Refurbished Old Key West

[gkrykewy]

We prefer a car at OKW. It has it's own dedicated buses, but it's a large resort so you could spend 15 minutes riding the bus within OKW. If you can get a location close to the hospitality house it's great. If you're far removed (look at the map) and want to head up there for boat rentals, dining, boat to DTD, etc. it can be quite a hike.

We've done well without a car at BWV. Have always had a car at SSR, OKW. Those are the only 3 we've stayed at.

Swayhoover above said that rooms near the hospitality house now have their own booking category. So those rooms would be fine for the car-free in your view? Would they all be renovated by next summer?

We've done tons of disney resorts without a car, but never OKW or SSR.

 

[Swayhoover90]

Swayhoover above said that rooms near the hospitality house now have their own booking category. So those rooms would be fine for the car-free in your view? Would they all be renovated by next summer?

We've done tons of disney resorts without a car, but never OKW or SSR.

In my opinion if you were staying near HH and have no problem taking Disney transportation to Downtown Disney, the parks etc. Then you would be fine without a car.

To my understanding all of the units should be renovated by sometime next summer.

 

[Inkmahm]

I've never stayed at OKW but we will be there in December to stay with my inlaws as they traded through RCI to get us a week at OKW. I"m really looking forward to it! I hope we love it as much as I think we will. Of course, that will make it even more difficult for selecting where we want to stay in the future because we already love BWV, BCV, VWL, BLT and AKV!

 

[dbprimeaux]

Where can I find a resort map? What buildings have elevators?

 

[dianeschlicht]

We prefer a car at OKW. It has it's own dedicated buses, but it's a large resort so you could spend 15 minutes riding the bus within OKW. If you can get a location close to the hospitality house it's great. If you're far removed (look at the map) and want to head up there for boat rentals, dining, boat to DTD, etc. it can be quite a hike.

We've done well without a car at BWV. Have always had a car at SSR, OKW. Those are the only 3 we've stayed at.

WHOA!! NOT TRUE! You might spend 15 minutes riding the bus through OKW if you got on at the first stop, but most people know not to get on there. Most from that first stop walk across the bridge and get on at the last stop. If you are at the farthest point in the resort, you are at the second bus stop, and from there it takes about 10 minutes to get to the last stop (assuming there are no ECVs loading). No need to "hike" anywhere, since you are always near a bus stop. Even so, if you chose to "hike", it wouldn't take more than 10 minutes from the farthest building. I usually prefer to walk, and I have walked to HH from just about every location at OKW at some point or another.

We do always have a car at WDW no matter which resort we stay at. I'd say we tend to use it LESS at OKW than we do at places like AKV. We find the bus service to be much more efficient than driving to the parks. We really only use the car to grocery shop, visit off site places, and go to restaurants at other resorts.

 

[Fatalbie]

Jamaka66 had a thread in Feb 2010 titled “ Just back from a week at OKW.” Doc posted a great map of OKW in post #10. Thread link below.
Jim

Thread link, hope it works
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2385069

 

[dianeschlicht]

Here's the map.

 

[gkrykewy]

WHOA!! NOT TRUE! You might spend 15 minutes riding the bus through OKW if you got on at the first stop, but most people know not to get on there. Most from that first stop walk across the bridge and get on at the last stop. If you are at the farthest point in the resort, you are at the second bus stop, and from there it takes about 10 minutes to get to the last stop (assuming there are no ECVs loading). No need to "hike" anywhere, since you are always near a bus stop. Even so, if you chose to "hike", it wouldn't take more than 10 minutes from the farthest building. I usually prefer to walk, and I have walked to HH from just about every location at OKW at some point or another.

We do always have a car at WDW no matter which resort we stay at. I'd say we tend to use it LESS at OKW than we do at places like AKV. We find the bus service to be much more efficient than driving to the parks. We really only use the car to grocery shop, visit off site places, and go to restaurants at other resorts.

Thanks for the info! We've stayed at AKL/V a bunch of times, and have been quite happy with the bus service. If OKW is comparable, I'm sure we'd be fine.

Oddball question: is it common to see wildlife at OKW? There's an awesome photo of an otter at the resort on flickr:

 

[Swayhoover90]

Thanks for the info! We've stayed at AKL/V a bunch of times, and have been quite happy with the bus service. If OKW is comparable, I'm sure we'd be fine.

Oddball question: is it common to see wildlife at OKW? There's an awesome photo of an otter at the resort on flickr:

We saw a few storks/egrets/birds with long legs type things and there are little lizards everywhere. I am sure there are other, more exotic wildlife there too.

 

[dbprimeaux]

Thanks for posting the map!!

 

[KC78]

Here's the map.

What does H.A. (red outline) stand for on the legend?

 

[castleri]

What does H.A. (red outline) stand for on the legend?

I believe it means there are villas that are handicapped accessible in those buildings

 

[JWG]

I believe it means there are villas that are handicapped accessible in those buildings

Correct.

We stayed in building 32 and 36 our last two visits there. Bus stop was on Old Turtle Pond Road. We stopped two more times in OKW before leaving the resort for our destination.

Walk to the Hospitality House was 10 minutes in 32, a bit longer in 36. We usually drove. They had to shut the water off to our villa (and several others) while we were there last visit, we didn't have water one day until after 9pm. Needing to shower for ADR's, it was nice to drive up to the HH, get a key to another room, and shower (then return the key and go back down).

We like to request 11-14 or 62-63 when we go, now I guess those are separate booking categories. My parents like 54-55, down near the path to DTD.

 

[adminjedi]

It is funny how so many people assume that OKW is a second-rate destination without ever giving it a chance. That is fine by me though because it is my first choice and I have to get my rooms in the 7 month window.
That's right folks... nothing to see here... OKW is horrible.

By looking at the pictures, somehow the furniture just does not hit me as deluxe resort. What am I missing?

We are going to stay one night during our January trip to check it out, but I am sKeptical that I will like the furnishings and color palette. We shall see!