Any feed back on Old Key West?

[anpears]

I was thinking about staying at Old Key West in July for the first time and would like some feedback from anyone that has stayed there. Is the overall hotel nice? Are the lines for the buses long? Do they have a food cafeteria like the other resorts? Any feedback would be great!
Thanks!

 

[Chuck S]

OKw does not have a food court, it has a full service restaurant and a small snack bar. The rooms are the largest of any on-site resort. There are no "lines" for the busses, there are five bus stops throughout the resort. There can be bus lines when waiting to return from the parks, but you'll get that at any resort.

There is no "in-room" dining service available, nor valet parking. Other than that it is a full service Disney resort.

If you are staying on DVC points, it will follow the DVC housekeeping schedule, if you are staying on cash through Disney/CRO, you will receive daily housekeeping.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I don't even think of OKW as a hotel. It is a full service resort, and that is several steps up from a hotel in my book. We stay there at least a couple of times a year...mostly in 1 and 2 bedroom villas...and we love it! We purchased additional points after just one trip there, and have owned at OKW for 10 years now.

OKW is like a spread out neighborhood of vacation townhomes. Each building is 2-3 stories and will include 1 bedroom/studio lock offs, 2 bedroom or 3 bedroom villas that are walk ups or walk ins from the parking are right outside your door. This gives a nice secluded vacation home feel IMO. The villas are the largest in the DVC system, and have huge master baths and very large great rooms and fully appointed kitchens (with full size appliances)and a large covered balcony that includes a dining table, 4 chairs and a ceiling fan. There is also a full size laundry room in the hall with full size washer and dryer (not stackables). The balcony is accessed from both the living room and the master bedroom. The studios are lock offs from the second bedroom in some units, and will have 2 queen beds, a large closet, a huge full bath and a kitchenette/sink area that will include a microwave, fridge, coffe maker and toaster as well as some plastic and paper table ware. There is a small table with two chairs and a large balcony for the studio rooms as well.

There are 3 neighborhood pools on site, and a larger main pool that has a new sand castle slide. Each pool area includes a childs play area and a laundry for those who are staying in the studios (full size villas have their laundry room in the villa).

Bus service is excellent to all the parks, and there are 5 bus stops located throughout the resort.

 

[Darkside]

OKW was the first DVC that we stayed at. We liked the size of the rooms, the easy bus transportation, it is much better than any value or moderate resort, and the resort was not crowded. Things we were not wild about: (1) You can tell it is the oldest DVC,(2) The property is a little spread out, so if you need to get to the restaurant and such it could be a hike.

 

[spiceycat]

hey still love it!

it feels more like a community than a WDW resort.

the only complaints are generally about the studio. some people don't like 2 queen beds they preferred the queen bed and sleeper sofa in the other DVC resorts.

others don't like what I like. It feels a million miles away - not just a couple of miles from the theme parks. So I can relax here. Some people like to be in the middle of the action.

 

[bradpga]

We stayed at OKW for the first time in June. We loved it. My family has stayed at all the DVC resorts and think ALL of them offer something special. OKW truely is a beutiful, relaxing resort. It reminded us of a couples resort in Jamaica. Very lush and tropical. Loved Olivias dining and the kids loved the slide.

 

[Darkside]

Oh yes,
I forgot to mention OKW has the best slide we have tried yet (VERY FAST) at the DVC resorts.

 

[vandy]

OKW was the first DVC that we stayed at. We liked the size of the rooms, the easy bus transportation, it is much better than any value or moderate resort, and the resort was not crowded. Things we were not wild about: (1) You can tell it is the oldest DVC,(2) The property is a little spread out, so if you need to get to the restaurant and such it could be a hike.

If you find yourself in a part of the resort that is farther away, to make the journey back and forth to the restaurant, pool and hospitality area easier just take any bus. The main area is the last stop so get on any bus at the nearest bus stop to you and ride it to the last stop. When you want to go back, the Peninsular bus stop is the first bus stop and just a short walk away. Take the first bus you find and take that to your bus stop.

 

[dvc guy]

OKW was the first DVC that we stayed at. We liked the size of the rooms, the easy bus transportation, it is much better than any value or moderate resort, and the resort was not crowded. Things we were not wild about: (1) You can tell it is the oldest DVC,(2) The property is a little spread out, so if you need to get to the restaurant and such it could be a hike.

We have been going to OKW for 6 years. About 2 years ago all the major appliances and washer/dryers were replaced. I don't think that you would know when this was built. Everything is in top notch working order and it is as well maintained as any other "newer timeshares "

 

[WOW]

OKW is our favorite DVC....we love to relax there, yet a bus ride away to all the "action". Have been members since 1994 and still love it!!!

 

[Darkside]

Actually, I would know how old these units are because these type of buildings are very common place where I live. OKW reminds of an area in Florida called Seaside, Jim Carry's movie the Truman Show was shot there. One other thing I forgot to mention is there are no elevators, this may or may not be an issue with some people.

 

[Cee]

It is absolutely beautiful and IMO, the only resort in WDW that actually makes
you feel like you're in FLORIDA.

 

[GDUL]

Actually, I would know how old these units are because these type of buildings are very common place where I live. OKW reminds of an area in Florida called Seaside, Jim Carry's movie the Truman Show was shot there. One other thing I forgot to mention is there are no elevators, this may or may not be an issue with some people.

One slight correction - buildings 62, 63, and 64 have elevators.

 

[skoi]

We had a short stay at OKW in August 2005. We had a great time, easy check in, beautiful room, great pool, no lines for buses and the stop was very close to our building. Our kids (then 11 and 7) loved it. They keep asking what year are we scheduled to go back to OKW.

 

[Darkside]

Well, I just keep learning more and more on this board. I did not know that there were elevators in buildings 62-64. I keep this in my notes.

 

[GDUL]

Well, I just keep learning more and more on this board. I did not know that there were elevators in buildings 62-64. I keep this in my notes.

In case you haven't seen it, I made a coded map of OKW that shows this:

 

[dianeschlicht]

Gary, I thank you for updating those maps all the time, and I hope you don't mind if some of the rest of us post them on other threads here. I think they are a great help.

 

[GDUL]

Gary, I thank you for updating those maps all the time, and I hope you don't mind if some of the rest of us post them on other threads here. I think they are a great help.

I don't mind at all if the maps are posted in other threads! I'm glad that people find them useful!

Thanks!

 

[Magic4Four]

As new DVC members, we have been slowly trying to stay at all of the resorts. In February of this year we split a stay between OKW and SSR. Coming from NY in February,we really thought that the lush landscaping and tropical feel would be welcomed. We had a studio in a section that was directly behind the main pool, across the canal. Quite a walk to the main pool and hospitality house. To be quite honest, the lushness around our room made it feel somewhat dark and damp. The size of the studio can't be beat, however, and it is quite roomy even with the two queen size beds. We felt that the age of the resort was showing - scuffs on the wall, chips on furniture, dingey carpet and curtains. In contrast, our stay at SSR was more pleasant. While the dining is an issue at SSR for us, the gorgeous appointments in the rooms, the fantastic pool, and incredible view of DTD at night made us wish we had booked our entire Feb. trip there instead. It seems like a lot of people really love this resort, and it is very pretty on the outside, but it just was not a good fit for us. It was too removed from the World and we felt like we were staying at someone's condo.

 

[offtheice]

I was thinking about staying at Old Key West in July for the first time and would like some feedback from anyone that has stayed there. Is the overall hotel nice? Are the lines for the buses long? Do they have a food cafeteria like the other resorts? Any feedback would be great!
Thanks!

We own at BW, SSR and AKV .. now we have yet to stay at AKV ,but OKW is our favorite place to stay .. Its like staying in a true condo on property ..