We can tell that the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek is going to be one of those spots we go back to time and again because there’s so much to do and we want to try it all! It gets Curtis’s Ambassador Elite thumbs up because it’s a great place to enjoy the perks of that status, like a complimentary room upgrade (upon availability) and breakfast. There are fabulous amenities for kids (and us kids at heart) plus the convenient location and exciting new status as a Disney Gateway Hotel coming soon, make it a great option for visiting the parks. Here’s a closer look at what Curtis and I recommend that y’all explore when you book your stay at the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek.
STAY A Room For Everyone • Suite Upgrades
As part of our hosted partnership, we were booked a standard guest room, but got upgraded to an Executive Suite layout thanks to Curtis’ Ambassador Elite status with Marriot Bonvoy. Over the years, we’ve stayed at Marriott Bonvoy properties all over the world and upgrades vary from getting a better view, to lucking out on a suite. The beauty of the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek is that there are a wide range of room options, from the standard Guest Room with a king or two queen beds, to One and Two Bedroom Suites – there’s even a Family Suite option. Or you book a Family Package, which offers savings on two connecting rooms. Many of their rooms even have firework views! Our suite felt impossibly spacious with the tall ceilings, extra powder bath, and walk-in closet bigger than my own at home!
DO Relax Poolside • Pop Over To The Parks • Hit The Spa
We spent a lot time relaxing by the pool, and in the pool, because thankfully it is comfortably heated. There are two to choose from – the family pool or adult pool – and since we were there without our little ones, we enjoyed both! We did check out the little splash pad nearby and throughout our stay we saw kids big and small enjoying it. There are cabanas for rent which we’d consider if we were visiting with our girls – especially to have extra shade to retreat to. But the loungers and umbrellas were perfectly comfortable too. I think the most noteworthy thing was the service we experienced both days. Fabiana, Matt, and the entire team were warm and attentive whether delivering our new favorite drinks right to us in the pool, or going the extra mile to find me a Coke (since I’m not a Pepsi gal, sorry Cindy!)
We also took advantage of the property’s close proximity to Walt Disney World and headed over near Magic Kingdom to try out one of Curtis’s “Bucket List” spots – Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. Shoutout to Kyler at check in for answering all of our Trader Sam’s and park related questions!
One of my most FAQs while I was sharing our trip via Instagram was about park transportation and convenience. We elected to grab an Uber since we were stopping at Trader Sam’s before heading into the park, but it only took 12 minutes door-to-door, and Epcot was just 7 minutes. The property does have transportation included in the daily resort fee. To book it during your stay, you just head to this link and request the shuttle to and from all of WDW parks and Disney Springs as needed.
With the crowd level at the parks higher than average during our visit, on day two we decided to book a spa treatment in lieu of going to Animal Kingdom like we’d planned. I was ready to do whatever Curtis wanted but was so relieved when he suggested we just enjoy downtime at the resort. So we perused their booking page to see what spa treatments were available and found two pedicures that timed perfectly with our late check out, and right before our dinner at Illume. It was a surprise to me to learn that most Disney hotels do not have a spa, so the fact that the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek does – and that it’s such a nice one – is a real treat. You can get a better look at the spa HERE from my visit back when it first opened up. Something neat I noticed is that there are chair massages and after a day walking around WDW you might not have time for a full on spa day but a 30 minutes shoulder rub will hit the spot! It’s an extra considerate offering given that the hotel hosts so many conferences. What could be better than scheduling a quick “treat yourself” moment in between meetings?
EAT Palm Cove • Unreserved • Illume
Our first stop when we checked in was Palm Cove by the pool. I knew from my first bite of Zucchini Fritters that it was going to be a great lunch. I’d suggest an order of those with the tzatziki dipping sauce, and Curtis raved about the Chef’s Nacho Special complete with a pint of a local draft beer.
To drink, I started with the Palm Runner made with light rum, banana syrup, blackberry purée and fresh lime juice, served over ice. It was delicious and I’d highly recommend it, though next time I might ask for more banana syrup to balance out the blackberry purée flavor. The next day I tried the Aloha Bonnet Creek which was also made with light rum, plus triple sec, passion fruit syrup, coconut cream and lemon juice. I had mine on the rocks but it can also be served frozen. This was my favorite of the two I tried. The thing I noticed about both cocktails is that the sweetness was all from the natural, fresh flavors. These weren’t a bunch of mass produced drinks using saccharine, premade mixers, so if you ever did want to customize something more to your taste, I have no doubt they could accommodate you!
I almost missed the breakfast buffet at Unreserved because I love the luxury of room service, but thank goodness I listened to Curtis and opted to head down stairs. They offer a full set up, serving until 11 AM each day, with a made-to-order egg station, bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, cereal, oatmeal biscuits, gravy, grits, fruits of all kinds, pastries, bagels and lox, coffee, juices and more! With Curtis’s Ambassador Elite status, we get a “Welcome Gift” upon check in, which varies by hotel, but is usually either extra points, an amenity (like a bottle of champagne) or free breakfast. We chose breakfast, so this spread was complimentary. But even with the $34 price tag, it would be worth it! Unreserved is also open for lunch and dinner and the menus looked delicious! We opted to plan for dinner at Illume before heading home because it wasn’t yet open when I visited in the Fall of 2020 and I’ve been eager to try it ever since! It’s described as a lounge and the seating is set up more in that manner. It seems like a great place to share small bites and beverages, but even with a tapas approach you can definitely make a meal out of it. Let me tell you exactly what we ordered because oh my gosh every dish was better than the next.
We tried two rolls – the Gyu No Kani and the Angry Tiger. The Angry Tiger was their version of a spicy tuna roll, with shisho, shrimp, ahi amarillo, and bubu arare. They made something relatively standard into a roll that is anything but! The Gyo No Kani was made with snow crab, avocado, cucumber, black garlic aioli, scallions, kabayaki sauce, truffle oil, and seared tenderloin of beef on top. It was decadent and rich but in the most balanced way. The flavors worked so well together and it was a total stand out. Our waitress, Mae, was wonderful and treated us to her favorite dish, the sticky ribs. I can’t believe I almost didn’t try them, and now I’m practically drooling just writing this! The Illumination cocktail for any tequila lovers out there, is a must. It is Casamigos Blanco Tequila, passion fruit liquor, agave nectar, and lime and it was a 10/10, A+, 5 stars, home run. We were too stuffed for dessert but headed outside on the terrace to watch both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot fireworks – the perfect finale to our trip.
NEXT TIME Hidden Garden Kids Club & Kids Night Out • Enchanted Spa Experiences • Sear & Sea
We had time to look around the property and were especially keen on checking out the Hidden Garden Kids Club on the 6th floor. There we also saw the mini golf course, climbing wall, life sized chess board, and ping pong table. Between all that and the supervised programs for kids to do crafts and play games, we’ll have a full schedule! But somehow I think we’ll make time for the Enchanted Experiences at the Spa! With manicures, pedicures, and facials for the littlest spa enthusiasts to get the royal treatment, I don’t know if we’ll ever leave! At least not until they also get their hair and makeup done, that is! Maybe once they’re all dolled up, we can have dinner at Sear + Sea, which was recently written up in the Michelin Guide! And if they’re not on board with that, the girls can always leave us behind for some Kids Night Out freedom while we try the Waygu!
EXCITING NEWS
This special property has been accepted into the Disney Gateway program which means even more park perks like early magic hours! Stay tuned for more details to come!
