JW Marriott Bonnet Creek vs. Grande Lakes: Which is finest in your subsequent Orlando trip?

Drive time to in style vacationer spots

Notice: Orlando visitors could be intense. These drive instances are estimates supplied by Google Maps.

For those who’re 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 finest guess for the reason that commute to Disney parks is shorter.

Nevertheless, if Common and SeaWorld are in your dance card, JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes would imply much less driving.

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There are numerous different components to contemplate, although, and we’ll talk about them now.

Resort footprints

Regardless of being a part of the JW Marriott model, the 2 inns 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).

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

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

Setting apart the query of facilities, I favor the extra intimate setting of Bonnet Creek. Nevertheless, if I deliberate on internet hosting a big gathering or touring with household (particularly youngsters), Grande Lakes would sway me as a result of facilities, which I will talk about beneath.

Rooms and suites

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 fashion 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 vegetation as decor. Lots of the textures and patterns that catch your eye had been primarily based on the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s basketry paintings from bygone days.

I stayed in a collection 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 sort you e book at both resort.

For those who select Bonnet Creek, you may e book loft household suites. Children have a tendency to like this selection.

The rooms at Grand Lakes are a bit extra conventional, and whereas the resort 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 may have a giant crew. A particular prearrival VIP course of features a concierge who will create an age-appropriate itinerary for your loved ones journey. The most effective half? A nightly in-room amenity — like milk and cookies and in-suite toys — is a practice your youngsters will stay up for.

If cash is not any object, take a look at the just lately renovated presidential suites at Grande Lakes. They’re beautiful.

Facilities

Grande Lakes includes two very giant inns with loads of facilities for all these friends to share. Bonnet Creek is extra intimate, but it surely nonetheless provides main facilities, as I will element beneath.

Transportation

Swimming pools

For anybody vacationing with youngsters and those that love a superb lazy river, JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes wins — hands-down — concerning which resort has higher water-centric play areas.

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

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

• The Present: average pace for single riders (top requirement: 40 inches)
• The Rapids: medium-speed tube slide for single or tandem riders (top requirement: 42 inches)
• The Chute: quick slide for single riders (top requirement: 48 inches)

AquaVenture is one other space of the complicated that encourages youngsters to climb bridges and traverse stability beams which might be suspended about 4 ft above the bottom — all whereas water sprays, shoots and dumps from all angles.

Moreover, the water park has different fascinating areas, together with the Sanctuary on the very heart and the Oasis VIP lounge space with a hearth pit.

Several types of for-fee daybeds and cabanas can be found throughout the water park:

• Lagoon daybed (from $125; most of two friends)
• Oasis trellis daybed (from $150; most of two friends)
• Swim-up daybed (from $250; most of two friends)
• Bespoke cabana (from $375; most of two friends)
• Splash Cove cabana (from $550 and consists of some meals and drinks; most of eight friends)
• Sanctuary cabana (from $675 and consists of some meals and drinks; most of eight friends)
• Oasis Grande cabana (from $875 and consists of some meals and drinks; most of eight friends)

Nevertheless, there are some situations when the swimming pools at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek are a greater possibility. The resort provides a household pool and an adults-only pool.

Each time we have visited this property, we have had the principle pool practically all to ourselves. So if you happen to favor having loads of area in your group and are not desirous about climbing atop an interior tube to drift the day away on a lazy river, Bonnet Creek is the place for you.

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

• Household normal cabana ($200; most of six friends)
• Household poolside suite ($350; most of six friends)
• Household premium ($250; most of 4 friends)
• Grownup suite cabana ($350; most of six friends)
• Grownup premium cabana ($250; most of 4 friends)
• Daybed ($125; most of three friends)

All however the daybed consists of some meals and drinks within the value.

That stated, 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 consists of 40 therapy rooms, a salon and a barbershop. The ability additionally has a health heart and tennis and pickleball courts.

However Bonnet Creek additionally provides a spa, salon providers and a health heart.

Children membership

Each properties have youngsters golf equipment and age-appropriate actions.

There is a enjoyable “exercise backyard” proper outdoors the Bonnet Creek youngsters membership that anybody can go to. It consists of miniature golf, wellness courses, a jungle fitness center 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 such thing as a 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 Membership.

Further experiences

Grande Lakes bests Bonnet Creek relating to add-on paid experiences. Listed here are just some issues you may get pleasure from at Grande Lakes:

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

Eating

Though the Bonnet Creek location has fewer eating places, I’ve had higher eating experiences there than at Grande Lakes. Certainly 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 Meals Bazaar is a much less formal restaurant with indoor eating for breakfast and lunch and a enjoyable out of doors beer backyard (open from 11 a.m. to five p.m.).

We particularly loved the beer backyard.

We have not dined at Bonnet Creek’s Japanese restaurant, Illume, but it surely will get rave opinions and has a stunning out of doors terrace with views of Walt Disney World within the distance.

You may 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 out of doors restaurant by the pool. My Mediterranean bowl was improbable, and my husband loved The Magic burger, served on an English muffin.

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

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

Associated: Learn how to earn and use a Marriott Bonvoy 35,000-point certificates

Paying money

There is a bit extra of a ramification if paying money. The bottom fee for an entry-level room at Bonnet Creek was $319 (together with a $50 per night time resort payment) and $234 at Grande Lakes (together with a $53 per night time resort payment). The very best value we discovered for those self same rooms was $760 and $838, respectively.

Each Bonnet Creek and Grande Lakes take part in American Categorical Nice Lodges + Resorts. For those who’re 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 in your cash at Grande Lakes.

JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

The $53 nightly resort payment consists of:

• Mountain bike rental (two bikes for one hour per day, per room)
• Tennis courtroom entry for 2 friends (one hour per day, per room; tennis rackets and balls are included)
• Pickleball courtroom entry for 2 friends (one hour per day, per room; pickleball paddles and balls are included)
• Entry to on-property waterslides
• Entry to the resort’s AquaVenture water park
• Shuttle transportation to SeaWorld, Walt Disney World and Common Studios

JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek

The $50 nightly resort payment 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)
• Entry to the resort’s miniature golf course and mountaineering wall

Parking

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

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