Old Key West resort review

CapnBarbosa · Post by **CapnBarbosa** » Mar Wed 10, 2010 10:45 am

Has anyone stayed at the Old Key West resort? What's WDW like in mid-Nobvember. We've got a 2 bedroom villa and I'd appreciate any reviews, comments, and suggestions.

Arg,
CapnBarbosa

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Mar Wed 10, 2010 11:22 am

Ask Lion Sleeps Tonight. She works there so she would defnitely give a pretty honest review.

My parents stayed there, and I know they liked their time there.

kcarts · Post by **kcarts** » Mar Wed 10, 2010 2:44 pm

I stayed there in January. I liked it. I only had a studio but it was bigger than the studios in the other DVC resorts. That was nice. I usually stay at the Boardwalk so OKW was a lot quieter than I'm used to. And there aren't as many places to choose from to grab a bite. But that wasn't an issue as I had ADRs lined up almost every night. The only thing that I didn't like was the fact that the resort is so spread out. There are five bus stops on the resort property. The lobby and "general store" were quite a long walk from my room. In the end that was more of an inconvenience than anything else. Just used to walking downstairs and having everything right there I guess. Call me spoiled!

Pluto23 · Post by **Pluto23** » Mar Wed 10, 2010 6:02 pm

I have stayed there - it is my home resort. We drive down, so it is one of the best with a car. You park right outside your unit. We have only stayed Studio. These are the biggest Disney rooms on property.

Nice pool, ok sit down restaurant, and a single counter with the basics for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you have to wait for the shuttle to get around inside, it could be difficult because OKW covers a lot of land. Very convenient to get onto the Disney highway to EPCOT (closest) or MK. Drive up to Buena Vista Way, TR, and you are at MGM in about a mile. TL and you are at DTD.

You do not have the deluxe sit down or a good counter service dining area, but you should have enough. Since it is DVC, there are different dining options than a regular resort hotel. We like it and are always ready to stay there, even though our May visit will be at BoardWalk (something different for us).

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Mar Thu 11, 2010 9:02 am

It too is my home resort, and being the first DVC property, it is the best. It does have the biggest rooms and although some of the amenities are not what they were, it is still a very nice and relaxing stay. Like Pluto23 said, it is very large and is not easily walked, especially if you have been trekking around the parks all day, but the buses regularly run and depending where you are in the resort can be used to get around.

The dining options are limited and the gift shop is lacking (it's more homey items than souvenirs). The nice thing is that it is near DTD, and you have a full kitchen in your unit (all but studio have full kitchens). I have always stayed in a two bedroom and there is more than enough room for the average family.

OKW doesn't have the constant activities and goings-ons of some of the other resorts, but it is the most comfortable and relaxing resort.

Pluto23 · Post by **Pluto23** » Mar Thu 11, 2010 10:21 am

I do not believe any of the dedicated DVC properties have great dining options or extra activities. Since this is a 'home away from home' and you have a kitchen, I guess they expect you to eat in your room all the time. Who wants to go on vacation and cook??

Same for kids activities. The DVCs that share with a regular resort (Beach, Boardwalk, AK, etc) have the extras because of the resort. Same for the gift shops, etc.

kcarts · Post by **kcarts** » Apr Sat 10, 2010 1:41 pm

Pluto23 wrote:I do not believe any of the dedicated DVC properties have great dining options or extra activities. Since this is a 'home away from home' and you have a kitchen, I guess they expect you to eat in your room all the time. Who wants to go on vacation and cook??

Same for kids activities. The DVCs that share with a regular resort (Beach, Boardwalk, AK, etc) have the extras because of the resort. Same for the gift shops, etc.

The only pure DVC resort there is OKW. I'm not sure what you're driving at.....

sandi · Post by **sandi** » Apr Sat 10, 2010 9:57 pm

We stayed there as DVC members. The rooms were larger and since we had a big group, it was great. There were many activities for the kids to do as well as the pools. We didn't like the length of time on the buses and haven't gone back since.We were the first ones on the bus and the last ones off. After a long day it was tiring to sit on the bus for so long. Many times there was a long wait both at the resort and at the parks as well. It was nice having the car right there as I remember.

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Apr Sat 10, 2010 11:29 pm

Pluto23 wrote:I do not believe any of the dedicated DVC properties have great dining options or extra activities. Since this is a 'home away from home' and you have a kitchen, I guess they expect you to eat in your room all the time. Who wants to go on vacation and cook??

Same for kids activities. The DVCs that share with a regular resort (Beach, Boardwalk, AK, etc) have the extras because of the resort. Same for the gift shops, etc.

You'd be surprised at how many families go grocery shopping before they even check in, especially those families who pay for a commercial vehicle. They often stop at Walmart, Winn Dixie, Publix or even Goodings and buy loads and loads of groceries and other kitchen supplies.

You don't know how many times a Mears vehicle pulls up in the driveway, and the trunk pops open and all you see are grocery bags on top of the luggage.

This is an extreme example, but one time we had a huge family of like 14 people who charted a tour bus, and when they opened up the cargo doors, there was just a sea of white plastic bags. I kid you not- there was at least 40 grocery bags.

We have members that stay for weeks and even months on end who don't even go to the parks often or at all, and instead choose to hang around the pools and bars.

It's truly your "home away from home."

Amy · Post by **Amy** » Apr Sun 11, 2010 7:52 am

Lion Sleeps Tonight wrote:We have members that stay for weeks and even months on end who don't even go to the parks often or at all, and instead choose to hang around the pools and bars.

Ack! I can't imagine being that close and not going to the parks! The groceries I can understand because bringing those can save you money, especially with a big family, but I'm like Pluto23 , who wants to cook on vacation!

kcarts · Post by **kcarts** » Apr Wed 14, 2010 3:05 pm

Amy wrote:
Lion Sleeps Tonight wrote:We have members that stay for weeks and even months on end who don't even go to the parks often or at all, and instead choose to hang around the pools and bars.
Ack! I can't imagine being that close and not going to the parks! The groceries I can understand because bringing those can save you money, especially with a big family, but I'm like Pluto23 , who wants to cook on vacation!

We went "grocery" shopping when we got down there in January. Of course our "groceries" were Sam Adams, Miller Lite, Captain Morgan's... well you get the picture. That saved us a ton of $$.

Amy · Post by **Amy** » Apr Wed 14, 2010 9:05 pm

kcarts wrote:We went "grocery" shopping when we got down there in January. Of course our "groceries" were Sam Adams, Miller Lite, Captain Morgan's... well you get the picture. That saved us a ton of $$.

I'm starting to get the picture that any subsonic gathering would be a ton of liquid fun

NaCler · Post by **NaCler** » Apr Thu 15, 2010 10:58 am

kcarts wrote:We went "grocery" shopping when we got down there in January. Of course our "groceries" were Sam Adams, Miller Lite, Captain Morgan's... well you get the picture. That saved us a ton of $$.

Miller Lite? I thought you said if it wasn't Sam Adams, then it wasn't beer? Why did you get that poser stuff?

and for me to stay on topic... nope, never stayed at Old Key West, but the bus passes by it EVERY TIME we go to DTD. Looks nice from the road.

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Apr Thu 15, 2010 11:48 am

NaCler wrote:
kcarts wrote:We went "grocery" shopping when we got down there in January. Of course our "groceries" were Sam Adams, Miller Lite, Captain Morgan's... well you get the picture. That saved us a ton of $$.
Miller Lite? I thought you said if it wasn't Sam Adams, then it wasn't beer? Why did you get that poser stuff?

and for me to stay on topic... nope, never stayed at Old Key West, but the bus passes by it EVERY TIME we go to DTD. Looks nice from the road.

Miller lite is for company!

kcarts · Post by **kcarts** » Apr Fri 16, 2010 2:37 pm

Jacca5660 wrote:
NaCler wrote:
kcarts wrote:We went "grocery" shopping when we got down there in January. Of course our "groceries" were Sam Adams, Miller Lite, Captain Morgan's... well you get the picture. That saved us a ton of $$.
Miller Lite? I thought you said if it wasn't Sam Adams, then it wasn't beer? Why did you get that poser stuff?

and for me to stay on topic... nope, never stayed at Old Key West, but the bus passes by it EVERY TIME we go to DTD. Looks nice from the road.
Miller lite is for company!

Exactly! But really I'm not picky. If it's cold, I'll drink it. I think that statement about Sam Adams was a tongue in cheek reply to Jacca's comment about me thinking that if it's not chowder it's not food.

Heck, I've been known to drink Schlitz.