Tell me all about Old Key West!

[Debi]

I'll be staying at OKW in a studio for the first time in July. Tell me everything I need to know about this resort! What to expect? Best building/room locations? Any tips for a first timer?

 

[AJKMOM]

Old Key West is part of the Disney Vacation Club, and there is a whole other section devoted to it and the rest of DVC.

 

[cyansmom]

Aloha!

My family of 5 stayed at OKW for one week in Nov and LOVED IT! It was really spacious and the jacuzzi tub was awesome after a long day at the park. We had a lake view...but I wouldn't recommend it...there were trees that blocked our view of the "lake". They offered us either a lake or golfcourse view.

The king bed was huge and comfortable. The bathroom was also huge! I loved having a washer/dryer so I could wash as needed. The living area was also big. I was truly impressed!

they have a great general store with a lot of stuff available (but it can be pricey). Olivia's (I think that was the name) was good. We didn't get to eat at any of the other places on site.

I would definitely stay there again. I would request a bottom floor next time...we had too much luggage to lug up and down the stairs.

hope this helps...

cyansmom

 

[SueOKW]

Hey Debi! I think we may have met a few years ago at DD when I had my DIS shirt on... anyway... hello! I hope you enjoy your visit to OKW.

OKW is a marvy place...

Advantages - -
If you drive - your car is parked right outside your door... and driving to some of the parks is the easiest way to go.
It can be very quiet and relaxing.
It's pretty.
The rooms are spacious.
There are free laundry facilities.
The people are friendly.
You can take a boat to DD.
It's off the beaten path and secluded.

Disadvantages - -
Some people don't like the distance from the parks and the quiet etc.
err... i love it so much i can't think of any.

Comments - -
For studio - I think you may want to ask for an upper floor... and I've heard that studios on the ends of units may have more foliage around them. We've only stayed in a studio once (it was part of a 2BR lock off on the first floor) and that verandah was surrounded by bushes etc...

If I'm wrong about anything - I am sure someone will set me straight... enjoy!!!

Sue

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you are wanting a view, the studios at OKW are not great for views. Since it is a timeshare resort, it is geared toward 1,2, and 3 bedroom units, so the studios are lock offs from those units. The studios are on the ends of the buildings, so while they have a small balcony, it is often obscured with large vegetation unless you are on the top floor. Some buildings are 2 stories and some are three.

Now I must say, I also can not think of much else that is negative about OKW! We don't stay in the studios, but because the second bedroom of a lock off unit is the same as a studio, I can tell you that you will have a small microwave, an under counter fridge, a toaster, and a coffee maker. They will also have a small supply of paper and plastic dinner ware which they will replenish if you ask for it. The bathroom is huge, and there is a small sink in the kitchen area which can also be used. There is a good sized closet, 2 queen beds and a small table with 2 chairs.

There are 4 pools at this resort. One larger themed main pool with a sandcastle slide and a kiddie play area and pool. There is a sauna in the lighthouse as well as a hot tub. Each of the other 3 neighborhood pools also has a hot tub and a play area. There are also free laundry rooms at the pool areas. They look like coin ops, but they are free. This resort is large and has a neighborhood feel that allows you to walk to DTD or take a boat. The bus service to the parks is very good, and you will have only short waits at the busy times of the day. You can also park right outside your door.

 

[Daitcher]

OKW seems to get great reviews or bad reviews. People either love it or hate it. I would be more towards not liking it due to my personal tastes. OKW definitely has the best rooms on property. They are spacious and well laid out. There are I beleve 4 pools spread around with one being the main themed pool. Rooms don't impress me much as we don't spend to much time there anyway. The lack of room service here is a turnoff to me. The resort is very spread out and you park right near your unit. This is a pro or con depending on what you like. I like more of a full service experience rather than the do it yourself experience of OKW and SSR. As a point of reference my favorite DVC resorts are BWV & BCV & VWL. I like having the Boardwalk right there and being walking distance to Epcot and MGM. At WLV I like having that full service resort right there. OKW is isolated and quiet. Many people find that heaven, others like more activity. It just depends on your tastes. OKW does have boat transportation to Downtown Disney. This is a nice feature. The beauty of DVC is there are resorts to meet all tastes. I hope you love the place and have a great trip. It really is best to try them all and develop your personal favorites.


DAVE

 

[OKW91]

The studios at OKW are very nice, the only thing we dislike is that there is no Sofa to sit on to watch the TV! The beds are not to my taste for sitting in to watch the TV and the 2 kitchen chairs they have in the room get kinda hard after awhile of sitting in!! Other then that, the studio is great for 2 people, specially if you are trying to conserve on points!! We love OKW and have stayed in the studios many times, the 2nd and 3rd floor units offer a nice view!

 

[Laurajean1014]

I love OKW. It's our favorite resort and we have stayed at many. We love the people that work there, the laid back atmosphere and are soon going to enjoy the new slide (been waiting 10 years for this).

I love the boat rides to DD/WS - very relaxing.

Olivia's is a very understated restaurant. It happens to be my son's favorite restaurant in all of WDW! It is the least expensive sit down restaurant in WDW (the members make it that way). Cappuchino is $2.00 - gotta love that.

Views, water, pool, location and people make this resort a must return!

 

[MiaSRN62]

cyansmom says : I would definitely stay there again. I would request a bottom floor next time...we had too much luggage to lug up and down the stairs.

Just wanted to mention they have Bell Service to assist you with luggage so you don't have to lug it yourself.
I agree with Diane about the vegetation on the ground floor. If you're gonna be in a studio an upper floor would probably have a better view.
We love the resort and find it very relaxing and the theming is so beautiful. You can request "close to Hospitality House" if you want to be close to the main pool/lobby/restaurant or we usually just request "water view" and have gotten some great views of the lake in Bldg 43, 45 and most recently in bldg 62. We could see/hear Illuminations pretty well from #62.
Have a great stay

 

[disneykidatheart]

You mentioned that it is possible to walk to DD from OKW. We are new members at OKW. We love to walk but worried that we wouldn't get our walks in due to lack of sidewalks. We would like to be able to walk to DD. How do we get there from OKW? Where does the sidewalk begin and end, so to speak? Do you know the distance from OKW to DD. Do you know if there is a layout map available for the DVC resorts showing building numbers, etc.?

Thanks also for the information on the studio views on the bottom floor with the vegetation surrounding them. Also didn't know the lighthouse have a sauna and whirlpool. I am learning so much from this dis board.

 

[Bojo]

There are excellent directions to the walkway around this board, somewhere! I believe you begin by building 55; go through the golf course; and end up in DTD West Side parking lot. Sorry, I don't know the exact distance;for some reason I thought it was close to a mile.
Don't worry about lack of sidewalks in OKW. There are miles of them within the resort.

 

[RobDoc]

You mentioned that it is possible to walk to DD from OKW. We are new members at OKW. We love to walk but worried that we wouldn't get our walks in due to lack of sidewalks. We would like to be able to walk to DD. How do we get there from OKW? Where does the sidewalk begin and end, so to speak? Do you know the distance from OKW to DD. Do you know if there is a layout map available for the DVC resorts showing building numbers, etc.?

OKW has sidewalks throughout the resort. To walk to DD, just walk (or take a bus) to South Point and walk past building 55. There is a paved walkway that follows Trumbo Canal to the golf course practice green. At that point, if you turn left and cross the bridge, it will take you to SSR or continue on around the DD West End parking lot towards Cirque. The walk is about a mile from building 55 to the parking lot at Cirque. You'll walk past the Treehouse Villas on the way to DD and we have seen river otter and eagles while enjoying the stroll. It is not lighted over the entire distance and I would not suggest doing this at night.

Here is a comprehensive listing of <a href=" http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=1251562#post1251562">all OKW buildings</a> and a link to some <a href="http://disneydoc.homestead.com/MoreOKW2.html">OKW Photos.</a>

Enjoy!

 

[blitzkrieg048]

My Favorite Buildings At Okw Are Right Along Pennisula Road. Bldgs. 23, 24, 25, 26, And 27. Nice Views Of The Golf Course And A Short Walk To The Main Pool And General Store.


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[jade1]

Just back today from 5 night there and 1 at CB, beautifull and peacefull. Just make sure you plan ahead for any late night (after 9) food, especially if you have teenagers.

 

[disneykidatheart]

Webmaster Doc--

Do you have a more direct link to the OKW buildings? When I click on the one in your message I get a "page has expired" link. Thanks for the map.

If I understand correctly, I can walk to the bridge and turn one way to go to Downtown Disney or the other way to go to Saratoga Springs. So, theoretically, I can walk to the bridge and turn toward Downtown Disney, walk across to the Marketplace and over to Saratoga Springs and back to OKW. Is that right? That just about covers my morning walk. What better way to have a walk--and maybe stop in the Marketplace for a bagel on the way. Thanks.

 

[RobDoc]

Sorry about that! The link does work now, but here is a direct URL:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=1251562#post1251562

Yes, you can walk from OKW, thru DD, to SSR and back across the golf cart bridge to OKW. It's around 4 miles for the round trip by that route.

Enjoy!

 

[disneykidatheart]

Webmaster Doc--

Many thanks for the information!

 

[MiaSRN62]

jade1 says : Just make sure you plan ahead for any late night (after 9) food, especially if you have teenagers.

The snack bar (Goods To Go) at OKW is open until 10 pm, as is Olivia's. I believe the general store is open until 11 pm---at least it was when we were there in Nov and they have some snacks as well. Also, you're going in July, so I would think the boat to DD would be operating until at least 11 pm and there's plenty of places there to get a bite.
Also, here's a take out place that will deliver to OKW as well : http://www.giordanos.com/

 

[lllovell]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

that menu looks fantastic!!! Maybe we will order take out from there for one or two nights of our stay next week! I love good Italian!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Someone mentioned something about not liking the fact that there is no room service. You have to remember that this is not much like a hotel. It is really more of a vacation home resort. If you were to get room service from Olivia's, I dare say it would be very difficult to get the food there before it got cold!