SpaRator
Treatments
Spa Facilities
Wellness Programs
Staff & Service
Experience
Value for Money
Spa Facilities
- Beauty Services
- Couples treatments
- Fitness center
- Full-service spa
- Hot tub/Jacuzzi
- Pool facilities
- Sauna
- Steam room
- Wellness programs
Hotel Facilities
- Air Conditioning
- Bar
- Bike Rentals
- Business Center
- Concierge Service
- Dry Cleaning
- EV Charging Stations
- Garden Areas
- Golf
- Kids Club
- Pets Allowed
- Restaurant
- Tennis
- Valet Parking
- Waterslide
- WIFI
Pricing & Availability
About
JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes is the 1,010-key sister to the adjacent Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes — both occupying the 500-acre Grande Lakes Orlando complex at the headwaters of the Florida Everglades. The opportunity here: JW Marriott guests have full access to the Ritz-Carlton Spa at materially lower nightly rates.
The Spa, Specifically
The spa is the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes Spa — covered in detail in our Ritz-Carlton Orlando review. Operationally: JW Marriott guests book directly through the same channels, access the same 40,000 sq ft facility with 40 treatment rooms (Orlando’s largest), use the same signature “zero-gravity” hammock massage, and benefit from the same Valmont Swiss luxury skincare partnership and Vitale Spa Café. Director Tony Angel’s team serves both properties.
The Wellness Retreat programming (August 2025 launch, $1,800/person, no overnight) and Vitality Drips facility are available to JW Marriott guests on identical terms.
What differs is everything outside the spa: the JW Marriott property is family-resort-oriented with the Grande Lakes Water Park (three waterslides on the Headwaters Slide Tower, the AquaVenture obstacle course, a heated lazy river) — an amenity the adjacent Ritz-Carlton doesn’t offer. Knife & Spoon by Chef John Tesar (Michelin-starred in the 2023 and 2024 Florida Michelin Guides) is JW Marriott’s headline restaurant and one of Orlando’s few Michelin-starred properties.
Who’s Right, Who’s Wrong
Right for families wanting Ritz-Carlton spa access alongside a water-park experience the adjacent Ritz-Carlton doesn’t provide.
Right for business travelers using the 80,000 sq ft of meeting space who want a spa anchor for after-hours unwinding.
Right for foodies prioritizing Knife & Spoon’s Michelin-starred steakhouse.
Right for couples on a budget-conscious trip wanting Ritz-Carlton-level spa access without paying Ritz-Carlton rates — the $100–$300/night differential matters across a week.
Wrong for guests prioritizing AAA Five Diamond luxury hotel service end-to-end (book Ritz-Carlton directly).
Wrong for guests sensitive to property-experience disconnects — JW Marriott’s family-pool atmosphere can feel disjointed alongside the Ritz-Carlton spa’s adult-luxury positioning.
Where It Sits in the Market
JW Marriott Grande Lakes occupies the strongest “shared-spa family-resort” position in Orlando — the only Orlando property with full access to the city’s largest spa (40,000 sq ft, 40 rooms) at family-resort pricing.
Among Orlando JW Marriott properties, Grande Lakes wins on spa scale; Bonnet Creek wins on Disney proximity, and Spa by JW’s Forbes Four-Star recognition.
Among Disney-adjacent family resorts, the combination of Ritz-Carlton spa access, the Grande Lakes Water Park, plus Michelin-starred Knife & Spoon is structurally distinctive.
The closest competitive comparison is Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek (which similarly shares the Waldorf Astoria Spa) — but Grande Lakes’ shared spa is larger and more decorated than Waldorf’s.
See less
What Guests Are Saying
No Review Available
No Review Available
Location
Guest Experiences
Frequently Asked Questions:
How does the spa relationship work between JW Marriott Grande Lakes and the Ritz-Carlton?
The two properties share the 500-acre Grande Lakes Orlando complex and the Ritz-Carlton Spa is open to JW Marriott guests on identical terms. The spa is 40,000 sq ft with 40 treatment rooms — the largest spa facility in Orlando. Booking is direct via the Ritz-Carlton Spa, which is a short walk from the JW Marriott building.
If the spa is the same, why book JW Marriott instead of Ritz-Carlton?
Two reasons. First, rate: JW Marriott prices structurally below the adjacent Ritz-Carlton — typically $100–$300/night lower for comparable rooms. Second, family fit: JW Marriott Grande Lakes has the Grande Lakes Water Park (three waterslides, obstacle course), the heated lazy river, and the family-resort programming. The Ritz-Carlton's pool experience is more adult-oriented.
What is the Grande Lakes Water Park?
A water park amenity on the JW Marriott property featuring three waterslides on the Headwaters Slide Tower, the AquaVenture obstacle course, and a heated lazy river. The water park is the property's family-resort headline amenity — none of the other JW Marriott Orlando properties offer this scale of water amenity.
Who is the spa director?
Tony Angel is Director of Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Orlando, serving both properties. He is profiled in industry trade press and leads the Wellness Retreat programming.
What's special about Knife & Spoon?
Chef John Tesar's Michelin-starred steakhouse, recognized in the 2023 and 2024 Florida Michelin Guides. The most decorated restaurant at any JW Marriott property in Orlando, and one of only a handful of Michelin-starred restaurants in the Orlando market overall.
How big is the property?
The combined Grande Lakes Orlando complex is 500 acres in the headwaters of the Florida Everglades. The JW Marriott building has 1,010 keys; the adjacent Ritz-Carlton has 582 keys. Total ~1,600 keys across both hotels.
What's the relationship between JW Marriott Grande Lakes and Walt Disney World?
The JW Marriott Grande Lakes is approximately 15–20 minutes from Walt Disney World by car. Complimentary scheduled shuttle service runs to Disney, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld via the resort fee. SeaWorld is just 3 minutes away.
Is the property a good fit for business travelers?
Yes. The 80,000 sq ft of meeting space, the proximity to the Orange County Convention Center, and the Ritz-Carlton-level dining options make this a strong business-and-family combination property.
What's included in the resort fee?
Theme park shuttle access (Disney, Universal, SeaWorld), WiFi, fitness center, daily activity programming. Exact inclusions vary by season — confirm at booking.
How does the dining compare between JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton?
Both properties have multiple dining venues that are accessible to guests of either hotel. JW Marriott has Knife & Spoon (Michelin-starred), Primo (Italian by Chef Melissa Kelly), Whisper Creek Farm to Table, Knife Burger. The Ritz-Carlton has Highball & Harvest (farm-to-table), Bourbon's Steakhouse, and Vitale Spa Café.
When was the property last renovated?
The Grande Lakes complex completed a $30M renovation in October 2021, including the spa and shared facilities. Both hotels reflect that investment.
How does the property compare to JW Marriott Bonnet Creek?
Different propositions. JW Marriott Bonnet Creek (the other Orlando JW Marriott) is in Bonnet Creek on Disney property with the Spa by JW (10,000 sq ft, 10 treatment rooms, Forbes Four-Star). JW Marriott Grande Lakes is at the headwaters of the Everglades with full access to the much larger Ritz-Carlton Spa. For spa scale, Grande Lakes wins; for Disney proximity, Bonnet Creek wins.
Hotel People Love Most
Explore our editor's picks for must-visit spa hotels this season.
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, 1500 Masters Blvd, Championsgate, FL 33896, USA
Conrad Orlando at Evermore
Conrad Orlando at Evermore, 1500 Eastbeach Wy, Orlando, FL 32836, USA
Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Signia by Hilton Orlando - An Official Walt Disney World Hotel, 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Ln, Orlando, FL 32821, USA
Rosen Shingle Creek
Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA
JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek
JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa, 14900 Chelonia Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32821, USA