If you are traveling to Orlando and want to stay at a Marriott Bonvoy branded hotel, we have picked the 10 best Marriott hotels in Orlando, near Disney and Universal.
Marriott’s hotel portfolio includes The Ritz-Carlton Luxury Collection, St. Regis, Westin, W Hotels, EDITION, Sheraton, and the Four Points by Sheraton, as well as Marriotts, JW Marriotts, Courtyard by Marriott, and more.
Book your stay at any of these hotels via our luxury travel concierge to get resort credit, free breakfast, free room upgrades (subject to availability), and more. It costs nothing to ask us for a quote, and we can usually help you squeeze some extra value from your stay.
First, I outline which hotel is best for various categories, and then we look at each hotel individually and share what it offers.
1. The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando, Grande Lakes
The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando, and the JW Marriott Orlando are located on the same lot in the Grande Lakes area of Orlando. These two hotels share facilities and are undoubtedly the best option in Orlando for families.
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando has a beautiful pool, and the next-door JW Marriott property has a fun lazy river. You can access both pools regardless of which of these two hotels you are staying at. So, the Ritz-Carlton and the JW Marriott both offer an awesome pool experience.
Both properties are 11 miles from Disney. The Ritz-Carlton in Orlando is a great luxury golf resort with a golf course, spa, fly fishing, eco-tours & a club lounge, all convenient for Disney and Universal Parks.
It is located in the Grande Lakes part of the city, within a short free shuttle ride to Disney and Universal (included with the resort fee). The resort fee also includes Wi-Fi, phone calls, the driving range, one-hour bike rental, some kids’ activities, access to and floaties at the JW Marriott lazy river, as well as the complimentary shuttle transport to Disney and SeaWorld (reservation required at least 24 hours in advance).
The Ritz Kids program is a favorite, and special excursions like kayaking, fishing instruction, and eco-tours allow for adventures while remaining in this 500-acre resort.
Both the JW Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton are about a 20-minute drive from Orlando Airport (MCO), making them super convenient. Parking fees are around $40 USD per night if you have driven to the hotel, but if your plan is to enjoy the fabulous pools and visit the parks, you don’t need a car.
I would choose the Ritz-Carlton over the JW Marriott because it offers luxury near the theme parks at a reasonable price, large luxurious rooms, and an excellent club lounge.
It also has three wonderful pools, a Ritz-Carlton Spa, a Greg Norman-designed golf course, and 11 dining options. The Ritz-Carlton Spa is also not to be missed, with its 40 treatment rooms, salon, private heated lap pool, and healthy spa café.
The club lounge is on the 14th floor and is classic in design, with cream tones and wooden floors. It feels like a sophisticated space. There is a balcony to one side from which you can watch the Disney Fireworks in the distance. The buffet here is delicious and filling, and there are numerous food presentations each day.
Of note, the JW Marriott does not have a club lounge. Hence, if a club lounge is what you are looking for, you do better booking into a Club Room at the Ritz-Carlton and then taking advantage of the magnificent lazy river at the JW Marriott during your stay whilst retaining access to the RC club lounge.
The highlight for me here is the pool, which is a beautiful and sophisticated pool lined by swaying palm trees and next door at the JW Marriott, with its lazy river and the incredible views of the resort holiday fireworks from the club lounge balcony.
2. JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes
Also located 11 miles from Disney, JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes offers a lazy river outdoor pool, gym, spa, golf club, and dining.
JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes is one of our top picks in Orlando and is situated right next door to the Ritz-Carlton, which we have reviewed above. This tropical landscaped Orlando resort provides transfer service to local theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld.
A flat-screen cable TV, iPod docking station, and free bottled water are included in all guest rooms at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes. Each marble bathroom includes a separate shower and bath with bathrobes.
An extensive fitness center is onsite, as well as the Ritz-Carlton Spa, which offers massages and body scrubs. This Orlando Grande Lakes JW Marriott also offers tennis courts, volleyball, and express check-in and check-out. Guests can schedule guided fly fishing excursions, golf, or kayak eco-tours of Shingle Creek directly with the hotel.
Similarly to the Ritz-Carlton, there is a free shuttle to Walt Disney World, more or less hourly. The advantage of picking the JW Marriott is that it is usually cheaper than the Ritz-Carlton and yet has access to all the same activities.
3. JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa
JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa is just 4 miles from Disney in Orlando and is a great luxury hotel choice in Orlando. It is a clean and peaceful choice away from the madness of Disney. Because this is not a Disney hotel, like the hotels above, there is no early park access here, but it is close to the park and offers a great base for visiting the parks.
The resort fee here is currently $45 USD daily, excluding tax and includes a Disney bus, which you have to book, but you might prefer to Uber the trip to avoid waiting around and parking fees.
This new hotel opened in 2020. Facilities include a Spa by JW®, a resort pool with a splash pad, specialty restaurants, and a rooftop terrace boasting nightly views of theme park fireworks displays.
There’s no club lounge here, but the free breakfast for Platinums or for clients who book via our concierge is excellent with fresh cut fruit, yogurt, plus toppings. There is a lovely selection of croissants, pastries, Danishes, and breads, along with cold cuts. The omelet station complements the hot food, which includes potatoes, bacon, sausage, waffles, and pancakes.
It is worth mentioning that Spring is Convention season in Orlando, and while this can mean the feel at the hotel is more adult, this also means the pool is usually empty.
The pool view and fireworks view are all on one side of the hotel, and the view is super, over forest spreading up to the Epcot ball and Hollywood studios. The Disney Springs view is on the other side, which you want to avoid as you look out on a parking lot and road.
This hotel offers a free wine tasting in the lobby from 4:00 – 6:00 pm on Fridays, which comes with prosciutto, salami, cheese, and grapes.
4. Orlando World Center Marriott
Orlando World Center Marriott is 5 miles from Disney. This Marriott is another great choice for families. This is the closest Marriott hotel to the theme park, and it offers a load of onsite supervised activities for children as well as an 18-hole golf course, an onsite spa, a 24-hour fitness center, five restaurants, and a supermarket.
The hotel is a nice resort, but there are many additional fees, and there are very few benefits for Bonvoy Platinum Elite members. Premium Bonvoy members have reported receiving upgrades from their resort view room to a pool view (both have nice balconies), but that’s pretty much it for Platinum recognition.
There are four pools, including one with waterfalls and three waterslides. Kids particularly enjoy the pool laser show at night and, of course, the water slides.
This hotel also charges a daily resort fee of around $25 USD per day and around $25 USD per day for parking. The “free” breakfast is continental, with an available upcharge of $7 USD for hot food. It costs $11 USD per child for their full breakfast buffet.
5. Walt Disney World Dolphin
Walt Disney World Dolphin is 1.8 miles from Disney, and it has been fairly recently renovated and is within (long!) walking distance from Epcot. It’s a pleasant walk past the Boardwalk shops and restaurants. If you take an Uber van from the airport, expect to pay around $50 USD to get there.
There is a sister Marriott hotel at Disney called the Swan, and both are in similar locations and have similar facilities. The Swan and Dolphin have five heated pools between them, and you can access them all, whichever hotel you stay in, so these are not a dealbreaker when choosing between the Dolphin Vs. the Swan.
Families will particularly enjoy the large grotto pool at the Dolphin with a waterfall and a water slide, but you should avoid the Dolphin poolside rooms unless you like deep bass from the pool music all day.
All the pools are nestled in an exotic tropical environment so that you can relax in the shade or tan in the sun. The expansive pool area provides the best of both worlds: quiet alcoves for those who prefer a private place to unwind and more lively areas with seasonal disc jockeys and entertainment for those who prefer a little more excitement.
A disadvantage of the Dolphin is the convention center, so you might see many suits and conference guests, which takes Disney magic away from the stay. Plus, there is a resort fee of around $35 USD/night.
Guests here can enjoy special Disney benefits, such as Extra Magic Hours in theme parks, complimentary transportation, onsite character dining, and advance tee times on championship golf courses. All 1,514 guest rooms and suites feature the Heavenly® Bed, two dual-line telephones with voicemail messaging and data port, high-speed Internet access, color/cable TV, and individual climate control.
6. Walt Disney World Swan
Both the Swan and Dolphin resorts sit on 87 acres of lakefront property in Disney’s Epcot area, adjacent to Disney’s Boardwalk. There is not much to choose between them in terms of location, and they both cost the same if you are redeeming Bonvoy points.
The Swan is smaller and feels quieter, and the character breakfasts on Saturdays and Sundays at Garden Grove feature Chip and Dale, Pluto, and Goofy, which are magical. If you are a family of 4 or under, choose the Swan. If you are a family of 5, you can all share the same room at the Dolphin, so it would be better to choose the Dolphin.
7. Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld is around 8 miles from Disney. Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld is within walking distance of SeaWorld and close to the theme parks of Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando.
Rooms here are spacious, and some have lovely balconies and feature LCD flat-panel TVs, Aveda bath products, and marble bathrooms. Kids will have a whale of a time in the R Aqua Zone Water Park, while adults can enjoy handcrafted cocktails and the freshest sushi in town at Mist Sushi + Spirits bar.
8. Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, Autograph Collection
The 4-star luxury hotel Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, Autograph Collection is located around 18 miles from Disney and in downtown in Orlando’s lively arts district.
It has an onsite spa and restaurant and is decorated in shades of purple, red, yellow, and black. Rooms feature artwork, and there’s even an art gallery onsite. The pool area is not ideal for families, so although this hotel is a rather special choice, it is better suited to couples and adults.
Live jazz at brunches on the weekends gives this hotel a homely feel, and the lack of an exciting pool means this hotel doesn’t attract many families. Beds are comfy with pillow-top mattresses, and there is complimentary high-speed internet access and flat-screen TVs in the rooms. Restaurants include The Boheme and the Bosendorfer Lounge. Marriott Bonvoy members can redeem or earn points here.
9. Castle Hotel, Autograph Collection
Castle Hotel, Autograph Collection is just under 10 miles from Disney. This boutique hotel, located on Orlando’s International Drive, has stylish accommodations and onsite dining. Near both Universal Studios and Walt Disney World, Castle Hotel Autograph Collection is ideal for business travelers attending conferences at the Orange County Convention Center.
With this in mind, families might be put off from staying at this hotel due to the fact this hotel attracts conference attendees, which means the hotel doesn’t really have a family feel. Conversely, the pool can be beautifully quiet during the day during conference seasons, so the conference center being the main use of this hotel at certain times of the year has its advantages for families and leisure guests.
Facilities include a spa and fitness center, as well as an outdoor pool for the kids. Onsite restaurants include the tapas Café Tu Tu Tango, a steakhouse, Vito’s Chop House, and the Garden Bistro & Bar or Antler’s Lounge.
This is a beautiful hotel with spires at the entrance and decor inspired by a Bavarian castle. It feels like it’s out of a fairy tale, with rooms featuring castle-themed headboards and fixtures.
It is also one of the cheapest, really good Bonvoy hotels near the parks. In fact, it is worth considering when the prices in points or cash are too high at Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld. If you don’t have continental breakfast included, you can very easily eat at a nearby McDonald’s.
This is a really nice hotel, which is almost as nice, but not quite as nice as the Renaissance near Sea World. However, as the Renaissance can be really pricey, this is a viable and cheaper alternative.
10. The Westin Lake Mary, Orlando North
The Westin Lake Mary, Orlando North, is a little further away from the theme parks Disney and Universal. It is almost 20 miles north of downtown Orlando, Florida, and is about 35 miles from Walt Disney World. Because of its location, this hotel is usually the cheapest Marriott in Orlando for both paid and redemption stays.
The Westin Lake Mary, Orlando North, is a typical Westin that is well maintained with nice public spaces, good Heavenly beds, a good bathroom and tub, an outdoor pool, free parking, and pleasant staff. Executive floor deluxe rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows. Dogs are accepted here and get Heavenly dog beds and food. Shula’s 347 restaurant offers prime cuts of beef.
Platinum status is recognized here with points or a movie. The club lounge will provide free breakfast but is closed on the weekend when you get breakfast vouchers for Shula’s continental buffet instead, or you can pay to upgrade to a full breakfast.
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