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Waldorf Astoria Orlando is a luxury Hilton resort in Bonnet Creek, about 5 road miles from EPCOT’s parking lot, that pairs Disney’s 30-minute Early Theme Park Entry with a shuttle to all four Disney parks and Disney Springs, its own Rees Jones golf course, a full-service spa and access to the lazy river at Signia by Hilton next door.
It is not Disney-owned. Bonnet Creek is a private enclave surrounded by Walt Disney World land (our guide to the five Bonnet Creek hotels explains the area), and the Waldorf is an “Official Walt Disney World Hotel” that appears on Disney’s list of hotels with Early Theme Park Entry. It opened in 2009, and its most extensive renovation since then, according to the hotel, refreshed the lobby, rooms, spa, golf club and Bull & Bear steakhouse.
Facts below come from the hotel’s and Disney’s official pages, checked in October 2026. Fees and shuttle times change, so confirm them before you book.
Quick answer: Book the Waldorf if you are a couple, a golfer or a family with kids who wants a calm luxury base with Early Entry, a park shuttle and Signia’s lazy river next door. Look elsewhere if you want to walk or ride a monorail to a park, need Extended Evening Hours, or would rather not pay a $50 nightly resort charge plus $60 nightly valet parking (both plus tax at the time of writing).
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Waldorf Astoria Orlando at a glance
- Area: 14200 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane, Orlando, inside the Bonnet Creek enclave. The hotel lists EPCOT 2 miles, Disney Springs 2.5, Magic Kingdom 6, SeaWorld 5, Universal Studios 12 and Orlando International Airport 18 miles away.
- To the parks: A shuttle shared with Signia runs to all four Disney theme parks and Disney Springs from the porte-cochère, covered by the resort charge. Magic Kingdom buses stop at the Transportation and Ticket Center.
- Park perks: Early Theme Park Entry, 30 minutes every day at all four parks. Lightning Lane purchases open 3 days ahead, not 7, and there are no Extended Evening Hours.
- Rooms: Deluxe rooms of 448 sq ft with a king or two queens and a marble bath with a separate soaking tub. The Oversized Deluxe Queen room sleeps up to five with a rollaway. Suites start at 945 sq ft.
- Breakfast: Not included in standard rates. Oscar’s Brasserie serves a breakfast buffet daily, and some hotel offers bundle breakfast.
- Pools: A cabana pool for laps, a zero-entry pool and a hot tub on site, plus use of Signia’s pool, lazy river and waterslide.
- Resort fee and parking: At the time of writing, a $50 daily resort charge plus tax, and valet parking at $60 plus tax per night.
- Booking rules: You must be 21 to book and check in. Check-in is 4 pm and check-out 11 am.
- Best for: Couples, golfers and families with kids ages 5 to 12 who want a quiet luxury base with Disney Early Entry.
Waldorf Astoria Orlando photos
A closer look at the lobby, rooms, bathrooms and Bull & Bear from the hotel’s own photo gallery. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or see the full gallery and current rates on Booking.com.
Getting to Disney World from the Waldorf
The hotel calls its Disney service a continuous luxury motorcoach, but the schedule it links to (bonnetshuttle.com) shows set pickup times on a route that may make several stops. Signia’s FAQ adds that buses run during regularly scheduled park hours only.
Here is what that schedule showed for the Waldorf stop on one sample day, October 1, 2026. Check the times for your own dates.
| Destination | Disney stop | Departures from the Waldorf | Last return to the Waldorf |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Kingdom | Transportation and Ticket Center (space C13) | 15, from 7:05 am to 4:05 pm | 6:50 pm |
| EPCOT | Bus space 25 | 10, from 7:35 am to 8:35 pm | 10:05 pm |
| Hollywood Studios | Bus space 62 | 10, from 7:35 am to 8:35 pm | 10:15 pm |
| Animal Kingdom | Bus space 3 or 4 | 10, from 6:35 am to 5:05 pm | 7:10 pm |
| Disney Springs | West Side loop (space 1) | 8, from 12:05 pm to 9:05 pm | 11:20 pm |
- Magic Kingdom takes longer. Buses stop at the Transportation and Ticket Center, so add a monorail or ferry ride to the gate and allow extra time on Early Entry mornings.
- Midday gaps. That day there was no Magic Kingdom departure between 11:35 am and 1:05 pm, and EPCOT and Hollywood Studios buses ran about every two hours from late morning to early evening.
- Late returns vary. The last Magic Kingdom return was 6:50 pm, while EPCOT and Hollywood Studios ran past 10 pm. Compare each day’s schedule with park hours if you want to stay for fireworks.
If you drive, the hotel’s valet parking ($60 plus tax per night) and Disney’s standard theme park parking ($35 a day) both apply at the time of writing, because free park parking is a Disney Resort hotel perk. A rideshare avoids parking fees, though you pay the fare.
Disney perks: what you get and what you don’t
- Early Theme Park Entry: Yes. You enter any of the four theme parks 30 minutes early every day of your stay, including check-in and check-out days, with valid admission and, where required, a park reservation. Disney says the benefit will continue in 2027. See every qualifying hotel in our list of non-Disney hotels with Early Theme Park Entry.
- Lightning Lane: Waldorf guests can buy passes from 7 am, 3 days before their visit, the same window as any off-site guest. Disney Resort hotels and a few select hotels get 7 days.
- Extended Evening Hours: No. Disney limits them to its Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts plus the Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve and Shades of Green.
- Disney tickets: Sold through the hotel’s online ticket link and at its on-site tickets desk.
Rooms and suites
The renovated rooms have a residential look, with Frette linens, Aesop bath products, a Nespresso machine, a stocked minibar, a 55-inch TV and day and evening turndown service. Every Deluxe room has an Italian marble bathroom with a glass shower and a separate soaking tub.
| Room type | Size | Beds | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Room | 448 sq ft | King or 2 queens | Couples, small families |
| Deluxe High Floor | 448 sq ft | King or 2 queens | Nature preserve views |
| Oversized Deluxe Queen | Larger, not listed | Queens plus rollaway | Up to 5 guests |
| Deluxe Suite | 945 sq ft | King or 2 queens, sofa bed | Separate living room |
| Family Luxury Suite | 1,460 sq ft | King, queen sofa bed | Kids’ extras, balcony |
| Luxury Suite | 1,460 sq ft, corner | King, queen sofa bed | Golf and preserve views |
| Chairman’s or Governor’s Suite | 1,393 to 2,228 sq ft | 2 bedrooms, 2 baths | Larger groups |
The Family Luxury Suite adds kids’ extras such as a plush toy and family games, and most King Deluxe Suites have a furnished balcony over the golf course or the Bonnet Creek Nature Preserve. Disney View rooms, which the hotel says look toward the theme parks, pools, golf course and preserve, are a separate bookable category.
Pools, Signia’s lazy river and the kids club
The Waldorf’s own pool area is built for calm: a cabana pool suited to laps, a zero-entry pool for small children and a hot tub, with food and drinks from Aquamarine. It is open 7 am to 10 pm, weather permitting, and outside floats, food and drinks are not allowed. Private cabanas for up to six rent for the day at seasonal rates.
For more action, head next door to Signia by Hilton. Waldorf guests can use its zero-entry lagoon pool, lazy river and waterslide, and the resort charge includes four lazy river tubes, first come, first served. Listed pool hours are 7 am to 9 pm on the Waldorf’s site but 10 pm on Signia’s, and the slide runs shorter hours. Riders must be 48 inches tall, or 40 inches with a life jacket.
The WA Kids Club takes children ages 5 to 12. At the time of writing:
- Daily sessions: 10:30 am to 1:30 pm and 2:30 to 5:30 pm, with lunch, crafts, games and swimming, for $50 for one child, $40 for a second and $30 for each additional child in the same or an adjoining room.
- Hourly option: $20 per child per hour, without lunch.
- Astoria After Dark: a supervised evening program on Fridays and Saturdays, 6 to 9 pm.
Dining, and how kids eat free
Waldorf guests can eat at both hotels. On the Waldorf side:
- Bull & Bear: the steakhouse, open daily 6 to 10 pm, known for tableside service, fried chicken and Chateaubriand for two. The dress code rules out shorts, hats, flip-flops and athletic wear.
- Oscar’s Brasserie: a breakfast buffet daily, 7 to 11 am, with omelets, crepes and Eggs Benedict.
- Peacock Alley: the lobby lounge for small plates and cocktails, 11 am to 11 pm.
- Park Avenue Café: grab-and-go croissants, sandwiches and coffee, 6 am to 9 pm.
- Aquamarine and the Clubhouse Grille: casual meals at the pool and the golf course, plus in-room dining.
Signia adds La Luce (Italian), Zeta Asia (pan-Asian, open on select days), Harvest Bistro, MYTH Bar, Muse and the poolside Beech. The best-value perk sits in the resort charge: children 12 and under get a free dinner at La Luce or Harvest Bistro from the kids’ menu, one per adult entrée.
Golf and the spa
The Waldorf Astoria Golf Club is an 18-hole Rees Jones course set in the nature preserve, with cypress-lined fairways and a five-tee system the hotel says suits every level. Hours are 7 am to 7 pm, varying by season. The resort charge covers the practice range and putting green plus free club rentals after 2 pm; a round costs extra. The 2026 maintenance calendar lists seasonal overseeding on November 16 to 19, with only 9 holes open; dates can shift with the weather.
The Waldorf Astoria Spa is open daily 9 am to 5 pm for massages, facials, salon services, Normatec leg recovery and a Himalayan salt room. Prices vary by date, a 21% service charge is added, and the resort charge gives you 15% off spa retail. The 4,000-square-foot fitness center is open 24 hours.
Fees and policies to budget for
| Item | Amount at time of writing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resort charge | $50 plus tax per night | Shuttle, Wi-Fi for 2 devices, gym, kids’ dinner |
| Parking | $60 plus tax per night | Valet, with in/out privileges |
| Deposit | One night | Charged when you book |
| Incidental hold | $150 per night | Released by your bank later |
| Pet fee | $125 (1-5 nights), $250 (6+) | Up to 2 dogs, 40 lb combined |
| Airport transfer | $115 to $245 one way | Mears or Skyline; no hotel shuttle |
The hotel’s online welcome letter still lists $57 valet and $40 self-parking, while its FAQ and policy pages list valet only at $60, so confirm the current option when you book. Dogs can’t go to the pools or restaurants or be left alone in the room; for more options, see our guide to pet-friendly hotels in Orlando.
The hotel’s offers page has listed rates with breakfast, free valet or a fourth night free, so compare them with the base rate. Hilton Honors members should check whether their booking channel earns points.
Waldorf Astoria vs Signia by Hilton next door
The two hotels share the Disney shuttle, the same $50 resort charge (at the time of writing) and the golf club, and Waldorf guests can use Signia’s pool, lazy river and restaurants. Our Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek guide covers the larger neighbor in detail.
| Feature | Waldorf Astoria | Signia by Hilton |
|---|---|---|
| Early Entry | Yes | Yes |
| Disney shuttle | Shared | Shared |
| Resort charge | $50 plus tax | $50 plus tax |
| Parking | Valet $60 | Valet $60 or self $40 |
| Lazy river and slide | Next door | On site |
| Spa, golf, Bull & Bear | On site | Next door |
Pick Signia if the lazy river is the main event. Pick the Waldorf for a quieter pool deck and the spa and steakhouse in your own building.
Best for and not ideal for
Best for:
- Couples who want a spa, a serious steakhouse and quiet pools a few miles from EPCOT.
- Golfers who want a Rees Jones course on site, with range access included in the resort charge.
- Families with kids 5 to 12 who will use the kids club, free kids’ dinners and Signia’s lazy river.
- Hilton loyalists who want Disney Early Entry.
Not ideal for:
- Travelers who want to walk or take a monorail or Skyliner to a park.
- Night owls counting on Extended Evening Hours.
- Tight budgets: the resort charge and valet add $110 a night before tax.
- Groups of six in one standard room.
Check Waldorf Astoria Orlando prices on Booking.com
Nearby alternatives
- Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek: the same perks and shuttle, plus the lazy river on site and self-parking.
- Four Seasons Resort Orlando: inside Disney’s Golden Oak community, with Early Entry, a private water park and a complimentary kids’ club.
- Walt Disney World Swan Reserve: within walking distance of EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, with Extended Evening Hours; compare it in our Swan vs Dolphin vs Swan Reserve guide.
- JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa: a Marriott Bonvoy option in the same enclave, but without Early Entry.
For a wider shortlist, see our ranking of the best luxury resorts in Orlando.
Signia or Waldorf? our Signia vs Waldorf Astoria Orlando comparison covers the shared pools, shuttle and fees.
Comparing luxury resorts? read Four Seasons vs Ritz-Carlton vs Waldorf Astoria Orlando.
Frequently asked questions
Is Waldorf Astoria Orlando on Disney property?
No. It sits in Bonnet Creek, a privately owned enclave surrounded by Walt Disney World land, about 5 miles by road from EPCOT’s parking lot. Disney does not own or run it, but as an Official Walt Disney World Hotel it offers Early Theme Park Entry and sells Disney tickets.
Does Waldorf Astoria Orlando get Disney Early Entry?
Yes. It is on Disney’s list of participating hotels, so you can enter any of the four theme parks 30 minutes early every day of your stay, including arrival and departure days, with valid admission. Disney says the benefit will continue in 2027. Extended Evening Hours are not included.
How much is the Waldorf Astoria Orlando resort fee?
At the time of writing, $50 plus tax per room, per night. It covers the Disney shuttle, Wi-Fi for two devices, two bottles of water a day, the fitness center, golf practice facilities, club rentals after 2 pm, 15% off spa retail, four lazy river tubes at Signia and a free kids’ dinner with each adult entrée. Valet parking is extra.
Can Waldorf Astoria Orlando guests use the Signia lazy river?
Yes. The hotel confirms that Waldorf guests can use the pool, lazy river, waterslide and restaurants at Signia by Hilton next door, and the resort charge includes four lazy river tubes, first come, first served. Pool hours vary by season, so check them when you arrive.
Does Waldorf Astoria Orlando have an airport shuttle?
No. The hotel recommends paid private transfers for the roughly 21-mile drive. At the time of writing, its FAQ listed Mears sedans at $132 from the airport and $115 to it, and Skyline luxury SUVs for up to five at $135 one way. Our guide to getting from Orlando airport to Disney World compares other options.
Is Waldorf Astoria Orlando good for kids?
Yes, for many families, though it is calmer than a typical family resort. It has a zero-entry pool, a paid kids club for ages 5 to 12, family suites with kids’ extras and free kids’ dinners, while the lazy river and waterslide are at Signia next door. The kids club doesn’t take children under 5 or teens.
Sources checked in October 2026: Waldorf Astoria Orlando FAQs, Waldorf Astoria Orlando deluxe guest rooms, Bonnet Creek shuttle schedule, Walt Disney World Early Theme Park Entry, Walt Disney World Lightning Lane passes.