Old Key West - The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

[msdaisy]

Old Key West - the good, the bad, and the ugly!

We have been back for almost a week now, and oh how I already miss you Disney World!! This was our first time at Old Key West. This trip included me, my DH, my DD 11, and DD 8.

I'll start with the good. The resort and the main pool area is gorgeous! We absolutely loved the atmosphere around the hospitality house. We also enjoyed the ferry ride over to DTD. We stayed at the back of the resort, which is huge; but we lucked out because our first floor room was right next to one of the small pools and a bus stop! We enjoyed the small pool since the main pool was so crowded. Well it was crowded on the days it wasn't raining. We were in a studio, and we felt like we had plenty of room. I enjoyed having the little kitchenette. We ate breakfast in the room about half of the time. And, we were able to keep snacks for the kiddos to have during pool time. The washers and dryers are super convenient! I did a load one afternoon while the kids swam. CM's were fantastic and super friendly.

Now to the bad and ugly. We rented 116 points for an eight night stay at $10 per point. So, I thought $145 sounded waaayyy better to me than paying a rack rate of $385 per night. If I had paid $385 per night, I would have not been a happy camper. I like for my house to be clean, but I promise I am not a person who goes to a hotel and sees a dust bunny and freaks out or anything. The room had been renovated, but the floors were really dirty. The tub was just horrible. Black stuff was all around the tiles. The beds were really hard. I was awfully tired that first couple of nights, but I just couldn't get comfortable. I think by night three I passed out because of pure exhaustion. We flew in and out of Tampa and rented a car. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn across from TPA the night before our flight for $74 including taxes, and this smaller room would put Old Key West room to shame just because of how clean it was and how comfortable the beds were. I understand being on property and yada, yada, yada. I just don't get how someone would justify paying the rack rate for the room.

So that is my assessment. I loved the feel and look of the resort, but at least our room needs a serious scrubbing and maybe a more comfortable bed. I think we may check out Bonnet Creek next year instead of AKL.

Please feel free to tell me why it's worth it!!!

 

[KatMark]

Sorry you had a dirty room. I've been at OKW twice--September last year and this past January, and will be back for six nights this coming September. I have to say our room was immaculate both times. I wonder if this is just a growing trend with Disney. I've read awful reports in the last month about dirty rooms at the Beach Club, Coronado, Caribbean and the Polyneisan (and our one night stay while on a business trip in April, our room at the All-Star Music was rather dity, and it was a renovated room). I didn't remember the beds being uncomfortable, but then I am so tired at Disney that I fall asleep immediately.

Can't help on Bonnet Creek as we've never stayed there, but we LOVE AKL.

 

[pigletto]

We stayed in a studio at OKW last August. Our room was really clean, and I don't remember the beds being uncomfortable. However, I have seen others complain about the state of some of the bathrooms in other trip reports.
I would not be a happy camper if I owned DVC and saw what you describe. And I would be an even unhappier camper if I paid rack rate for those conditions.

So perhaps some of the rooms are in worse shape than others. We just returned from AKL in early May and it was wonderful. The fan in our bathroom was broken as was the coffee maker when we arrived but both issues were resolved within a few hours of me letting someone know.

Otherwise, I found the whole place immaculate and it is a gorgeous resort. Just stunning!

 

[DebbieB]

Old Key West - the good, the bad, and the ugly!

We have been back for almost a week now, and oh how I already miss you Disney World!! This was our first time at Old Key West. This trip included me, my DH, my DD 11, and DD 8.

I'll start with the good. The resort and the main pool area is gorgeous! We absolutely loved the atmosphere around the hospitality house. We also enjoyed the ferry ride over to DTD. We stayed at the back of the resort, which is huge; but we lucked out because our first floor room was right next to one of the small pools and a bus stop! We enjoyed the small pool since the main pool was so crowded. Well it was crowded on the days it wasn't raining. We were in a studio, and we felt like we had plenty of room. I enjoyed having the little kitchenette. We ate breakfast in the room about half of the time. And, we were able to keep snacks for the kiddos to have during pool time. The washers and dryers are super convenient! I did a load one afternoon while the kids swam. CM's were fantastic and super friendly.

Now to the bad and ugly. We rented 116 points for an eight night stay at $10 per point. So, I thought $145 sounded waaayyy better to me than paying a rack rate of $385 per night. If I had paid $385 per night, I would have not been a happy camper. I like for my house to be clean, but I promise I am not a person who goes to a hotel and sees a dust bunny and freaks out or anything. The room had been renovated, but the floors were really dirty. The tub was just horrible. Black stuff was all around the tiles. The beds were really hard. I was awfully tired that first couple of nights, but I just couldn't get comfortable. I think by night three I passed out because of pure exhaustion. We flew in and out of Tampa and rented a car. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn across from TPA the night before our flight for $74 including taxes, and this smaller room would put Old Key West room to shame just because of how clean it was and how comfortable the beds were. I understand being on property and yada, yada, yada. I just don't get how someone would justify paying the rack rate for the room.

So that is my assessment. I loved the feel and look of the resort, but at least our room needs a serious scrubbing and maybe a more comfortable bed. I think we may check out Bonnet Creek next year instead of AKL.

Please feel free to tell me why it's worth it!!!

I would have called housekeeping and complained. Ask them to come and clean. You don't have to just accept it.

 

[sharadoc]

Sounds like you were in the South Pointe cul-de-sac, which is our favorite! I agree with others that you could have requested a cleaning. Just because you are there on points doesn't mean you should have to accept a dirty room.

I wonder if they are having a mold problem in the grout. Black in the tiles sounds like more than dirt.

 

[Deb & Bill]

When they renovated the resort, they did nothing with the bathrooms at all. So that is the original grout, tiles, etc. None of the kitchen cabinets were changed out either. So where people found problems with the cabinets in the past, if the problems weren't resolved while they were there, they probably are still there. I know Diane mentioned about a cabinet door that was broked both times she stayed in a specific villa at OKW even though she resported it broken.

Now the beds, well, I've never had a problem with the beds at OKW and have stayed there many times, both before the renovation and after. I actually thought they were pretty comfortable.

 

[FantasiaMagic]

That's too bad you had a bad experience with the room. If that ever happens again call mousekeeping. Don't let that discourage you from staying there again though - its such a great resort. Like you said about the pool - I LOVE IT! The main pool is gorgeous with its simple but lovely details that just make it a great resort!

 

[skeeter31]

I'm sorry you had a bad experience at OKW. I've stayed at this resort more than any of the others combined (Due to the fact that my parents own all 300+ of their points there) and I have loved every single visit. Are there other resorts that are more appealing visually and conceptually? Yes! But I just love the relaxed, laid back feel of OKW. We've never had a dirty room (and we were just there the last week of May). I would have called Mousecleaning to come and fix whatever was wrong.

 

[msdaisy]

Oh I know that I could have called and asked them to come and clean the room. And it didn't ruin our trip. Even though we got a lot of rain while there, we were in the parks or at the pool. It was just one of those things that made me think. I agree that the resort is beautiful. I would just expect a DELUXE villa would be free of black mold or whatever it was. I just think it's funny how Disney is so detailed oriented yet our toilet was missing the little plastic cover over the rusty screw bolting it to the floor that could have used a good mopping. I think the bad just really stood out when we went straight to the other hotel that was just fresh and clean. I would stay at OKW again, but I would never, ever, ever pay full price for the room.

 

[ChristineNic]

Do you remember what building you were in? We are staying there in September for the first time and I would like a room near a bus stop and a quiet pool. When I do the online check in, I'd like to know a building name/number to request.

Thanks.

 

[msdaisy]

Do you remember what building you were in? We are staying there in September for the first time and I would like a room near a bus stop and a quiet pool. When I do the online check in, I'd like to know a building name/number to request.

Thanks.

We were in 5610. We were just steps away from that pool and the Southpoint bus stop. You will have to catch a bus or drive to the main pool, but we enjoyed where we were. I did online check in, and I requested first floor near transportation.

 

[disneychic2]

DH and I did not care for OKW when we stayed there. The room was a 1 bedroom and was beautiful and clean. It just wasn't our cup of tea. Sorry you had a few issues, but glad it didn't detract from your good time.

 

[Disney Doll]

We've owned points there since 1997 and I can say that I have stayed there quite a number of times. I did have what I considered to be a sub-par room once. Called, complained, all was rectified within 24 hours.

I wonder if they are cutting housekeeping across the board, since there are several threads about lack of it lately.

 

[saskdw]

Disney's rack rate is overpriced. There is no question about that. For $385 a night you can get a room that would top just about anything on Disney property. I understand a little bit of a premium for staying at Disney, but at full rack rate its not worth it for most people. Especially the deluxes. You can stay at the Hard Rock at Universal for the same price as a Mod Disney resort and it is arguably nicer than any of the WDW Deluxe resorts. Thats why they have constant promo's like Free Dining to fill the rooms.

 

[ls1222]

I'm sorry you had a bad experience at OKW. I've stayed at this resort more than any of the others combined (Due to the fact that my parents own all 300+ of their points there) and I have loved every single visit. Are there other resorts that are more appealing visually and conceptually? Yes! But I just love the relaxed, laid back feel of OKW. We've never had a dirty room (and we were just there the last week of May). I would have called Mousecleaning to come and fix whatever was wrong.

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[Tinkybell]

I would have called housekeeping and complained. Ask them to come and clean. You don't have to just accept it.

Good point. If you don't speak up then no one knows there is a problem.

We are staying at OKW at the end of Aug (unless we get off the BLT wait-list), I hope it's clean. I am surprised about the beds, because every bed I have slept in AKL, SSR, Treehouse Villas, Poly, Contemporary,WL and DL PP have been super comfy.

Sorry that you didn't have a perfect stay

 

[jlovesee]

Similar experience in January 2012... I was excited about staying there too, after hearing for years about how great the 1 bedrooms at OKW were. The resort general areas were nice, but like you... bathroom was dirty, mold in the shower. Plus our front door never locked properly.

The worst part? we called maintenance twice, and went to the front desk twice and the issues were never fixed. I still worry about that door never being fixed. If I had had a child, I would have demanded a different room it just wouldn't have been safe.

Disney did make it up for it though, we ended up with reimbursement on the room for 2 days. (6 day stay). I wasn't going to say anything because Disney did make up for it pretty well (and we really enjoyed using the points at AKV just here recently), but I also didnt want people reading the original post and think it was a one time incident. Disney NEEDS to work on these issues at OKW.

BTW I did think the bed was pretty comfortable.

Jennifer

 

[bnk1120]

I am looking forward to staying at OKW for the first time next month. Hopefully the room will be clean, because I am little bit of a freak about germs

 

[Tinkybell]

Now I am a little nervous, should I change my reservation to SSR or WLV both have availability

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Funny the 2 problem reports, as I have been to OKW 8 or 9 visits and never had anything but a perfect unit!

AKK