A "Moderate" Family Goes Deluxe ~ An Old Key West Review

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We just returned from an 8 night stay at WDW on Sunday. The first 6 nights were at POR, my POR review can be found here ~ http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2333071 And the last 2 nights we spent at OKW.

Our original plans were 8 nights at POR with free dining. But when the 40% off code came out I backed POR/free dining down to 6 nights and added a room only at OKW for the last 2 nights. We love trying new resorts and wanted to try one of the lower prices Deluxes for a few nights. So it was AKL, WL, SSR, or OKW. I had narrowed it down to OKW or WL, the 2 that appealed to me the most. WL didn't have any standard rooms left, so that sealed the deal - OKW it was! I knew I loved the looks of OKW from the photos. Love that laid back tropical feel. But I also knew that I did remember from previous trips that we would probably not ever stay at OKW because I could see one of the buildings from the road (like right beside the road), and that whoever was unlucky enough to stay in that building must be able to hear traffic all night. But what were the chances we would get that building? Or even the very end of that building closest to the road?

We had used ME to get to POR on Saturday the 7th. So on Friday the 13th when we needed to move to OKW we of course had no transportation. We had 2 choices - 1) to let Disney move our luggage or 2) to take a cab. I could see from being on the buses all week that OKW was just down the road from POR. So we opted for a cab. Cab fare - $5.50. Took less than 5 minutes!

We arrived at OKW around 8:30AM. As the cab pulled up to the Hospitality House (Lobby, Gift Shop, Food) a CM came right to us and said "Welcome Home". Which seemed a little weird to us since we are not DVC members. But we soon learned that each and every CM there greets you that way! The bell services CM then came over and loaded our luggage onto a cart and told us to go check in and then come back out and tell him if our room was ready. He said that the room would likely be ready because the resort wasn't that full. Check in went smooth. No one else in line. Then I was informed that we were in building 50. Which really meant nothing to me, I had researched this resort a little, but not extensively enough to know where each building was. As she showed me on the map it looked pretty far out there. Here is where MY mistake was - I should have asked for something else right then and there. But, having stayed at CBR, POR, and CSR (the 3 resorts that everyone complains about being SO SPREAD OUT) and we have never had an issue with the spacious grounds, I thought it really couldn't be that bad.

So we headed back out to bell services and told them our room is ready and where it is and he says - we will need to take you there. . . Okay, so it's a little ways out. We load up into an extended golf cart type vehicle and head out. Keep in mind this is all before 9:00AM. And while it was 75 degrees that day, it was not at 9:00AM. What a cold unpleasant ride that was! When we finally got there he carried our luggage up the stairs for us and left. At least we had gotten our request of the 2nd floor! The whole section of the resort appeared empty. Still not sure why we were put back there. Check out the OKW map - http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/okwmap.htm Scroll clear down to the bottom and see where building 50 is. . . See where the furthest part of the building is? By the road? That was our room. The map does not even do justice to how close to the road we were. We are talking a 4 lane highway. Loud traffic until about 2:00 every morning. Our view from the balcony was the road. We had to take a bus to get to the main pool/gift shop/restaurant/etc. I suppose we could have walked it, but I am going to say that it was a good 15-20 minute walk, and we would have had to have crossed the road several times because there was not a sidewalk on the same side of the road the whole way. The walk to our bus stop was about 4 minutes, we used the South Point Road bus stop.

Our room was very nice. Big and bright. We loved the extra space we had over what we are used to at the Moderates. The bathroom was nice and big too. I had heard a lot of complaints before we went that the OKW rooms were old and run-down. We didn't see that. We thought it was very nice. But then again, maybe they don't use the room we were in too often. From the times guide that was left in the room it appeared that no one had been in there since mid October.

The grounds were beautiful and tropical. There was music playing all around the main area/pool, mostly Jimmy Buffet. The main pool is very nice and fun and the water was warm. DS10 enjoyed the pool slide very much.

The buses were strange. I can't for the life of me figure out why they did what they did when they built this place. What a waste of time & gas the way the buses have to travel. There are 5 bus stops. Okay, fine. Nothing we aren't used to. If you want to follow along - take another look at the map. The buses pull into the resort and the first stop is the Peninsular Rd stop (by bldg 26), then onto South Road stop (by bldgs 52 & 53) - which was our stop (and btw the nearest ice machine to our room) - the buses would have to drive past our stop and go clear down by bldgs 50/51 and circle around and come back to the South Rd bus stop and then stop. From there they travel back up Peninsular Rd and turn left to go to the Turtle Pond bus stop (by bldgs 32/33), only to have to drive clear past it and go clear to bldgs 40/44 and circle back again. Back out to Peninsular Rd clear up to bldg 62 and turn left to catch the Miller's Rd bus stop (across from bldg 19). Then clear past it, circle back around by bldgs 20/21 and then onto the the final stop - the Hospitality House. All that took about 13 minutes, and we got on at the 2nd stop, so make that a little longer if you get on at the first stop. There were always plenty of buses and they were never crowded. I even said to DH at one point - I don't think the people who stay here even go to the parks! It really appeared that the resort was at very low capacity, so like I said I still don't know why we were stuck clear out in that room. Once the bus left the resort it took 10 minutes to get to MK and 10 to DHS, and 4 to DTD. We did not take the buses anywhere else since we were only there for a short time.

We did not have housekeeping come in at all since we were only there the 2 nights. But the room was very clean when we checked in and housekeeping left us plenty of new towels, toilet paper, kleenex, etc outside of our door. And while we had no "critters" in our room (we encountered a frog in our POR room), we did have a lizard on our balcony!

We ate at Olivia's Friday evening and really enjoyed it. That was a pleasant surprise. Olivia's is one of those WDW restaurants that you never hear much about. It is very good! And we picked up some food from the Good's To Go counter too. It was average.

There were lots of activities going on at the resort when we were there. They gave us a recreation sheet when we checked in and they have activities every day of the week. Some are free, some have a charge. Our kids did attend the un-birthday party at the Community Hall last Friday. There was also a campfire going on that evening at 8:00, but we didn't make it.

So having said all that, we are left with mixed feelings for OKW. While we loved the room, loved Olivia's, loved the pool, the CM's were all very friendly, we just did not enjoy that room location at all. I'm sure our stay would have been much better had we been in another location.

CBR still remains our favorite resort, followed closely by POR, then I'm going to have to say OKW, followed closely by POFQ, and CSR last.

I have tons of OKW pictures to post. It is a very beautiful place! Feel free to ask any questions.

[JoBird]

OMG! Am i first????

[JoBird]

I am! I am! I'm first!!!!

Okay, going back now to read.
Thanks Shelly!




Jo

[mickeystoontown]

Second! Now I'll go back and read.

[mickeystoontown]

I'm sorry that you were assigned such a crummy room location. Wonder why they put ya'll way out there when the resort wasn't at capacity? Looking forward to seeing your pictures.

[JoBird]

Okay- well let's seee...
oh my gosh about being way out there in the boondocks. Maybe they were expecting a last minute rush of unexpected guests and had to hold the rest of the resort open for them? That would be the only explanation- and that's a bad one at that!

It really would've upset me to be so far away from everything. Which bldg did you reqest and did you fax it to them before you left?

The buses- wow- 13 minutes just picking up other guests in the resort then a 10 minute ride, not to mention time spent waiting on the bus to come... you could be up to 40 minutes from the time you leave your room until you get to the park. Nope, awful. That's terrible.


The resort itself sounds beautiful and relaxing.
I have only ever had Cm's say "Welcome Home" to us once- and that was when we stayed at POFQ and they said it every night as we pulled in the gate. The first time they said it- I was shocked but I have to admit it was fun to hear and I looked forward to it each night after that. Our home away from home.

I'm glad with your experience that you didn't stay longer- but if you had, then i know you would've asked for a better room so it might not have been as bad.

How were the beds? I read that they were the most uncomfortable on property- but I sleep on the floor almost every night b/c I sleep so much better there- I guess you can't get much harder than that.


Good review! Ready for pictures!


Jo

[GrammyJudy]

You are just too nice Shelley...you need to speak up when you are unhappy with something. They would have moved you closer. Ask when you check in where the room is and if you don't like it speak up. You are paying good money and it is there job to make you happy. Loved your POR report and pictures. we are going to POR in Jan for the first time.

[Momof2Disneyboys]

YAY

1st prize goes to JO!

2nd prize goes to Lisa!

And 3rd goes to Judy!


Glad you are all here!

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Originally Posted by mickeystoontown

I'm sorry that you were assigned such a crummy room location. Wonder why they put ya'll way out there when the resort wasn't at capacity? Looking forward to seeing your pictures.

I still can't figure it out either. . .

Pictures will be up soon!

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Originally Posted by JoBird

Okay- well let's seee...
oh my gosh about being way out there in the boondocks. Maybe they were expecting a last minute rush of unexpected guests and had to hold the rest of the resort open for them? That would be the only explanation- and that's a bad one at that!

It really would've upset me to be so far away from everything. Which bldg did you reqest and did you fax it to them before you left?

The buses- wow- 13 minutes just picking up other guests in the resort then a 10 minute ride, not to mention time spent waiting on the bus to come... you could be up to 40 minutes from the time you leave your room until you get to the park. Nope, awful. That's terrible.


The resort itself sounds beautiful and relaxing.
I have only ever had Cm's say "Welcome Home" to us once- and that was when we stayed at POFQ and they said it every night as we pulled in the gate. The first time they said it- I was shocked but I have to admit it was fun to hear and I looked forward to it each night after that. Our home away from home.

I'm glad with your experience that you didn't stay longer- but if you had, then i know you would've asked for a better room so it might not have been as bad.

How were the beds? I read that they were the most uncomfortable on property- but I sleep on the floor almost every night b/c I sleep so much better there- I guess you can't get much harder than that.


Good review! Ready for pictures!


Jo

I requested to be in building 23, 24, 25, or 26. When I checked in the CM said - "I see you requested this section" and she pointed to it on the map and then told me that section was for DVC members. Which is understandable and totally fair I think. I just really have my doubts that ALL those rooms were filled up for as few people as I saw at the resort and on the buses or that a room somewhat better than what we had wasn't available.

Luckily the buses came quick, so that wasn't much added time to be spent to get anywhere!

I thought the beds were fine. They were queen. Which I know everyone makes a huge deal out of having queens over doubles, but I'd say the difference in size is only about 5-6 inches bigger. I didn't think they were hard. I guess I really didn't see a difference in them and the ones we had at POR. Of course after I took enough Tylenol PM to drown out the traffic I probably could have slept on the balcony!

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Originally Posted by GrammyJudy

You are just too nice Shelley...you need to speak up when you are unhappy with something. They would have moved you closer. Ask when you check in where the room is and if you don't like it speak up. You are paying good money and it is there job to make you happy. Loved your POR report and pictures. we are going to POR in Jan for the first time.

I know, I really should have said something. But there are several reasons I didn't I guess. Number one being at check in I had no idea it would ever be that far away and/or on the highway. Number 2, when we got the the room we could see that it was bad, but really needed to leave for an ADR and didn't have time to mess around. And number 3, we were only staying for 2 nights. So while I am telling about it in my review, I don't totally blame OKW for it, it is partially my fault (although I don't know why the resort is set up like it is). We still had a very nice time there and thought it was a very nice resort. I'm just not sure we'd chance it again knowing the possibility of getting a poor location.

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Lobby/Check-in and our transportation to our room ~

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Our building ~



A close up of our building ~



We were on the second floor. The set of stairs that we used only took you to our room 5020 and to one other room 5021. Being that there was no one else even close to us we had this huge area all to ourselves at the top of the stairs, which the kids took advantage of later that evening with their light up thingies.







We also used it for a quick family photo later ~



Leading to our room ~

[GrammyJudy]

I love your reports and pictures. You look like such a nice loving family. And you boys are adorable. I am a grammy who is now enjoying Disney with my 9 yr old DGS and a new one who is 14 months. We took him for his first trip when he was 4 months. we started going to WDW when my son was 5 and my daughter was 3, they are 32 and 30 now! It is a great family place and what wonderful memories and phots we have from all our trips. Tp POR in Jan 2010!!!!!

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Originally Posted by GrammyJudy

I love your reports and pictures. You look like such a nice loving family. And you boys are adorable. I am a grammy who is now enjoying Disney with my 9 yr old DGS and a new one who is 14 months. We took him for his first trip when he was 4 months. we started going to WDW when my son was 5 and my daughter was 3, they are 32 and 30 now! It is a great family place and what wonderful memories and phots we have from all our trips. Tp POR in Jan 2010!!!!!

Thank you so much!

We only started going to Disney in 2005 and haven't really vacationed anywhere else since. DH and I never went as children, but we fell in love with it on our very first trip and knew we would be taking the kids for years and probably grandkids someday!

You and your family are going to have so much fun at POR in January!