Disney's Old Key West Resort - a confession and love letter

[RedOnion]

thought for sure after falling in love with the Villas at Grand Floridian our next contract would be there..... nope.

Same! We love VGF and will stay there as often as possible … but when it comes to purchasing a contract, the value isn't there for us--if you can even find a contract to buy. Per-point costs are high at VGF and point values per room are high as well. (Not necessarily too high, mind you, as it's a glorious place and worth every $0.01 I'm sure.) But OKW felt like really amazing value … both in terms of what the contract cost us and how long we will be able to stay there in truly outstanding accommodations even with a relatively small annual point allotment. Sold!

 

[TJ Bryant]

Post refurb, I love Old key west. It’s great for relaxed stay. I think the boat ride to Disney springs is awesome and love grabbing a beer at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar bar right after getting off the boat before exploring the rest of Disney springs. It’s not Grand Floridian but for a much cheaper point price you can still have a really awesome time.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Just our family's opinion (remember, opinion!), we love the OKW much more than Grand Floridian. We purchased VGF points, had 3 stays at the villas, and sold the contract resale. The place is beautiful, but just didn't have the same comfortable relaxing feel for us that OKW does. I guess you could say it wasn't for us. And since our kids are now older and being close to MK isn't a priority, we love OKW (and AKL) even more.

 

[Chuck S]

Absolutely fair point. Our Deluxe Studio was on the 2nd floor, and while we don't have any mobility issues, I did mention that we had carry-ons for 4 since our kids ditched us for the MK, and it was a hassle getting everything upstairs on our own.

I am a big fan of bell services. Usually my room isn't ready when I arrive at the resort. I drop my carry-ons with bell services, and have a nice lunch at Olivia's, then head to Disney Springs until I get a room ready text, then head back to OKW, and reclaim my carry-ons, drop them off in the room, and then maybe head to a park. Same on fly out day, drop the luggage with the airline counter, drop the carry-ons at bell services, and were off, until later...as we usually have a fairly late flight out.

 

[igrsod]

Two queen beds, not full sized (or double) beds.

You can hop any bus and go to the HH since it is the last stop. If you need to go back to your area, walk over to Peninsular Road bus stop and hop a bus back to your area.

My bad... I didn't mean FULL in the size.... I meant full as in dedicated regular beds.

 

[RoadDogg723]

Looking to stay there possibly next time with my family .. thanks for the post!

 

[jsmeyer]

It's our Home Resort and we love it and our kids love it too. Now they're old enough to do college spring breaks on their own and they always ask to stay at OKW.

 

[Chuck S]

Having stayed at OKW only for the last 28 years, except for one stay at Poly, I would eventually like to try a couple other places, like AKV and BLT, but as nice as the Poly was, and as convenient to the monorail and MK, it still wasn't home like OKW is home. I already have OKW planned for at least the next two trips.

 

[jimmytammy]

We have owned at VWL since 2001 and have loved most every minute of our stays over the years. With that being said, we never ever branched outside of staying at VWL for several years, until my folks decided to come to stay a few nights so we could go see some Braves spring training games. So we decided to stay at OKW to save points in 2 studios. Not knocking OKW and its fans, but the studios left us longing for more. Sort of reminded us of a nice, bigger size room at a moderate. I know, I know, the rooms are larger than other studios at other DVC resorts, but the layout still reminded us of a standard hotel roomSo we didn't return for quite some time after this stay to OKW.

FF to a few years later. We decide to give it another whirl. But this time we try a 1 bed. WOW...WOW...WOW!! We too fell in love and at that point it fell directly behind VWL, very close behind in the love it factor. We love the laid back feel, something we feel at VWL/WL. We love the ambiance, another draw at VWL. We love the music at OKW(though we wish it played just outside the buildings), same at WL/VWL. I know there are a lot of things I compare here that others are scratching their heads, saying, "What is this dude taking about, WL is woodsy, OKW is beachy, does he not realize that"? Well yes, but I still get the same feel, relaxing, cool vibe and music to sooth the savage beast!

So I get the love, though it may be for different reasons, I still get it. There are other resorts since that have captured my fancy for some of the same reasons and more, Kidani, SSR, BLT, BWV. VWL will always be Home for me, but every once in awhile, you have to leave Home to appreciate Home even more
Works for me!

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

FF to a few years later. We decide to give it another whirl. But this time we try a 1 bed. WOW...WOW...WOW!!

Yeah, our experience was the same!! We didn't fall in love with it our first two trips and those were short studio stays, but by our third stay in a one bedroom, we were definitely starting to form a connection with the resort. Our main contract is with BWV and as our fascination with OKW was waxing, our connection with BWV was waning. We weren't crazy about mousekeeping, we didn't care for the refurb, and as our kids were growing, the one bedroom was becoming too small. There truly is a resort for everyone, and it may even change over the years.

Of course, though, not for Chuck S.. 28 YEARS!! WOW!
That is very impressive, btw--you have to be OKW's biggest fan!!

 

[jimmytammy]

Having stayed at OKW only for the last 28 years, except for one stay at Poly, I would eventually like to try a couple other places, like AKV and BLT, but as nice as the Poly was, and as convenient to the monorail and MK, it still wasn't home like OKW is home. I already have OKW planned for at least the next two trips.

I can appreciate dedication and devotion

 

[Simba's Mom]

Having stayed at OKW only for the last 28 years, except for one stay at Poly, I would eventually like to try a couple other places, like AKV and BLT, but as nice as the Poly was, and as convenient to the monorail and MK, it still wasn't home like OKW is home. I already have OKW planned for at least the next two trips.

I bet the stories you could tell about OKW! In 28 years, you must have stayed about everywhere there. I remember the year they announced at the annual meeting that they were putting in the pool slide (was that the year I met you and your mom?). Twenty six pages of comments by angry/happy OKW members. That's when I first learned of the dedication of OKW owners to their resort.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I bet the stories you could tell about OKW! In 28 years, you must have stayed about everywhere there. I remember the year they announced at the annual meeting that they were putting in the pool slide (was that the year I met you and your mom?). Twenty six pages of comments by angry/happy OKW members. That's when I first learned of the dedication of OKW owners to their resort.

Yea, that's funny - I remember that, too. And also all the conversation whether or not members would spend the money to build a bridge over the lake from near the bus stop on Peninsular Rd over the lake to shorten the walk to the main hospitality area. I'm kind of glad that never worked out.

Many stories.....!

 

[Chuck S]

I bet the stories you could tell about OKW! In 28 years, you must have stayed about everywhere there. I remember the year they announced at the annual meeting that they were putting in the pool slide (was that the year I met you and your mom?). Twenty six pages of comments by angry/happy OKW members. That's when I first learned of the dedication of OKW owners to their resort.

Yes, I think that was the year we met.

 

[Chuck S]

Yea, that's funny - I remember that, too. And also all the conversation whether or not members would spend the money to build a bridge over the lake from near the bus stop on Peninsular Rd over the lake to shorten the walk to the main hospitality area. I'm kind of glad that never worked out.

Many stories.....!

Me, too!

 

[Chuck S]

Anyone else remember the little herb garden, where the chefs would pick fresh seasonings for the meals served at Olivia's? The outdoor seating area is there now, and the small room you that connects to it was the original outdoor seating area.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Anyone else remember the little herb garden, where the chefs would pick fresh seasonings for the meals served at Olivia's? The outdoor seating area is there now, and the small room you that connects to it was the original outdoor seating area.

Honestly do not recall that!