OKW... tell me about it!! :)

[Mom2Em]

We will be leaving in 109 days (but who's counting, right ) for a studio at Old Key West... Please tell me about staying there... We have only stayed at WL and are looking forward to trying out a DVC property... Also, feel free to post pics, if you like...

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a link to the DIS page about OKW.
The studios have a kitchenette, so you will have a small, undercounter refrigerator and a microwave.
There is a feature pool with a slide that was renovated about a year ago and there are quiet pools around the property (as well as a larger pool in the Turtle Pond area that has a play area and a snack counter).

The property is beautiful and there are small parking lots for each building, so if you have a car, you can park practically outside your door. The rooms are arranged so that windows are at the back of the unit and have mostly water or golf course views.
One of the fun things to do is take the free boat to DD.

It's an awesome resort (our DVC home) and I hope you enjoy it.

 

[helenabear]

I highly suggest that if you do not have a car to request a room near the Hospitality House. Otherwise it can be quite a hike or wait to get there if you want.

It is our home DVC resort as well and I personally love it there. The kitchenette is quite a nice touch. You will also get makings for coffee and some paper plates and the like. The balcony even on a studio is quite nice. I think the rooms will be a bit larger than what you are used to at WL, and the bathroom is particularly nice IMO.

My only suggestion is that you take a dime or a nickle with you along with a bandaid. Something about the peep holes are so large that light will come through it at night. So I use a bandaid on the peep hole with a coin to make sure that no light comes through at night.

The grounds are absolutely beautiful to me. Very peaceful and beautiful there!

 

[SueM in MN]

On our last trip to OKW in March, we were in building 48 (here's a link to the map). That was a pleasant less than 10 minute walk to Hospitality House (with a wheelchair, a guy with a bad knee and a 77 yr old woman). It actually took us about 7 minutes to walk it. My FIL was also with us and took the bus up to HH. If he happened to go out just when the bus was coming, he could beat us there.

 

[Mom2Em]

Thanks for your responses!! Mom will be in an ECV... Is it difficult for her to get around? Is there a specific area to request? She has been dreaming of staying here since our first trip!!

 

[SueM in MN]

You want to request first floor "For Medical Reasons" and make sure it says that (or something similar) on your confirmation slip. They fill the medical requests before filling other requests for similar things.

There are sidewalks to get from the individual villas to the bus stops and to HH. Very easy to get around. Look at the map and see what looks good. The main pool is by the HH, but the 2nd large pool is in the Turtle Pond area.
Different people like different areas; we've been most everywhere thru the years.

 

[xraydave]

We stayed at OKW this past March. We were used to staying at values so this was a real treat for us. The resort is beautiful and quiet. It's definitely Disney yet not so much in-your-face as some of the values.

We stayed in a studio and enjoyed the "kitchenette". It made breakfasts easy in the room and was also handy for left-overs. The studios are bigger than the value resort's rooms but really the only difference was the expanded bathroom and a small area for the table. I hope your not dissapointed with that. I guess the one bedroom suites and bigger are much roomier. But like I said, we were used to the value resorts so it was still nice. We liked the balcony and the fact that you could park right outside.
Our building was directly across from the hospitality house and that was a perk. The down side was that it is the last bus stop on the way back from the parks. So everyone was Disney tired and had to ride the bus a little longer than we wanted.
We found the dining at the resort to be good yet somewhat limited in choice. The boat ride to downtown was a great break from the buses.

109 days. That should put you there in March. We had great weather and the kids enjoyed the pool, water slide and hot tub.

Have fun and let us know what you thought.

PS: We liked it enough to book another trip next year!!!!

 

[byoung]

If not staying at BWV love staying at OKW.

 

[helenabear]

It will be easy to get aorund with an ECV. Three of the buildings (62, 63 & 64) have elevators as well, so you could stay in one of those on any of the levels or on the 1st floor. I stayed at building 62 one of my last stays and thought that was a good location, same with 27. It was just close enough that I could walk to the HH to get on the bus to the parks or get off at Peninsular and walk to the room if I didn't feel like riding around the resort.

 

[SueM in MN]

I guess the one bedroom suites and bigger are much roomier.

The studios are bigger than a regular resort room (OKW studios are 390 suare feet). But as you mentioned, most of the room is in the bathroom (which is very nice), the kitchenette and the area for the table and chairs. There is also an actual closet (with a door and everything). The closet takes up some space, but also makes your room seem not as cluttered since the clothes and suitcases can be shut out of sight. The balcony is very nice - large for a studio and private.

I could live in the OKW 1 bedroom. It's very nice and is quite large - 942 square feet, according to the website. There is a fully equipped kitchen (the refrigerator at OKW even has an ice maker) and a private laundry room.

Here's a link to the official Disney webpage about OKW. You can take a tour of each size room by clicking on the link titled 360 room tour and there are links to floor plans for each size villa.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Also, feel free to post pics, if you like...

I'll be glad to Jan....OKW is one of my fav places to stay when we go to WDW I'll post my pics from the 1 bedrooms only :

 

[Mom2Em]

Thank you, Maria!! What a beautiful place... It is so different from the Lodge but I think we will love it. By then we will be ready for another Illinois winter to be over...

 

[LoveMickey]

We stayed at OKW on our first trip home. Here are some pics of the Studio we stayed in which was in building 14.

We enjoyed our stay and look forward to the next stay this week.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thank you, Maria!! What a beautiful place... It is so different from the Lodge but I think we will love it. By then we will be ready for another Illinois winter to be over...

You're welcome Jan ! It is very different from the Lodge but beautiful in it's own rite (and I love the Lodge as well). The resort is set up like a quaint little neighborhood with white picket fences.
I did find my studio pics too ! The balcony pics in my previous post are for a 1 or 2 bedroom villa---the studio balconies are smaller.
Here are studio pics :

Studio bathroom (you'll find it larger than the Lodge bathroom) :

My girls in the OKW gift shop :

 

[spiceycat]

here are the pictures on the community link

there pictures were all taken by Disers

http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=545

I love OKW too.

It is so peacefully and generally quiet. but kids are playing here too.

a 1-bedroom is pretty wonderful.

I stay in studios.....

 

[Mom2Em]

Thank you all for the picture posts!!!

Maria, we will have a studio so those were perfect! My one complaint about the Lodge is the small bathroom... I never seem to have enough room to spread out in it...

 

[spiceycat]

well you will at OKW - lots of people complaint about no sink outside the bathroom - but hey there is that big wet sink. so I don't understand that complaint.

 

[JC Butterfly]

I just got back from my first stay in an Old Key West studio.

What I LOVED about it:

Parking my car, right outside my door.
Lush, tropical scenery everywhere I looked.
Lots of quiet pool areas to relax and enjoy
Free laundry usage!
Olivia's had great food
Loved the resort gift shop, lots of fun little items not found elsewhere
Listening to Jimmy Buffet



What I DIDN'T enjoy so much:
-our studio was connected to a larger until. The inconsiderate family (Children) woke us up at 7:00 every single morning. Running, screaming, and oh yeah, pounding on our door-- could have happened anywhere but was very annoying.

-- I really missed having a food court/beverage station I could access myself. Goods to go was just not the same idea.

-- room location was beside the bus stop, could hear the buses running at all hours. also was in building 53 (South Point) so if we didn't use our car, was much too far to walk to enjoy resort ammenities.

All in all I had a great stay. Would go there again but might not be my first choice.

 

[MiaSRN62]

but hey there is that big wet sink. so I don't understand that complaint.

I agree Pat....I don't get that either. And the bigger bathroom certainly makes up for it either way (imho).

also was in building 53 (South Point) so if we didn't use our car, was much too far to walk to enjoy resort ammenities.

JC Butterfly,
I've heard complaints about this location before. It is one of the further bldgs. Next time if you go, request close to Hospitality House. I think you'll have a much different experience. Also, when you check-in early (before 11 am--noon), you'll often be given a choice of bldgs. We had a choice of 3 different bldgs this past August. We chose #34 and had maybe a 7 min walk to the main pool/lobby area. From your bldg, the walk was probably more like 15 min. The location of OKW room can make or break the experience for some. We love the Southpoint area, but prefer bldgs #45, 46 or 55. Terrific water view ! Very peaceful.
PS---also, with the DVC studios----I believe they all connect to another unit. They are usually the "lock-off" to a 2 bedroom villa and this is for all the DVC resorts.
Thanks for your report !

 

[JC Butterfly]

well you will at OKW - lots of people complaint about no sink outside the bathroom - but hey there is that big wet sink. so I don't understand that complaint.

Well, I am a make-up and hair product junkie. So since I am usually up first and showering first, I don't have access to my products while my friend is in the shower. The "wet sink" area has almost nothing for counter space and the lighting is terrible.

That is a minor complaint I had as preferring to have access to that area while someone else is using the bathroom or shower.