Old Key West Anyone?

[Geoff_M]

We just completed our first OKW stay last week. We loved the villas and the room they offered over other DVC resorts. The atmosphere and the theming was great. However, I doubt we would stay at this resort again without a car. We were in Building 36 and only a couple minutes walk from the Turtle Pond bus stop, but for the first time at WDW I really missed not having a car. We quickly learned to budget an hour for getting from OKW to Point B or vice versa. It's bad when you're waiting at a park bus depot and see two buses come and go for resorts that have a lot of people here complain about poor bus service in the time you're waiting for one OKW bus to show up. Part of the problem is the nature of the five stops in OKW and the need for the buses to backtrack and use turnarounds to navigate OKW. We're at VWL this week and the bus service has been a breeze in comparison.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We never feel the "need" for a car at OKW (I think CBR was the one resort we felt we appreciated our car the most)....though this resort makes it one of, if not the, most convenient to have a car at. You can park right outside your villa door.

We've never had any more or less problems at this resort with busses than any other wdw resort we've stayed at (AS's , POP, POR, CBR, WL/VWL, Contemp, BC, BWV). We have never waited longer than 25 min for an OKW bus and that was only a couple times. On average, the OKW busses are about every 10-20 min. We've been staying at OKW almost every year since 2000. It's about a 10-15 min bus ride to Epcot once you exit the resort. You can actually see Illumination from some of the buildings on the resort.

I think every single wdw resort has it's shortcomings when it comes to the busses. We waited 45 min one time at WL for an EMH bus to MGM. Gave up and got in our rental car. POP actually "seems" to run the most busses, but they also seem like the most crowded busses too.

 

[lustergirl]

so I would like to request second floor studio in building 11- 14 maybe. When do I make my request- a couple of weeks before my check in. Are the building that close to the convenience considered extra in price?? Sorry everyone for so many questions but I am trying to plan, plan, plan...

 

[Geoff_M]

We've never had any more or less problems at this resort with busses than any other wdw resort we've stayed at (AS's , POP, POR, CBR, WL/VWL, Contemp, BC, BWV). We have never waited longer than 25 min for an OKW bus and that was only a couple times. On average, the OKW busses are about every 10-20 min. We've been staying at OKW almost every year since 2000. It's about a 10-15 min bus ride to Epcot once you exit the resort.

I know that bus service is a topic of endless debate at any number of resorts. I also know that our anecdotes aren't a scientific sampling. I've also had it take an close to an hour to get from VWL to DTD before. However, our experience last week was pretty consistent. We walked up to the bus stop at DTD just as the stores closed at 11 PM and we didn't get back to our OKW stop until 12:10. We were the last resort with a long group waiting when the bus pulled in. The same thing happened when we "closed" AK. As you noted, actual travel times aren't that bad "once you leave the resort". I can honestly say that the shortest door-to-door time (from when we walked up to the stop to when we set foot off the bus) we had for any trip in the five days we spent at OKW was around 45 minutes. Unfortunately, getting to the front gate of OKW can be half the fun!

Again we liked OKW in every way... except for the transportation.

 

[mom2jacob]

We are staying here on our upcoming trip. How long does it take you to get to DTD on the boat? Where does it drop you off at? Would it be better to take the boat to DTD then a bus to Poly or bus to MK then Monorail to Poly? We are doing the Luau.

 

[spiceycat]

I know that bus service is a topic of endless debate at any number of resorts. I also know that our anecdotes aren't a scientific sampling. I've also had it take an close to an hour to get from VWL to DTD before. However, our experience last week was pretty consistent. We walked up to the bus stop at DTD just as the stores closed at 11 PM and we didn't get back to our OKW stop until 12:10. We were the last resort with a long group waiting when the bus pulled in. The same thing happened when we "closed" AK. As you noted, actual travel times aren't that bad "once you leave the resort". I can honestly say that the shortest door-to-door time (from when we walked up to the stop to when we set foot off the bus) we had for any trip in the five days we spent at OKW was around 45 minutes. Unfortunately, getting to the front gate of OKW can be half the fun!

Again we liked OKW in every way... except for the transportation.

that shouldn't have happen. It should have taken the bus not more than 10 minutes to get to OKW from Epcot. It has been done in 5 minutes. Around 15 minutes from Studio

from the MK 20 minutes. Now AK is much further away so 30 minutes is probably correct for them.

are the controllers going nuts again and making everyone take the long way - then it could.

but that is not a problem of the buses, buses drivers or OKW - just controllers who think it is better to take 40 minutes to get somewhere than 10 minutes. My opinion.

also DVC resorts has more than its share of new bus drivers. I guess WDW expects DVCers to know where they are going and to correct the drivers. but if everytime there is a drivers going the wrong way. It gets old FAST. Now the buses were surpose to have that tracker system on them - so this should NOT be happening. The controllers are surpose to contact the bus and tell them the correct way.

believe me your experiences should not been happening. I would call the transportation system and ask for an explanation.

somes like someone at the controls was not paying attention.

 

[MiaSRN62]

believe me your experiences should not been happening. I would call the transportation system and ask for an explanation.

I agree Pat...I have never had anything that far out of the norm for traveling time at OKW. Something was "off" there with the controllers. That is certainly not the norm for OKW.

We are staying here on our upcoming trip. How long does it take you to get to DTD on the boat? Where does it drop you off at? Would it be better to take the boat to DTD then a bus to Poly or bus to MK then Monorail to Poly? We are doing the Luau.

As for the bus to DTD, Mom2Jacob....it's approximately 20 min....very leisurely/pretty ride down the Sassagoula to the DD area. The last time I took it (Aug '05), I was dropped off near the Rainforest Cafe.
If you are looking for the best way to get to the Luau at the Poly, I'd probably take the MK bus at OKW. Then catch the "Resort" monorail at the MK to the Poly.

 

[ARR Cap'nJackSparrow]

Hey guys,
I have been reading these posts on OKW and have taken in all the advice. My family recently considered changing our reservations to OKW for our trip in August. Does anyone have any tips for this resort? The main problem seems to be the buses. We will NOT have a car, so any advice on maximizing our bus experience? Any other tips for a great vacation staying at OkW? I know my questions are pretty broad but we just started exploring the resort!

 

[spiceycat]

Hey guys,
I have been reading these posts on OKW and have taken in all the advice. My family recently considered changing our reservations to OKW for our trip in August. Does anyone have any tips for this resort? The main problem seems to be the buses. We will NOT have a car, so any advice on maximizing our bus experience? Any other tips for a great vacation staying at OkW? I know my questions are pretty broad but we just started exploring the resort!

if you ever have to wait more than 45 minutes for a bus - call the front desk and then ask for transportation. at each stop at OKW there is a phone. It use to connect with transportation now I think it goes to the front desk.

now because OKW is so relaxed some people think that 10 minutes is 45 minutes - believe me I have heard it. One guy was just saying that when I pointed to my watch. I put the stop watch on when I get there. he arrived after I did. It had only been 15 minutes since I arrived so his wait was definitely less than 15 minutes not the hour he was claiming.

so definitely bring something to the OKW bus stops. a book, music - something to kept you entertained. I love the change to talk to other DVC members and guest. but some people won't talk. (their problem not mind)

get a watch with a stop watch if you don't have one. and remember to turn it on each and every time you arrive at a bus stop. (I know alot of trouble - but for me worth it)

OKW is not an action resort. It is very relaxing and lay back. Now the community center does have activities and I think the main swimming pool has some too.

but on the whole - it is not around the clock entertainment - like BWV is.

VWL/WL plays music at their bus stop. or did.

now what views are you interested in - golf, water or woods. My favorites are the water views. OKW has some wonderful water views. they are very pretty. and unlike most of the WDW resorts some are private and water views.....

since you won't have a car - then being close to the HH might be a big help to you. HH is where the front desk is, main pool, renting, boats, bikes, gym, community hall, gift shop and restuarant are located.

 

[Hopefully]

We stayed in a 2 BR Villa at OKW and we loved it! The rooms were clean and bright. On that trip we had a car, but we barely used it. We never had a problem with the bus service. It was convenient to park right outside our room.
The views were great, overlooking the fairway, very peaceful.
It was great to have the washer and dryer too.
I have since stayed at the BCV, and although it is my preferred location - I love the Epxot Resort area - I miss the size of the OKW rooms. The difference is indeed noticeable.
Have a FunTrip

 

[Simba's Mom]

We stayed in a 2 BR Villa at OKW and we loved it! The rooms were clean and bright. On that trip we had a car, but we barely used it. We never had a problem with the bus service. It was convenient to park right outside our room.
The views were great, overlooking the fairway, very peaceful.
It was great to have the washer and dryer too.
I have since stayed at the BCV, and although it is my preferred location - I love the Epxot Resort area - I miss the size of the OKW rooms. The difference is indeed noticeable.
Have a FunTrip

The difference in size is noticeable on the balcony too. That's where I really love the extra size. Everyone can sit around the table outside at OKW. Those are my two favorite resorts-OKW and BCV. When I'm solo, I always pick BCV, but for more than one person, it's OKW for me!

 

[ufgator]

good thread! I'm curious about OKW too because I've never stayed there. I didn't realize you got mousekeeping when you paid with cash. That was the reason I didn't want to stay at a DVC resort.

 

[disneynut2007]

DVC member here and my home base is OKW. I love it there. It is peaceful and you can really feel like you get away from all the craziness of the other resorts and this is either good or bad, depending on what you are looking for. When my kids were very young, it was great, but now that they are teenagers, we tend to stay where things are happening. The one drawback is that to get anywhere, you have to hop a bus. With BCV and BWV, there is so much to do, without having to ride a bus or a boat somewhere. The size of the units are much bigger than the other resorts. I look forward to staying there again. If you can't get a room near the main lobby, I would suggest a condo in the Turtle Crawl area. That pool has a bar/snack counter, whereas the other pools have nothing.

 

[MiaSRN62]

VWL/WL plays music at their bus stop. or did.

Hey Pat....let's not forget the great Jimmy Buffet/tropical music at the HH bus stop ! WL only has one bus stop and there's is near the main lobby as well. I love the music at the OKW bus stop (HH one). Just so happens they have a few more bus stops than WL/VWL.

 

[Toesmom1]

We will be arriving in July for our first time at Old Key West. We are excited. There are 6 of us total & we have booked 2 rooms. Is there enough room on the floor for a twin size air mattress? None of the kids want to room with Grandma so we'll have one on mattress. Yes there will be 5 in a room although we do have 2 rooms between 6 of us so we'll all have a room key for those of you who don't like people sneaking someone in. No one wants to sleep with Grandma.