Things to do at and near JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes
At JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes you can spend days at the on-site Grande Lakes Waterpark (lazy river, slides and kids’ aqua course), book spa and fitness services at the shared Ritz-Carlton Spa, play golf on the Greg Norman–designed course, and use shuttle or drive options to reach Orlando’s major theme parks. On-site dining ranges from breakfast at Citron to dinner at Primo and casual poolside meals at Knife Burger.
In this guide
Grande Lakes Waterpark & pools
The resort’s water area includes multiple connected pools, a zero-entry area, a quarter-mile heated lazy river, a kids’ aqua course (Splash Cove/AquaVenture) and the Headwaters Slide Tower with three waterslides. The main pool and lazy river typically operate daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM; the slides run daily from about 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Kids’ activities and supervised childcare programs are offered separately; the AquaVenture kids’ course typically runs Monday–Friday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. JW Marriott guests also have access to cabanas and poolside dining near the waterpark.
- Main pool & lazy river hours: daily 8:00 AM–10:00 PM (seasonal changes possible)
- Headwaters Slide Tower waterslide hours: daily ~11:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Kids’ aqua course hours: Mon–Fri ~12:00 PM–4:00 PM
| Feature | Typical hours |
|---|---|
| Main pool & lazy river | 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Headwaters Slide Tower (slides) | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Kids’ aqua course (AquaVenture) | Mon–Fri 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
Spa, fitness and wellness
The resort shares The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Orlando, Grande Lakes — a large spa facility with a range of treatments, a Vitale Spa Café and a retail boutique. Spa treatment hours are commonly Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM and Saturday–Sunday 9:00 AM–7:00 PM.
Spa facility and spa pool use is restricted to guests 18 and older; teens 16–17 may receive facials only with a parent or guardian present, and children 5–15 are limited to salon services such as manicures and haircuts. For fitness, JW Marriott guests generally use the adjacent Ritz-Carlton 24-hour fitness center, which offers cardio equipment, free weights and scheduled classes such as barre, yoga and Pilates.
- Spa treatment hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Sat–Sun 9:00 AM–7:00 PM
- Spa age policy: 18+ for treatments and spa pool use; 16–17 with guardian for facials
- Fitness center: 24-hour access (age restrictions apply)
| Service | Notes |
|---|---|
| Signature spa treatment | Zero-gravity hammock massage (offered at the spa) |
| Fitness classes | Barre, yoga, Pilates (some classes may have fees) |
| Fitness age policy | Guests 18+; 16–17 require guardian/consent |
Golf and outdoor activities
An 18-hole, par-72 Greg Norman–designed golf course sits on the Grande Lakes property and is available to guests who want to play during their stay. The resort also arranges outdoor activities such as guided fly-fishing excursions, kayak eco-tours of Shingle Creek, falconry experiences and nature-based programs.
On-property outdoor options include bike rentals, walking trails and lakeside activities (fishing and small-boat outings). The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club is nearby on the shared grounds and can be reached on foot or by a short drive.
- 18-hole Greg Norman golf course on-site
- Guided kayak eco-tours of Shingle Creek available
- Fly-fishing, falconry and small-boat or fishing options offered
| Activity | Typical offering |
|---|---|
| Golf | 18-hole Greg Norman–designed course |
| Kayak eco-tours | Guided tours of Shingle Creek |
| Fishing | On-site fishing and guided excursions |
Dining, cafés and poolside food
Dining at the JW Marriott includes a mix of casual and full-service venues: Citron, An American Brasserie (breakfast); Whisper Creek Farm: The Kitchen (farm-to-table lunch & dinner); Primo (Italian dinner); Knife Burger (poolside burgers and cocktails); Starbucks® and Café Bodega for grab-and-go items.
Primo operates on a dinner schedule and welcomes walk-ins or reservations; Whisper Creek Farm: The Kitchen is first-come, first-served and does not take reservations for regular seating. Poolside venues like Knife Burger allow swim-friendly attire with a cover-up required when leaving pool areas.
If you have dietary needs or plan special meals, the resort’s restaurants can accommodate requests but advanced notice or reservations at Primo may help during busy evenings.
- Primo: dinner service (evenings) — walk-ins accepted; reservations available
- Whisper Creek Farm: The Kitchen: lunch & dinner — first-come, first-served
- Knife Burger: poolside lunch (hours vary by day)
| Venue | Primary meals/hours |
|---|---|
| Citron, An American Brasserie | Breakfast — morning hours |
| Primo | Dinner — evenings (typically 5:30 PM–10:00 PM) |
| Knife Burger | Poolside lunch — daytime hours (varies by day) |
Nearby attractions and getting around
The resort sits on a large 500-acre property near Orlando’s major theme parks and convention areas. The hotel lists transfer services to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld (reservations often required in advance); rideshare, rental cars and private transfers are common options for travel to and from Orlando International Airport (MCO).
Typical nearby attractions and approximate drive-time notes in local listings include SeaWorld and Aquatica (short drives), the Orange County Convention Center and International Drive entertainment and dining. Universal’s Epic Universe and Universal Orlando are reachable by car in under about 20 minutes, depending on traffic.
- Shuttle/transfer service to Disney, Universal and SeaWorld (reservations usually required)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO) is commonly listed as about a 15–20 minute drive
- Car recommended for flexible travel around the Orlando area
| Attraction | Typical travel time by car (no traffic) |
|---|---|
| SeaWorld / Aquatica | Short drive (minutes) |
| Orange County Convention Center | ~10 minutes (varies) |
| Universal Orlando / Epic Universe | Under ~20 minutes (varies) |
Meetings, events and wedding spaces
JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes offers extensive event space across ballrooms, gardens and lakeside lawns, with options ranging from small boardrooms to large ballrooms that host thousands of guests. Signature indoor spaces include the Mediterranean Ballroom and Coquina Ballroom; outdoor spaces include Whisper Creek Farm gardens and the Valencia Terrace.
For wedding planning and large events, the resort and its adjacent Ritz-Carlton property combine meeting resources. Event capacities and room configurations vary widely — speak with the hotel’s events or sales team to get exact measurements and guest-count limits for specific dates and needs.
- Mediterranean Ballroom and Coquina Ballroom available for large conferences and receptions
- Whisper Creek Farm: outdoor garden venue with adjacent event lawn
- Valencia Terrace and Citrus Garden for lakeside or garden ceremonies
| Venue | Notable capacity or feature |
|---|---|
| Mediterranean Ballroom | Large ballroom used for conferences/weddings (high capacity) |
| Whisper Creek Farm Venue | Garden setting with adjoining outdoor event space |
| Valencia Terrace | Outdoor terrace with lake and garden views |
