10 Family Vacation Movies To Get You Ready for Your Trip

Jan 09, 2024

10 Family Vacation Movies To Get You Ready for Your Trip
By Westgate Resorts

10 Family Vacation Movies To Get You Ready for Your Trip

When it comes to family movie night, what one movie comes to mind? While some people might prefer military movies or movies filmed in NYC, families getting ready to go on vacation probably want to watch something to get them in the mood. That’s where movies like National Lampoon European Vacation with Chevy and Beverly come into play. Oh yes, the sheer utter joy most of us feel when watching these two, in addition to Michael Hall who plays their wisecracking son, celebrate their vacation time together.

Vacation Movies to Watch to Get You Excited for Your Next Adventure

Even if you think it’s a bit corny (but still hilarious), any movie Chevy Chase starred in is one of the best ways to spend family movie night. That said, as much as we all love the Griswolds, there are plenty of other family-friendly movies to put in a vacation state of mind.

So, if you’re not sure which movie to choose for a little pre-vacay warm-up, we’ve got you covered! Here are 10 of the best family-friendly vacation movies for your next movie night.

1 | National Lampoon’s Vacation | This 1983 classic centers around the shenanigans the Griswold family gets into as they make their way across the country to the famous Walley World amusement park.

A series of hijinks ensures that both adults and kids will laugh out loud. This flick will feel like a throwback for the grown-ups and become a favorite among kids as well. Some movies are just timeless, and National Lampoon’s Vacation is one that you can always count on for a good laugh.

While you hopefully won’t run into any of the troubles the Griswolds face, the movie is bound to get you in the vacation spirit.

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2 | Around the World in 80 Days (2004) | Phileas Fogg is an inventor living in Victorian England who sets out to win a wager that he can travel around the entire world in just 80 days!

A modern take on the classic novel, this family-friendly film has plenty of rip-roaring adventures, humor, action, and spectacular scenery.

3 | A Goofy Movie | Goofy’s son Max is now in high school, trying to impress a girl he has a crush on. But after so much trouble trying to get her attention, he finally asks her on a date, but his dad’s plans ruin the fun. He has planned a father-son bonding fishing trip across the country.

It’s another fun family trip movie that you’ll surely enjoy.

4 | Mr. Bean’s Holiday | Mr. Bean goes on a holiday from England to southern France. As it goes with Mr. Bean, he finds himself in a completely different place than on a sunny beach. Through many incidents and misunderstandings, he appears at the Cannes Film Festival.

Be warned: you will laugh the whole movie. This brilliant actor is so quirky that his mimic and weird body moves can make a stone laugh.

5 | National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation | There’s no place like Vegas, baby! Another National Lampoon movie? Yes! This one stars the Griswolds on a hilarious trip to Sin City for Clark and Ellen’s wedding vows renewal.

Thanks to a generous bonus at work, Clark decides that the family should do something big — so they pack their bags and head to Vegas, where a series of wild mishaps and only-in-Vegas events leave them with a vacation they won’t soon forget.

Traveling to a new destination is a great reason to explore its history! For example, before you head out to the Strip singing “Viva Las Vegas,” take some time to find out how true is the Elvis movie.

6 | RV | In this family-friendly comedy film, Robin Williams stars as a father who takes his wife and kids on a road trip to the Colorado Rockies. While it seems like a genuine effort to get some quality family time, Bob actually wants to go so he can avoid getting fired.

As Bob struggles to juggle his secret, the family gets into strange encounters in the mountains that lead to plenty of laughable moments.

7 | Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul | Greg Heffley is looking forward to a long summer vacation doing nothing, but his mom has other plans. She insists that the whole family go on a road trip to celebrate a family member's birthday.

After realizing that a popular YouTuber will be at a gaming convention, Greg hatches a plan to get his family’s road trip off course and find fame of his own.

8 | The Great Outdoors | What was meant to be a peaceful weekend fishing turns into a chaotic adventure after one man’s obnoxious brother-in-law and his family show up. Forced to keep vacationing together, the family has to figure out how to tolerate their strange relatives.

If that’s not enough, a rivalry breaks out and the two men compete to see who’s really the master of “the great outdoors.”

9 | The Loud House | The Loud House, follows a family to Scotland, where they find out they’re royal descendants. The family doesn’t hesitate for a second and takes full advantage of the royal life in the castle. With 11 children in the house, it gets very loud very quickly.

As with stories about castles, there’s a prince, an enemy, and a fight for the crown. And the only boy in the family is making sure he’s no longer living in the shadows of his ten sisters.

10 | Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation | This animated film is great for kids and adults; the third installment in the Hotel Transylvania series sees vampire dad Drac and his daughter, son-in-law, grandson, and friends all taking a cruise.

This tropical spin on the typical Halloween-themed cast makes for a fun vacation movie to get your whole squad ready for fun in the sun.

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Final Vacay Prep

Planning a family vacation can be stressful, so that’s why setting the right tone before you hit the road can make your vacation even better. So, once you finalize your travel plans, pop some popcorn and gather your family for a movie marathon that will make leaving for vacation even more exciting!

For more travel tips, tricks, and inspiration, visit the Westgate Travel Blog!


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At Westgate Resorts, when you Check-In, there’s a LOT to Check-Out! Your vacation awaits! Start planning your next vacation today or talk with a vacation planner at 888-852-2959 or 407-355-2690.

* Westgate Resorts is in no way affiliated with the attractions featured in this article. Items or places listed are current as of the publishing date of this article. Please call or visit the respective website for the most up-to-date offerings and details.

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