nzdisneymom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2003
- Messages
- 6,083
Who: Me, DH, DS1 (age 10) and DS2 (age 8)
Why: Attend a reunion in the Orlando area
Where: Building 13, Studio - 1326
This was our 2nd trip to WDW since becoming DVC members in March. SSR is our home resort, but we want to try out all of the DVC resorts, so we opted to stay at Old Key West for this non-park weekend.
We arrived at 3:40 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. There was just one other guest ahead of me in line to register, so I had a minimal wait. Check-in went smoothly and we were assigned a non-smoking studio in Building 13, just across the street from the Hospitality House / main area.
We drove over to the building and found a parking spot convenient to our unit and hurried up the stairs so we could see our home away from home for the next few days.
One thing we really liked about the Studio at OKW is that is has two queen beds - which works well for us. It's like staying in a large hotel room with a kitchenette and a small balcony. We got unpacked after checking out the room. One thing I didn't like about our room was that the lighting in the kitchenette area was poor - I always needed the bathroom light on as well to see what I was doing.
We had all the supplies we needed except for the paper plates / plastic utensils, so, being the avid DIS Board reader that I am, I knew that I could call housekeeping and request them. They were delivered less than an hour later. Our 'frig seemed to be taking too long to cool, but it eventually did; I think it must've been off or set to the warmest level. I'm glad we didn't have things that needed immediate cooling.
DS2 and I went in search of ice which is found by the laundry room by the pool (and other locations throughout the resort). While we were out, we checked out the pool
and also Community Hall and Hank's as well as checking the menu at Good's to Go.
We had some friends come over to meet us. They arrived around 6 p.m. We were going to go off property to eat, but decided instead to let the kids swim. They loved the slide.
After swimming, the kids got changed and then we drove over to Lone Star Steak House to eat dinner over on 535.
We had tentative plans to go to Typhoon Lagoon on Friday, but DS2 liked the pool at OKW enough that he said he'd be fine if we didn't go to T.L., so DH and I hurriedly agreed. And we slept in the next morning. DH went for a run through the resort and even had a swim before the kids and I woke up at 9:30. While we were getting breakfast and dressed, DH went to the pool area to read. I stopped by Hank's to see what was happening for the day and talked to the CM (FWIW, all the CM's at Hank's were fabulous) about renting a Surrey bike. The boys had gone ahead to find DH and brought him back over where I was, so we decided we'd do the Surrey Bike.
We had never done one before, so after a quick lesson, we were off. It was a nice morning, but we sure worked up a sweat. DH was teasing me about my steering until I stopped and gave him a turn 
After the Surrey Bike, we went back to the room and had pb/j sandwiches for lunch and then headed over to Downtown Disney. The bus was just pulling out of the bus stop, but the driver let us on anyway. Hop, skip, jump and we were there. We walked around a little bit, but our purpose was to go to the Lego store in search of electric train tracks and gear. We found what we wanted and then went next door to McD's for our traditional McFlurries and Chocolate Shakes. There was no line in the Dessert ordering side, but there was also nowhere to sit inside. The sky got really dark so we decided to eat and walk at the same time, so we headed back to the bus. It started raining just after we got to the bus shelter - well, sprinkling, really, but it did rain later. A perfect afternoon for a 2-hour nap, so we did!
The storm blew over and around 5 p.m. we went back to the pool. I even got in (but didn't do the slide) while DH just relaxed. We were trying to figure out what to do for dinner; DS2 wanted a hot dog, DS1 didn't care, and I was ok to just grab a snack. DH came up with the solution - go to Don Pablo's over on International Drive.
Now normally once we get onto Disney property, we don't leave, but because OKW is right by DTD, it feels like we're on the edge and it isn't such a big deal to leave - not like having to drive 1/2 hour to get off property and then another 20 minutes to where you're going. It took us about 20 minutes from the hotel to the restaurant. We had a nice meal and then went back to the resort. We made it back in time to watch the Disney Channel "That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana" special and then we watched it again
Saturday morning we slept in again - well, DH got up for a run but the boys and I slept although not quite as late as Friday. We had breakfast and then left DH a note while we went over to Community Hall where we played pool, air hockey, and other games. We really enjoyed being there, just hanging out and having fun. There were a few other guests who came in and out, but for much of the time, it was just us.
Our reunion was to begin at noon, so we went back to the room to get ready, feed the kids a snack and then head out for the rest of the day. After the reunion, we were discussing what to do for dinner and couldn't decide. DS1 is the one who is the pickiest, and I hadn't noticed pizza on the menu at Good's to Go, so I suggested that we go over to Port Orleans - French Quarter to the food court there. PO-FQ is our favorite moderate resort and actually where we were staying for Spring Break when we joined the DVC. We got some dinner, walked around the resort a little, and then headed back to OKW. More time in Community Hall, only this time there were more guests in and out. I took some laundry over to do (hey, it's free - although next time I'll bring our own detergent), so we stayed at CH while the laundry washed and dried. A quick stop by Good's for ice cream and Mickey bars, and back to the room where DH had been relaxing. He saw the ice cream and wanted to know where we got it Fortunately we were staying near the main area, so he just walked back over to get his own!
Sunday morning we had breakfast reservations at Whispering Canyon Cafe at 9:30. We got up, packed, loaded the car and were ready to go at 8:30 - still too early to have to leave, so we walked around and I took some pictures of the resort and we talked about what a good time we had and how we think it's our favorite DVC at this point. Then we left and went to Wilderness Lodge where we were early for breakfast but went ahead and got seated. Mmmmm.... love those pinecone waffles!
Thanks for reading!
Why: Attend a reunion in the Orlando area
Where: Building 13, Studio - 1326
This was our 2nd trip to WDW since becoming DVC members in March. SSR is our home resort, but we want to try out all of the DVC resorts, so we opted to stay at Old Key West for this non-park weekend.
We arrived at 3:40 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. There was just one other guest ahead of me in line to register, so I had a minimal wait. Check-in went smoothly and we were assigned a non-smoking studio in Building 13, just across the street from the Hospitality House / main area.
One thing we really liked about the Studio at OKW is that is has two queen beds - which works well for us. It's like staying in a large hotel room with a kitchenette and a small balcony. We got unpacked after checking out the room. One thing I didn't like about our room was that the lighting in the kitchenette area was poor - I always needed the bathroom light on as well to see what I was doing.
We had all the supplies we needed except for the paper plates / plastic utensils, so, being the avid DIS Board reader that I am, I knew that I could call housekeeping and request them. They were delivered less than an hour later. Our 'frig seemed to be taking too long to cool, but it eventually did; I think it must've been off or set to the warmest level. I'm glad we didn't have things that needed immediate cooling.
DS2 and I went in search of ice which is found by the laundry room by the pool (and other locations throughout the resort). While we were out, we checked out the pool
We had some friends come over to meet us. They arrived around 6 p.m. We were going to go off property to eat, but decided instead to let the kids swim. They loved the slide.
We had tentative plans to go to Typhoon Lagoon on Friday, but DS2 liked the pool at OKW enough that he said he'd be fine if we didn't go to T.L., so DH and I hurriedly agreed. And we slept in the next morning. DH went for a run through the resort and even had a swim before the kids and I woke up at 9:30. While we were getting breakfast and dressed, DH went to the pool area to read. I stopped by Hank's to see what was happening for the day and talked to the CM (FWIW, all the CM's at Hank's were fabulous) about renting a Surrey bike. The boys had gone ahead to find DH and brought him back over where I was, so we decided we'd do the Surrey Bike.
After the Surrey Bike, we went back to the room and had pb/j sandwiches for lunch and then headed over to Downtown Disney. The bus was just pulling out of the bus stop, but the driver let us on anyway. Hop, skip, jump and we were there. We walked around a little bit, but our purpose was to go to the Lego store in search of electric train tracks and gear. We found what we wanted and then went next door to McD's for our traditional McFlurries and Chocolate Shakes. There was no line in the Dessert ordering side, but there was also nowhere to sit inside. The sky got really dark so we decided to eat and walk at the same time, so we headed back to the bus. It started raining just after we got to the bus shelter - well, sprinkling, really, but it did rain later. A perfect afternoon for a 2-hour nap, so we did!
The storm blew over and around 5 p.m. we went back to the pool. I even got in (but didn't do the slide) while DH just relaxed. We were trying to figure out what to do for dinner; DS2 wanted a hot dog, DS1 didn't care, and I was ok to just grab a snack. DH came up with the solution - go to Don Pablo's over on International Drive.
Now normally once we get onto Disney property, we don't leave, but because OKW is right by DTD, it feels like we're on the edge and it isn't such a big deal to leave - not like having to drive 1/2 hour to get off property and then another 20 minutes to where you're going. It took us about 20 minutes from the hotel to the restaurant. We had a nice meal and then went back to the resort. We made it back in time to watch the Disney Channel "That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana" special and then we watched it again
Saturday morning we slept in again - well, DH got up for a run but the boys and I slept although not quite as late as Friday. We had breakfast and then left DH a note while we went over to Community Hall where we played pool, air hockey, and other games. We really enjoyed being there, just hanging out and having fun. There were a few other guests who came in and out, but for much of the time, it was just us.
Our reunion was to begin at noon, so we went back to the room to get ready, feed the kids a snack and then head out for the rest of the day. After the reunion, we were discussing what to do for dinner and couldn't decide. DS1 is the one who is the pickiest, and I hadn't noticed pizza on the menu at Good's to Go, so I suggested that we go over to Port Orleans - French Quarter to the food court there. PO-FQ is our favorite moderate resort and actually where we were staying for Spring Break when we joined the DVC. We got some dinner, walked around the resort a little, and then headed back to OKW. More time in Community Hall, only this time there were more guests in and out. I took some laundry over to do (hey, it's free - although next time I'll bring our own detergent), so we stayed at CH while the laundry washed and dried. A quick stop by Good's for ice cream and Mickey bars, and back to the room where DH had been relaxing. He saw the ice cream and wanted to know where we got it
Fortunately we were staying near the main area, so he just walked back over to get his own!Sunday morning we had breakfast reservations at Whispering Canyon Cafe at 9:30. We got up, packed, loaded the car and were ready to go at 8:30 - still too early to have to leave, so we walked around and I took some pictures of the resort and we talked about what a good time we had and how we think it's our favorite DVC at this point. Then we left and went to Wilderness Lodge where we were early for breakfast but went ahead and got seated. Mmmmm.... love those pinecone waffles!
Thanks for reading!
