Resort Report: JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes offers a lot for everyone

The JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton at Grande Lakes in Orlando, Fla. are celebrating 20 years, and they recently finished a multi-million dollar refurbishment. They’re celebrating every Saturday this summer with a fireworks and special fun. We were recently invited out for the weekend. Here’s how it went.

Since both hotels are dog friendly, we brought our little yorkie, Chewie, with us. There is a one-time $250 cleaning charge to bring up to two cats or dogs. For an extra $150 you can also get a dog bed, a squeaky toy, a ball, and a nice Marriott logo leash, and you can take all those home with you. The grounds are extensive and we loved walking around with her. Just a note that dogs are not allowed in the pool area or the restaurants unless they are service dogs. 

The Lakefront King room we checked into at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes was very large and comfortable. The layout reminded me of a cruise ship state room, but larger with a much bigger bathroom. It has large vanity and sink, a large bathtub and a separate walk-in shower next to the toilet. 

There is a large closet with a laptop-fitting safe, iron, and ironing board. The mirror and coat hangers area is a handy place to set your purse and stuff when you get back into the room. The dresser is a combination of a luggage rack, refrigerator, coffee maker drawer, and desk area. The very large screen television is above that. 

The sitting area has a nice-size table that would be perfect for dining on a room service meal. Our room had a comfortable king-size bed. The two night stands have each have two USB ports to plug in your phone and electronics to charge. There is also a regular plug. They each have a drawer as well. There are two different kinds of lights by each side of the bed, a regular light and a reading light. 

We ate dinner at Primo, a fine Italian and Mediterranean-Inspired restaurant. The bread service was amazing and highly recommended. It costs extra, but was only $3 per person. There are three different kinds of breads: a sesame seed topped one, sourdough with a 27-year-old starter, and focaccia bread. 

There are several appetizers on the menu, from seafood to a charcuterie. But we had to try the meatballs. They blend three different meats to make the desired favor and consistency. The sauce was flavorful and not too heavy. It was paired with a side of fresh tasting creamy mozzarella. It did not disappoint. 

For our main course, my husband Matt got the Cacio a Pepe pasta dish. I ordered the Florida Cobia (fish). All the dishes were cooked to perfection and very tasty. Chef Dillion suggested we try the House Made Cannoli Siciliana. We were glad he did. They are made fresh with the filling put in when you order, so the texture is not mushy and the filling was creamier than any other cannoli we’ve ever tried. Our other choice was the Warm Belgium Chocolate Bundino Cake. It was like a warm lava cake and it came with a fresh mint chip gelato. Some of the ingredients, like the mint from the gelato, were taken from the herb garden right outside the restaurant. The property also has its own farm.

The resort is really large. Besides the two hotels, which are connected by a convention center, stores, cafes, and spa, there’s the Grande Lake, a golf course, tennis and pickelball courts, and sometimes even a small “train” that runs around the property picking up passengers. It’s free to ride.

The pool area at the JW Marriott is also huge. It features many pools, a lazy river, lots of seating, including some upcharge areas, daybeds, and cabanas, a couple of kids play areas, and a tower featuring three large slides. The Ritz-Carlton also has their own pool area. Guests at either hotel, and residents in the homes on property, have full use of all the facilities.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa is absolutely huge. It’s 40,000 square feet and it has its own large pool in back just for spa guests. There are 40 treatment rooms, a salon for your nails, a fitness center, as well as a store and restaurant. The locker rooms have their own wet and dry saunas, jacuzzi, showers, and relaxation rooms. There is also another large relaxation room on the third floor. 

On our second evening, we had a dinner at Whisper Creek Farm: The Kitchen. It’s right off of the lobby and has menu items with a southern flare. Like Primo, a lot of the ingredients are locally sourced. We sat at the bar because it was quite crowded on a Saturday night. We started with the Garden Herb Biscuits. They were delicious and the butter and jam they come with was mouthwatering. I ordered the Smoked Lake Meadows Chicken. It comes with succotash, which I love. Matt got the Short Rib Lettuce Wrap, which he also enjoyed. They are on the menu as “Snacks”, but you can totally make them a light meal. We also ordered a side of the Brussel Tassle which are Brussel sprouts topped with feta cheese, a buffalo lime vinaigrette, pickles, onions, and candied pecans. They were great.

After dinner we enjoyed the weekly fireworks show from our balcony. It was no small firecracker display. The explosions were huge. It’s part of their GLO Summer Saturday nights between 7-10 p.m. There are games and activities poolside, and live DJ performances. In fact, recently Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings officially proclaimed June 27, 2023 as “Grande Lakes Orlando” day in the state of Florida in honor of their 20th anniversary.

For our check-out day, we ate breakfast at Citron. I had the $38 breakfast buffet, which was excellent, and includes everything you’d expect, plus made-to-order eggs, omelettes, as well as waffles and pancakes. Coffee, tea, and juice comes with it. Matt ordered à la carte from the menu. Since this restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, we were allowed to have our dog at our table outside. It was a cool morning and we were in the shade with a nice view of the water slides.

We walked all around the Grand Lakes property after breakfast. There’s a nice walking path around the property. There are a few little marts in each hotel (including a Starbucks) if you just want to grab a quick snack or meal to go. There are lots of nice sitting areas inside and out to enjoy. Of course there are more restaurants and bars than we were able to visit during our stay.

We had a great weekend trip and definitely recommend the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes. It’s a luxury resort with a lot of activities, dining, and amenities. We will be returning.

If you’d like more information, visit Marriott.com. To book your trip, we recommend Mouse Fan Travel. Get a free quote at MouseFanTravel.com.