JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes is a full-scale luxury resort on Central Florida Parkway in south Orlando. It shares a roughly 500-acre estate with The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, near the headwaters of the Everglades. Travelers come for championship golf, serious farm-to-table cooking, and a resort campus that feels removed from the theme-park corridor a few miles away.
The design draws on the grand era of Florida’s historic hotels, with Mediterranean-inspired architecture, palm-lined walkways, and an expansive pool complex featuring a lazy river and newly added cabanas. Golfers play the Greg Norman-designed Grande Lakes Orlando course, which runs through native wetlands and pines. Food lovers book Primo, chef Melissa Kelly’s Italian restaurant, which draws on produce from the resort’s own gardens. Whisper Creek Farm: The Kitchen offers casual American plates and house-brewed beer. Guests also have access to the Ritz-Carlton’s large spa and to complimentary fitness classes.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Plan for peak crowds during spring break, summer, and winter holidays. The resort is also busy during major conventions at the nearby Orange County Convention Center. Late fall and January usually bring calmer pools and easier tee times. Reserve cabanas and daybeds ahead through the resort’s iPoolside portal, and book Primo early on weekends. SeaWorld and International Drive are a short drive away, and Orlando International Airport is about 20 minutes by car.
