Old Key West View

[Chic]

We are attending the Food and Wine Festival October 9-14 and will be staying at Old Key West for the first time. I've noticed on the WDW resort map that Old Key West is very close to EPCOT. Does anyone know if you can actually see any parts of EPCOT from the hotel? It appears like you should be able to see Spaceship Earth from the hotel.

 

[KandiB47]

 

[vandy]

I cannot speak for the entire resort, but whenever we have stayed there, the trees blocked our view. I would imagine that would be the case for the entire resort since it is surrounded by trees and they are tall, mature trees. Also, the map may show it is next to Epcot, but there is some distance actually between them. It is not like BCV or BWV for proximity.

 

[dvcbrad]

OKW is close to Downtown Disney - not Epcot. I can't imagine any possible way that one would be able to see any part of Epcot from OKW.

 

[dianeschlicht]

OKW is indeed VERY close to Epcot, but the part nearest OKW is actually the parking lot, and as stated earlier, the trees block the view from most villas. We often CAN see Illuminations (the higher stuff) from many villas (especially 15, 63, 64, 29). While OKW is near the Epcot property, it is still a ways via the roadways at Disney. Sometimes I think Disney purposely makes things apear farther apart than they are by the way they design access to them.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you google Lake Buena Vista Florida, you can see OKW sandwiched between Epcot (actually closer to Future World than the parking lot after all) and Downtown Disney. I tried a link here, but I don't think it will work. YOu can see that OKW is actually about the same distance (as the crow flies) from Epcot as the Swan/Dolphin are.

http://http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Lake+Buena+Vista,+FL,+United+States+of+America&sa=X&oi=map&ct=image

 

[dianeschlicht]

The other interesting thing on that map is that CBR is probably closer to Epcot than ANYTHING else!

 

[dvcbrad]

OKW is indeed VERY close to Epcot, but the part nearest OKW is actually the parking lot, and as stated earlier, the trees block the view from most villas. We often CAN see Illuminations (the higher stuff) from many villas (especially 15, 63, 64, 29). While OKW is near the Epcot property, it is still a ways via the roadways at Disney. Sometimes I think Disney purposely makes things apear farther apart than they are by the way they design access to them.

You're right - but seeing Illuminations is one thing - being 'Close' is another ... and that depends on your definition of Close. OKW is not Close in my book - any time one has to get on a bus to get somewhere, it's really not Close. You can walk from OKW to DD, walk from BCV or BWV to Epcot, but not from OKW to Epcot. Hence ... OKW is not Close.

 

[dianeschlicht]

You're right - but seeing Illuminations is one thing - being 'Close' is another ... and that depends on your definition of Close. OKW is not Close in my book - any time one has to get on a bus to get somewhere, it's really not Close. You can walk from OKW to DD, walk from BCV or BWV to Epcot, but not from OKW to Epcot. Hence ... OKW is not Close.

Like I said, I think Disney makes an art out of having places appear farther apart than they really are. The roads and access is convoluted. In reality, when Disney Vacation Club first opened 15 years ago, it was listed in all the Disney information as "an Epcot area resort". Of course, that was prior to Boardwalk, so the other "Epcot area resorts" were CBR, Dixie Landings, and Port Orleans.

 

[OlderMan]

We were at OKW in July in (I think) building 63.

From the front rail, we could see only a very small portion of the fireworks from EPCOT.

Don't plan on watching fireworks shows from OKW.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Olderman is right. MOST of the areas where you can see Illuminations is only going to be the highest effects, and mostly you'll hear them.

Most common views at OKW are of water, golf course, and woods. If you are unlucky enough to get a 1st floor unit, you might only have a view of "the back side of vegetation", since the studios are on the end, and can be hemmed in with mature plants. If you are in a 1 or 2 bedroom, this isn't as much of an issue from the large porches.

 

[Anthony1971]

We were just in Building 14 1st floor 2 bedroom Bad view... from the balacony and MB we had some plants and the tops of buses. From the living room and 2nd BR you could see the AC units but it was a 30 second walk to the HH which we needed. We did request an elevator buliding one of our guests has a slight handicap and we did not get it.... I like the views from those buildings.... But they are now for special needs....
I always viewed OKW close to the China pav. I would suppose in either case one could walk to EPCOT if they don't mind a stroll through the woods.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I always viewed OKW close to the China pav. I would suppose in either case one could walk to EPCOT if they don't mind a stroll through the woods.

Actually, you would have to stroll across some very busy highways and a big ditch which often has water in it!

 

[Anthony1971]

Actually, you would have to stroll across some very busy highways and a big ditch which often has water in it!

I thought the cars stopped and waters parted for those staying at OKW

 

[dianeschlicht]

 

[vandy]

(Hope this link opens) This is a good satellite view of the Epcot resorts. Just zoom out and pan to the right to see OKW. You will see how everything actually lays out.

http://local.live.com/default.aspx?...t=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=3949802&encType=1

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks! That was the picture I was looking at too, only I had it on Google.