Today, Disney World is a sizable complex that includes a number of theme parks and waterparks, as well as restaurants and shopping establishments, entertainment hubs, and numerous official resorts. However, there are also a few non-Disney hotels on this campus, some of which have exclusive Disney benefits and some of which do not.
There are other places to stay outside the Swan and Dolphin, which may be the most well-known among them due to the fact that you can use your Marriott Bonvoy points to book a room there and receive some awesome Disney bonuses, as well as the upcoming luxury tower known as the Swan Reserve.
The Four Seasons Resort Orlando, Waldorf Astoria Orlando, Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek, and the upcoming JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa are among the hotels that may be found at Disney Springs in addition to the hotels there.
My interest was only peaked further when my colleague Summer Hull visited in October and provided her list of five things to know about the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek. This location has been on my wish list since it debuted in July 2020.
Booking
The JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek has some hefty extra daily costs to deal with, just like so many other properties. A resort fee of $35 per day is charged, which includes:
transport to the Disney parks by shuttle
Disney Springs’s shuttle service to the eating and shopping district
Two welcoming drinks, two Champagne glasses
daily health education
Internet access in the room
The foyer and meeting rooms provide internet access
The 1,000-space parking garage offers self parking for $29 per day and valet parking for $37 per day. (Take note that there is just one free electric vehicle charging station.)
According to the Marriott Bonvoy award chart, the hotel is a Category 6. You will be charged 40,000 points for off-peak nights, 50,000 points for typical dates, and 60,000 points for popular dates.
On off-peak or regular dates, you can book this property using one of Marriott’s 50,000-point reward night certificates at hotels that are members of the Marriott Bonvoy program (certain hotels charge resort fees). Each year, following the month of your card renewal, you can earn one of these certificates with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. After using your new card to spend $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership, apply for this card to earn 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points.
I compared prices on the Marriott and American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts websites. I couldn’t choose this hotel, but I could have gone with the Waldorf Astoria, The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando, or the Universal Loews Portofino Bay.
I was able to secure a package called Luxury Celebrations Suite Escape by making a direct reservation with Marriott. It includes valet parking, a $200 property credit, late checkout, and a reduced suite (more on that later). The cost per night was $658.
Location
The address of this 16-story resort in Orlando is 14900 Chelonia Parkway. Southwest of Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a 25-minute drive. Additionally, it is quite close to some areas of the Walt Disney World complex, such as Disney Springs, Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. Each of those locations may be reached by automobile in about ten minutes. Only a short distance separates you from the Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom during the drive.
The Disney Skyliner gondola system, Typhoon Lagoon, much of Disney Springs, and even the Contemporary Resort in the distance could all be seen from the balcony of our suite. When the fireworks return to the theme parks, this will be the ideal place to view them.
Beyond Disney, a 30-minute drive will get you to Universal Studios Florida and SeaWorld Orlando, respectively.
The resort includes shuttle service to Disney Springs and the Disney theme parks as part of the resort fee, but not to Universal or any of the other theme parks in Orlando. Not while I was there, at any rate.
Check-in
The day before I was due to arrive, I checked in using the Marriott Bonvoy app. Even though the official check-in time wasn’t until 4 p.m., I recorded an arrival time between 12:30 and 1 p.m. That’s also the information I provided in my reply to a hotel email a few days earlier.
I checked the app a few times on the way to Orlando and saw that our hotel wasn’t ready yet, so we stopped at La Femme du Fromage (3201 Corrine Drive) to get some artisanal cheese for later snacks. At 1:30 pm, we arrived at the motel. The bellman brought our stuff to storage because the room wasn’t ready yet.
Despite being separated from guests by a plexiglass barrier, the front desk clerk remained cordial. He promised to call us as soon as the room was available.
I could tell I would like the hotel’s contemporary style as soon as I entered the lobby. There is a lot to take in as you enter with its high ceilings, marble finishes, unusual furniture, and artwork.
If you’re traveling in a group, you’ll enjoy this hotel because it has so many places to sit that you may claim a section of the lobby or a nook close to the convention center.
Although this space is sleek and futuristic, it has warm finishings and earthy colors. Wood, wicker, stone, and reeds will be prevalent. (In the foyer, there is a stunning chair with “fringes” that appears to be formed of macrame rope.) I particularly adored how succulents were used as decor in the 50,000 square feet of convention area and the foyer.
Reception contacted to let us know that our room was ready at 2:30 p.m. For some reason, they wouldn’t give them to us when we went to the desk earlier to check in, so we stopped by the front desk to get our two tickets for a free glass of Champagne.
Room
In total, there are 516 rooms and suites, offering a wide variety of lodging types.
Our suite
I reserved the 1,317-square-foot “luxury” one-bedroom suite for our vacation since I value having a large balcony while staying in hotels in warm climates. It had a king bedroom, a separate living area with a sofa bed, 1 1/2 bathrooms, and a wide balcony.
Sincerely, I’d be more than content to live in an apartment like the one we were given, Suite 1250. The Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort and Waldorf Astoria may be seen from one side of the suite’s large floor to ceiling windows, which offer stunning views of the Bonnet Creek neighborhood. You can see Disney Springs and Epcot from the balcony. You can see the hotel’s mini-golf facility and rock climbing wall by looking down from the bedroom.
Observing the luminous ball illuminate the Dolphin’s pyramid as it sank below the structure during the sunset from the balcony was pure enchantment.
My favorite feature of the suite was the large balcony that ran its entire length. Just keep in mind that we visited Orlando in May, when the weather is still really beautiful there. We had days without any humidity or rain, and the sun felt good on our skin.
That isn’t always the case though, especially during times of extreme heat, humidity, and sun exposure. When choosing a suite just for the balcony, keep that in mind. Regarding how much you’ll use it while traveling, be honest. In July or August, lounging on the balcony during the hottest part of the day wouldn’t be quite as pleasant.
Be aware that our suite’s balcony had a direct view of the rooftop patio on the ninth story of Illume, a Japanese restaurant that wasn’t yet open when we went there. Although there was no choice for dining at this location, a private party did enjoy the patio one evening. We enjoyed the music and the attendees’ chatter, but if you have noise sensitivity issues or are traveling with young children who go to bed early, you might not want to hear that.
We prefer having a true suite that divides the living space from the bedroom. It gives the experience a more genuine sense, more like being at home than in a hotel. The lavish one-bedroom suite has a large entryway leading to the dining area and a sizable living space.
Even if it could have been more comfy, we enjoyed the L-shaped sofa. However, the fact that it can be made into a sofa bed undoubtedly has something to do with the firmness. There was a wide-screen TV in the living area, and the bedroom also had a TV.
This suite had floor to ceiling windows on three of the walls, so I was happy to see that there were both sheers and blackout curtains as window treatments.
Another great feature of the suite was the office, which had sliding-glass privacy doors. There were movable chairs on either side of the large desk. You enjoy lovely views while working if the office doors and the curtains in front of the door to the balcony across the hall are both open.
The one drawback is that the room doesn’t have an air conditioner return, so even with the doors closed, it can get warm in there. But for anyone who needs to work or attend a Zoom meeting, it’s a terrific addition.
A spacious suite was crucial to us because we knew we would spend the most of our time at the resort. We really appreciated having a kitchenette with a Bosch dishwasher and refrigerator.
However, having dishes, glasses, and silverware in the cabinets would have been ideal. (Those things were taken out as a safety measure during the pandemic.)
In order for the hotel’s catering staff to enter your room without going through the lobby, there is a service door in the kitchenette that opens to the public corridor.
The half-bath is located to the right of the living room, and the kitchenette is located straight ahead at the end of the central corridor.
Although we didn’t use the “Francis Francis” Illy coffee machine, it was equipped with tea packets and coffee pods (organic chamomile and Taylors English breakfast tea).
You travel to the bedroom from the living room by passing the private office as you make your way down the hallway. You can close the door for privacy. When you pass through the threshold with the king-size bed and two chairs on the other side of a slat partition, the walk-in closet is on your right.
It had one and a half bathrooms. A bathtub and separate rain shower were also in the master bathroom.
There was a frosted glass door covering the Toto toilet. The toilet lid raised on its own whenever you opened that door. It seemed a little strange, just like the heated seat, which you could control with a keypad attached to the wall, but I suppose some people enjoy this kind of thing. Instead, I chose to utilize the half-bath.
Toiletries were by Aromatherapy Associates and included bar soap, hand lotion, body wash, shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo and conditioner were a blend of rosemary and ylang ylang (a flower) and the body wash was lavender paired with ylang ylang.
There was also a bottle of “WhisperMint” mouthwash in each bathroom.
There were six deep drawers and shelves in the walk-in closet, a safe big enough for two laptops and other equipment, and enough of space to hang things. However, if you travel with a lot of clothing, you’ll probably need to utilize the Marriott Bonvoy app to request extra hangers. A hair dryer, iron, and ironing board were also provided.
The walk-in closet had the ornamental pillows that had been removed from the living room, bedroom, and balcony. When we were outside, we utilized a handful of them on the daybed on the balcony.
Other rooms and suites
Of course, not everyone need or desires a one-bedroom suite’s amount of space. Instead, you can choose entry-level guest rooms with one king or two queen beds that are 378 square feet in size. The same kind of room with varied perspectives can then be reached by climbing the ladder. Choose between a view of Disney Springs, the pool, or the fireworks display.
The executive king corner suites in the resort-view rooms are slightly larger (412 square feet) and have a couch bed.
Choose a 773-square-foot one-bedroom executive suite with a king bed, a couch bed, and 1 1/2 baths if you’re a single or a couple looking for additional space. These come in a variety of views, including those of Disney’s nightly fireworks (please note that they are now paused). There is no balcony in these suites.
Families can reserve either a 1,167-square-foot two-bedroom suite (one king, two double beds, a couch bed, and 2 1/2 baths) or a two-bedroom family suite (one king, one double bunk bed, a sofa bed, and 2 1/2 baths). The building’s corner contains a few two-bedroom suites that are a little bit smaller (1,141 square feet).
The presidential suite of the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek is the top-tier accommodation, featuring a king bedroom, a separate living area, and a dining room (with a table that seats eight). Its 2,125 square feet make it bigger than many American houses. It has a spacious balcony with cozy furniture and a panoramic view that includes Bonnet Creek and beyond. From there, you can also see Disney’s fireworks.
Food and beverage
The hotel offers a variety of dining and lounge options, however not all of them were open during our visit.
Sear & Sea Lobby Bar
You’ll get the chance to visit Sear + Sea Lobby Bar, which is located in the back of the lobby and in front of Sear + Sea Woodfire Grill as the resort fee is required and includes two complimentary welcome beverages.
The bar is a work of art, with an almost floor-to-ceiling display of the many alcoholic beverages on offer that reminds me of an advent calendar.
Sear & Sea Woodfire Grill
Our favorite restaurant while visiting Orlando was Sear + Sea Woodfire Grill, a steakhouse located on the lobby level.
We had a wonderful dinner outside on the patio. The setting was ideal, with eccentric furnishings, a view of the woods, and billowing sheer drapes that added to the relaxed atmosphere.
Unreserved Beer Garden
Our accommodation wasn’t quite ready when we checked in, so we went to the Unreserved Beer Garden by the kids’ pool.
Fish and steak tacos were served for lunch, and we also had a unique appetizer of carrot hummus. (The chef was out of pastrami when my husband tried to order one; this was a common occurrence not just at the JW Marriott restaurants but everywhere we went in Orlando. Call beforehand to make sure they have it in stock if you have your heart set on a chef’s specialty at a restaurant to avoid disappointment.)
Unreserved Food Bazaar
The Unreserved Food Bazaar is an indoor dining area on the ground/pool level, while the Unreserved Beer Garden is outdoors.
Not all dining venues were operating regularly
Despite the fact that the United States is doing a good job immunizing people, Orlando has not yet seen its typical influx of visitors. The JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek and The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, where we stayed, both had low occupancy levels when we were there. This meant that not every restaurant was open when we were there.
In example, the rooftop Illume, a Japanese dining establishment, has a “spring 2021” opening date advertised but has not yet been completed. This restaurant features a lovely outdoor bar area on the rooftop deck, which was visible from our suite, so it was a shame it wasn’t open. It appeared like a cozy place to spend a few hours, and one evening a private group had a party there.
Even more disappointed was the limited daily hours of operation of JW Market, the designated location for getting coffee and the grab-and-go deli.
Similarly, dinner and breakfast room service were only offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 6 to 10 p.m. We were unable to indulge because we were there on Monday and Tuesday. The breakfast and dinner menus were identical to those at the ground-floor restaurant Unreserved Food Bazaar.
Finally, although you could have a drink at the bar, Palm Cove, the poolside restaurant, wasn’t open when we were there.
Amenities
There are two heated pools, a whirlpool, pool cabanas, and a “Activity Garden” with a variety of activities for children and adults, however this hotel does not include a lazy river; that honor belongs to the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes.
Activity Garden
The indoor Kids Conservatory Lounge is located in the Activity Garden. Children and teenagers can go there from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to play games (we saw checkers and Monopoly), read books, or sketch. (Adults must accompany children under the age of 14.)
A entrance leading to the outside complex that features nine holes of “Garden Golf” is located directly past the kids’ club. This isn’t precisely mini-golf; the berms make it more difficult to direct your golf ball in the direction you want it to go.
Mount Chelonia Rock Wall is another option. It is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., however unlike the kids’ club and golf course, playing on the wall costs $15. On the lawn, there are chairs for relaxing and various games like corn hole.
At eight in the morning, health lessons are held on this grass.
From your phone, you may make a reservation for fitness classes, rock climbing, and mini-golf. A poster in front of the Activity Garden has a QR code on it. The app where you need to make bookings will open when you point your smartphone at the code, whether it is a free or premium app.
Pools and cabanas
The resort has two heated pools, one of which is for families and the other is for adults only. The pools are actually next to each other, so even if you’re hoping for a kid-free getaway, you’ll probably see kids passing by your own private slice of paradise.
From the aforementioned app, you can rent a cabana that is covered with orange fabric. These have a ceiling fan, can hold up to four people, and are situated next to the family pool. The daily rate is $200.
The three-person daybeds are located closer to the adults-only pool. For a little bit of seclusion, they have white, flowing sheer drapes. At $75 per day, this alternative is more affordable.
For those who want assistance entering the water, both pools have chair lifts available.
Spa by JW
Although I didn’t try to schedule a treatment or see the spa open when I was at the hotel, it looked nice from the outside. The hotel claims that it is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday and holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You can check out the spa’s services on the app or visit the facility to consult a receptionist about your best options. Four guiding concepts are present in every treatment: soothe, indulge, stimulate, and revitalize.
Choose from a variety of alternatives, including LED light therapy, scalp treatments, facials, manicures, pedicures, body cleanses, and more.
For an additional $40, you can purchase a day pass that entitles you to use the locker rooms, steam room, sauna, “experience” showers, and fitness center.
Fitness center
Make a time slot reservation if you want to utilize the gym. 6 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m., and 10 p.m. are the available times. Each time slot, a maximum of nine visitors is permitted in the gym. After each workout, the fitness center is cleaned.
Visit the front desk to pick up a key to the facility after reserving a time slot.
To utilize the fitness center, guests under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Service
Almost nobody was staying at the hotel during our visit. When we were out and about, we nearly always had the lobby, Activity Garden, Unreserved Beer Garden, and pool to ourselves. Even so, when we arrived, our suite wasn’t prepared for check-in despite the low occupancy. As per their request, I had informed the hotel of our expected arrival time through email. I had also confirmed this in the app while checking in. The fact that the room wasn’t ready wasn’t a big concern, but I’m not sure why it wasn’t given that there weren’t many guests at the hotel at this time.We used the valet parking because it was part of our package. When we arrived, there were a number of valets waiting, but none of them appeared eager to help. Finally, we turned the car off and retrieved our belongings from the trunk before assistance arrived.
The bellman was nice once we got his attention. He seized our belongings because our room wasn’t prepared. Since we had stopped at a cheese market, I was concerned, but he volunteered to store the bag in the refrigerator. He brought everything up once our room was prepared.
Although they were all busy, the bartenders and waiters were all courteous and professional.
It was frustrating that the JW Market, where we usually picked our Diet Cokes and coffees, was only open from 6 a.m. until noon, but as the hospitality industry begins to function properly again following the pandemic, the hours should be extended.
I’m aware that many precautions are being taken for everyone’s safety, but I’m unsure of the rationale behind the removal from the suite of items like wine glasses, plates, and cutlery. People reserve lodgings with kitchenettes and anticipate having access to all amenities. We found it annoying that we had to search the lobby for plates and silverware.
But when life returns to “normal” and all of its amenities are operational, I do think this will be a fantastic spot to use your Marriott points and certificates.
Overall impression
The JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek will have my business again, especially when suite prices are affordable. I can drive to Orlando as a Floridian, which makes it simple to plan last-minute visits and benefit from exclusive package deals or Florida resident discounts.
This is a fantastic area to meet up with friends or family because there are so many welcoming public spaces. It’s sophisticated enough for upscale tourists, but it also boasts enough family-friendly features, like a free shuttle to the Disney parks, to satisfy everyone.
Although not much at the resort was open because of the epidemic, Sear + Sea Woodfire Grill provided the finest meal we had while visiting Orlando, and service was friendly even if there wasn’t much hustle.