Holiday Traditions at Evermore Orlando Resort Now Come With Conversation Prompts

Evermore Orlando Resort added something unusual to its holiday lineup this year. Alongside Santa sightings and lagoon days, the 1,100-acre destination near Walt Disney World rolled out a program built to help families actually talk to each other.

A Harvard-trained social scientist helped design the new traditions. Thanksgiving dinner now arrives with conversation starters meant to keep relatives at the table long after the pie is gone.

"Thanksgiving has always been about gathering around the table, but being together does not automatically mean we are connecting," said Elizabeth Mullins, president of Evermore Orlando Resort. "Through Relational Wellness by Evermore, we are designing simple moments, from sharing gratitude to creating meaningful rituals, that help families and friends become more present with one another."

The program fits into a full season of festivities at the resort. Holiday programming begins in November and continues through Jan. 1, 2027.

A Thanksgiving Built Around Conversation

Those traditions come from Kasley Killam, author of "The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health Is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier." The resort calls the partnership an industry first, and Killam now advises its new Relational Wellness program.

Her Thanksgiving additions look simple on paper. Connection Cocktails and Connection Menus come paired with conversation prompts, giving relatives something to discuss besides the football score. Guests can also write Gratitude Cards for loved ones near and far, and an Evermore Thanksgiving Toast closes out both holiday dinner options.

Killam described the goal in plain terms. "My hope is that people go to theme parks to experience attractions, and come to Evermore to experience each other," she said in an interview with Skift.

Lanterns Over Evermore Bay

The program's centerpiece takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, when guests gather along Evermore Bay for the Gratitude Lantern Ceremony. Each person honors someone who has brought light into their life as lanterns glow across the water.

The bay itself makes the setting work. The 8-acre lagoon runs on Crystal Lagoons technology and wraps the resort in white sand, with kayaks and paddleboards included for guests, as detailed in this look at Orlando's lagoon resorts.

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Thanksgiving week fills in around the ceremony with more hands-on traditions. A Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning asks runners to bring a nonperishable food item for Second Harvest Food Bank, and families can reserve a tree-planting moment for an added fee. 

For dinner, Twin View, Evermore's signature restaurant overlooking the lagoon, serves a family-style holiday meal. Guests who would rather stay in can have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner delivered to their residence, and both options come with an Evermore apple pie.

Santa Arrives by Water

Christmas officially starts the next evening. On Friday, Nov. 27, Mrs. Claus and her elves open the celebration on Evermore Bay before Santa crosses the water to shore, according to the resort's Thanksgiving events page. The 5-7 p.m. event includes a countdown, the lighting of a 25-foot Christmas tree, firepits and snow in a state that rarely sees any.

Two additional traditions put the lagoon to work later in the season. A Christmas Morning Bay Swim and a New Year's Polar Plunge give cold-weather customs a distinctly Florida twist.

Room for Three Generations Under One Roof

Evermore designed its rentals with big family groups in mind. The Evermore Residences feature multi-bedroom homes with private kitchens and shared gathering spaces, so families can cook and eat a holiday meal together. The largest houses sleep up to 32 guests across as many as 11 bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.

Conrad Orlando at Evermore, the resort's luxury hotel, recently debuted two- and three-bedroom suites for smaller groups. The hotel also offers holiday dining and seasonal wellness programming at Conrad Spa.

Planning a Holiday Stay at Evermore

Some holiday events depend on the weather and may change locations, according to the resort. Guests can check the latest times on Evermore's activity calendar.

The season wraps on New Year's Day with the Polar Plunge, a winter tradition that takes far less nerve in Central Florida than it does up north. Many of the holiday dining experiences, cabanas and workshops require reservations or added fees, so families eyeing a Thanksgiving trip should book soon.