Today we’re excited to kick off a series of content from our recent travels to the Theme Park Capital of the world: Orlando, Florida. However, we start not at a theme park, but at a resort that serves as a peaceful getaway from the action at both the Disney resorts and the nearby Universal Studios parks and hotels. It is, in fact, such a relaxing environment, you may never want to leave.
Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek is something of its own world. It’s Mediterranean-style accommodation that sits on a 10-acre lake with 500 acres of surrounding woodland, a few minutes away from the new Disney Springs Resort area (to which they offer a shuttle) and less than 20 minutes away from Universal. The resort’s 400 rooms are spread over 14 floors and there is just about everything you could possibly need on site: a spa, a gym, a 24-hour business centre, kids’ play areas, a lagoon-style pool (complete with a shipwreck for the kids!) plus no less than 2 bars, 3 restaurants and access to the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club which sits next door.
We spent one night in the hotel in our recent stay in a Deluxe Room with Two Queens. The set up is pretty straight forward – with a content packed 40″ Samsung flat screen sitting opposite two truly comfortable beds (complete with Plush BeWell bedding and three layers: sheet, blanket and doona), table/desk and chairs, and a balcony – which gives you a the view you’ll see at the top of the article. The desk comes complete with USB charger, plus plugs to connect your own devices to the Samsung TV. The design is simple but refined, with a focus on comfort that is best exemplified by the phenomenal beds, but also recognised in the bathrooms.
Filled with Blue Harmony bath products, the bathroom provides everything you could possibly need, with the option to have a bath or a shower – a massage head on the latter ensuring a very comfortable one too. Elsewhere in the room you’ll be able to make your own Wolfgang Puck coffee, get some ironing done and control the heating to whatever level you need it as (it was notably responsive and always comfortable). The in-room internet was also excellent.
The only real downside to the hotel was that with only one night there, and so much else to see and do in Orlando, we really didn’t get to make the most of being there. I for one would have loved to have spent the afternoon sitting in their outdoor cabanas, or by the pool deck with fire pit. The service was notably excellent – we had some problems with our room keys and they were quick to fix the situation – and the front desk staff were amiable to any of our questions about the facilities of the resort.
In addition to the room we stayed in, some rooms have bunk beds, providing suitable accommodation for the whole family, as well as Grand Deluxe rooms with couches, and Presidential Suites for those who require things like 1,600 sq ft of space and a whirlpool tub. It’s definitely something couples, business travellers and families alike should look into as a suitable alternative to the theme park resort experience on their next stay in Orlando. I hope I can head back soon to truly embrace those beautiful surrounds.
The Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek is located at 14651 Chelonia Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32821. To book yourself a room and for more details head to: http://www.wyndhamgrandorlando.com/
The writer stayed as a guest of the hotel. Photos by the author.
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