Old Key West and Transportation

[Deb & Bill]

But honestly, it the buses didn't ever seem to have that kind of timing. Now maybe it was just our bad luck, but even once we got on the bus, it took about 20-30 minutes just to get through the resort and 45 minutes just to get to a park. And that's just too long for a few miles, especially with an 18 month old. And I hated how it was a hassle just to get to the main pool, food, lobby and store. Instead of just being able to walk there, I had to wait for a bus, etc. I had asked for the hospitality area, but it wasn't available. Just not my cup of tea.

Gosh, everytime we rode the bus to the MK from OKW it took about 8 minutes to get to the park once we left the resort. AK, yes, it does take longer to get there because it is further away. Epcot is really pretty close, so again, about 5-8 minutes from the HH. I enjoy the ride around the complex picking up the other guests, so I don't count that time at all.

 

[saintstickets]

Hiya!
Old Key West looks REALLY big. I read some comments where it was said that you need your own transportation to stay here.
I do realize that some people do not mind walking at the parks but they don't like walking at the resorts.
Would any of you who have stayed at Old Key West suggest not to do it if you are relying upon Disney transportation for the entire vacation?

We stayed at OKW (bldg 39) during Thanksgiving week in 2007. We drove in, parked the car on Monday and did not get back in the car until we left on Saturday. We found the bus transportation excellent. Never waited very long for a bus (5-10 minutes max) and the bus rides were quick and easy. We did not know about the boat transportation but will use it when we return this month.

 

[Sammie]

We have stayed at OKW many times and as Chuck said we find the transportation to be as good as any Disney resort.

Certainly if you arrive at the bus stop as the bus drives off you are going to have a wait. Usual time is about 15 minutes. I personally do not count that as bus time though, simply bad timing on my part if I get there as it leaves.

Once on the bus, I never felt we spent a long amount of time picking others up and once you leave the front of OKW you truly are not that far any park except AK, it is not horrible. Only AKL is closer than most other Disney resorts.

I would never let transportation determine where I want to stay at Disney, all have their pluses and minuses and on any given day they are all very similar in performance.

 

[Brian Noble]

I voted no, but not because the resort is big. Last trip (Feb '09) we had *two* different afternoon trips to the Magic Kingdom that took more than an hour from the time we arrived at the bus stop to the time the bus pulled into the MK bus depot---each time, we waited more than 30 minutes for a bus to arrive.

 

[dianeschlicht]

But honestly, it the buses didn't ever seem to have that kind of timing. Now maybe it was just our bad luck, but even once we got on the bus, it took about 20-30 minutes just to get through the resort and 45 minutes just to get to a park. And that's just too long for a few miles, especially with an 18 month old. And I hated how it was a hassle just to get to the main pool, food, lobby and store. Instead of just being able to walk there, I had to wait for a bus, etc. I had asked for the hospitality area, but it wasn't available. Just not my cup of tea.

Surely you jest!! I have stayed at OKW more than 30 times, and I've had a couple of times where the bus was late, but NEVER has it taken 20-30 minutes to get through the resort or 45 to the parks!!! I might believe 40 to AK, but that's the only park that takes awhile, and that's in the summer when the bus stops at Blizzard Beach before going on to AK.

Reality is more like 10-15 minutes within the resort from first stop to last, and after leaving, about 5 minutes to Epcot, 10, to MK and 8-10 to Studios. I have it timed pretty well to get to each place I need for dinner ressies etc. Our favorite area to stay is South Point, which is the farthest from HH area. We like it because it's the second bus stop, which means quick off when coming home from the parks at night. If I don't want to ride the bus to HH, I just make about a 5 minute walk to HH on the sidewalk.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I grew up in a small town of 600 people and our house was about ten blocks from the grocery store. Walking around OKW is easier than walking to the grocery store growing up.