Just back from a week at OKW

[jamaka66]

This was our first trip to Old Key West and we had a wonderful time. It was myself, my husband, my daughter and her husband, grandson age 4 and granddaughter 16 months, and my son coming from California. We got a Grand Villa and I can't say enough how beautiful it was. We saw no signs of wear, in fact we were surprised since we had read about how dated it was there. OK the TV's weren't flat-screens but they all worked fine and we weren't really there for the TV. The deck outside was one of our favorite spots. We overlooked an island green and loved watching the golfers play the hole. It was quiet and relaxed and huge. I would highly recommend the Grand Villa and Old Key West to everyone.

Now as to the pros and cons.
Pros-Boat to downtown was great. Short drive to most of the parks. Room was great and we got games from the community hall for after the kids went to bed. Activities and movies outside at night were really nice. Staff was friendly and helpful. Brought a router so we had wireless throughout the room.

Cons-Wasn't thrilled at dining options. Long bus ride thru resort to get to the last stop (and yes we are used to SSR and Caribbean Beach). Didn't mind that the maintenance crew was re-siding but they left our deck covered in wood and nails and screws one day.

I think that everyone should stay in a Grand Villa at least once and OKW is the most points friendly way to do it. Overall we wouldn't change a thing.

[Cee]

That sounds like heaven to me. :cloud9: I would LOVE to stay in a grand villa one day. OKW is one of my very favorites. I'm so glad you and your family had such a wonderful experience. :goodvibes

[SusieBea]

Which GV were you in? We have our first stay in one in September.

[jamaka66]

We were in 6323, a handicap GV. You are going to love it!!

[Mouse511]

Shh - lets keep OKW 'our' best kept secret !! ;)

We love OKW !! - Glad you had a nice vacation.

[CajunGirl2]

Do you remember the bus route through OKW? I think the last time we stayed there it started on Miller's Road and the last stop was the HH.

Thanks!

[WebmasterDoc]

Do you remember the bus route through OKW? I think the last time we stayed there it started on Miller's Road and the last stop was the HH.

Thanks!

The current bus route is Peninsular, South Point, Old Turtle Pond, Miller's and then HH before leaving the resort. There are times when an individual bus driver may vary that route, but the usual route is as described.

[cvjw]

We bought an OKW contract just so we could book the grand villas. I am planning on booking one for April 2011, and can't wait to stay there. Does anyone know if any of the grand villas overlook the river? I would love to have that river view to wake up to each morning.

[dmoore22]

Shh - lets keep OKW 'our' best kept secret !! ;)

We love OKW !! - Glad you had a nice vacation.

What's all this propaganda about how great OKW is? You couldn't twist my arm to get me to stay there! ;)




OKW: 7/02, 6/03, 7/04, 6/05, 7/06, 12/06, 5/07, 12/07, 5/08, 12/08, 5/09, 12/09

[WebmasterDoc]

We bought an OKW contract just so we could book the grand villas. I am planning on booking one for April 2011, and can't wait to stay there. Does anyone know if any of the grand villas overlook the river? I would love to have that river view to wake up to each morning.

None of the OKW GVs are on the canal but there are a number of them with water views across a golf course pond - Buildings 15, 16, 63, 22, 25, 43, 49 and 51 all have a pond/golf course view from the balcony.

GDUL has provided a coded OKW map. The GVs are all outlined in yellow and water is grey:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g303/GDuLong/OKWMap-January2008.jpg

[DizGirl20]

So glad to hear you enjoyed your visit - we stayed at OKW last year and just became DVC Members because it was such a fabulous first DVC visit. While our first contract is at AKV, we plan on making our second contract either BLT or OKW! :thumbsup2

[smjj]

Yeah, that right OKW is not a good place to stay, do not go there The creeping grud is all over the place..smjj;);););)

[BEASLYBOO]

We've had the pleasure of staying in a GV in bldg. 15(favorite location, nice view), 51(nice view), & 19 (other favorite location, which was near a quiet pool, jacuzzi & bbq's). We've had some fantastic family reunions at OKW in those GV's, they are fabulous.

Thanks for the great trip report! OKW is my favorite resort!

[Lost in Neverland]

We just returned from our first stay at OKW also. We loved the resort and the people that were there.We did a split stay and had to leave on day 2 to move to BLT. We really regretted the move after arriving at OKW. It is odd to say but we could not use enough points at OKW to keep from having a few expire so we had to move to a more expensive resort. Never again OKW is our home and I really can not see us happy any where else. i am so glad we are not the only "wise" ones.;)

[dianeschlicht]

We bought an OKW contract just so we could book the grand villas. I am planning on booking one for April 2011, and can't wait to stay there. Does anyone know if any of the grand villas overlook the river? I would love to have that river view to wake up to each morning.

No, there are no GVs in 45, 46, 55 or 56. There are some good water views from some of the GVs, but they're not on the river.

[kdepot]

Add me to the list. I won't stay at OKW .;););)

Well till the next time anyway.:ssst:

[DisneyTravelers2008]

We like OKW, too! I stayed there in March 2009 for a 3 day trip. It was me and my 2 kids and my friend and her 2 kids. We all piled into a studio. Shhh...don't tell the room police! :) It worked out well b/c we took 2 twin sized air mattresses and they slide perfectly under the room's double beds. Becasue the beds are raised, we easily stored them under there during the day. Anyway, the room was nice and it is a pretty resort!

[dmoore22]

We like OKW, too! I stayed there in March 2009 for a 3 day trip. It was me and my 2 kids and my friend and her 2 kids. We all piled into a studio. Shhh...don't tell the room police! :) It worked out well b/c we took 2 twin sized air mattresses and they slide perfectly under the room's double beds. Becasue the beds are raised, we easily stored them under there during the day. Anyway, the room was nice and it is a pretty resort!

Your secret is safe with me! OKW always puts us in the face of certain temptation -- in the nicest way of course!!

[dmoore22]

We like OKW, too! I stayed there in March 2009 for a 3 day trip. It was me and my 2 kids and my friend and her 2 kids. We all piled into a studio. Shhh...don't tell the room police! :) It worked out well b/c we took 2 twin sized air mattresses and they slide perfectly under the room's double beds. Becasue the beds are raised, we easily stored them under there during the day. Anyway, the room was nice and it is a pretty resort!

Your secret is safe with me! OKW always puts us in the face of certain temptation -- in the nicest way of course!!

[dianeschlicht]

We like OKW, too! I stayed there in March 2009 for a 3 day trip. It was me and my 2 kids and my friend and her 2 kids. We all piled into a studio. Shhh...don't tell the room police! :) It worked out well b/c we took 2 twin sized air mattresses and they slide perfectly under the room's double beds. Becasue the beds are raised, we easily stored them under there during the day. Anyway, the room was nice and it is a pretty resort!

How did you get a room with double beds at OKW????? The studios have two queen sized beds there.

[Tony-NJ]

Glad you enjoyed OKW - we fell back in love with it back in Dec! About the bus to the Hospitality House area - we didn't use the busses for that reason - we had a car with us and used that. I guess it can take some time to get there via bus depending what section you were in.

[dianeschlicht]

Glad you enjoyed OKW - we fell back in love with it back in Dec! About the bus to the Hospitality House area - we didn't use the busses for that reason - we had a car with us and used that. I guess it can take some time to get there via bus depending what section you were in.

That's mostly true if you are at South Point or Turtle Pond. Frankly, we don't mind walking to HH from most locations at OKW. The farthest is if you end up on the end of the middle cul-de-sac at Turtle Pond or building 21 on Miller's Road. But, to that point, there are very few times we actually have a reason to go to HH during a trip. Once in awhile to pick something up or get a moview to watch from Hank's if we are staying in for the evening. We tend to use the buses for parks when we are at OKW, and only use our rental car when we want to go to dinner at another resort.

[smjj]

I feel safe in posting here because the rest of my family does not use the DIS. We have a Grand Villa/HH area reserved for this coming Oct. for our family of 10 vacation. They all want to transfer to AKV at the 7 month window for they says the grandkids and I guess that is great. However, I love OKW soooo much, I prefer to stay there. I just like everything about the place. I just keep my mouth shut and go with the flow and pony up the point.....smjj

[saintstickets]

We like OKW, too! I stayed there in March 2009 for a 3 day trip. It was me and my 2 kids and my friend and her 2 kids. We all piled into a studio. Shhh...don't tell the room police! :) It worked out well b/c we took 2 twin sized air mattresses and they slide perfectly under the room's double beds. Becasue the beds are raised, we easily stored them under there during the day. Anyway, the room was nice and it is a pretty resort!

We also took an air mattress so our 2 grown children would not have to share the same bed in our studio room. What made it special was that housekeeping, without our asking, left sheets for the air mattress after the first night and changed them just as they did the 2 queen size beds! How's that for room service?!

[Fatalbie]

I stayed at OKW with my brother a couple years ago and loved the resort. I was fortunate enough to get one for October 24-29 for the 10 of us. CAN'T WAIT!!!

[wdwfan1]

I agree. Don't ever stay there, especially in a Grand Villa. Too many cons in them--hard to choose which bathroom to use (since there are 4). You can get lost wandering around in the spacious rooms. It is hard to decide which table to use--dining room, living room or on the balcony. The list could go on and on.

[chepic]

I agree. Don't ever stay there, especially in a Grand Villa. Too many cons in them--hard to choose which bathroom to use (since there are 4). You can get lost wandering around in the spacious rooms. It is hard to decide which table to use--dining room, living room or on the balcony. The list could go on and on.

And don't forget that the kitchen area is so large, one can get lost going from the balcony to the fridge to get a glass of wine!!! ;) Oh yeah, and as my signature shows there is always a line for the room jacuzzi.

che