Tell me about Old Key West

[Dakota731]

My daughter just booked this resort for our upcoming trip, and we’ve never stayed there. I’m a little nervous since I know it’s one of the older resorts so please tell me something good about OKW!

 

[heynowirv]

My daughter just booked this resort for our upcoming trip, and we’ve never stayed there. I’m a little nervous since I know it’s one of the older resorts so please tell me something good about OKW!

It is the first DVC resort and was once called The Disney Vacation Club. As soon as you arrive you will automatically relax because that is the vibe there. The rooms are the largest of the resorts. The boat runs about every 20 minutes to DS.Besides the main pool I believe there are 4 others. Our favorite is Old Turtle Pond and it has a snack bar to boot. You will not regret staying there.

 

[Dakota731]

Thank you - I was planning on staying at Saratoga so I was a little worried about Old Key West since I know it’s older. Is there a best area of the resort to rent to be close to the bus stop and convenience store?

 

[tjkraz]

Disney resorts older than Old Key West: Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans

All Stars, Wilderness Lodge and Boardwalk opened within 5 years of OKW.

 

[CarolynFH]

OKW is very spread out and is built in the late 1980s timeshare resort style (but the interiors were updated just a few years ago, so they're very nice). Here's a map: https://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/okwmap.htm. There are several bus stops throughout the resort, and you can take any park bus to get to the Hospitality House, where the stores and Olivia's restaurant as well as the bar are. The "near Hospitality House" villas are a separate booking category, so your daughter's confirmation would specify if it's in that category.

The biggest drawback to OKW is that very few of the buildings have elevators. So if climbing stairs would be a problem for anyone in your party, your daughter needs to request a ground floor villa.

 

[Goofy4]

It is the first DVC resort and was once called The Disney Vacation Club. As soon as you arrive you will automatically relax because that is the vibe there. The rooms are the largest of the resorts. The boat runs about every 20 minutes to DS.Besides the main pool I believe there are 4 others. Our favorite is Old Turtle Pond and it has a snack bar to boot. You will not regret staying there.

Ahh... "Disney Vacation Club Way" makes more sense to me now!

 

[heynowirv]

Disney resorts older than Old Key West: Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans

All Stars, Wilderness Lodge and Boardwalk opened within 5 years of OKW.

True. But OKW was the first Vacation Club resort.

 

[lowlight]

From someone who was certain they'd hate OKW, I really enjoyed it. Olivia's is great, boat to DS is great, spacious rooms, beautiful grounds. I wouldn't spend a whole trip there if I were doing the parks, but it was a nice change up.

 

[KSR0330]

We've stayed there several times, most recently in Nov when we brought our grown kids and 3yo granddaughter. This trip we stayed in the Miller's Road area for the first time and it's hands down our favorite area. Easy walk to the Hospitality House and main pool, which means we can get off at the first bus stop coming home from the parks and just walk a bit to the room, which was great. If you're super tired just stay on and get the bus right to your area. We stayed at OKW our entire trip and did parks every day and had no problem with the bus transportation. Definitely one of our favorite resorts!

 

[igrsod]

Honestly, the first time we stayed there, we were nervous too. And boy were we wrong, we love it there. It feels so laid back and relaxed. Like a vacation within a vacation. If you have time, sit on the mini boardwalk and have a drink or snacks in the evening. We had such a great time chatting with guests and cast members, listening to the guy playing live music. We also love how big the rooms are. Space is a premium with 4 in a studio.
If you like Saratoga, I feel like you will like it here too. I own at Saratoga, but I always stay at OKW instead.

 

[DVC-Don]

We could live there full time we like it so much.

 

[Travel60]

OKW was our first - back when it was the only DVC. Just stayed there again for 4 days and it is as lovely as the first time. The 2-BR are really big, the restaurant is very nice. We took the boat to Disney Springs (or walked) almost every day and took the bus to EPCOT - very convenient.

 

[Jelkat]

OKW was our first - back when it was the only DVC. Just stayed there again for 4 days and it is as lovely as the first time. The 2-BR are really big, the restaurant is very nice. We took the boat to Disney Springs (or walked) almost every day and took the bus to EPCOT - very convenient.

How is the walk? Is it long and safe for a mid aged woman to do on her own? Was thinking I'd love to walk and get dh to get the boat with the kids as no way they'd walk.

 

[Travel60]

How is the walk? Is it long and safe for a mid aged woman to do on her own? Was thinking I'd love to walk and get dh to get the boat with the kids as no way they'd walk.

I'm 71, in decent but not great shape. Very nice walk on paved path along canal.

 

[Boopuff]

It's beautiful. No loud people slamming doors all night, kids running down the hall early morning... Peaceful and you'll love your balcony!

 

[Dakota731]

I'm 71, in decent but not great shape. Very nice walk on paved path along canal.

Which area of the resort is best to stay if you want to be closer to walking to Disney springs?

 

[tjkraz]

Ahh... "Disney Vacation Club Way" makes more sense to me now!

The road was renamed about 15-20 years after OKW opened. I think it was little more than another way to promote DVC, given that the two resorts it services are OKW and SSR.

True. But OKW was the first Vacation Club resort.

Agree. But frequent mentions of OKW being "old" seemed to be framed as a negative. In reality, some of the most iconic WDW resorts are 10-20 years older than Old Key West. And others aren't much newer.

 

[Travel60]

Which area of the resort is best to stay if you want to be closer to walking to Disney springs?

I don't know the name of the various areas but buildings 11, 12, 13 look closest to where the walking path enters OKW.

 

[Travel60]

The road was renamed about 15-20 years after OKW opened. I think it was little more than another way to promote DVC, given that the two resorts it services are OKW and SSR.


Agree. But frequent mentions of OKW being "old" seemed to be framed as a negative. In reality, some of the most iconic WDW resorts are 10-20 years older than Old Key West. And others aren't much newer.


South Point, which is the furthest area from the Hospitality House. Fair warning, the path in question isn't an ideal way to travel to Disney Springs. It's actually part of the golf course. There is no lighting, which means it shouldn't be used after dark. The route is rather circuitous. And it drops you at the far west of Disney Springs into the parking lot behind Cirque du Soleil.

If you've really got an abundance of time and want to explore a lesser-seen area of property, that's fine. But I wouldn't view it as an efficient way to travel to Disney Springs.

View attachment 734591

This is not the correct path to DS. As you mention, it involves the golf paths, which non-golfers should not use - pretty sure there are several "golfers only" signs.

Stick to the path along the canal, past Saratoga Springs and you will enter DS at the front, near the Christmas Store.

 

[tjkraz]

This is not the correct path to DS. As you mention, it involves the golf paths, which non-golfers should not use - pretty sure there are several "golfers only" signs.

Stick to the path along the canal, past Saratoga Springs and you will enter DS at the front, near the Christmas Store.

Thanks. I removed that info. Haven't bothered to check it out in a loooong time and wasn't aware of the signs.