I have been putting off this post because writing the post will make it official: My vacation is over. . . back to reality.
Ahhh…but I have the memories, and those will stick with me for quite some time! I recently got the opportunity to review Orlando’s Newest Family Resort … the fabulous Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek! If you can’t tell by now, it was amazing… but even more so (and most importantly, why I was reviewing it) because it also a very affordable destination and one that I would highly recommend for a family. Honestly, I have hesitated to do travel reviews before, because if it isn’t a realistic option financially, then what would be the purpose of sharing it, right? I love a good vacation, but I also like to travel smart. I think that quality is important when you travel. Vacations are meant to relax and revive … they are good for the mind and soul … but not always for the pocketbook. I think I found an great mix of all of the above!!
The Resort: The Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek in Orlando Florida
Price: Rooms starting at $139/night plus they offer a nice variety of discount and packages for families and/or couples.
About (in their words):
Be unique. At the all new Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort, Bonnet Creek our goal is to provide every guest with an experience that’s truly remarkable. A winding road leads you to our lovely Mediterranean-inspired resort hotel that’s located lakeside on acres and acres of lush property. Simply pass under the Walt Disney World® sign to find our resort nestled amongst Bonnet Creek’s nearly 500 acres of stunning woodlands. As our guest you’ll not only be close to all the fun, you’ll be surrounded by more than just a touch of elegance. A terra cotta tile roof, rich wood, and cool stone provide just the right Spanish accent while state-of-the art technology ensures you have all the modern conveniences any savvy traveler could want in Orlando. The gentle rustle of coconut palms guarantees you’ll never forget you’re on a true getaway.
Fun never felt this grand. Grand never felt this fun.
Inside our full-service Orlando resort hotel you’ll find a world of wonder all its own. Enjoy the pampering of a deep-tissue massage or full-body scrub at our own Blue Harmony Spa. Then relax in the coed lounge, outdoor cabanas, or by our lagoon-style zero entry pool. An onsite Fitness Center, and Kids Club with three Activity Centers ensure there is always plenty for everyone to do. Of course, day and night transportation to major hubs within Walt Disney World will be provided for all our guests. Indulge your taste buds at our five restaurants that include a poolside bar and grill. You’ll sleep peacefully in one of our 400 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, featuring Wi-Fi, flat-panel TV, and signature 100% cotton BeWellSM Bedding. Opt for a guestroom with bunk beds to help guarantee the entire family has a great time. Those wishing to host a corporate event or stylish wedding will be sure to appreciate our 25,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
My thoughts? Yes. Ditto everything above, lol. And then some. This resort is located right among the Disney parks…so if you want to fit a day (or two, or more…) at the parks into your plans, it’s all right there, in fact… they will even shuttle you for FREE to the Disney Parks. What is the difference between staying at the Wynham and staying at a Disney Resort hotel? I can answer that, because I have done both … and I would have to say that in my experience, the Wyndham is everything that a Disney resort is…and then some. (actually …and then a LOT) First of all, the service and attention to detail is outstanding. You are a guest in their hotel and from the minute that you walk in, you are treated so warmly. And the actually hotel and property … it’s amazing… let me show you:
Views from our room: (*hot tip! If you do go … request a room with the view of the nightly fireworks, the kids loved that every night!)
As a guest at The Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek … you have access to all of the activities at the surrounding time share properties, including a couple lazy rivers, pools, slides, restaurants, miniature golf, playgrounds and so much more:
I love the decor in this hotel, very unique and beautiful pieces but what I also love, is that while they are elegant, they are also kid friendly… nothing fragile here.
This is the front lobby:
The rooms were so nice and spacious. The bunk bed Alcove for the kids was a HUGE hit… it even had it’s own television set in there:
The beautiful Deep Blu Seafood Restaurant … amazing!! This was pretty fancy, however, they also have several other wonderful restaurants on the property, and pretty affordable too!
The hotel Spa (couples massage anyone?!?):
I can honestly tell you that my kids had just as much fun doing all of the free resort activities as they did going to going to the parks. Don’t get me wrong, we had a wonderful time at the Magic Kingdom, but there was something also very wonderful about just enjoying FREE time (literally… free time) with our kids:
And of course we did take in a day at the Magic Kingdom. There was a free shuttle provided by the resort that will take you to all of the Disney parks, and well as to Downtown Disney. (a great way to get a taste of Disney, without the expense of the parks!) We had a great day at the Magic Kingdom:
Another huge highlight of our trip was that I was invited to do a media tour/visit to SeaWorld, and I have to tell you… this ended up being our favorite day in Florida. Not only was this a super educational experience for all of us … but we were able to do and experience so many neat and new things. When we voted at the end of the trip, SeaWorld won hands down for favorite adventure and the resort swimming pool won for “the thing we most had trouble leaving behind”, lol!
Favorites from our day at SeaWorld? Feeding the dolphins was #1 on everyone’s list, and this is something that is actually quite affordable… $7 per person, and honestly, worth every penny to spend some time with these amazing animals:
We also go to go behind the scenes and visit the animal care facilities. This Manatee was rescued by SeaWorld after a boat motor injured him…
and this is him eating his lunch:
And let me tell you, if you have never high-fived a Sting Ray, it’s something you should add to your bucket list…. we had a ball at the Sting Ray pool:
Going into this review, I honestly had some concerns that this would might be a challenging travel option to write about, however, much to my surprise … this was a pretty affordable trip, especially if you gave yourself time to plan and save over a period of time. (put all of your coupon savings toward a vacation!) I found the actual resort itself, very affordable, especially if you take advantage of some of their discount and packages for families and/or couples.
As far as entertainment goes, the free hotel shuttle over to Downtown Disney was a real hit with our kids and you can literally walk around there for hours and be entertained. We took in a few nice meals, but also did some strategic ordering by having the kids split meals (I hate over ordering and having wasted food) and my hubby and I split a few large meals as well. When we travel, we like to take in the surroundings, try the food and experience the new things, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be frugal in the process. We only took in one Disney Park, and honestly, that was plenty for my kids (and it WAS the most expensive part of our trip).
I loved that we fit some education into this trip … and SeaWorld was honestly outstanding in terms of being both entertaining and highly educational. I think that this would always be money well spent for a family and well worth the admission prices. They also offer quite a few discount programs, educational tours, and they have an All Day Dining deal that is actually works out to be a real money saver if you are going to be in the park all day long (eat all day with a wristband: adults $29.99/kids $14.99)
Depending on where you live, travel to Florida is actually quite affordable, if you watch the sales. Southwest is offering some pretty good Disney packages right now, so that might be an option for you as well.
We also brought a lot of snacks with us to the hotel… it was great to have things to snack on and I think that saved us quite a bit, plus… it freed up a lot of luggage space for the trip back home. They also let you take snacks into the parks, so we made sure to bring a full backpack each day and that turned out to be a lifesaver!
Overall … two HUGE thumbs up from my family!!
*Disclosure: A huge thanks to the folks at The Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek for the opportunity to review your beautiful resort! This resort review and trip to Florida was sponsored by them, however these opinions and thoughts are my own and were in no way influenced by another person. Our day at SeaWorld was also a sponsored review of the park and a huge thank you goes out to the folks at SeaWorld for such a wonderful experience and again, all opinions and statements are my own.
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