Bonnet Creek Resort is a development in the southeast corner of Walt Disney World. The land, which is not owned by Disney, is bordered on three sides by Disney-owned land and on the fourth side by Interstate 4. It is surrounded by the Bonnet Creek nature preserve and is named after Bonnet Creek, which runs through the property. The entrance is located on Buena Vista Drive, just east of the entrance to Disney's Riviera Resort.[1]
The resort development includes a cluster of luxury and mid-priced hotels, including:
There is a 223,000-square-foot (20,700 m2) convention center between the Hilton and Waldorf Astoria.[2] Also located in the area is the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course. The public course was designed by Rees Jones and opened in 2009.[3]
One site in the resort is undeveloped as of 2024[update].[1]
Bonnet Creek Resort sprawls across 482 acres (195 hectares) of land purchased in 1962 by an unidentified buyer. The property was registered under World Union Industrial Corp., a Hong Kong-based company with a mailing address at a Cayman Islands bank. The Walt Disney Company, during its land acquisition for the nearby resort, attempted to buy the land but was unsuccessful.[1]
The land remained untouched until 2000, when plans for a massive development surfaced. This included 3,000 hotel rooms, 1,600 timeshare units, a 250,000-square-foot (23,000 m2) conference center, and a golf course. Developers secured access through Disney property to connect the resort to Lake Buena Vista Drive.[4]
In 2000 Ling Kai Kung, who had died in 1992, was revealed as the true owner. Representatives said he bought the land for its potential in shipping and space industries and denied any financial ties between Kung and his relative, former Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek.[5]
The first project on the property, a timeshare resort by Fairfield, was announced in 2002 and opened in 2004. This 1,149-unit complex, now known as Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek, is one of the largest timeshare developments in the area.[1] In 2006, Hilton Hotels unveiled plans for a massive project comprising a 1,000-room Hilton hotel, a luxurious 497-room Waldorf Astoria, and a shared conference center. This development also included the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, the first golf course carrying the hotel brand's name. The entire project opened its doors in 2009.[1] Wyndham followed suit in June 2006, announcing a 400-room hotel with a spa adjacent to the timeshare development. This project opened in 2011.[1]
Recognizing the ecological value of the land, developers set aside 75 acres on either side of Bonnet Creek as a nature preserve in 2008. This area boasts protected wetlands, a native forest, and serves as a habitat for over 100 migratory bird species. With this designation, all land west of Bonnet Creek was allocated.[1] Development continued eastward in 2017 with the announcement of a luxurious 516-room JW Marriott hotel near the Epcot Center Drive and Interstate 4 interchange. The JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa opened in 2020. As of 2024, there is one undeveloped site north of the JW Marriott.[1]
28°21′18″N 81°32′06″W / 28.355°N 81.535°W / 28.355; -81.535
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