JW Marriott musings, vs. Four Seasons vs. Ritz Carlton?

[chimo2u]

Good Day!

So I have always wanted to try out the 4 seasons hotel, and currently have it booked for next October 2022, we where originally going to do WDW, but dropped it when the price was just escalating with all the add-ons. We are going on a cruise on the Royal Carribbean, so decided to focus on that this trip along with ending with a few days at Universal Studios. My jaw hit the floor when I got my total for 3 nights at the 4 Seasons - $10,700 for our family of 4, we need 2 rooms as 2 of our boys are adults. No sharing rooms in our family anymore, LOL....so anyway that pricing is through a TA who got us perks like the free breaksfast and the resort credit, but still it's astronomical. I am wondering about the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek, Grande Lake or even perhaps the Ritz hotel. I was looking forward to the lazy river and spa at the 4 seasons myself, so I'd love a interesting pool. Also I am a club level gal, so does JW Marriott have a club level floor??
Any reviews? would you consider switching to this hotel for a 3 night stay? (We will be staying 3 nights prior to the cruise then transferring directly to the Port on the Embarkation day)
Thoughts?

 

[Arindin]

For a family trip you really can’t go wrong with either of the Grande Lakes properties. The JW and Ritz are right next to one another and guests can utilize the facilities at either. (Ritz pool are is a little more low-key, JW has a huge lazy river). The JW in Bonnet Creek is a little closer to WDW but doesn’t have quite as much going for it in terms of activities and that kind of thing. (Although breakfast there is killer, so that’s something.)

Neither JW in Orlando has a club-level. While the Ritz does, the facilities have been reduced somewhat due to the pandemic and may not be worth the extra cost.

 

[GoofyDad_4427]

You didn't mention it in your post, but we had a fantastic stay at the Waldorf Astoria if you are looking for higher end hotels.

 

[Upatnoon]

The Four Seasons caters to an audience that does not worry about how much it costs -- or will pay the price just to get that Instagram picture.

There are plenty of great alternatives in Orlando.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I do not know anything about the new JWMarriott or the Waldorf or the luxurious 4 Seasons ..
I have stayed at the Hilton Signia at Bonnet Creek and love staying here.
It is connected with a really nice walk along the golf course to the Waldorf . I mention this first because I like to feel relaxed in the upscale environments during a resort stay. Don’t know why I would feel intimidated by the 4 Seasons…haha.
Please post your trip report .

 

[chimo2u]

The Four Seasons caters to an audience that does not worry about how much it costs -- or will pay the price just to get that Instagram picture.

There are plenty of great alternatives in Orlando.

Well good thing I don't care about that, I am not into Instagram.... but really wanted the luxurious feel and the lazy river. I was considering staying Yacht club club level but not sure how I'd feel being in the heart of Disney and not going into WDW. I had a pretty great rate booked for Nov 2021 before we had to cancel (in the $780 per night range), and this is more what I was hoping for again.

 

[chimo2u]

I do not know anything about the new JWMarriott or the Waldorf or the luxurious 4 Seasons ..
I have stayed at the Hilton Signia at Bonnet Creek and love staying here.
It is connected with a really nice walk along the golf course to the Waldorf . I mention this first because I like to feel relaxed in the upscale environments during a resort stay. Don’t know why I would feel intimidated by the 4 Seasons…haha.
Please post your trip report .
I also can recommend the surprising delight with exploring options in the area. I recently stayed at the Gaylord and their rooms w/ balcony and French doors overlooking the beautiful landscaped atrium and new updates to pool (grown up size treehouse water splash area w small lazy River ) Great pool bar and Huge Sports Bar and many huge outdoor fireplaces.
Planning to stay tomorrow at the Margaritaville with GardenWalk . Lots of restaurants with live music entertainment. Fantastic fireworks for 4 July and NYE…
You will be relaxing on cruise..
maybe stay at a resort that gives you option to take a short walk to enjoy the area before you set sail?
I also love the Hard Rock at Universal with option of boat transport or really nice walkways to explore their CityWalk !

We are booked to stay at the Hard Rock hotel club level for 4 nights after our cruise. We do love that resort

 

[sunnyd_83]

Look into the Ritz Grande Lakes which as mentioned, shares amenities to the JW Marriot next door. It has club level and the JW has a great Lazy River!

 

[MickMick]

I've stayed at Bonnet Creek and loved it. I'm going back in June.

Soooo, I feel like you can get those costs down. I see the Four Seasons on Hotwire all the time as a blind. It's typically $7-800 a night. Perhaps do a little bit of research on Hotwire?

I will admit that I'm really skilled at Hotwire blind bids, so the decision is easy for me.

 

[Mango7100]

We haven’t been to the others but we stayed for 8 nights over July 4th last summer at the Four Seasons and it was hands down the nicest resort I have ever been to. The service and the amenities blow any Disney resort out of the water. We ended up only going to the parks for 3 days in the afternoon because we didn’t want to leave the resort. We got a ridiculously good deal with the Stay 3 Nights, Get the Fourth free. We paid about $5700 total for 8 nights for one room (party of 3), and had a view of Epcot to watch fireworks even though we didn’t pay for the ParkView rooms. Pricing rooms this year have gone up significantly, and rooms are running $300 more a night than we paid last summer. But if you keep checking, you can get good deals there and it’s worth it (and I am usually a cheap person and we are comfortable but not the rich, don’t care the cost clientele.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

The JW Grande Lakes doesn't have a CL, but they have a great restaurant there. The hotel has an actual garden and they serve what they are able to grow. I mean they weren't able to grow everything they serve, but the food was really good. We enjoyed touring the garden. The lazy river was also really nice. They offer an assortment of included amenities, and the grounds are outstanding.

If you want to be very close to WDW though, Bonnet Creek is located within WDW. It is one little parcel of land Disney wasn't able to buy (long ago), but otherwise the area is surrounded by WDW. The JW there is very new. I don't know if they have a CL there.

The Marriott World Center is getting an awesome new pool/waterpark! They also do not have a CL, but we got breakfast in the hotel's marketplace that was very good.

 

[PinkPixel]

Well good thing I don't care about that, I am not into Instagram.... but really wanted the luxurious feel and the lazy river. I was considering staying Yacht club club level but not sure how I'd feel being in the heart of Disney and not going into WDW. I had a pretty great rate booked for Nov 2021 before we had to cancel (in the $780 per night range), and this is more what I was hoping for again.

Maybe spa treatments at the FS and staying club level at yacht club while family goes to Epcot or HS?

 

[fatevilmonkey]

Four Seasons if you can float it !

 

[chimo2u]

Four Seasons if you can float it !

Yes, I would have loved to stay there but 3 days it's pricing at $10,000 so I decided no go. We are going to do Wilderness Lodge Club level at WDW for 3 nights instead and get park tickets for 2 days to get a SMALL disney fix in before the cruise - $3,500 cheaper even with park tickets

 

[nuhusky123]

I’ve stayed at the jw grand lakes about ten times. I love the hotel. The pool is best in Orlando imo. The lazy river is just fantastic and heated. food onsite is great. for day eats the pool bar and golf course are fantastic.

I’d stay at the jw and walk over to the ritz for more food options (+1 good eatery) but the jw has most of the resort facilities and food options

if you have status The buffet breakfast is awesome