For our latest Walt Disney World holiday, we spent 14 nights at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa, one of the newest luxury resorts in the Bonnet Creek area and a hotel we had been eager to experience for quite some time.
Whilst this was our first stay at the JW Marriott, it wasn’t our first visit to Bonnet Creek. Over the years, we have become huge fans of this exclusive enclave of luxury resorts hidden within Walt Disney World. In our opinion, Bonnet Creek remains one of Disney’s best kept secrets and offers a level of luxury that in our opinion surpasses many of Disney’s own Deluxe Resorts, whilst still being on Disney property.
On previous trips, we have stayed at the Signia by Hilton Bonnet Creek and on our last two visits at the exceptional Waldorf Astoria Orlando, which remains one of our favourite hotels anywhere in the world. We typically book our Florida holidays through Virgin Holidays or British Airways Holidays, and availability usually dictates where we stay. This time, availability wasn’t working in our favour at the Waldorf, which ultimately gave us the perfect opportunity to experience the JW Marriott for the very first time.
The JW Marriott offers a different style of luxury compared with the Waldorf Astoria. Where the Waldorf leans towards timeless elegance and classic luxury, the JW embraces a more contemporary and modern approach. Throughout our stay, we found ourselves comparing the two properties and whilst they are very different experiences the JW Marriott absolutely deserves to be mentioned in the same conversation when looking for a luxury hotel for your next Disney holiday.
After spending two weeks here, I can confidently say this is one of the best resorts we have stayed at in Orlando.
First Impressions
After a long flight from London, arriving at a hotel can often be the moment when the excitement of the holiday really begins. Pulling into the JW Marriott for the first time was immediately impressive.
Unlike the more traditional styling of the Waldorf Astoria, the JW Marriott embraces a sleek, contemporary design with clean lines, modern architecture and a striking white exterior. The exterior design is modern and distinctive. It is not a traditional grand hotel with huge columns or a classic European-style entrance, but instead has a contemporary architectural style with clean lines, geometric shapes and a slightly minimalist feel, like something that you might expect on Miami beach.
It actually suits the JW Marriott brand perfectly. It feels sophisticated and modern rather than themed, which immediately separates it from many of the larger Orlando hotels.
As we arrived, the valet team greeted us and quickly took care of our luggage and car. Although we chose to self-park during our stay, that first impression of attentive service was exactly what we were hoping for. As you enter or leave the hotel, towels and cold water is available, which is a really nice touch.
Walking into the lobby, we instantly got the luxury feeling we had hoped for. After loving the elegant atmosphere of the Waldorf Astoria, I was interested to see whether the JW Marriott would offer the same level of luxury and service and, thankfully, it did.
The lobby is a huge open space with soaring ceilings, but manages to avoid feeling cold or corporate. Instead, it combines different textures, furniture styles, lighting and seating areas to create a welcoming atmosphere. There are plenty of comfortable seating areas rather than one huge empty lobby, making it feel more like a luxury resort lounge than a traditional hotel reception.
Although our photos show the lobby quiet, especially as we arrived early in the day, these spaces become really popular later in the afternoon and evening when guests return from the parks and enjoy drinks, dining and the relaxed atmosphere.
Arrival
Our arrival experience was excellent. After the long journey from London, the last thing you want is a complicated check-in process, but everything was smooth. We were thanked for being Gold Elite members and quickly given an overview of the property.
We were greeted by the front desk team, checked in quickly and offered complimentary bottled water, which was a small touch but very appreciated after travelling. Because we arrived well before the 4 pm check-in time, the hotel stored our luggage while we explored the resort. We knew we had a little wait ahead of us for our room to be ready, but as it turned out, it was definitely worth waiting for.
We headed down towards the pool area and had our first meal at Palm Cove, the poolside restaurant and bar. After a long travel day, sitting outside in the Florida sunshine with burgers, chicken tenders, fries and drinks was the perfect way to start the holiday. The food was very good here, and this quickly became one of our favourite casual dining spots throughout our stay. It was relaxed, convenient and exactly what you want after busy park days or afternoons by the pool.
Before long, we received the notification that our room was ready. We returned to reception, collected our key cards and made our way upstairs, excited to finally see where we would be spending the next 14 nights.
I had already seen our room allocation on our Bonvoy app, but the family had no idea what we had been allocated. What happened next completely exceeded all of our expectations.
Rooms
The JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort has 516 rooms, with a variety of room options available, ranging from standard king and double-queen rooms to suites with fireworks or Disney Springs views.
Calling our room a room would honestly not do it justice. We were incredibly fortunate to receive an upgrade to one of the JW Marriott’s two-bedroom suites and from the moment we opened the door, we were completely overwhelmed by the space and luxury.
After staying in some spectacular hotel suites around the world, this was genuinely one of the most impressive hotel rooms that we have ever experienced. Opening the door for the first time was genuinely one of those unforgettable travel moments. We had been upgraded to one of the hotel’s spectacular Two Bedroom Suites and, quite honestly, calling it a hotel room would be doing it a disservice. At over 105 square metres (approximately 1,167 square feet), this was more like a luxury apartment than a hotel room.
The layout was perfect for our family. There were two large bedrooms, including a huge king bedroom for us and a separate, spacious bedroom for the girls with double beds. Between them was a beautiful lounge area that created a real home away from home feeling.
The living space was incredibly comfortable, with a large sofa, plenty of seating, a huge television and even a small drinks area with an Illy coffee maker on top of an empty minibar. Having this separate living space was fantastic during a two-week Disney holiday because it allowed everyone to relax without feeling like we were all confined to one room.
One of the many room highlights was the balcony. Many Orlando hotels don’t offer balconies at all, and those that do often have very small outdoor spaces. The balcony at the JW Marriott was something completely different. It wrapped around the suite and was enormous. We had views across the pool area, hotel grounds and Disney on one side, and views towards Interstate 4 on the other. It was such a rare feature and somewhere we spent plenty of time in the mornings, relaxing before breakfast.
The main bedroom was beautifully finished, with elegant, modern design touches and an extremely comfortable king bed. The hotel uses natural woods, stone finishes and subtle textures to create a luxurious but understated feel.
The bathroom was another highlight, but before you get there, there was a walk-in wardrobe. The bathroom was incredible, with a huge walk-in rain shower, a large bathtub, generous vanity space and beautiful finishes throughout. It even featured a Japanese style toilet, which was a luxury touch you don’t often find in Orlando hotels. The girls also had their own bathroom with another walk-in shower and bath, whilst there was an additional WC near the entrance to the suite. Toiletries were like the rest of the room, really high quality from Aromatherapy Associates London, and smelt incredible.
Across the many rooms of our suite, we had three large televisions, including the biggest in the lounge area, making it perfect for relaxing after long Disney days.
The rooms at the JW Marriott have a sophisticated style. They are not overly themed or full of dramatic design features, but instead focus on quality materials, comfort and elegance. Personally, I loved the modern luxury approach. It felt more like a high-end luxury apartment than a typical Orlando resort room.
Storage was plentiful, the beds were exceptionally comfortable and, despite spending two weeks here, we never once felt short of space. Over the years, we’ve been fortunate enough to stay in some truly incredible hotel suites, but this one ranks amongst the very best. The combination of space, design, comfort and those spectacular balconies created an accommodation experience that was difficult to fault.
Food and Drink
The JW Marriott has several dining options and the food is good here, which is really important to us after long park days.
Our favourite restaurant here was Palm Cove, located beside the pool area. We ate here regularly during pool days and enjoyed everything from burgers and chicken tenders to fries and refreshing drinks. It was the perfect balance between convenience and quality. Sometimes hotel pool restaurants can be a little hit or miss, but Palm Cove was excellent and I would recommend it.
For breakfast, we visited UNRESERVED Food Bazaar, located on the ground floor, which has tables inside the restaurant and out on the terrace overlooking the grounds towards the pool.
There was a standard selection of hot and cold items you’d expect, plus a wide selection of fresh fruit, cakes, pastries and more. A chef was also on hand to create freshly made egg dishes or pancakes to order, making it easy to fuel up before heading to the Disney parks.
The hotel’s main restaurant was Sear + Sea Woodfire Grill, the JW Marriott’s signature steakhouse. The menu looked delicious and it seemed like a perfect venue for couples, but with children, we opted for more casual dining options.
Amenities
The JW Marriott offers a fantastic range of amenities, which is one of the reasons it feels like a true luxury resort rather than simply a Disney-area hotel.
For families, there are some excellent activities on the sixth floor, including a nine-hole miniature golf course, a rock climbing wall and for families with younger children a really impressive kids area with games, toys and books.
The resort manages to balance family friendly facilities with a more sophisticated atmosphere, which is something many Orlando hotels struggle to achieve. However, I do think this is more suited to families with older children like ours.
One thing that was missing from the amenities here, especially when compared with the Waldorf Astoria, was Disney’s 30-minute Early Entry. I thought this was a strange omission, especially for a hotel located on Disney property.
The lobby areas also become a destination in themselves, with comfortable seating, outdoor terraces and relaxing spaces perfect for enjoying an evening drink. Just off the lobby was the JW Market. The market stocked a variety of grab and go items, hot drinks and smoothies. A small, boutique style gift shop was also available.
One of the highlights of a stay here was the rooftop views of the Disney fireworks from the illume restaurant and bar. It was so nice to relax and enjoy the end of the evening, watching the impressive Disney fireworks from both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT without the crowds.
Pools
The pool area at the JW Marriott is beautiful, although it is also where the hotel differs most from some of its Bonnet Creek neighbours.
If you are looking for a huge resort style pool complex with a lazy river and multiple slides, then the JW Marriott may not be the right choice. Hotels such as the Waldorf Astoria and Signia by Hilton are a better choice.
However, what the JW Marriott offers is something different. The pool feels much more grown up and sophisticated than the Signia and, much like the Waldorf, is a place to relax rather than a waterpark experience.
When you arrive at the pool, an attendant will greet you and escort you to your preferred area. They asked how many towels we required, set up our sun loungers perfectly, brought some complimentary iced water and took any drinks orders from the menu.
Service here was excellent.
The main family pool is large and inviting and was never too busy, with a zero-entry design and plenty of comfortable seating areas and umbrellas. There is also a separate adult pool area, divided by Palm Cove bar. The separation creates a more peaceful atmosphere, although during busy periods there is naturally some crossover between the areas.
For us the pool was exactly what we wanted after busy Disney days. Spending afternoons relaxing here, enjoying lunch at Palm Cove and soaking up the Florida sunshine was one of the highlights of our stay.
Spa and Fitness
The JW Marriott Spa is one of the resort’s biggest luxury features and provides a genuine escape from the theme park environment.
While I never saw the spa open during my visits to the hotel, nor did I try to book a treatment, it looked lovely from the outside. The fitness facilities are also excellent, with a modern gym featuring high-quality equipment and plenty of space. For guests who like to maintain their fitness routine while travelling, this is an impressive gym, but for those who have been to Disney walking the theme parks each day is a workout in itself.
Location
One of the biggest advantages of staying at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek is undoubtedly its location. Bonnet Creek occupies a unique position within Walt Disney World. As it’s on Disney property, it offers guests the convenience of staying inside the Disney bubble whilst enjoying the luxury and facilities of some truly outstanding third party properties.
For many visitors, Bonnet Creek remains something of a hidden gem. Mention Disney hotels and most people immediately think of Disney’s own resorts, but Bonnet Creek is home to some of the most luxurious accommodation in Central Florida, including the Waldorf Astoria, Signia by Hilton, Wyndham Grand and the JW Marriott.
The JW Marriott sits at the very end of Chelonia Parkway, giving it a more secluded feel than some of the other hotels here. The resort feels tucked away from the crowds despite being only minutes from everything. Hollywood Studios, Typhoon Lagoon and Disney Springs were the closest to us, often taking less than ten minutes by car or Uber. EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom were also within easy reach, so the JW Marriott is a great location for a Disney holiday.
The resort sits more or less between Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney Springs, with many guests travelling past the Bonnet Creek hotels without even realising this luxury hotel collection exists. When travelling on the Disney Skyliner from Hollywood Studios, the Bonnet Creek resorts are the hotels visible behind Caribbean Beach Resort.
Although we hired a car with Alamo from MCO during our stay, this was one of those times when we really didn’t need it. If it wasn’t for the fact that we were travelling down to Naples after Orlando, it really wouldn’t have made sense to hire a car if we were just staying within the Disney bubble. That said, having a car does give you the flexibility to get around Orlando, such as visiting the outlets, shopping malls or Universal Orlando, where we also spent two days.
It’s worth noting that the complimentary transportation to the Disney parks and Disney Springs is included as part of the daily resort fee. As all hotels seem to be adding these fees now, they can make a significant difference to the overall cost of a two week stay. It’s therefore worth checking the rates offered by British Airways Holidays and Virgin Holidays, as they often have specially negotiated deals with reduced or even no resort fees. The same can apply to parking, which can also add up considerably over a longer stay. At the time of our visit, self-parking at the JW Marriott was $43 per day, whilst valet parking was $59 per day.
As we had experienced at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, we made good use of the complimentary Disney transportation included with the resort fee and found it really convenient. Uber and Lyft were also inexpensive and readily available whenever we didn’t want to take the hire car out.
One of the things I love most about staying in the Bonnet Creek area of Disney World is the balance it offers. You enjoy all the convenience of staying on Disney property whilst escaping some of the crowds and chaos that naturally come with a Walt Disney World holiday. After spending long days in the parks, returning to beautifully landscaped grounds, luxury surroundings and a quieter atmosphere is something we really appreciate.
Overall
After spending 14 nights at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa, this has become one of our favourite Disney-area hotels.
What makes it special is the balance it achieves. It offers the convenience of staying on Walt Disney World property, but with a level of luxury, space and tranquillity that many Disney-owned hotels cannot match.
The highlight of our stay was undoubtedly the incredible two-bedroom suite, which gave us one of the most memorable hotel experiences we have ever had.
What else stood out here were the incredible levels of customer service. Every staff member we encountered, from the front desk agent who checked us in to the pool staff and restaurant staff, was outstanding. The service, dining, location and overall atmosphere all combined to create a truly special holiday.
Families wanting themed Disney magic, huge pools and constant resort activities may prefer some of the Disney Deluxe Resorts or other Bonnet Creek options. But for couples, families with older children who appreciate luxury, or anyone looking for a more sophisticated Disney experience, the JW Marriott deserves to be near the top of the list.
The Waldorf Astoria remains one of our all-time favourite hotels, but the JW Marriott has comfortably joined it as one of the best places we have stayed during a Walt Disney World holiday. Luxury, space, service and a perfect location – the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek truly delivers a five-star Disney experience.