Need a little reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks? The Waldorf Astoria in Bonnet Creek offers just that. Tucked right inside Disney property, it boasts indulgent relaxation just minutes from the theme parks.
My husband and I wanted a quick getaway for the weekend for a little “R and R.” We decided on the Waldorf Astoria and were so glad we did. While the grounds were beautiful, the thing that stood out most to us was the exceptional customer service, from the gentleman checking us in after midnight to the warm and friendly chefs at Oscar’s restaurant.
Upon checking in, we were upgraded to a spacious suite with a living room, a gorgeous marble bathroom and a lanai that was perfect for enjoying that first cup of coffee in the morning. Although the décor seemed a bit dated, it gave us exactly what we were looking for which was a restful night’s sleep.
Once we woke up, we headed downstairs to check out breakfast options. The incredible staff directed us towards Oscar’s, and we decided to check it out. Now let me say, I usually shy away from breakfast buffets, but this one put most others to shame! In their continental section, they had a variety of cereals and pastries as you would find on any normal continental breakfast buffet; however, they also had a variety of international meats and cheeses, like manchego and prosciutto, freshly squeezed juices like orange, grapefruit and passion fruit, and also specialty coffees. Their hot section featured made-to-order omelets, smoked salmon and accompaniments, grits, eggs, and the normal cast of breakfast characters. The shining star of the meal though was the made-to-order crepes, prepared in a variety of ways. I ordered the Nutella, banana and strawberry crepes and added some crème anglaise and whipped cream. So delicious!!
After stuffing ourselves, we decided to venture out and check out the property, which was lovely. The pool area overlooked the golf course and also a waterway which created a serene oasis for the weary Disney-traveler in us. It was notable that while the hotel offered kid-friendly amenities, like a childcare center and over-sized duck floats, there were few kids to be found. Something we learned was that guests of the Waldorf Astoria also had access to Hilton Bonnet Creek property which was less than a five-minute walk along the water. We ambled over to Hilton Bonnet Creek and found that it had a lazy river and the majority of the kids and noise.
We headed back over to the Waldorf to see what else they offered and found several other amenities catering to relaxation, like bike rentals, golf, a spa, and a state-of-the-art gym (my kind of stress reliever). We also found that the Waldorf offers complimentary shuttles to all the Disney theme parks as well. Overall, the Waldorf Astoria offers anything you could need, and I would absolutely recommend it to anybody who wants a bit of a break from the flurry of activity that Orlando has to offer.
