DOWNSIDES – What we disliked about the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes…
- Small rooms, think New York City small (our room with the double beds was cramped)
- Expensive (but tasty) food – all the dining establishments are expensive (more on food below)
- Pricey parking - $14/night for self-parking, $20/night for valet
- Expensive Internet access - $15.95/day for in-room wired Internet access (the wireless service was spotty)
- Limited indoor activities for younger children, there’s only an arcade which didn’t interest our three-year old
- Most balconies are too small to accommodate chairs (be prepared to stand on your balcony)
- Often felt like I was at work (hotel is popular convention site, people in business attire are everywhere, even the pool)
- Car needed to get to most theme parks and attractions (free shuttles to Universal Studios and SeaWorld; hotel can arrange transportation to Disney parks for a fee)
- Request a mini-fridge when you book your room and stock up on snacks and beverages from the supermarket
- Bring snacks and drinks for your kids while at the pool - juice boxes, raisins, crackers, and fruit were the best bet for our kids rather than Quench Bar and Grill’s kids' lunch for $7.95 (our three-year old was so psyched about the pool, we couldn’t get him out long enough to eat a full meal)
- Take the kids to the organic garden behind Primo restaurant – our older child loved walking through the garden, identifying vegetables and plants, smelling the thyme and nasturtium blossoms, and hunting for lizards
- Use the Ritz-Carlton kids' pool and playground area for a break from the crowds at the JW lazy river and pool area
- Do your laundry at the coin-laundry facilities on the third floor of the hotel
- Sign up your kids for the Ritz Kids Club (ages 5-12) – the staff is wonderful and so nice that they let our three-year old play there on a rainy day (we supervised him)
- During check-in request a list of any special kids events or activities from the front desk or the concierge
- Request the family package rate (two connecting rooms, Citron’s breakfast buffet for two adults and two children, free self-parking, late check-out, unlimited ice cream for two kids, and much more)
I can’t say enough about the pools! The highlight is the winding “lazy river,” with fountains and waterfalls, surrounded by lush plants and tropical flowers. The river has a zero entry pool area and is pretty shallow (the depth is 3 feet to 5 feet. Your kids will love floating down the river in tubes ($5 fee). There is a small toddler pool perfect for the wee ones and kids needing time to warm up to getting in the larger pool and lazy river. Food can be had poolside from the Quench Poolside Bar & Grill, which is open for lunch and dinner.
FOOD PICK - Best restaurant for families at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes…
Citron was our favorite, especially for breakfast. At $23 before tax and tip (FREE for kids under six; $4.95 for kids aged 6-12), the buffet is the best deal during the week. (Weekend brunch buffet prices are $30 for adults, $14 for kids aged 6-12, free for those under six). The breakfast/brunch buffet includes breads and pastries, fruit, cold and hot cereals, milk boxes, smoked fish and carved meats, potatoes, bacon, pork and chicken sausage, French toast, and omelet and waffle stations.
Citron’s indoor dining room has traditional tables/chairs and booth seating - always a hit with kids. High chairs and booster seats are available, as well as a toy box by the entrance. Definitely dine outside on the patio at least once and you'll feel like you’re in the tropics as you eat local papaya and oranges. Also, Citron’s staff is awesome with children. By the second day, the waiters greeted my son by name and even hid the forbidden Fruit Loops from him as we made our way through the buffet.
Our daily breakfast routine went like this - at 7:00 am in our room, we ate fruit and my children had cereal and milk. By 9:30, we were tucked in a Citron booth for the breakfast feast. We were so stuffed that lunch for the adults was fruit and water or we would split a sandwich poolside at the Quench Pool Bar, and then we would all grab an early dinner.
NOTE: Skip Citron’s buffet lunch (generally offered during peak occupancy) and order a food from the regular a la carte lunch menu. My favorite was the grouper sandwich with tarragon mayonnaise and fries. It was a nice change from a hamburger at lunch. Citron is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Other JW Marriott Orlando dining choices include the upscale Primo, the Lobby Lounge (features a sushi bar) and Starbucks.
ROOM RUNDOWN – Rooms to book OR avoid at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes…
- Request a “Lake Golf Front” room for a great view of the lake and/or pool
- Request a room on the west side of the hotel above the 6th floor to see the nightly fireworks from the theme parks
- Avoid rooms on floors above the restaurants and restaurant fans, unless you like food smells
- Avoid rooms that are far from the elevator banks, it can be a long walk
Given the arrangement with the Ritz-Carlton, the resort has plenty of activities for children of all ages. Most are free, have no age restrictions and do not require pre-registration:
- Swimming pools and lazy river
- Playgrounds (one with a sandbox)
- Croquet and bocce ball courts
- Sand volleyball
- Surrey bike rides for the whole family
- Walking trails (request a map from the Ritz-Carlton concierge)
- Butterfly garden
- Fish feedings
- Kayaking
- Tennis (three tennis courts)
- Arcade room
- Fly-fishing ($)
- Eco-tours ($)
- Ritz Kids program for children ages 5-12 ($)
- Babysitting ($)
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