Old Key West Stay

[Suellen]

It doesn't need to be the feature pool ~ walking distance to HH would be good though. I guess it doesn't matter much.

We will be in a studio. Maybe I'll just pack my Keurig and they can pretend to go get me my coffee.

 

[taaren]

Really? I didn't think there were levels of booking at OKW other than size of room?

Is there a different point chart somewhere?

I don't think its a "level" of booking the way a view category or concierge is, but a different booking category despite being the same number of points, like booking AKV-J vs AKV-K is different categories, or BCV 2-bedroom dedicated w 2 queens vs BCV dedicated w queen/pullout. Or any of the 2 bedrooms dedicated vs lockout are separate booking categories when you come right down to it, as there is limited inventory of each despite being the same level/number of points. At least that's my best guess.

 

[RobDoc]

You've gotten some great advice here!

To sum it all up, the best areas to request are (in alphabetical order):

Hospiality House
Miller Road
Old Turtle Pond
Peninsular Road
South Point

I would not worry about which area you choose. OKW is a wonderful resort.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[sdlong329]

Yes I realize there is a coffee maker. But as I said above my husband takes the kids for a little walk in the morning to get me coffee. It is a tradition of ours. This way I can get a little extra rest.

With 3,500+ posts, you're no lurker!

My wife gets up earlier than me ... puts coffee on. By the time I wake up, she already took a shower, and made coffee. I get my extra time in bed as well!

We've never had much of a walk to any pool. In fact, I found that OKW has the least walk to any pool, as compared to any WDW facility. I'd hate to be inside a resort like Boardwalk ... have to walk for an eternity to get out of the building ... just to get to an overcrowded pool. That being said, because there are so many pools at OKW, they are usually fairly quiet.

We rarely stay in a studio, but when we do, we ask for a room near a bus stop (not HH), so we have closer access to the laundry facilities at the outlying pools.

We DO see a positive in staying near HH ... but it can also work against you when the parks have special events (Mickey's Very Merry Birthday, etc). There are times when the bus stops at HH last ... which means the bus can fill up with guests from other bus stops. It hasn't been a huge problem for a few years ... but I remember it was a real hassle 5-6 years ago, for 2-3 years in a row. My DW got so mad, a bunch of the ladies walked into the HH (several times), before they had to call a separate bus.

As others have said ... try to make one or two requests. If anyone has a legitimate disability, you can also request an elevator building (which are 62-64, the last buildings built). If you make too many requests, they will not get filled. I make one (two tops), and am happy if they get fulfilled. In the past, DVC used to fill requests for DVC members first. Several years ago, they started filling requests based upon arrival time. The problem with the latter ... a renter who arrives at the resort at 9AM gets their request filled, while a member who arrives at 2PM likely will not. Kind of ironic.

Having owned at OKW since 1994, we have found the best way to find a favorite spot was to visit OKW several times ... getting different locations each time. In our 17 years of ownership, there was only ONE spot we avoid ... the ONE building where the bus turns around in front of the building, utilizing the guest parking area (perhaps others will chime in on the building number). It wasn't a noise issue ... but was sometimes awkward when hauling luggage or groceries to/from the room. Even then .. it only entailed a 30 second wait for the bus to pass.

I guess what I am trying to say (and I think others have hinted) ... there really isn't a bad location ... and everyone's expectation of what is best will differ, for different reasons. In the late 1990's, we liked being near HH, so we could rent free movies (it was VHS at the time). Now, we bring a DVD or two with us ... but usually just for the flight.

Ooops, back to tradition. If you happen to get a room which is NOT near HH ... I am sure your DH and children will be happy to take a walk around the grounds near your building. There are lots of different plantings ... wildlife ... ponds (etc). One year, we awoke to a frogman retrieving golfballs from the nearby pond. My sister-in-law did not see the frogman enter the water, so she was a tad freaked to see something walk OUT of the pond!

Enjoy ... and let us know what accommodations you get, and your thoughts on your specific location (upon your return)!

Steven

 

[dmoore22]

Yes I realize there is a coffee maker. But as I said above my husband takes the kids for a little walk in the morning to get me coffee. It is a tradition of ours. This way I can get a little extra rest.

I have to second what Doc said, "You've gotten some great advice here!" I would be curious about the ages of your children. When our kids were younger they loved the Hospitality House. As they got older they preferred the areas around the quiet pools. So, for the morning walks to get coffee I would recommend Hospitality House which, depending upon the time of year and when you booked, may be a challenge to get(You can waitlist). Next, with reasonable proximity and walking distance to HH, would be buildings 62, 63, and 64. A little longer walk but not that bad ( I'm 63 and my DW is 61 and we have no problem) would be the Peninsular area of buildings 23, 24, 25, 26, and maybe 27 and 28. The Turtle Pond quiet pool area, with the Turtle Shack for coffee and snacks, is ideal with buildings 40, 41, 42, 43, or 44. When our kids were teens they really liked that area. We have never been disappointed in any area of OKW in which we have stayed. Considering your parameters I do believe the buildings listed above will meet your requirements.