Tell me ALL about OKW Villas....

[Mboothby]

We've never stayed at the Old Key West Villas and are currently booked in a 2 bedroom suite. Do tell all the ins and outs re: this resort. Specifially dos and don'ts. Where in the resort is the best place to stay, worst place. We've requested a ground floor as we have a handicapped person with us and have requested a room with a kitchenette. We will have 6 people in this room. All adults. How is the shopping at this resort? What sort of restaraunts are available? We will have a car, so we'll not be taking the bus (yeah...we're car people) and on my last trip, I noticed it seemed near enough to Epcot...kept driving by it on the way to BW. What do all ya experts have to say about this resort? Are the rooms bright and airy like BW (my personal fav) Seems beachy to me in decor, but have only driven by.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

I will be staying at OKW for the first time on October 27th. From all the pictures I have seen, the rooms are very spacious and look wonderful..I can't wait!!!
I noticed you have not received any responses to this post yet. You might get more information if you post this question on the DVC board since OKW is a DVC resort.

 

[mikesmom]

Kitchenette!!?? My dear, you get a full kitchen! and a washer/dryer, a jacuzzi, the biggest balcony (or patio) possible on property and simply tons of room! (More than BWV).

You are fairly close to Epcot, Olivia's is a very good restaurant , and there is a little snack bar walkup near the pool for light food. I think the OKW general store is one of the better resort stores as far as wine cheese and other foods go. As far as shopping though, you can catch a shuttle boat and take a very relaxing ride right over to Downtown Disney for all the shopping you could imagine.

You will love it - have a great time.

 

[cindy_k]

This resort is set up more like condo's. You will be parking right out side your room.

Here is a link to the resort map:
http://wdwig.com/okwmap.jpg

Here is a link to pictures of the resort:
http://www.wdwig.com/g_okw.htm

Here is a link to Old Key West floor plans:
http://dvc.disney.go.com/disneyvaca...modationsindex?id=OldKeyWestAccommodationsGrp

This is Disney Vacation Club resort so you will have a full Kitchen with plates and cups and flatware.
There's a microwave, stove, oven, refrigerator, dishwasher and a washer and dryer.

Not to mention the Jacuzzi in the master bedroom.

From your post this resorts sounds perfect for you.
For the best info on this resort, go over to the Disney Vacation Club board and ask about it there. http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=28

I belong to DVC but haven't stayed at OKW yet. I am planning my first trip there in April.

Enjoy your stay!!
Cindy

 

[DebbieB]

Some 2 bedrooms also have a kitchenette in the 2nd bedroom. Those are lockoff 2 bedrooms, the second bedroom is actually a studio with the connecting door open to a 1 bedroom. Dedicated 2 bedrooms do not have the kitchenette in the second bedroom, there is a second bathroom sink/counter instead and an extra closet replaces the separate outside entrance for the second bedroom.

I've stayed there 4 times, once in a 2 bedroom and 3 times in a 1 bedroom. The rooms are very spacious!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

The best way to describe a 2 bedroom at OKW is......

"Heaven on Earth"

You'll have a great time.

 

[MidwestPiglet]

Dumb question #862: Do you have to be a member of the DVC in order to stay in this resort?

It sounds like a great place to stay!

 

[catheren]

We love OKW!

MidwestPiglet, no you do not have to be a DVC member to stay at OKW. There are 2 options.

1. Call central reservations and book exactly like you would book a WDW resort hotel room. Booking this way, gets you daily maid service.

2. Go to the DVC boards on this site and rent points from a DVC member. You don't get daily maid service. This can be cheaper than booking through central reservations depending on the time of year.

 

[SueM in MN]

We have been DVC members at OKW for almost 10 years, so I can tell you for sure you will be wowed by this resort. Enough that we usually even think how nice it would be to live there forever!
The "patios" on the ground floor might not sound too impressive, but the patios are more like a deck (even on the first floor) and are quite private. They have a railing, a ceiling fan and a large patio table with 4 chairs.
Since you need first floor, make sure that your confirmation says something similar to "First Floor for Medical Reasons." Those rooms are assigned first, then the general requests for first floor.
Have fun.

 

[Dave in the Frozen North]

OKW is our home resort as DVC members. The resort is very different from all of the other WDW resorts and actually differs from the later DVC resorts like Boardwalk and Wilderness.

The resort is very spread out and more like the condo type of developments because there are so many buildings spread out. Compared with other DVC units, the OKW units are extremely spacious (OKW was Disney's first Vacation Club resort. I think Disney realized after the fact that they were being too generous with the space for the DVC units! The later resorts are more in the form of a single large condo building/resort.)

You will love the theme and the atmosphere. A lot of great details, like the sea shells in the sidewalks, landscaping, pool areas, nice soft but cheery colors. I always love the calypso music piped in.

The units are excellent. You will love the two bedroom and all the space. The full kitchen is great just for breakfast gettogethers. The balcony(ies) are huge and look out on the beautiful landscaped golf course and waterways. The big laundry room is a big plus and saves on packing since it is so convenient to wash and dry clothes at night.

Olivia's is the restaurant and we really like it. Very personal touch at the resort.

There are not really any bad locations. We always tried to get a unit near the Hospitality House - because we did not have a car. Buildings 45, 46, 53, 54, 55 and 56 are nice if you have a car - these buildings are tucked away at the far end of the resort, beside one of the pools and if you check out the map you will see that the balconies face the waterways in 4 of the buildings. We always asked for 23 to 26 simply because it was just across the bridge from the Hospitality House and main pool and convenient to the bus stops.

We have always set aside at least one full day as a resort day, to take advantage of the main pool, restaurant, surrey bikes, community hall etc. Our fondest memories at OKW are wandering around the main building and pool on a starry night and going for a dip in the pool.

If you can,at least once, take the trumbo canal shuttle to Downtown Disney. A nice ride and convenient to Downtown Disney.

There are lots of extra events always going on at Hank's - community hall. Unbirthday parties. Crafts. Games. Neat stuff for the kids. The Video lending library is always great in the evenings. We would pick out a Disney classic, when the kids were young, to watch before bed time. They were usually so zonked out they never made it past the first 15 minutes.

Lucky you Mboothby - staying at OKW. You will love the 2-bedrooms. We brought my Mom and Aunt with us one year in a two bedroom. My mom still raves about it 5 years later.

Have a blast!

Dave in the Frozen North

(P.S. - At OKW the "villas" are technically the units referred to as the "Grand Villas" which are the full-sized three-bedroom homes. These units are unbelievable. If you say you are staying in a "villa" to most OKW DVC members they will think Grand Villa.)

 

[AZKathy]

Mandie, you will never want to stay in another regular hotel room again after your trip!!!! I can't add anything else to what has been said except that! Have a great trip!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PKK/MJK]

Hi,

I, too, am an OKW Member and can only agree that it is a wonderful place to stay!! You will love the roominess!!!

Two things that haven't been mentioned--you said you requested a first floor unit because you have a person with a disability in your party. I'm not sure exactly what the disability is in your situation --but OKW does have specific, first floor handicapped units. These have lower beds, counters and sinks, roll-in showers etc. These units are wonderful IF this is the sort of accommodation that you require. Have your reservation specify "first floor, handicapped unit" if this is what you need. If NOT, ask for first floor for medical reasons/not handicapped.

Also, in buildings 1 through 29, there is only one entrance into the main bathroom--and it goes through part of the master bedroom. In buildings 30 and higher, there is a second entrance into this bathroom through the utility room. This second bathroom entrance can be especially handy with larger groups of people. It is especially helpful if you have someone sleeping in the living room. Take a look at the room floor plans and I think you'll see what I mean. If you think this second bathroom entrance would be helpful to your group, have your reservations ask for "building 30 or higher with a second master bathroom entrance." There is also , of course, a bathroom off of the second bedroom.