Today we started our 10 day countdown to history! Bonnet Creek is Hilton’s largest project ever with nearly 1,500 rooms and 150,000 square feet of meeting space all located on 482 acres in the heart of Disney. But that’s not the only thing that makes this grand opening 10 day countdown special. Bonnet Creek features the first-ever newly built Waldorf Astoria outside of the legendary original in New York City. In just 10 days, for the first time ever, if you want to stay at a Waldorf Astoria, you no longer have only one option. Now you will be able to enjoy the same legendary service and experience that is Waldorf Astoria right here in Orlando, Florida. We have just 10 days left to wrap everything up before we welcome our first guest on October 1. As our Managing Director Peter Kacheris says, “History is being made every day.”
The hotel is buzzing with activity. Every day there are new smiling, eager faces. Kacheris considers himself the luckiest guy in town for being able to hire so many employees at this point in our economy; we’ve hired nearly 600 employees so far. Weekly orientations introduce hundreds of new employees to Hilton’s standards and service culture. The employee cafeteria opened two weeks ago and started out pretty relaxed…not anymore – you can bet on a long line and full house once you enter!
First day at Employee Cafeteria
The hallways are packed with people unloading items for the rooms and transporting laundry back and forth. Who knew there was so much laundry before a hotel opens! And did I mention that from one end of the back of house to the other is about a mile? So we are all getting lots of exercise!
Thirteen men and 2 hours later, the 300 pound grandfather clock was installed in the Waldorf and chiming the same chime as the famous lobby clock in New York City has since 1931. It is the centerpiece of the lobby and really does make a grand statement! All the artwork has been delivered and is almost finished being hung. In fact, Bonnet Creek houses the largest private collection of commissioned artwork in Orlando from artists all over the world and offers something exciting for every taste from traditional to modern. (More to come on that in a future blog posting)
The Lobby Clock at Waldorf Astoria Orlando
The cabanas went up just the other day at the Signature Cabana Pool and are just waiting to provide some shade and relaxation. The 700,000 gallon lazy-river has been filled and ready to go; however, don’t let the name fool you, it would be more appropriately called an “action-river” with its power the equivalent of a 737 jet engine!
Lazy River at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Chefs from all over the world have joined our team and are working diligently on finalizing the menus for our 12 fantastic restaurants, bars, and room service. We are all just waiting for the employee tastings to begin 
As you can see there has been a lot going on here at Bonnet Creek! Be sure to check out our packages at Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. Become a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for regular updates. (pssst….we are giving away one night every day until our opening to a lucky Facebook fan so be sure to join!!!)
Are guests of the Waldorf Astoria free to make use of the lazy river and other amenities next door at Hilton-O Bonnet Creek?
Definitely! That is one of the great things about Bonnet Creek. Guests have access to all amenities of both hotels throughout the resort. Are you thinking of visiting us?
Wow! Thank you so much for your quick reply! Yes, I am trying to decide between Parc Soleil and Bonnet Creek. I would like to treat my family to a special week vacation to remember. When I check room availability for Hilton-O BC, I am only able to get a Guest Room, as opposed to a Suite. But I noticed the Waldorf has a Suite, but my wife would really like to be close to the lazy river and finds the Hilton-O side more appealing than the Waldorf side because of our children. The Suite would allow us to have a separate room for our 1 and 3 year olds. Any solutions? Thanks!
Hi,
My family and I are staying in the WAO from 8th October for 14 nights, a real treat – I am very much looking forward to it (understatement!). I am hoping that before we arrive there will be sample menus and spa treatment details on the web so I can peruse before we get there.
Great to hear that we can use the facilities of both the WAO and HBC during our stay – the Hilton pool looks superb for my daughter and husband is looking forward to the golf.
I have a question that I hope you can help with – being from the UK, we love US sports and wonder if there will be tv’s in any of the bars in either hotel for communal viewing over a drink?
Best regards and good luck for opening day.
Apologies Bonnet Creek – not quite up to speed with this blog technology – posted a comment in the wrong place. My query above has somehow got right in the middle of Mike’s room query – hopefully you can decipher and respond!
Hi Shona – Wow you are going to have a great visit here! What activities do you have planned for your two weeks here??
I will be sure to let you know as soon as we have sample menus available so you can look through them before your arrival. They are still being finalized with our tastings over the next few days.
As for spa – the information will be available shortly. In the meantime you can visit http://www.guerlainspa.com and look at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC as our menu will be mostly the same.
The Hilton has two great bars with lots of TV’s: Zeta Bar and Sena Bar + Lounge where you can watch sports
Shona are you a fan of our page on Facebook? Be sure to check it out. http://www.Facebook.com/BonnetCreek and post pictures after your 2 week stay with us!
We booked the WA for 4 nights next week. I came across this WA Promotion: $50 Resort Credit Promotion. Can you tell me if our Deluxe Suite at the WA qualifies us for the Resort Credit? Thanks!
Hi Mike – The resort credit is part of a package. You can purchase this package with any room type but it will be an increase in price over what you paid for your Deluxe Suite. If you’d like to email bonnetcreekorlando@gmail.com your confirmation number, we can see what the increase in price would be and if you would like to switch. Thank you.
We stayed there a few weekends ago and watched the Disney fireworks from our room, awesome
Hello! My family will be staying at the Hilton Bonnet Creek in June 2010. The hotel looks fabulous! I will be bringing my 1 year old son along. I’ve noticed that there isn’t a mini fridge in the room. I would need a fridge to keep his formula and food.
Is there any way that I could request a mini fridge during my stay?
Also, do you provide a guest service desk to purchase Disney World tickets? We will be renting a car to get around. Are the parks relatively close?
I’m so looking forward to staying at the Hilton!
Hi Ashley – We are looking forward to seeing you and your family at Bonnet Creek in June! We can request a mini fridge for your stay but cannot make any garuntees. If you email your confirmation number to bonnetcreekorlando@gmail.com we will take care of this for you.
At this time we do not sell Disney tickets at the hotel. Our concierge will be able to direct you to the closest location. We are extremely close to the parks – just 2 miles to Downtown Disney and less than 6 to Magic Kingdom. It is nice to have a car to get around and see all of Orlando during your stay; however, if you are going to Disney you may chose to enjoy our complimentary transportation to the parks. This service is exclusively for our guests and saves you the hassle of directions and paying parking at the parks. You can learn more on our website: http://www.waldorfastoriaorlando.com/activities/transportation/.
Please let us know if you need anything else!
Of course! Bonnet Creek is a fantastic property for you and your family and I can assure you it will be a vacation to remember! Not only do you have access to all amenities on property, (including those of the first-ever newly built Waldorf Astoria!!!) but you also get complimentary direct transportation from Bonnet Creek to Disney parks. I’m sure you will appreciate this with two little ones after a long day at the park
Additionally the dining here is going to be really fantastic and in a league of its own with 13 amazing options so your family will have plenty to chose from and please everyone. Plus you and your wife will love the WA Kids Club which offers supervised childrens activities so mom and dad can relax for a while…maybe dinner at Bull & Bear Steakhouse?
As for the space issue, if your wife wants to be on the Hilton side and prefers it over Waldorf, then why don’t you get two connecting rooms? You can connect a King to a double Queen room for more space. Would that help? Is the dining/living area very important to you? I can assure you our rooms are huge and two connecting rooms will be very spacious for you…Please let me know if you have any questions.
You might also be interested in our Great Beginnings Package – stay 3 nights get the 4th free, starting at just $129 for Hilton. http://hiltonbonnetcreek.com/packages
I would love to be able to have 2 rooms, but it would be too pricey for us. Let me ask you this: would it be permissible for our family of 6 to book the Waldorf Astoria Deluxe Suite? This would be affordable for us and we would really love to stay at Bonnet Creek rather than Parc Soleil as Bonnet Creek looks fantastic, but I don’t know if we are in violation of some type of rule that would ban us from having 6 people in the Deluxe Suite at Waldorf Astoria? We would have no trouble sleeping 6 (2 adults, and 4 children, 2 of whom are very small) as we will be outside most of the time, but we don’t want to break any strict rules either. Would it be okay for me to book the Deluxe Suite at Waldorf?
Thank you for your replies. I’m not sure if you saw my latest question? Thanks again!
Hi Mike – sorry for the delay. I wanted to be sure I got you the right info
So, we do have some Deluxe Suites with 2 queens and a sleeper sofa which will accomodate 6. When you book, be sure you are booking the Deluxe Suite with 2 Queens and not the one with 1 King. Rates start @ $249. Let me know if you have any more questions.