Old Key West and Transportation

[bytheblood]

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?

 

[Chuck S]

We've done OKW both with and without a car. The transportation is as good or better than other Disney resorts. There are 5 bus stops spread throughout the resort, you are never very far from one. The longest walk could be from the main pool, check-in and restaurant to the outlying areas of the resort. There are also 3 very nice neighborhood pools.

To get to the check-in area from an outlying area, hop on any bus, the check-in area is the last stop before leaving the resort for a park. To return, walk across the bridge to the Peninsular Rd stop, and take any bus. But even the farthest room from main check-in is only about a 10 minute leisurely walk at just under 2/3 of a mile. Or the equivalent about 1/2 the way around the World Showcase Lagoon at EPCOT.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I find I do far less walking staying at OKW than I do staying at AKV. It's just a walk to the bus stop unless you choose to walk more.

For some reason, walking out in the sunshine seems easier than walking those long hallways too.

 

[nolanboys]

We've stayed there twice. The first time we were near the hospitality house, the next time we were more remote. Bus service is great like others have said. We walked if we felt like it, or hopped any bus and got off at the hospitality house at the last stop. It was only a little hard when we were carrying things back from the sundries shop. But the first bus stop is close, so we walked there and waited for the first bus to come to take us back by our room. Would stay there again in a heartbeat. The resort is so pretty, you'll enjoy the walking.

 

[dvc_john]

When I stay at OKW, I always have a car. I park it on day 1, and don't usually move it until I leave on the last day.

 

[chalee94]

When I stay at OKW, I always have a car. I park it on day 1, and don't usually move it until I leave on the last day.

yep.

it's a short walk to the nearest bus stop or pool. as others have said, if i need to get to the main pool/olivia's, then it's as easy as hopping the first bus that comes and get off at the hospitality house.

i wouldn't be surprised if a renter wasn't clear on how the buses worked throughout OKW and thought they had to hoof it to the main pool from the edge of the resort, but it's easy enough to rely on disney transportation IMO.

 

[bytheblood]

Thank you, everybody. That makes me feel much better. I saw the resort on a satellite map and thought to myself, "wow, that is HUGE." You have all put my mind to rest. I am so excited about my first stay there now.

Have a great day! :

 

[amberjack]

We drive there (3 1/2 hours), but once we get there we use Disney transportation for the rest of the trip.

 

[dmoore22]

When I stay at OKW, I always have a car. I park it on day 1, and don't usually move it until I leave on the last day.

Ditto!!

 

[5forDiz]

Agree with pp's here; OKW is one resort where we don't mind walking, it is a great way to soak up the beauty of it and if you don't feel like walking bus stops are well located throughout.

Enjoy

 

[Simba's Mom]

We're staying at OKW this week. Every morning so far, a bus to each park (so that's 4 buses) all came within 6 minutes (I've been keeping track).

 

[RadioFanatic]

We stayed there this past October; and while we thought the room was amazing and it was pretty, the vastness of it with the transportation issues was just too much, especially with an 18 month old. It took too long to get anywhere and we found ourselves just getting a taxi to make our lives easier. We would not go there again.

 

[dmoore22]

We stayed there this past October; and while we thought the room was amazing and it was pretty, the vastness of it with the transportation issues was just too much, especially with an 18 month old. It took too long to get anywhere and we found ourselves just getting a taxi to make our lives easier. We would not go there again.

Transportation issues? Please clarify. One of the tricks, and this is with most of the resorts, is knowing when to go to the bus stop and the resort route of the buses. We've stayed there enough to figure it out. With teenage daughters that primp up until the last minute this was a must do survival tactic. At OKW, for example, the buses run every 20 minutes from the time the park opens. Using that as an approximate baseline you have an idea of when to be at the bus stop if your going to a specific park. That helps to minimize your wait time. Also knowing the order of stops is helpful. If your staying on Miller's Road you know that you are the second to last stop on the route so you can sleep a couple of minutes later than the folks staying at Southpoint. If your near Peninsular and you just miss the bus its an easy walk over to HH which is the last stop before heading to the parks or DTD.

 

[treehugnmama]

we love okw. Have stayed there 3 times with two kids between 2 and 4 to 3 and 6 yrs old. Never had a car. We had no transportation issues. We ued ferry to go to dtd which was nice...We sorry I wanted to try somewhere else this trip but dh and kids are disapointed we are not going to okw

 

[Lost in Neverland]

We love OKW and the transportation is really not an issue once like a PP stated you learn the routes. We were the second stop for drop off and pick up so any time we wanted to go to the HH we just got on whatever bus stopped at our stop and went to the HH. We never did ride the bus to DD we went to the HH and took the ferry over. A very relaxing ride. Our car was parked on the first day and did not move until we left. It just comes down to doing a little homework once you find out the section you staying in.

 

[RadioFanatic]

Transportation issues? Please clarify. One of the tricks, and this is with most of the resorts, is knowing when to go to the bus stop and the resort route of the buses. We've stayed there enough to figure it out. With teenage daughters that primp up until the last minute this was a must do survival tactic. At OKW, for example, the buses run every 20 minutes from the time the park opens. Using that as an approximate baseline you have an idea of when to be at the bus stop if your going to a specific park. That helps to minimize your wait time. Also knowing the order of stops is helpful. If your staying on Miller's Road you know that you are the second to last stop on the route so you can sleep a couple of minutes later than the folks staying at Southpoint. If your near Peninsular and you just miss the bus its an easy walk over to HH which is the last stop before heading to the parks or DTD.

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.

 

[Chuck S]

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.

I walk it often, even when we stay in bldg 50, the furthest from HH. Isn't your 18 month old in a stroller? I push my Mom in a manual w/c, surely a stroller is lighter. I don't see why an 18 month old would make a big difference.

Just not my cup of tea.

That is likely the gist of it, every resort isn't for everyone.

 

[dmoore22]

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.

What your describing sounds very out of the ordinary for the transportation system in OKW. When you receive your survey card in the mail make sure to include this issue in your comments. Otherwise notify member services through the DVC member website of this issue. Fortunately, like most of the previous posters, our experiences have been extremely positive with the transportation system. We arrive at OKW, park and unload our car and never use it until our departure date.

 

[dacky041208]

I've seen a few people mention that it is helpful to learn the order of the bus stops. Can anyone share them? We are currently booked at BLT but are considering changing to OKW so we can extend our trip and save points at the same time. Thank you.

 

[DebbieB]

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.

That's been my experience also, always seems like a wait for the bus then you travel through the resort (we usually stay on Turtle Pond Road). You don't NEED a car at OKW but I prefer to have one. One time I timed our travel to MK in the morning. From our front door, parking, tram to TTC, express monorail, it was about 25 minutes. I don't think the bus is much faster. Plus they are crowded at peak times. I always get a seat in my rental car.

The bus stop order is:

Penninsular
South Point
Turtle Pond
Miller Road
Hospitality House