Four out of five parents say they need ‘a vacation from the vacation’ after returning from a family trip. Well known for its proximity to the major theme parks, extensive ecotourism activities and wide choice of accommodation options, Kissimmee is now touting itself as the destination where travellers can be perfectly ‘Whelmed’ – meaning it offers the vacation balance so satisfying, that no one in the group will be overwhelmed or underwhelmed. Just perfectly Whelmed.
A recent event Kissimmee launched a documentary, “Finding Whelmed” by award winning filmmaker Tyler Meason, that imaginatively encapsulated the concept. Telling the story of a television host who goes missing and the adventures of his crew as they search for him, the film amusingly and creatively interacts with different characters, places and experiences along the way.
At the end of the documentary I had to ask myself if the residents of Kissimmee really did speak of being ‘Whelmed’?
I don’t think so – but it may catch on.
As the documentary shows, Kissimmee has a lot to offer, both in terms of entertainment and its more than 45,000 accommodation choices, including luxury resorts, family- friendly hotels and, with over 22,000 vacation homes, it justifies its reputation as the ‘Vacation Home Capital of the World.’
A recent survey conducted by Experience Kissimmee, the tourism authority for Osceola County, Florida, asked 500 mothers and fathers about their recent travels. The survey results are in, and it turns out many parents return from vacation more drained and in need of vacation than when they started.
“Seventy-nine percent of our respondents said they feel like they need a vacation more when they get home from a trip than when the trip started,” said DT Minich, Experience Kissimmee president and CEO.
Those respondents—especially moms—feel exhausted after a family vacation. Overscheduling activities and cramped lodgings add undue stress to a setting that should be fun and refreshing. As a result of this survey, Experience Kissimmee came up with their “Finding Whelmed” concept to solve the vacation balance problem.
Kissimmee says it brings a perfect mix of both exciting and relaxing engagements for families from all over the world. “Being perfectly Whelmed is a feeling of elevated contentment that can only be experienced in a place like Kissimmee.”
Even the 76 percent of those surveyed by Experience Kissimmee who stated their vacation was “just right” felt they needed a vacation from their vacation. With scheduling noted as one of the major drains, having both “no downtime” and “not enough time,” the hectic pace of a vacation is often working to keep children entertained, and feels more exhausting than relaxing.
“We see a huge opportunity to help parents realize that they, too, can enjoy a vacation,” said Minich.
“Parents can find balance by bringing joy to their children and themselves. They can be perfectly Whelmed. We can help parents learn how to vacation the right way.”
While we don’t usually post half hour videos this was fun – so if you’re not doing much at lunch, or relaxing over a glass of wine when you get home – enjoy.