Tell me about Old Key West

[pam66]

We are considering renting points to stay at Old Key West in February. It is me, DH, and 5 yr old DD so we plan on staying in a studio. I have only seen pictures of the resort. It looks very pretty and I have read that they will be renovating their pool this fall to look like a sandcastle which sounds like fun. If you have stayed at this resort please post what you liked about it and even what you didn't like about it. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

I love Old Key West. I haven't stayed there yet but took a tour of the resort last week. It has a great feel and the villas are spacious. The studios have two queen beds and a kitchenette. Old Key West is the only DVC resort where the studios have two beds instead of one queen bed and apull out couch.

You might want to post this over on the DVC forum to get specific answers to your questions.

 

[colleen costello]

It's my favorite of all the DVC resorts. It is very large, with sprawling lawns and canals and ponds. The landscaping is very lush and pretty. The buildings are arranged so that you can park your vehicle right out front and the view from your little verandah will be toward the back. This makes it both convenient AND quiet. There are tons of tame ducks and bunnies and my kids feed them tons of bread each visit.

This is a very laid-back place. The quiet pools are actually quiet and even when the resort is at capacity it doesn't feel crowded. You can rent bikes and boats and there is a community center with activities for kids. The studios are spacious with two high queen beds and a really nice sized bathroom. Everything is painted in pretty sherbet pastels. Most people agree it is hard to get a "bad" room here. The housekeeping is great and we have never gotten a room that wasn't perfect.

Olivia's is open for all 3 meals and you don't even need a PS. It's a great place for a meal, dessert or even just a snack. There is a snack bar by the main pool and a 2nd one by the Turtle Pond Pool. Laundry rooms are by each pool and laundry is free. There are also hot tubs and the main pool has a spa. There are playgrounds by the pools. There is a little store full of great souvenirs and basic food items. They sell Mickey ice cream bars and we like to eat these as we stroll around. There is a free ferryboat ride to Downtown Disney.

Buses run to the parks and from there you can go to other resorts. If you have no car you might request "close to a bus stop." All the buses stop by the restaurant/store/check-in area on their way out of the resort so you can get around easily.

I hope you'll love OKW! This is a great resort and a real value for the money if you rent points.

 

[jxgriffi]

I'll chime in here too...

I love OKW!!! It's so serene at times even when it's full. We are considering buying a resale here just so I can go back more and more.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[chicknoodle99]

DH and I stayed at OKW once and loved it also. We were set at POFQ and they had a problem with our reservation so they sent us to OKW instead. Lucky us! It was a huge room for the two of us. It had one huge bedroom with a king bed, a jacuzzi tub, a shower, a full size laundry room, a regular kitchen with a big fridge, a living room and a patio overlooking a golf course. It was amazing! We didnt use the laundry or much of the kitchen but it was nice to have in case we needed it. We always rent a car so not sure about bus transportation. You will enjoy it--the room that you have will make it seem like home--especially with children. Enjoy and have fun!

 

[laceemouse]

We are new DVC owners with points at BCV. We had a great stay there in March. We just booked 4 nights at OKW in October and we can't wait. We are a family of 6 so we always get a 2 bedroom, they look huge at OKW!!!!!

 

[wanna-b-Tink]

We've stayed at OKW 5 or 6 times. We love it there. However, we always get a one- or two- bedroom. Never stayed in a studio. However, we have stayed in a studio at HHI, which is the same layout, and it was great.

You'll enjoy OKW. One big plus it has over some of the other DVC properties (which we own points at) is that it has dedicated buses. With BW and BC, you share a bus with 5 resorts -- Swan, Dolphin, BW, YC & BC. Even though OKW is large and has several stops, it is still quicker.

I would say though, if you can, to upgrade to a one-bedroom. We like to fix most breakfasts in the room, and it saved us considerably by doing that. Also, the in-room washer and dryer mean you can pack 3 days of clothes for a week or more, so you don't have as much luggage to lug around. Of course, you can do laundry at a communal area, but it is so convenient to throw a load in the wash as you are leaving for the day, and then dry it when you get back that night and not have to wait on it. And then there's the HUGE jacuzzi...