OKW advice, suggestions, comments, questions, help, please!

[RaySharpton]

Hi everyone! I am not a DVC owner, but I wish that I was.

I have been very fortunate to get an II exchange for a 2-bed room at Disney's Old Key West Resort for seven days starting September 22, 2001.

I thought that you might help me with a few questions. I sometimes have a little trouble walking and I was just trying to figure the best way around OKW without a car, but still, of course, using the WDW bus system and walking short distances at a time.

1. Is there a walkway bridge from the main pool, across the waterway to the Peninsula Road to the bus stop near building #26 or #27?

2. Do any of the three quiet pools have fast food service like sandwiches?

3. Are all the quiet pools the same size or alike?

4. I noticed that Buildings #56 and #19 are right next to a quiet pool and a bus stop. Has anyone stayed near these places? I would appreciate any of your experiences or thoughts.

5. I see that Building #62 has an elevator and it looks like it's a short walk to the main building with the restaurant and main pool. Has anyone stayed here?

6. Has anyone found a good way to buy groceries without a rental car? I imagine a cab to Publix. Has anyone had similar experiences?

I don't know if I am able to make a building request, since I am not a DVC member yet (I must think positive about being one some day), but maybe at check-in I may be able to check for possible availability or requests.

This will be my very first stay at a Disney Vacation Club Resort.

If for some reason I can't get around and I am temporaryly confined to my unit, I would at least like to get out to the pool or have a nice view. I don't expect this to happen, but I do like to plan ahead.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions or comments or experiences.

Sincerely, Ray Sharpton

 

[RobDoc]

Glad you were able to get an II exchange! I'm sure you'll enjoy the resort.

The main road (Peninsular) crosses the canal between Hospitality House and buildings 23-27. It is the only way to cross the canal.

The Turtle Pond pool has a snack bar.

All of the quiet pools are similar. Turtle Pond may be a little larger, but not too much.

#19 and 56 are nice locations, close to pool and bus. 19 is a smoking building, I think.

#62 is close to Hospitality House and Olivia's and does have an elevator. It may have a little bus noise on the road side of the building.

Many of the towncar services will include a grocery stop on the way from the airport. The Conch Flats Store at OKW has a reasonable selection of essentials. Taxis are readily available for transport anyplace you need. Just ask Bell Services to assist you there.

Have a great trip!

 

[RaySharpton]

I really appreciate that you responded to my post. I am very excited and very lucky to get to stay at OKW.

Ray

 

[tigger2222]

Congrats on getting OKW. We've been back for two weeks after our first stay there. We became DVC members on this trip! We stayed in building 55 - it is very close to the pool and a short walk to the bus stop. We stayed in 5524 and it was an upstairs studio. OKW is a lovely resort and I'm sure you will enjoy your stay.

TIGGER2222

 

[ceejay13]

Ray,

We stayed in a 2 bdr in building 64 in December, 6430 to be exact, and it did have an elevator. It may be a little more of a walk, however. It did have a beautiful view of the golf course and one of the waterways. In fact, one of the posts a couple of weeks ago told of watching 5 or 6 otters romping in the water outside of building 64. Around the corner from Olivia's, outside the main pool, is Hank's Goods to Go, which has a fairly good assortment of fast food. We actually own at the Boardwalk but could only get OKW for last December. We loved it so much my DH wishes we owned there. Have a great trip!

 

[Dean]

Ray, congrats. I'm sure II told you about the extra $95 fee, but still a great exchange for you. To add to what's been said. There is an internal bus and also the resort buses can be use much like an internal bus depending on your location. When you get there be sure to ask the CM what the bus routes are for the stop closest. Ask them to put you near the checkin area, if you need first floor or elevator let them know.

I'd call or fax the resort about 7-9 days before your trip and include any information to include your II confirmation number, unit size and any requests like location and smoking vs non. Explain you wont have a car and have medical conditions that might affect your situation. If you do or don't want or need a handicapped room, tell them so. I'm sure they will accomodate you and have no problem putting your request ahead of member preferences since this is for "medical" reasons. They also have golf carts to get you to and from the room if needed. They are not intended to be your routine transportation by any means but if you get stuck, ask them for help. They also have wheel chairs at OKW that you can check out for no charge except a deposit, might be helpful for you.

As for food, you have several options. If you are flying in, the Limo services will usually include a grocery stop. There is a small convenience store on site good enough for perishables and those little extras but not reasonable for a whole week groceries. Netgrocer.com is one option. I believe Albertsons will do a fax and get all together. Publix is also apparently starting this type of service as well. You could also take many things with you leaving room in your luggage for those extras on return or you could ship to yourself at the resort. We frequently travel with cereal, oatmeal and the like.

The snack bar at Turtle pond is pretty limited, expensive, and frequently not open. There are pizza deliveries but I'm not sure about other deliveries but would assume there are others. Maybe members could chime in with a list of restaurant delivery services, chinese, etc.

Email me privately and I'll give you my name to use as a reference when you contact OKW. Also let us all know how it went once this is completed.

 

[infodude]

It is true OKW members get first dibs on requests, and some exceptions are made for medical reasons. However this has become a blanket request by many members so they can be put up near the check-in area, on the first floor, etc. I have even heard a guy at the pool braging how he always claims medical reasons to be up front, and he claims he always gets up there. He was quite proud and drunk. Turtle pond is a great area. You have a pool, snack bar, bus stop, and tennis court. Yes it is somewhat of a walk to the check in area, but the bus can take you up there. The store there will deliver groceries to your room. A taxi ride to the closest supermarket (Goodings), is about $15.00. You can get pizza delivered from Port Orleans, but it is expensive and not that great. You can get Pizza Hut or Dominoes cheaper and they will deliver to the resort. There is also a chinese place call Fortune Court (I think) and they will deliver to the resort as well. In the past if it has been slow, sometimes the bellmen would take us to the store, and then come back and get us. We tipped well, but didn't have to pay for a taxi, or expensive disney prices. It doesn't hurt to ask. Go talk to Angelo at the bellstand. He will let you know if they can do it or not.

 

[Peggy Sue]

Ray,

Congratulations on your II exchange to OKW! You're going to love the villa! The "turtle shack" snack bar at the pool area dose close seasonally, so check that out with the front desk if you get a room in that area. (it is a great area too!)

You may want to consider requesting a room near a bus stop. You can always ride the bus back to the hospitality house to go Olivia's, store etc.

If you go to the DVCtalk group on yahoo.com I believe someone there has compiled a list of places in the surrounding area that will deliver food/dinner etc. to OKW.

Have a great time!

 

[GraceDVC]

We are sure that you will enjoy your Old Key West vacation. We would recommend staying at Buildings 23, 24, 25, 26 or 27 across from the Hospitality House/Olivia's/Pool. The location is great because you can take the bus at the HH to leave the resort, or be the 2nd stop entering the resort, and it's only a short walk across the bridge to the activities.

My sister-in-law owns at Star Island with II and was wondering how long before she would have to request to change to a DVC location. Any recommendations?

 

[RaySharpton]

I really appreciate all personal experiences and advice.

Thank you, Doc

Thank you, Tigger2222

Thank you, Ceejay13

Thank you, Dean. And yes they did tell me about the extra $95.00 fee for use of the facilities, I think. But it is really worth it.
Thank you, Infodude. I can't bring myself to ask for a medical disability. I never park in a handicap parking space. I believe that there are so many people are truly deserving of these rights. I carry a folding cane, sometimes rent those scooters if I want to enjoy an all day at the park. I just ask questions, like here in this forum, to develop a plan and explain that when I check-in. That's too bad that some people abuse those rights.

Thank you, Peggy Sue.

Thank you, GraceDVC. What bridge are you talking about? As far as when to apply for an II exchange for any of the DVC's, I just got lucky.

Usually, when I ask to check for availability at any DVC, they say that it is rarely available and that I should put in a request a year in advance. Well, I never got the exchange. They, instead, offered a 3-bedroom villa in Orlando for my Studio exchange. But I wanted to stay at WDW and I had a back-up plan to stay at Dixie Landings.

This time, I was just going down my list to ask for availability for a beach resort and I always start with all the WDW DVC's, because I know that they are going to say no, but I try. Hilton head, no; Vero Beach, no; then she said yes for OKW. I was shocked and politely repeated the essential information and even got her phone extension. I got a 2-bedroom at OKW for the first time in five years of trying.

So my answer is, I really think that it is luck.

Anyone else stayed at Disney's Old Key West Resort and really liked the building or room that they stayed at an why?

Oh, by the way, I just got back from my first DIS meet in Atlanta and had a great time. Here is the link below in the CB if you'd like to read it.

http://www.disboards.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70013

Sincerely, Ray

 

[GraceDVC]

Hi Ray,

The "bridge" I was referring to is actually the road that passes the Hospitality House and continues to the Pennisula Road bus stop by Building 27. That area is very convenient; we always stay there.

Thank you for your advice about exchanging out of II. I'll pass the info along.

 

[Dean]

GraceDVC, I suspect your SIL will not be able to geta DVC exchange. First as Ray has stated, they usually come up rarely andwhen they do it's almost always off season (Jan, early Dec, Sept, May) and almost always OKW except HH in off season. Also, and more important to your SIL, most II resorts in Orlando block other resorts from exchanging in for a radius of I think it's 50 miles. I think DVC does this.