Disney's Old Key West Resort (Disney Deluxe Villas Resort) About This Page:

[Authors]

Old Key West is a laid-back, sprawling resort of villas located roughly between Downtown Disney and Epcot.

Official Guidebook Review: Our official review of Disney's Old Key West Resort can be read in PassPorter's Walt Disney World guidebook (chapter 3).

Personal Review: Old Key West is quite charming, but we feel it is too spread out and too far from most parks to be really ideal for our needs. We have nothing but good things to say about their room sizes, however -- they are quite spacious!

Other Reviews: See PassPorter's feature article on Old Key West Resort by PassPorter Guide Cheryl Pendry (chezp).

Photo Reviews: See our Old Key West photo collection.

Your Review: What do YOU think of this resort? We want to know! To leave a review AND numerical rating, click the Review button below. Please avoid commenting on previously posted reviews. Tip: Include your pros and cons!

Results from these ratings and reviews will be factored into the ratings that appear in the guidebook, too!

[Suzie&Jay]

Old Key West is a vacation club resort. It has studios, 1 and 2 bedroom villas and grand villas. I've stayed in the one bedroom and studios here. The thing I like most about OKW is that you feel like you've left Disney property...in a good way. You feel very removed from the chaos of the parks. The Disney theming is all here, as well as the Disney hospitality and service. It's very quiet and VERY relaxing. It has a wonderful pool as well as activities for guests.

Cons: It's very spacious...some rooms are really too far from the pool and main building to walk (you could, but it would take forever).
Cost-If you're not a vacation club member these rooms are pricey.
mug service-there's only one place to fill your mug and it's not "self serve"

Pros: space- these are the biggest villas on property and the studios have two real beds instead of one bed and a daybed.
service-we've never encountered a bad CM here.
atmosphere-it is SO relaxing here
golf-this a great resort if you want to get your golf on!
convenience-if you drive around property, you can park your car right at your own villa...no walking after a long day at the parks!

[pennylynn2]

This last Nov. I traveled to Disney World with six members of my family and we stayed at Old Key West in a two bedroom villa. We loved it. I may never want to stay anywhere else. I think that the best thing about it is that it felt like we were visiting with family or friends. It was great that as everyone got up they could just fix what they wanted for breakfast and we weren't waiting for everyone to be ready before we went for breakfast somewhere. We were on the second floor and so had a balcony and it was great to be able to sit out there and watch the early bird golfers. We loved the washer and dryer. We would put a load in on our way to the park in the morning and the first person back at night would put the clothes in the dryer. We opted to stay down on the South side of the resort so we didn't get a lot of people wandering around and we were very close to a pool, which the kids loved. It was very quiet and that was great for relaxing after a long day at a park. One of the best things about this resort is that the second bedroom has two queen size beds. The sofa sleeper in the living room is only double size but we all took turns sleeping there so no one got really tired of it. All in all it's just a great home away from home and I can't wait to go back. And I have stayed at a couple of deluxe resorts, Beach Club and Animal Kingdom Lodge, and this is by far my favorite.

[twoWDWfools]

We have stayed at OKW numerous times in studio, 1 and 2-bedroom units. Absolutely love the size and space of all units and having washer/dryer in the units (except studio) is a big plus.

The resort is sprawling but we actually like the feeling of it being more a village/community than just a hotel. Really brings that "welcome home"...well, home...

We generally don't go to the main pool and have always been within an easy stroll to a quiet pool and bus stop. There is now a self-serve station for the refillable mugs for soft drinks near the main pool.

One big con is the bus service. We always rent a car but use the bus for MK and it can take quite a while to get out/in depending on where you are in the route.

[TinkOhio]

We stayed at OKW for a week over last Easter's break in a one bedroom unit and loved it! The view from our large balcony was of the river and a quiet pool, and our room was very clean. Everyhting in it was in fine working order. The place seemed solid, too. We never heard our neighbors and couldn't even hear the huge thunderstorm that rolled in on our last day once we closed the windows and sliding glass door.

We loved the size of the rooms and the large hot tub. It was wonderful to come home after an exhausting day and soak our aching muscles! The laundry room was also SO convenient! There was a ton of storage room, so the room always looked clean and tidy.

The layout of the resort is very spread out, but we loved this. The only time we really saw many other people was at the main pool, which our children adored. Even our picky teen found lots to do between the game room, pools, and shuffleboard court. I loved the mature tropical foliage and DH loved the Gurgling Suitcase.

We found the bus service to be very good. Even though our stay was over the busy Easter break, we never had to wait long for a bus, and we never had to stand. It seemed as though most people had cars and used them instead. The boat ride to DTD was relaxing, but it took quite a while.

We loved the whole laid back vibe at OKW and can't wait to return.

[DVC_Don]

This is one of our "Home" resorts with Disney Vacation Club and is our family favorite resort.

Pros: Large units, parking nearby each unit, full sized laundry room in the 1, 2 & 3 bedroom units, large balconies on all but the studio units and lowest point cost of the DVC resorts. Sort of like a little town inside Walt Disney World.

Cons: Just a few mainly about the food. Olivias used to be a favorite of ours but after the menu overhaul it's dropped considerably in our opinion. And Goods to Go take out menu is very limited. And not a fan of the studios as we like the sofa instead of a second bed (we tend to only use DVC studios if it's just the two of us) in the other DVC resorts.

[Jitterjet]

We've stayed at OKW twice in a studio unit, renting points from a DVC member and only paying $80 per night (weekdays). Although OKW is not as intensely themed as some other resorts such as Animal Kingdom Lodge, it is a beautiful resort and the lush landscaping and building architecture do allow you to feel as though you are vacationing in Key West or another tropical location.

Both times we visited we had a first floor unit in bldgs 62 or 64. The foilage was quite dense so we didn't really have much of a view off the small patio. The second or third floors would be much better if a view was important. I was really impressed with the size of the room. We usually stay in a value resort so having the two queen beds with plenty of room to walk around was very luxurious for us. And the bathroom - can you say spacious? The kitchenette area was also great for fixing a quick breakfast in the mornings.

As others have mentioned, the bus service takes awhile to make all the stops within this sprawling resort, and our stop (Hospitality House) returning from the parks was the last one. It might have been faster to get off at the first bus stop and walk back to our building.

We bought some snacks and souvenirs at the general store but never ate at Olivia's. On our last morning we picked up some breakfast sandwiches at Goods to Go, but the service was not very good. The two women working there were almost surly and not at all helpful. This was unexpected, as we've never run into this type of service at any Disney resort or park. Maybe it was the early morning hour and the fact that the ladies hadn't had their coffee yet that made them less than hospitable.

We usually visit in December or January and don't have kids with us so we haven't tried the pool or games or video rentals, but in November 2008 we have a big family trip planned and we've already reserved a 2-bedroom unit at OKW for all of us. It's very convenient to park right outside your building to unload suitcases or hop in the car if you want to drive somewhere. We're also looking forward to having a washer and dryer in the unit - makes packing those suitcases so much easier and lighter.
We are really excited about our upcoming trip and sharing OKW with our family, none of whom have visited WDW before.

[Joy J]

We enjoyed our stay here but for me, the theming was not really my cup of tea. My 78 year old mother, on the other hand, adored it. For me, it had more the feel of a Florida retirement community than a Disney resort.

The room itself was large and comfortable and situated within walking distance of the main facilities. The bus service was excellent and we also enjoyed taking the boat to Downtown Disney. However, the resort is so sprawling that it does take quite a while just to get out of the resort in the morning with all the multiple stops throughout the resort.

Although I don't consider the theming to be particularly to my taste, I also found a stay here exceptionally relaxing. The staff are all very friendly and helpful. Olivia's is a great restaurant as well.

This may not be my favourite DVC resort at WDW but I would still stay here again, particularly if I needed extra space and a little break from all things Mickey.

Joy

[BeckiS]

We visited in June 2005 for an all girl family vacation. We had 6 adults and 1 child and had the large 2 bedroom villa. It was ginormous!! We loved the beautiful living room and kitchen, it overlooked the golf course and we could see the fireworks from Epcot from our balcony! The 2 bedrooms were large and comfortable and the jacuzzi and laundry room was a wonderful extra. We did feel the resort was huge and had to wait quite a while for the bus, but it was peaceful. The pool area was fun, but I did feel like we didn't get the "Disney Experience" at Old Key West. The Table Service restaurant was adequate and quiet. I would recommend Old Key West for large groups and long stays as it was a home away from home.

[Renee42]

We just came back from Old Key West Tues. We loved it! It is quiet and peaceful and pretty. The restaurant was great, but the menu is short. The chef did come out to talk to my son who has dairy concerns. He was very friendly and made his dinner to order. The staff is friendly and helpful. If the line gets too long in the lobby more people came to help. This is our 1st choice to stay at, but it is pricey. I booked thru another website and then I was able to save quite a bit.
This was our 2nd time here. The 1st place had a problem with the ac seemingly setting itself to the temperature it wanted and this time the kitchen light came on whenever it wanted to. Are there electrical problems at this place?
Good place to get away from the hustle and bustle.

[DisneyGal2007]

We stayed 7 nights here at OKW by renting points from a DVC member. We are a family of four - 2 adults and 2 kids (10 and 3). If you are not DVC, then I think the resort is overpriced for what you get. With that being said, it's a lovely piece of property with lush landscaping that is very well kempt. We were checked in without delay by a sweet CM who gave my daughters stickers and animal balloons. We were checked into a studio in building 23 on the second floor. Our room was near the road and at first I had my concerns. Things turned out fine though and I ended up loving the location. We were next to the first shuttle pick up which was great. The room was clean and the ammenities were as expected. I will say that housekeeping forgot to replace our trash bags on day 4 of our stay so I had to call for them. Within minutes we had fresh trash bags. Our view was that of a pond and fountain and part of the golf course. We used the pool a few times and we enjoyed it. The hospitality house area is very nice. We also used the laundry facilities as well. We waited in the pool while clothes were being washed and we could also keep watch over the laundry. Wouldn't you know another resort guest (a woman) actually opened our washers and peeked inside not knowing we were observing her doing this???? She didn't do or take anything, but we were just about to say something when she left. We ate at Goods for breakfast and the food was good. I especially liked the potatoes. I thought most of the people that worked here were friendly and the grounds were nice. I would recommend this resort to others, but I just can not give it a 10. If we stayed here again, we would have to upgrade to the one bedroom as there was just enough room to not feel overcrowded, but as our kids get bigger, a studio just won't do. If you are looking for somewhere quiet, relaxing, but still Disney, this is the place for you!

[mickeymombecky]

My family has stayed here 3 times. The last being Jan 08. On this trip, my husband and I brought our bikes along (7 hr trip allows this). Just biking around, we found the paved walkway which goes along the LBV course and Sassagula? River. It joins Saratoga Springs by the boat launch and Turf Club and Grill. Continuing to follow it, you can go straigh to DD. We biked this several times! This resort is well spread out but we used our bikes to go all over. This was a fun break from walking and something different to do! Plus I just adore the lush landscaping and lots of shade of OKW!

[Cats'N'Dogs]

Old Key West is a favorite resort. I enjoy the beachy atmosphere and relaxed pace. Its is nice to stroll along the walks around the resort and golf course. I like to enjoy a cup of tea on the balcony and watch the golfers play through.
It is a bit distant for traveling around the parks but I also like the fact I can park the car right in front of the building.
The rooms are spacious and nicely decorated. It is a great place to relax and unwind, it is usually very peaceful and quiet.

[mamapajama]

SSR is our home resort but we always try to get a room at OKW, especially if we are only getting a Studio. OKW has the biggest rooms of all the DVC properties. I do prefer the food situation at SSR as it is more of a "food court" and has more choices. But we always have a car and we frequently drive to POR or POFQ or even SSR to eat if need be. It is quite big and you can be on the bus a long time if you are the last stop. My kids prefer this pool to all others but the Beach Club pool and that is just by a bit. I had to give the amenities a 6 only because of the food situation. There's only so many chicken fingers on can eat!

We've never had a bad room or a bad trip at OKW. We have stayed at BCV, BWV, SSR & OKW and still prefer OKW. At BCV we stayed in a studio and while we loved the close proximity to Epcot, we had been spoiled by our 1st BR stay at BWV and it seemed so cramped. The food situtaion is better at BCV than BWV in terms of filling mugs and counter service-lunch type meals. Note to self-if you have to split-stay in a studio on weekend nites to save points, try to start off in the Studio. Staying in the 1BR first spoils you for a Studio!

[Joy J]

I had stayed at this resort once before in a studio but this time around, our stay in a one bedroom unit here was much more magical. I couldn't believe how spacious the unit was and how homey. It truly did feel like a home away from home. We spent more time at the resort than I had the last time around and I was most impressed with the various activities offered. The staff were friendly and helpful and with only one exception on one day, the bus service was superb. I particularly loved the fact that our bus stop at every single Disney destination was one of the closest to the front gates. The boat ride to Downtown Disney was enjoyable but I didn't really like the fact that OKW now shares the boats with Saratoga Springs. And I felt really sorry for the folks at SS because OKW was the first stop so by the time the boat got to SS to pick up passengers there was very little room left for them to board. Each time we stopped by there, there was always a line left of irritated guests who weren't able to board due to lack of space. We actually stayed in two different units at OKW during this stay because originally there was no room at the resort for us during one day right smack dab in the middle of our stay and we were going to have to move over to Saratoga Springs for that one night. Since I really don't like SS at all, I was not too happy about this prospect but at least it was only going to be for one night. However, the front desk staff at OKW came to the rescue at the last minute and found us a one bedroom villa on the very morning that we were scheduled to move to SS. We did have to change units though but at least we didn't have to change back again the next day. So we ended up spending the first half of our stay in building 13 (directly across from Hospitality House) and the last half in building 64 on the second floor (just around the corner from Hospitality House and a building with an elevator). Our view from this second unit was absolutely stunning. There was a waterway with a geyser in the middle of it with a view of the golf course off to the side - very pretty indeed. We found our time at Old Key West to be exceptionally relaxing and we'll definitely return.

Joy