Recently we had the absolute pleasure of staying at the brand new and highly anticipated JW Marriott in Bonnet Creek, which opened its doors for the first time in July 2020. While the timing may prove to be a challenge for the stunning new resort, we can’t wait to share all of the incredible features, amenities, and VIP perks you can experience while staying there.
Accommodations
The rooms at the JW Marriott are light and airy, with beautiful views of the surrounding greenery. With the exception of the 3rd floor, every single room at the JW Marriott has floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the expansive Bonnet Creek forest and theme park areas.
Room options range from King and 2 Queen rooms to Executive Suites, many of which can be made into 2-Bedroom suites. The 2-Bedroom suites, while not completed yet, will be a perfect option for families looking for more space and will even include a balcony.
For those looking to host small groups or celebrate a milestone, the Presidential Suite is truly something special. With a huge wraparound balcony, service kitchen, beautiful dining room, and expansive living area with ample seating, this room has some of the best views at the hotel and will elevate your stay to the next level.
Dining
At this time, the JW is offering limited food and beverage service, but as the completion of the resort draws to a close, it’s sure to be a foodie’s paradise. There are three main restaurants to choose from; Sear + Sea Woodfire Grill, UnReserved Beer Garden, and Illume Rooftop Bites and Spirits. The JW Marriott will also be hosting a weekly wine tasting in the lobby with small bites and live music. During our stay, Sear + Sea was the only one of the three that was open, but we were lucky enough to get a sneak peak of the other two and we can’t wait for their grand opening. The hotel’s food and beverage director, Daniel Schmidt, grew up in Germany and is joining the JW directly from Asia. His experiences in each of these destinations are reflected in the international dishes featured throughout the resort, and we were very impressed with the offerings and attention to detail.
Sear & Sea
Located off the main lobby, Sear & Sea Woodfire Grill offers both an indoor fine dining room and an outdoor patio. The patio looks out over the pools and surrounding nature, and has a wonderful ambiance, offering upscale food without the stuffy feeling.
For those looking for lighter fare, the Sear & Sea’s lobby bar also offers small plates and drinks on the go. We had the opportunity to sample the octopus and the beet salad, both of which were delicious!
UnReserved
Downstairs is UnReserved, the hotel’s European-inspired restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. UnReserved will serve a variety of international dishes throughout the day.
Just outside of the dining area, adults can enjoy UnReserved Beer Garden, offering freshly baked, European-inspired pizzas and pretzels along with local draft beers and wines.
illume – Rooftop Bites & Spirits
The real crown jewel of the JW Marriott’s dining experiences will be illume – Rooftop Bites & Spirits. Perched atop the 9th floor, guests dining here are treated to incredible views of surrounding greenery and Disney Fireworks. Illume will feature a blend of Asian-inspired dishes, with an extensive Sake menu, and will be open for lunch and dinner. Whether you’re staying at the resort or just visiting for the night, this is the place to be.
Pools
The JW has two beautiful pools, located side by side in the courtyard. To the left, you’ll find an adults-only pool, with socially distant lounge chairs and daybeds available for rent. To the right is the resort’s larger family pool, complete with spacious cabana rentals. Lounging by the pool was the perfect way to escape the Florida summer heat, and my kids had a blast splashing around in the family pool, which we had to ourselves!
Separating the two pools is the pool bar and cafe, which was not yet open during our stay.
Spa by JW
One of the things we’re most looking forward to experiencing at the JW Marriott is their spa. With elegant and simple decor, the 9,920-square-foot spa boasts 10 treatment rooms for singles and couples, offering up facials, massages, and more.
While waiting for your treatment, guests can relax on recliner chairs overlooking the entrance to the resort. Afterwards, enjoy a separate sauna and steam room, comfortable locker rooms, and our favorite element – two experience showers!
The spa is almost complete, so we look forward to experiencing it ourselves in the coming months.
Kid’s Club
For younger adventurers, the highlight of the JW Marriott is sure to be the resort’s incredible kid’s club. The expansive club features a wide event lawn, a rooftop 9-hole putt-putt course, rock climbing wall, climbing structures, and grab & go food. There are separate spaces for teens and youth, and each features a variety of games, arts and crafts, and delightful activities for little ones. Regretfully, the kid’s club is still closed to ensure the safety of guests and staff, but it will open on an appointment basis as restrictions loosen.
Disney Perks & Luminous Amenities
We were thrilled to discover that this hotel will be part of the Disney Gateway program, meaning all guests will have access to Extra Magic Hours at the parks (once they return) and early booking for Fast Pass+ and Disney dining. This is huge as it allows guests to reserve the best of the best, and get into the parks ahead of the crowds to minimize wait time.
As guests of Katie Bean Travels, our families will also receive complimentary exclusive Luminous Amenities, which include the following:
- Complimentary breakfast for 2 daily
- Early check in/Late check out (when available)
- Upgraded room (when available)
- Complimentary in-room movie
- Additional $50 resort credit for suite bookings
- Luminous Concierge Desk – On Property Ambassador with dedicated program response from property guaranteed with 12 hours of request
COVID Response
We can confidently say that we never felt unsafe in any way during our stay at the JW Marriott, and were extremely pleased with the rigorous safety precautions they’re taking to ensure the safety of all guests. Sanitizing stations and social distancing reminders have been placed throughout the resort, and restaurants are temporarily using QR codes in place of physical menus. The elevators were restricted to one party at a time, and chairs at the pool were spaced apart to give everyone plenty of room. We often felt like we had the hotel to ourselves!
Promotions
For those looking for a getaway in the next few months, the JW Marriott is running some incredible promotions through September that we would love to share:
50% Off Connecting Room
Families that book two guaranteed connecting rooms will receive 50% off the second room. This applies to suite connectors as well, and the promotion includes complimentary parking.
Walt Disney World Annual Passholder Discount
All Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will receive an automatic 25% discount on their hotel rate, subject to availability.
