JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
Grande Lakes runs two hotels on one campus. The JW Marriott is the family half, and it has the lazy river.
30-Second Verdict
Book the JW Marriott if you want a luxury resort week with children and are happy to drive to the parks. Skip it if your itinerary has four or more park days, because the location works against you every single morning.
Quick facts
- Area
- Grande Lakes
- Property type
- Luxury resort
- Star classification
- 5 star
- Guest score
- 9 out of 10 from 291 reviews
- Room occupancy
- Standard room sleeps 4; Suite sleeps 6
- Details checked
- August 2026
Best for
- Families who want a resort week rather than a park base
- Golfers travelling with a family
- Guests who want spa access without an adults-only hotel
- Travelers combining a convention with a resort stay
Skip it if
- Your week is four or more park days
- You want to be within walking distance of anything
- You are travelling without a car
- You want the quietest possible resort, which is the Ritz next door
Location and park fit
Grande Lakes sits south of the Convention Center, away from every park entrance. SeaWorld and the Universal parks are the nearer cluster, and Walt Disney World is a longer drive.
This is a resort you travel to rather than a base you travel from, and the location makes sense only if you accept that.
Rooms and family fit
Standard rooms sleep four with suites for six. Rooms are large and well finished, and the resort shares facilities with the Ritz-Carlton next door.
Transport and mobility
A car is effectively required. Every theme park is a drive, and there is nothing within walking distance of the campus.
Park benefits
None. This is an independent resort with no theme park affiliation, which is part of why it costs less than the Disney and Universal luxury options.
Pool and rest-day fit
The lazy river is the headline, alongside a water slide and multiple pools, with a full spa and two golf courses shared across the campus. For a resort-first week this is one of the strongest offerings in Orlando.
Cost beyond the room
Resort fees and self-parking charges at this property change and are not published here, because an out-of-date figure is worse than none. Ask the hotel for the all-in nightly total before comparing it with another rate.
Set against that, a resort-first week uses fewer park tickets, which is usually the larger number.
You get luxury and a lazy river at a lower rate than the Disney-area resorts charge, and you pay for it in driving time on every park day.
Alternatives worth comparing
Book this hotel
Rates in Orlando move constantly and depend on your dates, so check the current price rather than working from any figure on a website. Confirm resort fees, parking charges and any theme park benefit directly with the hotel or the park before you book.
Hotel details and the guest scores on this page were checked in August 2026.
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Common questions
Does JW Marriott Grande Lakes have a lazy river?
Yes. It is one of the better known hotel lazy rivers in Orlando and sits alongside a water slide and several pools.
Can JW Marriott guests use the Ritz-Carlton facilities?
The two hotels share a campus with shared golf and spa facilities. Confirm exactly what your rate includes with the hotel when booking.
How far is Grande Lakes from the theme parks?
Every park is a drive. SeaWorld and the Universal parks are the nearer cluster and Walt Disney World is further. Treat this as a resort destination rather than a park base.