Review: JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa

I stayed at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa using an 85K Marriott Free Night Certificate before embarking on a Hilton Timeshare marketing package. While the hotel has an excellent breakfast, and they cleared my Nightly Upgrade Award to a nice suite, I’m not sure the price is justified if you book during high season at peak pricing.

Booking The JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa

I booked this stay using 85K FNC and topped it up with an extra 6,000 Bonvoy points. Sadly, Marriott still imposes resort fees on award stays, so I also had to pay $55 USD plus taxes. 

The resort fee includes:

• Shuttle service to Disney Parks and Disney Springs
• Enhanced internet 
• Daily Mini Golf for 2
• Daily Rock Wall Experience

I’ll get to it later, but the mini-golf isn’t all that worthwhile, and the rock-wall experience is designed for kids. So, for adults visiting, the resort fee provides little value if you’re not visiting Disney World.

Points can have great value here in the offseason, with some nights as low as 37,600 Bonvoy points giving a value over 1 cent per point CAD, even accounting for the $55 USD nightly resort fee.

Since I had a one-night stay on a weeknight, I figured my odds of securing an upgrade were pretty good. So I applied a Nightly Upgrade Award towards my booking and asked for the 2-bedroom suite, and didn’t select any other option. My hunch was right, and our upgrade to the 2-bedroom suite cleared a few days before our stay!

The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is the best option for Canadians who want to start earning Bonvoy points, as it offers a welcome bonus of up to 70,000 Bonvoy points, in addition to an annual free night certificate worth 35k and 15 elite qualifying nights to start working towards status.

Check-in

At check-in, I was immediately welcomed as a titanium elite member, offered a 4 pm late check-out, given my choice of breakfast or points as a welcome gift, and the desk agent acknowledged our upgrade.

The lobby is beautifully designed. It gives a very swanky vibe from the moment you arrive.

Location

The JW Marriott Bonnet Creek is, of course, located in the Bonnet Creek complex, which is home to many resorts, including the Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Wyndham Grand Orlando.

Parking

The parking options at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa are self-parking at $43.00 daily or valet at $59.00 daily. 

I’ve always been a big believer in utilizing Lyft for rides around Orlando rather than renting a car. If you have a Chase Sapphire card, you’ll earn 5x on the ride, and you can stack that by linking your Alaska, BILT, or Hilton account for more earnings.

Room – 2 Bedroom Suite

Our 2-bedroom suite had way more space than my wife and I would need, but I still like value-maximizing upgrade tools if a hotel makes something ridiculous available as a “complimentary” upgrade.

Immediately after walking in, you see the living room and the powder room just to the left of the door.

Just around the corner is a small credenza with a fridge and the coffee machine. I was very impressed with the coffee here!

The primary bedroom had a lovely corner window setup, but sadly, there’s not that much to look at in Orlando!

There’s quite a large “walk-in” closet just before the bathroom, which we didn’t have a chance to use during our one-night stay.

The bathroom was excellent, with dual sinks, a tub, a shower, and the best toilet I’ve encountered in North America.

The toilet is made by TOTO, a leader in “Smart Toilets” with a motorized lid and built-in bidet. I’ve only encountered this before at the Park Hyatt Guangzhou, and certainly wasn’t expecting it at an Orlando resort!

The shower is what I like to call the “Marriott Standard” of rainfall and handheld. Strangely, there were no toiletries in the shower, but they were there in the second bathroom.

Back in the main living room, the TV displayed the standard Marriott greeting and offered streaming capability, which is always appreciated. The accent lighting was a nice touch, but we found the sofa a bit firm.

The living room is also where you’ll find access to the balcony, which is huge, but doesn’t have a great view. We actually preferred the balcony we had at the Swan Reserve hotel, even though it was smaller. The most interesting thing to see out here was the other hotels, like the Gaylord Palms and the Marriott Orlando.

The 2nd bedroom didn’t have nearly as many windows, but for a family, it would be a pretty amazing setup. We didn’t use this room at all, but I still got pictures of everything here.

Notably, the 2nd bathroom didn’t have a smart toilet.

Restaurants & Bars

Unreserved Food Bazaar – Platinum Elite Complimentary Breakfast

This Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite breakfast spread rivals that of many asian resorts. My first thought was of the breakfast spread at the JW Marriott Phu Quoc, as even freshly made crepes are included here. The seating is open and nicely lit; it’s a really great space.

There are many different stations with cold foods, pastries, a juice bar, and hot items.

An absolute favorite of mine was the crepe station with real maple syrup!

The tables are excellently decorated as well, adding to a wonderful experience to start the day. They really nailed this benefit for Elite Members.

Unreserved Beer Garden

As we only stayed one night, we didn’t partake in any libations here. But it certainly looks like a nice patio if you don’t want to head to the pool bar.

Sear + Sea Woodfire Grill

Sear + Sea Woodfire Grill is regarded as one of the best steakhouses in Orlando, and they have the credentials to prove it with a mention in the Michelin guide!

Illume

Illume is a very posh rooftop patio serving sushi and cocktails. They claim you can see the Disney fireworks from the patio as well!

Lobby Bar

The Lobby bar is open every day from 4-11 and serves small plates, champagne, and what they claim is the largest selection of gin.

The outdoor seating here is fabulous.

JW Market

The JW market is a well-equipped convenience store with everything you might need.

They also have a very appealing ice cream selection!

Palm Cove – Pool Bar

We didn’t visit the pools during our stay, which was a real shame! But Palm Cove is centrally located between the family pool and a slightly smaller adults’ pool.

Facilities

Fitness Center

I didn’t visit the fitness facilities, but it seems to be an extraordinarily well-equipped gym.

Pool

The pool is one of the better on-site facilities I’ve encountered in Orlando. The only one that comes to mind that’s better is the Conrad Orlando, with its impressive artificial lake. We could see it from our suite balcony, and the aerial view gives an excellent representation of the space. The pool is open every day from 8 am-10 pm.

The family pool is the larger of the two and has a nice progressive entry and plenty of seating. At the adult pool,l there are daybeds available to rent.

Spa

There’s a full-service spa onsite, and the reception also doubles as a gift shop.

Just next to the entrance, you’ll also find a pharmacy vending machine.

Fairy Garden

Next to the family pool is the main fairy garden, which is a great addition for kids. Around the property, you’ll find more “fairy doors” hidden as well.

Mini Golf

On one of the upper patios, you’ll find the mini golf course. It’s a strange design with all of the holes being raised, so to actually get the ball in the hole is nearly impossible. It would be a more fun attraction if you didn’t need to be an expert putter.

You’ll also find the rock wall and some climbing equipment for kids.

FedEx Store

For business travelers, or maybe a business owner on vacation, it’s a good resource to have this FedEx store located next to the JW Market.

Disney Shuttles

Located just down an elevator from the lobby, you’ll find a plush waiting area and the entrance to the pickup circle for the shuttles.

Conclusion

The JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek is a full-service resort offering a variety of restaurants, activities, and services. While I had to pay a steep price for my one night, if you book this resort below 50,000 Bonvoy points per night, it is an excellent value. This hotel also has one of the best breakfast buffets in Orlando, and I’d consider returning just for that!