Information on Old Key West please??

[tjmw2727]

Hi All

In my many stays at WDW I have not yet had the pleasure of staying at Old Key West. I am seriously considering changing from a room at the Dolphin (which I love) to a studio or 1 bedroom at Old Key west since the AP rate is so great. It will be just myself and two young daughters so the ability to make some meals in the room is very appealing. Not only does this help with the cost but I like to be able to offer some healthy alternatives esp on a longer trip like this one.

If anyone has their own pros' and cons' on OKW I would love to hear them. Particularly the bus service to and from teh parks and boat service to DTD. Perhaps someone has some room recommendations. We have a guaranteed non-smoking, with two young ones should I try and be close to a pool or the "main building".

TIA
TJ

 

[mikesmom]

You may get more answers on this on the DVC board, but since we "own" at OKW, I can give you some answers:

- If the rate for a 1 bdrm is good, I would grab it if I were going with 2 daughters. The 1 bdrm has a full kitchen with stove and full size refrigerator which makes it very easy to make meals. That full size fridge also goes a long way to storing healthy snacks such as fruit, bottled water, deli meats and cheeses, bagels, etc. Even if you don't "cook" full meals, you will save a bunch on money not spent on snacks in the parks. The studio has a mini fridge and a microwave, not quite as convenient for meals.

- I think the bus service is fine. OKW has it's own bus, so you don't ride around to 4 other resorts either coming or going. We've never waited more than 10-15 minutes for a bus.

- the boat to DD is a lovely ride, takes you right to DD. Compared to trying to park at DD, I'll take a boat ride any day.\!

- I wouldn't worry about which building. There are 4 pools at OKW, you are never very far from one of them.


- other pros to a 1 bedroom are the full washer/dryer (you won't have to pack as much), the Jacuzzi tub (heaven after a full day at the parks) and the privacy of that bedroom. If the girls go to sleep earlier/later than you, there is a door to close so you don't disturb each other. Oh, by the way, ALL the OKW rooms have a terrace or balcont - VERY pleasant for your morning or evening coffee

- beware - many of us who stayed at OKW in a 1 bedroom end up buying into DVC because we get real spoiled. It really adds to the quality of the vacation.

 

[tjmw2727]

Thanks Mikesmom -

I will definately check out the DVC board - hadn't thought of that. Your right about buying dvc - my sil and bil stayed at OKW a couple years ago and bought dvc within about 6 months of the vacation!

My concern about location is more the restaurant, fast food and bus service than a close pool. My girls are 6 & 8 so we won't have a stroller, they get really tired esp after a long day at the parks.

TJ

 

[ZerasPride]

We had such a wonderful time at OKW this past November that I booked again for my August trip with my sister and two nieces (5 and 1-1/2). I have requested a non-smoking studio near the Hospitality House because that's where the action is (so to speak). Olivia's the dining facility is there, the main pool and bus stop. We won't have a car this time so I thought this would be an ideal spot for us. We had a one bedroom in the Old Turtle Pond area in November and it was wonderful! The one bedroom units are so spacious and laid out so well. Having a choice, I would definitely go with a one bedroom over a studio anyday! I would be booked in one myself but I am almost out of points.

The bus service was wonderful. We did not wait more than 10 minutes for a bus to any of the parks and coming back from the parks the buses were never crowded since OKW does not share bus service with other resorts. The only drawback on transportation that I can think of is the resort is so spread out tha it takes a little longer than you would expect to hit all the bus stops before you leave the property. Other than that, I could not have asked for better bus service. I hope we have the same experience in August.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[SueM in MN]

We've been members at OKW for 10 years, so obviously we love it. The resort is very restful and peaceful. Having a one bedroom is great (for all the reasons already posted).
Here's a link to the OKW map. You can see that where ever you are, you are not far from a pool or a bus stop. There are quite a few buildings that meet the request of "close to Hospitality House", but you don't need to be close to that to be near a bus stop or pool. There is also a snack bar at the Turtle Pond pool.

 

[tjmw2727]

Thanks for all the info so far, I guess then if I were to request a location my first choice should be close to the hospitality house and second choice by turtle pool?

What do you all do about groceries, is the store on location pricey? If I do a grocery stop on the way to the resort via TTC are bell services available to help me with my stuff?

Its fun to be planning a disney vacation at a place I not only haven't stayed at yet but have never even visited! I love the idea of the kitchenette and will probably have to stick with the studio. I got a great ap rate and to be honest the 1 bedroom is out of my price range for 7 days this trip.

Even though we enjoy the hustle and bustle of the Epcot resorts and the convenience of the MK resorts I plan to take things much slower this time so this seems like a good time to try OKW.

Thanks again everyone.

TJ

 

[stormi65]

The pictures of the resort were gorgeous. I wondered too about the bus service and distance from the theme parks.

 

[ZerasPride]

We plan on making a grocery stop before we arrive at the resort. I believe they have facilities to keep any perishables preserved if you arrive before your room is ready. I'm not sure about them helping with your groceries or bags to your room because we had car last time and our room was ready so we didn't need any help with our stuff. I'd be curious to know if Bell Services will give us a lift to our room if we need it like they do at other Disney hotels.

The pictures of OKW on the net just don't do the resort justice. Wait until you see it for yourself. You may not be able to monorail your way to a park or walk to one but I felt OKW was just out of the way enough to be really relaxing but definitely not so out of the way you felt like you were off-site or anything. I can't wait to get back there and relax! Come on August!

 

[tn4mickey]

We are DVC members with our "home" being BWV. We stayed at OKW for the first time in Feb. We really enjoyed it, the grounds are beautiful, and as you have probably read it has the largest rooms. We have stayed in studios 4 out of 5 trips since joining DVC. It is usually DH and I, but we had a 1 BR on a trip we took my sister. The studio works perfectly for us. We usually make a grocery stop for fruit, cheese, crackers, cereal, milk, soft drink, and bottled water. That gives us some healthy snacks. We are also able to bring back leftovers and reheat in the microwave. The on trip we were in the 1BR we did not use the stove/oven at all. By the way, we were in Blg. 14 at OKW. It's just across from HH.

 

[jcanary]

regardless of which building you stay in, any of the buses will take you to the hospitality house. The HH is the last stop for every bus so if you want to go there you just hop on a bus at your bus stop and then get off. I also believe there is a bus across from the main pool I think it's near 24 that is a very short walk and that is oneof the first stops so catch that bus back to your building from the HH. We have been going there for 10 years so you really learn the lay of the land. It's great for recreation, you have tennis courts down by turtle pond. You have basketball courts and tennis courts by HH. It's great to do a morning jog or walk. It's like your own little "gated" community.

 

[tjmw2727]

Ok guys I am getting "sold' was going to check back every so often so see if a studio at an AP rate was avail at BC or BWI but I may just stay put. This will be a longer trip for us in the heat of August so I know we will take it slower. This resort is sounding more like a perfet place this time.

Still worried about help with the bags and groceries esp if we are on a higher floor. Taking a towncar with a grocery stop and IIRC they would leave us at the check in. Can't imagine the girls and I hoping a bus with all that stuff and tyring to lug it up to the room. The more I think about it they must have bellservices, I think I will scour wdw.com more and probably call.

Thanks
TJ

 

[mikesmom]

They have bell services. They will take you and your stuff over to your room. They are very accomodating.

The store obviously is higher than going to your local grocery at home. That being said, it's much lower than Goodings (if you do a grocery stop, don't go there!) . We've done a few on the fly comparisons and feel that for a hotel store, the prices are pretty reasonable at the OKW store compared to others we have used. The selection is pretty good, too, Probably because they expect people will have food in the room.

 

[lovethemouse2]

We stayed there a few years ago when our son was almost 3. We were right across the "street" from the check in/restaurant/store/pool. A wonderful location. We never once rode the bus around the resort picking people up. We jumped on the bus and exited and then on the way back we were the first drop off. They have some groceries in the little store, milk, cheese, cereal, etc. We liked that the rooms provided paper plates and bowls and such. Little things like that help.

We also had a studio and liked it VERY much. It's laid out differently than a typical hotel room and the bathroom was quite spacious and we liked the balcony and ceiling fan. We used the fridge to store leftovers from our big meals and used the microwave to heat them up. In a regular hotel room we would have had to thow out the leftovers. We saved quite a bit of money eating in the room and we had time to do so while our little one napped. I even bought a frozen dinner or two at the store to heat up in the microwave. It was EXTREMELY quiet because you don't have the hallway noise you have at other resorts.

My ONLY negative comment is that the pool didn't have a slide. At the time it was fine because our son was too young to use one anyway but since then we have been going to hotels with slides. The pool was relaxing and they played pool games one day which was extremely fun! (for the adults, especially). They have day programs for the kids (crafts and such) and a nice rec room, playground, wading pool, etc. They have it all.

I shot a video of us walking to our car (which was right in front of our building) and I didn't realize until I got home and watched it that I was humming all the way to the car. Now THAT'S a vacation.

I WILL be back.

 

[DisOrBust]

I have often thought of a stay at OKW but am hesitant because the pools seem boring for a 6 and 8 yo. Can anyone comment? Did their kids really care having no slide, etc???

 

[Ohanamom]

Glad I read this post. We will be staying there for the first time for 3 nights this coming September and reading all the good things makes me glad we chose to stay there.