivotal moment in any young wizard's life, giving both grandparents and their grandkids an experience to treasure.

• Grandparents can take their grandkids all the way to the arctic with SeaWorld Orlando's new Penguin Encounter Meet, hold and pet new flippered friends together, as each bird has its own unique personality! At the end, grandparents and their grandkids can take a keepsake photo together with their favorite penguin, memorializing the artic adventure they've shared.

• Spend time with a favorite character – whether it be princesses or classics like Mickey and friends - at a Character Dining Experience. Older kids can dine like proper Disney royalty at the Grand Floridian's Garden View Tea Room.

• Art comes alive at the Crayola Experience. Grandparents and grandkids can design a custom crayon together, creating a unique color and color name special to just to the two of them. Then, create a personalized coloring sheet at a special photo booth. Long after the trip is over, grandchildren will remember the fun time they had with their grandparent when they color.

• Relive classic amusement park memories at Fun Spot America. Filled with wooden rollercoasters, bumper cars and a two-story carousel, grandparents can enjoy childhood theme park memories again, this time with their grandchildren. Plus, Fun Spot's go-kart tracks set up grandparent versus grandchild in an epic race or zoom together in a two-seater kart, perfect for fulfilling that shared need for speed.

• Bring together a grandparent's memories of history and a grandkid's ideas for the future at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. For children, so much of NASA and space travel are just facts in a textbook. A grandparent can show them the Space Shuttle Atlantis and share what they remember living through, like Apollo 11 and the Mars Rover, for a meaningful, out-of-this-world trip.

• Check out grandparents' and grandchildren's favorite celebrities at Madame Tussauds Celebrity Wax Attraction at ICON Park. Grandparents reminisce with their grandkids about leaders who impacted their generation and beyond – like Martin Luther King Jr. - while the younger ones talk about current Hollywood stars like Ryan Gosling or Selena Gomez. The grandkids can even teach their grandparents the art of taking a selfie!

• Learn something new together at the Orlando Science Center by making memories digging for dinosaur bones or braving the strong winds of a hurricane. At its Hive: a Makerspace, grandkids can enjoy building whacky inventions that they can bring home as a keepsake. This visit may just inspire a lifetime love of science in a grandchild.

• Pass on the love for sports to grandchildren. Grandparents can teach grandkids the tips and tricks of golf at Topgolf, showing their grandkids how to hold a club and drive a ball across the green. Go to sporting events at Exploria Stadium or the Amway Center. There's no greater bond than avidly supporting the same sports team, so grandparents and grandchildren become fans of the NBA Orlando Magic or MLS Orlando City Soccer together. Older sports aficionados can teach grandkids the rules of the game, get matching jerseys and make precious memories sitting side by side in a crowded stadium cheering at the top of their lungs.

Orlando Deals

• Kids Eat Free with Thomas Cook

With all Thomas Cook Orlando package holidays of seven nights or more, kids ages 11 and under receive their own Kids Eat Free card. T&C's apply. For bookings, visit ThomasCook.com.

• 7 nights from £525pp with Virgin Holidays departing 4/12/19

Enjoy 7 nights at Baymont Inn & Suites, International Drive, departing 4/12/19. Includes breakfast car hire + basic insurance. Based on 2 adults from £525 pp. For bookings, visit VirginHolidays.co.uk.

• 7 nights from £549pp with Ocean Florida; Select dates in 2020

Enjoy 7 nights at the Avanti Resort and experience Orlando for FREE with the Ocean Explorer ticket bundle – exclusive to Ocean Florida. For bookings, visit OceanFlorida.co.uk.

• 10-night Theme Park Combo with travelplanners for 2020 travel

Theme Park Combo including 7 nights at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort with Disney Ultimate 14-Day Ticket, Disney's Quick Service Dining Plan & $100 Disney Gift Card; plus, 3 nights at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando. Prices start at £1275 per person. T&C's apply. For bookings, visit travelplanners.co.uk.

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The Orlando Destination
Home to seven of the world's top theme parks, Orlando is the No.1 family vacation destination, Theme Park Capital of the World®, and most visited destination in the United States. An unparalleled mix of unique experiences create cherished memories for visitors, including legendary theme parks from Disney, Universal and SeaWorld, an array of world-class water parks, entertainment venues, an award-winning food scene, shopping, sports and nightlife. And, with 450 hotels, Orlando offers more lodging options than nearly any other destination in the world, from expansive resorts to uniquely themed hotels.

About Visit Orlando
Visit Orlando is the official tourism association for the most visited destination in the United States, with representation in more than a dozen countries around the world. Visit Orlando, together with its 1,200 member organizations, represents the area's leading industry.