JW Marriott Bonnet Creek vs. Grande Lakes: Which is best for your next Orlando trip?

JW Marriott Bonnet Creek vs. Grande Lakes: Which is best for your next Orlando trip?

Whether you are a dyed-in-the-wool theme park fan or a enterprise traveler headed to any variety of conventions within the space, many Marriott Bonvoy loyalists discover themselves in Orlando on a reasonably common foundation. You might be spoiled for selection on the subject of choosing lodging. From cost-effective manufacturers like Four Points by Sheraton to top-of-the-line luxurious choices, comparable to The Ritz-Carlton, Marriott has one thing that is the proper match for each traveler visiting “The Theme Park Capital of the World.”

I desire premium lodges like these throughout the JW Marriott model, which affords quite a lot of room classes and on-site facilities starting from a number of eating venues to golf programs, swimming pools and even water parks.

Related: 30 best Marriott lodges on this planet

It’s a steep method to the lodge’s portico from road stage. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

Two JW Marriott properties put you inside placing distance of Orlando’s theme parks: JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa and JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. I’ve stayed at each. Let’s talk about choose the proper one for your journey.

Location

Location of each JW Marriott properties in Orlando. GOOGLE MAPS

Which lodge location you choose for your Orlando trip — Bonnet Creek or Grande Lakes — will seemingly be dictated by which theme parks and different websites you intend to go to.

Related: The best lodges close to Disney World you may ebook with factors

Drive time to fashionable vacationer spots

JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
Orlando International Airport (MCO) half-hour 17 minutes
Orange County Convention Center 17 minutes 14 minutes
Magic Kingdom 14 minutes 24 minutes
Epcot 13 minutes 26 minutes
Disney’s Hollywood Studios 12 minutes 22 minutes
Disney Springs 8 minutes 22 minutes
Universal Studios 25 minutes 18 minutes
Universal Islands of Adventure 26 minutes 18 minutes
Universal CityWalk 26 minutes 18 minutes
SeaWorld Orlando 16 minutes 10 minutes

Note: Orlando visitors will be intense. These drive instances are estimates offered by Google Maps.

If you are a hard-core Disney fan with plans to hit all of the parks from rope drop to closing time, JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek — which is flanked by Disney property on three sides — will, at first blush, appear to be your best guess because the commute to Disney parks is shorter.

However, if Universal and SeaWorld are on your dance card, JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes would imply much less driving.

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily e-newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists

There are many different elements to think about, although, and we’ll talk about them now.

Hotel footprints

Exterior of the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

Despite being a part of the JW Marriott model, the 2 lodges are fairly completely different size-wise.

Bonnet Creek, which opened in 2020, is a smaller constructing with 16 flooring and 596 rooms (80 of that are suites).

Meanwhile, JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes — which shares many facilities with The Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lakes next door — has practically twice as many rooms (1,010) unfold throughout 26 flooring. Grand Lakes additionally affords 60 suites (48 government suites, seven studio suites, 5 grande suites and 4 presidential suites). It opened in 2003 and was renovated in 2023.

The towers on the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

Both lodges cater to conferences and conventions, with a bit extra space dedicated to that aspect of the enterprise at Grande Lakes. We’ll discuss this later, however since Grande Lakes encompasses two lodges, there are extra facilities to benefit from there than at Bonnet Creek (a stand-alone property).

Setting apart the query of facilities, I desire the extra intimate setting of Bonnet Creek. However, if I deliberate on internet hosting a big gathering or touring with household (particularly kids), Grande Lakes would sway me as a result of facilities, which I’ll talk about under.

Rooms and suites

A set at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

As talked about above, Bonnet Creek has roughly half the variety of rooms as Grande Lakes, and the design and decor are fairly completely different.

My private model hedges extra towards Bonnet Creek. The rooms really feel mild and ethereal. Los Angeles-based design agency Kay Lang + Associates achieved this by liberally incorporating pure wooden, wicker, reeds and crops as decor. Many of the textures and patterns that catch your eye have been primarily based on the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s basketry art work from bygone days.

I stayed in a set at Bonnet Creek, whereas my home-away-from-home at Grande Lakes was an entry-level king visitor room. Your mileage could range relying on which room kind you ebook at both resort.

The suites at Bonnet Creek are additionally a few of my favorites of any Orlando resort (although the Waldorf Astoria Orlando suites rival them).

If you select Bonnet Creek, you may ebook loft household suites. Kids have a tendency to like this feature.

The rooms at Grand Lakes are a bit extra conventional, and whereas the lodge says its inside design was impressed by the pure setting and colours proper outdoors its door, the room I used to be assigned nonetheless felt darker than these at Bonnet Creek.

For households at Grande Lakes, there are two- and three-bedroom household suites (with bunk beds) that may make all of the distinction for a snug keep when you’ve an enormous crew. A particular prearrival VIP course of features a concierge who will create an age-appropriate itinerary for your household journey. The best half? A nightly in-room amenity — like milk and cookies and in-suite toys — is a convention your kids will sit up for.

If cash is no object, take a look at the just lately renovated presidential suites at Grande Lakes. They are beautiful.

Amenities

Grande Lakes contains two very massive lodges with loads of facilities for all these visitors to share. Bonnet Creek is extra intimate, nevertheless it nonetheless affords main facilities, as I’ll element under.

Transportation

The Bonnet Creek location affords complimentary shuttle service to Disney Springs and the Disney parks, whereas Grande Lakes supplies transportation to SeaWorld, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

Pools

For anybody vacationing with kids and people who love an excellent lazy river, JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes wins — hands-down — concerning which resort has higher water-centric play areas.

Grande Lakes Waterpark is huge. There are three swimming pools, three slides, a lazy river, a “sanctuary” zone, a VIP space, cabanas and a splash play exercise space.

Lazy river on the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

If waterslides are your factor, there are three of them:

  • The Current: reasonable pace for single riders (peak requirement: 40 inches)
  • The Rapids: medium-speed tube slide for single or tandem riders (peak requirement: 42 inches)
  • The Chute: quick slide for single riders (peak requirement: 48 inches)
There are three waterslides at Grande Lakes Waterpark. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

AquaVenture is one other space of the advanced that encourages children to climb bridges and traverse steadiness beams which are suspended about 4 ft above the bottom — all whereas water sprays, shoots and dumps from all angles.

AquaVenture children play space at JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

Additionally, the water park has different attention-grabbing areas, together with the Sanctuary on the very middle and the Oasis VIP lounge space with a fireplace pit.

Different kinds of for-fee daybeds and cabanas can be found throughout the water park:

  • Lagoon daybed (from $125; most of two visitors)
  • Oasis trellis daybed (from $150; most of two visitors)
  • Swim-up daybed (from $250; most of two visitors)
  • Bespoke cabana (from $375; most of two visitors)
  • Splash Cove cabana (from $550 and contains some meals and drinks; most of eight visitors)
  • Sanctuary cabana (from $675 and contains some meals and drinks; most of eight visitors)
  • Oasis Grande cabana (from $875 and contains some meals and drinks; most of eight visitors)
Splash Cove cabana. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

However, there are some situations when the swimming pools at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek are a greater choice. The lodge affords a household pool and an adults-only pool.

Whenever we have visited this property, we have had the primary pool practically all to ourselves. So if you happen to desire having loads of house for your group and are not eager about climbing atop an internal tube to drift the day away on a lazy river, Bonnet Creek is the place for you.

The for-fee cabanas and daybeds have been additionally a bit cheaper at Bonnet Creek than Grande Lakes:

  • Family commonplace cabana ($200; most of six visitors)
  • Family poolside suite ($350; most of six visitors)
  • Family premium ($250; most of 4 visitors)
  • Adult suite cabana ($350; most of six visitors)
  • Adult premium cabana ($250; most of 4 visitors)
  • Daybed ($125; most of three visitors)

All however the daybed contains some meals and drinks within the value.

That mentioned, the cabanas and daybeds at Bonnet Creek’s major pool do not fairly have the identical zing because the choices at Grande Lakes.

Spa and health

Grande Lakes has a bigger spa facility that measures 40,000 sq. ft and contains 40 remedy rooms, a salon and a barbershop. The facility additionally has a health middle and tennis and pickleball courts.

But Bonnet Creek additionally affords a spa, salon providers and a health middle.

Kids membership

Both properties have children golf equipment and age-appropriate actions.

Kids membership. JW MARRIOTT ORLANDO BONNET CREEK

There’s a enjoyable “activity garden” proper outdoors the Bonnet Creek children membership that anybody can go to. It contains miniature golf, wellness lessons, a jungle health club and a for-fee climbing wall.

Grande Lakes additionally has loads of kid-friendly exercise areas, together with jungle gyms and desk tennis.

Golf

There is no golf course on the Bonnet Creek property, however you may play (or take classes) at Grande Lakes on the Greg Norman-designed course at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.

Extra experiences

Grande Lakes bests Bonnet Creek on the subject of add-on paid experiences. Here are only a few issues you may take pleasure in at Grande Lakes:

  • Falconry
  • Archery
  • Fishing
  • Bocce ball
  • Wakeboarding
  • Pedal-boat leases
  • Mountain biking
  • Eco excursions and dawn safaris

Dining

Although the Bonnet Creek location has fewer eating places, I’ve had higher eating experiences there than at Grande Lakes. One of our favourite eating places in Orlando is Sea + Sear Woodfire Grill (open for dinner solely). The menu focuses on prime meats and seafood.

Unreserved Food Bazaar is a much less formal restaurant with indoor eating for breakfast and lunch and a enjoyable outside beer backyard (open from 11 a.m. to five p.m.).

We particularly loved the beer backyard.

Unreserved Beer Garden. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

We have not dined at Bonnet Creek’s Japanese restaurant, Illume, nevertheless it will get rave evaluations and has a beautiful outside terrace with views of Walt Disney World within the distance.

You’ll additionally discover a grab-and-go deli, a pool grill and in-room eating.

The standout meal we had over at Grande Lakes was at chef John Tesar’s Knife Burger, the outside restaurant by the pool. My Mediterranean bowl was incredible, and my husband loved The Magic burger, served on an English muffin.

I wished to like the lodge’s Italian restaurant, Primo, however we had an underwhelming dinner right here. However, breakfast at Citron, a brasserie, was scrumptious.

Citron. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

Other eating venues embrace a grab-and-go store, a Starbucks and Whisper Creek Farm for farm-to-table eating. If these choices aren’t sufficient, simply stroll next door to The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Lakes for the steakhouse Knife + Spoon, Highball & Harvest and the Vitale spa cafe.

Price

Staying at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek and JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes prices about the identical.

Paying with factors

If you employ factors to cowl your keep, the nightly charge at each resorts ranges from 44,000 to 87,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors. If you are a Platinum Elite or greater Marriott Bonvoy member, you may choose complimentary breakfast for your self and a visitor as your welcome present.

You can use a Marriott free night time certificates price as much as 35,000 factors at both JW Marriott property in Orlando. However, you will must “top it up” with extra factors from your account — and that may solely work when reserving nights on the lowest charge.

You can earn these certificates at every account renewal with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see charges and charges) and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. Plus, you will earn one other free night time award after you spend $60,000 on purchases with your Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex in a calendar yr.

Related: How to earn and use a Marriott Bonvoy 35,000-point certificates

Paying money

There’s a bit extra of a selection if paying money. The lowest charge for an entry-level room at Bonnet Creek was $319 (together with a $50 per night time resort price) and $234 at Grande Lakes (together with a $53 per night time resort price). The highest value we discovered for those self same rooms was $760 and $838, respectively.

Both Bonnet Creek and Grande Lakes take part in American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts. If you are paying money, test charges through Amex to get complimentary breakfast, a $100 property credit score and extra perks.

Resort charges and inclusions

I discussed these pesky resort charges. You get extra for your cash at Grande Lakes.

JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

The $53 nightly resort price contains:

  • Mountain bike rental (two bikes for one hour per day, per room)
  • Tennis court docket entry for two visitors (one hour per day, per room; tennis rackets and balls are included)
  • Pickleball court docket entry for two visitors (one hour per day, per room; pickleball paddles and balls are included)
  • Access to on-property waterslides
  • Access to the lodge’s AquaVenture water park
  • Shuttle transportation to SeaWorld, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios

JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek

The $50 nightly resort price covers:

  • Shuttle service to Disney Springs and Disney parks
  • Resort-wide enhanced web, together with in visitor rooms (although any Marriott Bonvoy member already will get free Wi-Fi entry)
  • Access to the lodge’s miniature golf course and mountain climbing wall

Parking

Frankly, contemplating how a lot wide-open house stays in Florida, I discover these parking charges outrageous. It prices the identical to park at each of those lodges.

  • Valet: $54 plus tax per night time
  • Self-parking: $38 plus tax per night time

Bottom line

JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek all the time wins my enterprise over the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. I desire the eating venues, design sensibilities and suites on the former.

That’s to not say Grande Lakes is not the proper selection for you. This is very true if you happen to’re touring with kids and need to benefit from the lazy river and different family-friendly facilities. If you don’t have any plans to go to a theme park, Grande Lakes is the higher choice as a result of sheer variety of on-site actions.

Translate »