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

Whether you’re a dyed-in-the-wool theme park fan or a business traveler headed to any number of conventions in the area, many Marriott Bonvoy loyalists find themselves in Orlando on a fairly regular basis. You will be spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting accommodations. From cost-effective brands like Four Points by Sheraton to top-of-the-line luxury options, such as The Ritz-Carlton, Marriott has something that’s the right fit for every traveler visiting “The Theme Park Capital of the World.”

I prefer premium hotels like those within the JW Marriott brand, which offers a variety of room categories and on-site amenities ranging from multiple dining venues to golf courses, pools and even water parks.

Related: 30 best Marriott hotels in the world

Two JW Marriott properties put you within striking distance of Orlando’s theme parks: JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa and JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. I’ve stayed at both. Let’s discuss how to pick the right one for your trip.

Location

Which hotel location you select for your Orlando vacation — Bonnet Creek or Grande Lakes — will likely be dictated by which theme parks and other sites you plan to visit.

Related: The best hotels near Disney World you can book with points

Drive time to popular tourist spots

Note: Orlando traffic can be intense. These drive times are estimates provided by Google Maps.

If you’re a hard-core Disney fan with plans to hit all 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, seem to be your best bet since the commute to Disney parks is shorter.

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

There are many other factors to consider, though, and we’ll discuss them now.

Hotel footprints

Despite being part of the JW Marriott brand, the two hotels are quite different size-wise.

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

Meanwhile, JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes — which shares many amenities with The Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lakes next door — has nearly twice as many rooms (1,010) spread across 26 floors. Grand Lakes also offers 60 suites (48 executive suites, seven studio suites, five grande suites and four presidential suites). It opened in 2003 and was renovated in 2023.

Both hotels cater to meetings and conventions, with a bit more space devoted to that side of the business at Grande Lakes. We’ll talk about this later, but since Grande Lakes encompasses two hotels, there are more amenities to take advantage of there than at Bonnet Creek (a stand-alone property).

Setting aside the question of amenities, I prefer the more intimate setting of Bonnet Creek. However, if I planned on hosting a large gathering or traveling with family (especially children), Grande Lakes would sway me due to the amenities, which I’ll discuss below.

Rooms and suites

As mentioned above, Bonnet Creek has approximately half the number of rooms as Grande Lakes, and the design and decor are quite different.

My personal style hedges more toward Bonnet Creek. The rooms feel light and airy. Los Angeles-based design firm Kay Lang + Associates achieved this by liberally incorporating natural wood, wicker, reeds and plants as decor. Many of the textures and patterns that catch your eye were based on the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s basketry artwork from bygone days.

I stayed in a suite at Bonnet Creek, while my home-away-from-home at Grande Lakes was an entry-level king guest room. Your mileage may vary depending on which room type you book at either resort.

The suites at Bonnet Creek are also some of my favorites of any Orlando resort (though the Waldorf Astoria Orlando suites rival them).

If you choose Bonnet Creek, you can book loft family suites. Kids tend to love this option.

The rooms at Grand Lakes are a bit more traditional, and while the hotel says its interior design was inspired by the natural setting and colors right outside its door, the room I was assigned still felt darker than those at Bonnet Creek.

For families at Grande Lakes, there are two- and three-bedroom family suites (with bunk beds) that can make all the difference for a comfortable stay when you have a big crew. A special prearrival VIP process includes a concierge who will create an age-appropriate itinerary for your family trip. The best part? A nightly in-room amenity — like milk and cookies and in-suite toys — is a tradition your children will look forward to.

If money is no object, check out the recently renovated presidential suites at Grande Lakes. They are stunning.

Amenities

Grande Lakes comprises two very large hotels with plenty of amenities for all those guests to share. Bonnet Creek is more intimate, but it still offers major amenities, as I’ll detail below.

Transportation

The Bonnet Creek location offers complimentary shuttle service to Disney Springs and the Disney parks, while Grande Lakes provides transportation to SeaWorld, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

Pools

For anyone vacationing with children and those who love a good lazy river, JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes wins — hands-down — regarding which resort has better water-centric play areas.

Grande Lakes Waterpark is massive. There are three pools, three slides, a lazy river, a “sanctuary” zone, a VIP area, cabanas and a splash play activity area.

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

• The Current: moderate speed for single riders (height requirement: 40 inches)
• The Rapids: medium-speed tube slide for single or tandem riders (height requirement: 42 inches)
• The Chute: fast slide for single riders (height requirement: 48 inches)

AquaVenture is another area of the complex that encourages kids to climb bridges and traverse balance beams that are suspended about 4 feet above the ground — all while water sprays, shoots and dumps from all angles.

Additionally, the water park has other interesting spaces, including the Sanctuary at the very center and the Oasis VIP lounge area with a fire pit.

Different types of for-fee daybeds and cabanas are available across the water park:

• Lagoon daybed (from $125; maximum of two guests)
• Oasis trellis daybed (from $150; maximum of two guests)
• Swim-up daybed (from $250; maximum of two guests)
• Bespoke cabana (from $375; maximum of two guests)
• Splash Cove cabana (from $550 and includes some food and beverages; maximum of eight guests)
• Sanctuary cabana (from $675 and includes some food and beverages; maximum of eight guests)
• Oasis Grande cabana (from $875 and includes some food and beverages; maximum of eight guests)

However, there are some instances when the pools at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek are a better option. The hotel offers a family pool and an adults-only pool.

Whenever we’ve visited this property, we’ve had the main pool nearly all to ourselves. So if you prefer having plenty of space for your group and aren’t interested in climbing atop an inner tube to float the day away on a lazy river, Bonnet Creek is the place for you.

The for-fee cabanas and daybeds were also a bit cheaper at Bonnet Creek than Grande Lakes:

• Family standard cabana ($200; maximum of six guests)
• Family poolside suite ($350; maximum of six guests)
• Family premium ($250; maximum of four guests)
• Adult suite cabana ($350; maximum of six guests)
• Adult premium cabana ($250; maximum of four guests)
• Daybed ($125; maximum of three guests)

All but the daybed includes some food and beverages in the price.

That said, the cabanas and daybeds at Bonnet Creek’s main pool don’t quite have the same zing as the options at Grande Lakes.

Spa and fitness

Grande Lakes has a larger spa facility that measures 40,000 square feet and includes 40 treatment rooms, a salon and a barbershop. The facility also has a fitness center and tennis and pickleball courts.

But Bonnet Creek also offers a spa, salon services and a fitness center.

Kids club

Both properties have kids clubs and age-appropriate activities.

There’s a fun “activity garden” right outside the Bonnet Creek kids club that anyone can visit. It includes miniature golf, wellness classes, a jungle gym and a for-fee climbing wall.

Grande Lakes also has plenty of kid-friendly activity areas, including jungle gyms and table tennis.

Golf

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

Extra experiences

Grande Lakes bests Bonnet Creek when it comes to add-on paid experiences. Here are just a few things you can enjoy at Grande Lakes:

• Falconry
• Archery
• Fishing
• Bocce ball
• Wakeboarding
• Pedal-boat rentals
• Mountain biking
• Eco tours and sunrise safaris

Dining

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

Unreserved Food Bazaar is a less formal restaurant with indoor dining for breakfast and lunch and a fun outdoor beer garden (open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

We especially enjoyed the beer garden.

We haven’t dined at Bonnet Creek’s Japanese restaurant, Illume, but it gets rave reviews and has a gorgeous outdoor terrace with views of Walt Disney World in the distance.

You’ll also find a grab-and-go deli, a pool grill and in-room dining.

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

I wanted to love the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Primo, but we had an underwhelming dinner here. However, breakfast at Citron, a brasserie, was delicious.

Other dining venues include a grab-and-go shop, a Starbucks and Whisper Creek Farm for farm-to-table dining. If those options aren’t enough, just walk 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 costs about the same.

Paying with points

If you use points to cover your stay, the nightly rate at both resorts ranges from 44,000 to 87,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. If you’re a Platinum Elite or higher Marriott Bonvoy member, you can select complimentary breakfast for yourself and a guest as your welcome gift.

You can use a Marriott free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points at either JW Marriott property in Orlando. However, you’ll need to “top it up” with more points from your account — and that will only work when booking nights at the lowest rate.

You can earn these certificates at each account renewal with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees) and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. Plus, you’ll earn another free night award after you spend $60,000 on purchases with your Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex in a calendar year.

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

Paying cash

There’s a bit more of a spread if paying cash. The lowest rate for an entry-level room at Bonnet Creek was $319 (including a $50 per night resort fee) and $234 at Grande Lakes (including a $53 per night resort fee). The highest price we found for those same rooms was $760 and $838, respectively.

Both Bonnet Creek and Grande Lakes participate in American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts. If you’re paying cash, check rates via Amex to get complimentary breakfast, a $100 property credit and additional perks.

Resort fees and inclusions

I mentioned those pesky resort fees. You get more for your money at Grande Lakes.

JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

The $53 nightly resort fee includes:

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

JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek

The $50 nightly resort fee covers:

• Shuttle service to Disney Springs and Disney parks
• Resort-wide enhanced internet, including in guest rooms (though any Marriott Bonvoy member already gets free Wi-Fi access)
• Access to the hotel’s miniature golf course and rock climbing wall

Parking

Frankly, considering how much wide-open space remains in Florida, I find these parking fees outrageous. It costs the same to park at both of these hotels.

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

Bottom line

JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek always wins my business over the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. I prefer the dining venues, design sensibilities and suites at the former.

That’s not to say Grande Lakes isn’t the right choice for you. This is especially true if you’re traveling with children and want to enjoy the lazy river and other family-friendly amenities. If you have no plans to visit a theme park, Grande Lakes is the better option due to the sheer number of on-site activities.