OKW.. will I like it???

[Butterflygirl35]

I booked through a DVC Member OKW resort, I usually stay at POP (which I LOVE!!). POP is so much fun... Will I like OKW ? Should I stick to POP?

Thanks...

 

[WEDWDW]

They are 2 different WORLDS!(pardon the pun)

Both wonderful resorts,of course,but on an "excitement/noise level",POP is a 10 and OKW is a 1.

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Thanks.. I am a bit worried that I will find it boring.... Do they have activities and games by the pools for kids like in POP?

Thanks for your help..

 

[Amy&Dan]

I do believe they do have activities by the pool. In fact I think all the resorts do now.

We love OKW and we love Pop. Have stayed at both around four times each.

I find OKW laid back, but not at all boring. The main pool is very nice, has a fun slide, huge hot tub and the quiet pools are all very nice with hot tubs as well.

You won't have the big food court, no DVC or deluxe has that, but you are a short boat ride to DTD or if you have a car, you can be at the food courts at POR or POFQ very quickly. And Goods to Go which is their cs has a decent enough selection. We love the hot dogs, onion rings and burgers. We also love the Gurgling Suitcase which is their pool bar and one of the quiet pools has a small bar and cs that serves hot dogs and chips. But I think its opened seasonally only. Still, OKW has a lot to offer and Olivia's which is their full serve is one of our favorites and we loved it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sitting out on the patio at Olivia's for breakfast with the celing fans keeping you cool is always a winner for me!

You will have a queen sized bed, a balcony, larger room, sit down restaurant, boat to DTD and lush, lovely grounds to enjoy. They have a basketball court, ping pong, Comminity Hall (you can rent movies for free and they also have board games, puzzles to borrow and fun activities for the kids), shuffle board and believe me, you will not be bored! There are also boats to rent and you can boat to DTD which is a very pleasant ride.

The Comminity Halls at the DVC resorts are very nice and something my kids always enjoyed. Even though all the resorts have kid friendly activities, the Community Halls at the DVC resorts are unique to those resorts.

Pop and OKW are so hard to compare but I think you will enjoy OKW and you should definitely give it a try!

 

[monorailmom]

We stayed at OKW for the first time in Nov. We loved the size of our villa..it was huge! The atmosphere is very relaxing, we loved the palm trees everywhere and the music playing. Good's To Go is a disappointment, however. It's very small, and your choices aren't many. Even the refill station for your mug is very small. They did, however, have the BEST pool activities we've seen at any DVC resort! Our kids are a little older, but you just had to laugh at the things the teenagers who were running the activities were doing! The pool was never too crowded and we were able to get an umbrella table each afternoon which is what we like. The bar, The Gurgling Suitcase, was a fun stop for my husband and I in the evenings while the kids were showering, etc.

I would stay here again, though I'd order more groceries and depend less on the counter service option. My favorite aspect of this resort was the bus service. We never waited more than ten minutes for a bus, which I can't say for more expensive DVC resorts like BLT.

Honestly, if I'm in Disney World, I'm happy. You'll have a fabulous time! If you do go to the Gurgling Suitcase, have a Turtle Crawl!! (I think that's what it's called...) and think of me.

 

[Amy&Dan]

If you do go to the Gurgling Suitcase, have a Turtle Crawl!! (I think that's what it's called...) and think of me.

That is exactly what its called and its my favorite drink in all of WDW. I got a bartender at another resort to make me one, but it wasn't the same as drinking it at OKW!

 

[KatMark]

I have to admit that we do not like the values at all and will not stay at one. We stayed at OKW for the first time in September and loved everything about it. It is so peaceful and quiet.

We did not spend any time swimming at the main pool, but we did walk over there one day and they had a lot of activities going on with the lifeguards at the pool and they were trying to entice the adults to join too.

 

[nolanboys]

OKW is one of our favorites and we have stayed there 3 times. It is very laid back and the main pool is great. They have a ton of activities for the kids, as well as campfires and movies. The community hall is also great. The kids loved playing games there and making crafts. They also enjoyed playing basketball and tennis. We rented a surrey bike and pedaled around as well. Plenty for all to enjoy. The QS is not great, but we pick up some supplies at the sundry shop. We also ship some groceries down and have had some delivered. Olivia's does have great food. DH and I went alone in September and ate there twice - while sitting at the Gurgling Suitcase- and everything we had was fantastic.

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Okay now I am excited.... My kids are so used to POP, I just wanted to be sure that they would have fun here as well...


I will definitely try the bar there and will enjoy bigger beds and room....

THANKS AGAIN and HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

 

[CoolDisneyKitten]

As some PPs have said, the villas at OKW are HUGE--the biggest on property! That alone, I think, will make your family happy.

They do plenty of pool-side activities, there are shuffleboard courts, you can rent boats, there's an arcade...it's a beautiful, relaxed, FUN resort, and I'm sure you guys will love it. Good's to Go, as someone mentioned, is quite good for QS, and we also enjoyed both of our meals at Olivia's on our last trip.

You're also a short boat ride away from DTD, and obviously there's tons to do there!

We love OKW, and before we decided on Kidani, we were booked there for our upcoming trip, too--our third stay there! We really like being able to pull right up to our room. No long hallways!

Once you go DVC, you'll never go back.

 

[Hooves]

I have always been a huge lover of the brash colourful in your face theming and liveliness of the values, particularly POP and All Star Movies so I was almost disappointed when we stayed at Old Key West last year. To be honest we loved it and we're not sure we could go back to the values! The only thing we did miss was the use of the refillable mug, because we spent more time at the quiet pool and were located away from the main area and the turtle shack it wasn't often appropriate for them to be used.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I've posted numerous times on this subject but again, from a more park related resort stayer....we had the opportunity to try OKW, thru Disney, not points and couldn't pass up the chance (wish we would have though)...

To start, let me say the area, villas are fabulous......we had a 2 bedroom villa.....very well appointed, very clean....tremendous space.....on;y wosh is was located elsewhere....

From our villa, 3rd floor (most buildings have no elevators) everything must be hauled up flights of steps......we were too long a walk to just pop on over to the main pool, food area, HH center so it was always wait for the bus....and traveling to parks was again, always the bus (we're used to resorts that are by a park, like WL) where we use a boat or monorail....just seemed always a long haul to a park and back (we always break from the parks at noon and then go back)......

It's all in personal preference and taste but we won't go back to OKW just based on location and huge layout.....but if you prefer quietness, peaceful, not in your face and very little Disney reminders....OKW is your ticket....though a great resort is just reminded us of any old condo just about anywhere......didn't feel like the Disney vacations we're so use to....sorry but it's our personal feeling...

 

[chalee94]

yep - OKW is great for some people and not for others.

it's true that there are no elevators at OKW except for 2-3 buildings reserved for medical issues. so a 3rd floor means a hike and a lower floor can mean kids tromping on your ceiling.

also, it's a spread out resort, so if you are not located next to the "hospitality house" (the main area with the large pool, gift shop, lobby, olivia's restaurant, boat dock for trips to DTD), then you would likely need to walk a bit or hop a bus to get there. just remember that the first bus that comes by your nearest stop will stop at the hospitality house before leaving to go to the parks...so it's easy enough but might be a hassle for some.

i think OKW is beautiful and love the landscaping and pastel buildings. i love that it is laid-back and a refuge from the noise of the parks. olivia's is a great place for a sit-down breakfast in particular. i've never had any problems with the buses at OKW but buses are pretty much your only choice except for the boat to DTD.

but OKW would be a huge change from POP...

 

[heatherbabydoll1]

The best vacation I ever had. The activity staff had non stop activities! My son who was turning 13 this trip stayed busy all the time. We were in a building with an elevator. It was the most relaxing vacation ever!!!!

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Thanks everyone... I appreciate the feedback.. Now if I can just find some patience..... I cant wait!!!

 

[MYD714]

I stayed in a 2BR villa this summer and loved it. I was traveling with my husband, parents, brother and his family. We loved having the extra room, and it was nice to have the kitchen in the morning.

We were close to the main pool and we were in one of the elevator buildings, which was nice since we were on the third floor. I don't think I would have liked being on the far side of the resort though. It is a large place, and some rooms seemed really far.

We went to the main pool a few times. The slide was really fun and they had games going in the afternoon.

We had good luck with the buses, and only had one really long wait.

Overall, I found OKW to be very relaxing. I've stayed at Pop numerous times, and I would choose OKW over Pop in a heartbeat.

 

[mlittig]

Butterflygirl35, here are some pictures from our trip last April at Old Key West
This was our studio:

This is the kitchenette area:

This was the view from our balcony, building 45:

 

[mlittig]

Here are some pictures from our one bedroom:
This was the kitchen area:

This was the dining area and doors to the balcony:

This was the living room with pull out sofa bed and the brown chair is a twin size pull out bed:

Our balcony view (building 46):

This was the bedroom:

Hope that helps to get you excited about Old Key West

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Love the pictures... I am definitely getting excited!!! Cant wait! Although I am afraid my son will try to jump in the water.. LOL

I got to admit it will be nice after a day in the park to have a bigger bed....

How is the campfire there? Do they also do sing along like in Fort Wilderness?