Birthdays are special. I especially love other people’s birthdays. I’m the person who calls and sings “Happy Birthday” to you. For our family, experiences take center stage over tangible gifts. These experiences can be as small as a trip to the local zoo or as big as a family vacation.
Navigating two busy work schedules was a bit difficult this year for my now 6-year-old’s birthday. Luckily, living in Florida there are many vacation-worthy resorts within a quick driving distance.
My son loves water parks so I recently learned about the new water slides and lazy river at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek. Next door and sharing amenities, is the Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes and that would be our birthday launch point for a long weekend.
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes is ideal for families, it gives you convenient access to Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios. There is also the Ritz Kids program, and special excursions like kayaking, fishing lessons, and ecotours.
In the summer they have fireworks on Saturdays. If you have a lake view room you can even see the fireworks from Disney off of the balcony.
The staff at the Ritz did an amazing job of making our birthday boy feel special. We ate dinner one evening at Whisper Creek Farm: The Kitchen and the waiter was amazingly accommodating and entertaining to two little dudes. The boys especially loved the breakfast buffet at Highball & Harvest. It was to them, a never-ending supply of their favorite breakfast treats.
New to the Ritz is the Ritz-Carlton Residences. These are three and four-bedroom residences with pools that offer the comforts of a private home. Amenities of The Residences include a private, owners-only Clubhouse as well as access to all of the resort amenities. To take a tour of The Residences check out this video.
When you book with a Virtuoso advisor like Salt and Sky Travel Designs you receive:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily Buffet breakfast for two guests per bedroom served in Highball & Harvest Restaurant
- $100 Resort or Hotel credit utilized during the stay
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
A great family feature at the JW Marriott Orlando is a large family suite. The Family Suites sleep up to nine and feature two bedrooms, one with a queen bed and full-sized, lofted bunk beds and one with a king bed with a pull-out twin sofa sleeper. The suites also include two bathrooms with tubs and separate showers as well as a living area with a guest bathroom and an additional sofa bed.
Grande Lakes Orlando resorts make sustainability and conservation a top priority. In addition to our efforts in maximizing energy efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint, Grande Lakes Orlando champions the conservation and protection of Florida’s natural resources and wildlife, with 33 acres of protected habitat and six certified Florida Master Naturalists on site.
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