Reviews of Old Key West Resort (Disney Vacation Club)
Reviewed by jm26 Review Date: 06/06/2013
Rating: (8) Not Recommended
My family of 3 stayed in an Old Key West resort studio from May 28 to June 4, 2013. I requested a room near transportation and was given a room close to the Turtle Pond bus stop. I used the online check in and the room was ready upon our arrival. The size of the room was adequate and met all of our needs.The nearby pool was nice, it had a snack bar, arcade, shuffleboard, hot tub and playground and wasn't crowded most of the time. Overall we were satisfied with the room and service but I don't think I would recommend this resort for the following reasons. The room seemed old and run down, the carpet was worn and the appliances (coffee pot, toaster) were functional but broken and dirty. The bathroom was dark and had paint peeling. We were on the ground floor and the glass door to the patio was so dirty that you couldn't see out, basically the room was showing it's age and needed freshened up. We could basically hear everything that was going on in the room next to us. Every morning our neighbor whistled the Star Wars theme song while his children screamed at the top of their lungs. I complained to guest services but they didn't do anything about it as far as I could tell. After a few days I determined that they probably weren't being exceptionally loud but that the walls were just that thin, we also had a door that could be used to connect the rooms and I think that was the main source of the noise, but we spent most of our time at the parks or pool so it wasn't that big of a problem.
I have a mixed opinion about the bus service at this resort. The typical order the bus picks up if going to the parks is Peninsula Road, South Point, Turtle Pond, Miller Road and then the Hospitality House. It might go in a different order occasionally depending your destination,in my experience at other Disney resorts the Downtown Disney bus usually goes to the Hospitality House first but I didn't go downtown this visit so I'm not sure about this particular resort. Our stop was Turtle Pond, which for some reason was almost always the most crowded. I only had to stand a few times, once going to the Magic Kingdom for morning magic hours and maybe once or twice when returning home after park closing, but any of those times I could have sat but gave up my seat. I have read several reviews that state that the bus service to this resort is inadequate, obviously these people have never stayed at a value resort where the buses are packed full and at peak hours you might have to wait for several buses to come and go before you get on, compared to that the service here was remarkable. The buses do seem slow however, we had to wait about 30 minutes a few times, and the way the resort is laid out means they have to turn around a few times but overall the bus service was fine.
I am rating this resort an 8. I rented DVC points which saved me a lot of money, if I would have paid the WDW website price for this room I would have been furious and rated it much lower, probably 4. If you are thinking about staying here or any DVC resort I would advise renting points, either directly from a DVC owner or an online points broker.
Pros:
bus service, pool, friendly staffCons:
loud, oldReviewed by QueenBlackFrost Review Date: 01/30/2024
Rating: (7) Recommended
I recently stayed here for a solo trip in a studio. Overall, I enjoyed the the laid back beach vibe and thought this was a quieter resort. However, there are reasons that I will likely not stay here again. The bathrooms have the sink and vanity in the same room as the shower and toilet. Since I was by myself, this wasn't a problem, but if you are traveling with others it makes it more difficult for people to get ready at the same time. Also, there was no makeup mirror! I was stunned that something that seems to be available in even the value resorts would not be included here. I also remember the days when deluxe resorts had better quality toilet paper, but now it is the same flimsy stuff as the theme parks. There was a rainfall showerhead, which is fine, but again I think you get better water pressure at the showers in the value resorts. There was a tub to soak in after a long park day, so that I did appreciate. The balcony was very pretty. I felt like there were less children staying here, probably because the theme wasn't overly Disney. This made it a relaxing place to be. I also found that the buses ran efficiently, and I never had to wait more than 10 minutes for a bus to or from the parks.
Pros:
Tranquail, beautiful, spacious rooms, and yummy food at Olivia'sCons:
Wished there had been a quick service food court with more options like most of the resorts have. Room setup is a bit outdated. All the buildings look the same, which is visually confusing.Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 10/04/2023
Rating: (9) Recommended
This is my home resort and I am proud to call it that. The rooms here are ginormous. Perfect for large travel parties. Olivia’s is delicious. The large pool is good for kids. Though there is a boat to Disney springs. The transportation is week.
Pros:
Nice food, atmosphere, big rooms, good for older guests.Cons:
lack of transportation to parksReviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 06/13/2023
Rating: (8) Recommended
This was our first time staying at a Deluxe resort of any kind and we loved it! We rented points through David's Vacation Club Rentals, and now that we've tried a deluxe, we will not go back to a moderate. We loved going back to the resort mid-day for a rest and pool break. The pool area is standard and the pool bar is right outside the gates. Characters sometimes show up at the resort, and we saw Goofy, Pluto, and Donald one day!
The only negative is on our check out day, the housekeeper opened our room door at 8:30am, while we were still sleeping! We slept in a little that day (obviously) and I was the last one to close our room door at 10:30am (keep in mind check out is 11am). The housekeeper was waiting right beside the door and looked at me and said "Are you ready?". So we felt a little rushed to leave with that.
Overall, this resort is very nice and we will be back on our next trip with David's!
Pros:
The drink machine for the refillable mugs stays open all night (it appears), so we were able to fill up our mugs even after a long night and getting back to the resort at 1am. That was awesome! Spacious room size was also a plus.Cons:
Bus lines were long at times. Multiple bus stops throughout the resort and the loop to pick up/drop off takes about 20 minutes. We started getting off at the 1st bus stop and walking to our stop, and by the time we walked and filled up our mugs, the bus still hadn't made it to our stop.Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 01/28/2023
Rating: (8) Recommended
Overall had a great experience at Old Key West! We rented DVC points to stay in a 3 bedroom villa for our group of 9. The kitchen was fully stocked with pots, pans, etc. Having laundry in-room was in perfect! The pool nearest us was almost empty when we visited it. Staff were incredibly accommodating and the rooms pristine. The biggest drawback- the STAIRS. No elevators at this resort, and the bottom floor of our 2 story villa was already on the second floor. Meaning to take luggage (and sleeping toddlers) up to our room each day was a 2 story climb. Otherwise- we loved it!
Pros:
Calm vibes Cleanliness Accommodating staff Boat to Disney springs DVC perks (early entry, extended evening hours) Some great views (Epcot fireworks!)Cons:
No elevators! Only bus transportation to parks Many bus stops= long ridesReviewed by Florafan Review Date: 07/19/2022
Rating: (8) Recommended
I really like the “vibe” of this resort. It is a relaxing and enjoyable feel. Studio rooms are spacious and the one bedroom rooms are luxurious.
Pros:
Great room sizes Relaxing and enjoyable vibeCons:
Neighbors can be heard pretty easily. The blinds for the patio doors are not set up against the windows and have a huge gap that lets in a lot of light in the morning and could allow people to see into the room in the evening. I used painters tape to solve this problem.Reviewed by MilesTheMoose Review Date: 07/17/2022
Rating: (8) Recommended
Recently stayed here after a 7 year gap. Wasn’t one of my favorites in the past. Now it’s near the top for me. Can’t wait to go back!
Pros:
If you aren’t from Florida, the atmosphere really gives you that Florida feel. Boating transportation options. Good food at Olivia’s. Love the poolCons:
Long bus rides to just get out of the resort that fill up fast. I like to be on the first bus and be at the park soon after. This route takes 15-20 minutes just to leave the resort.Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 07/14/2022
Rating: (10) Recommended
I love this resort. But be prepared to walk a bunch depending where your location is in the resort.
Pros:
the rooms are bigger than most. The big pool is cool for the kids.Cons:
Huge resort with long walk distances to front depending where you are. All shops and food places close at ten.Reviewed by winags Review Date: 06/12/2022
Rating: (8) Recommended
We loved the space in this resort in the 2BR villa for a party of 5. The master bedroom and bathroom were both updated and very pretty. The kitchen and full size laundry were great to have with 3 teen boys. We cooked breakfast in the room most mornings and were able to go home with clean clothes in our suitcases!
The living area furniture was a little worn and could use a refresh.
Pros:
Spacious Quiet Beautiful groundsCons:
no dining options close to rooms multiple bus stopsReviewed by Jazzfool20 Review Date: 10/05/2021
Rating: (7) Recommended
Just returned from a stay in a studio at OKW, was there for a week. Let me start by saying I've been going to WDW for many years, and am a DVC member (although OKW is not my home resort). The property and rooms are lovely. Very restrained victorian Key West style. The common areas, greenery, was all well kept and groomed. Staff was always pleasant and friendly. Did have an issue with my flight they assisted with. The room itself was great. Largest studios on property. I believe they were also refurbished recently, so that was a nice touch; updated, but didn't go overboard or lose the theming. Olivias is lovely, and the take-away place "Goods" was good as well. Also, takes low amounts of points to stay, which is nice.
Now for the not so good. Firstly, EVERYTHING at the resort shuts down at 10pm, the pool, bar, all food options, etc...So if you happen to get back from a park late and want something to eat/drink, your stuck. Secondly, the location is not the best either. Only transport is bus anywhere (the ferry to downtown Disney was not running yet), and that being said, you had to make sure you were on your way back to the resort by 10ish, or whenever the park nearest you closed. Thirdly, the theming is very laid back, to the point where it's a little boring, and you better like Jimmy Buffet and Harry Belafonte, because they're played constantly. Finally, and I don't know if this is a more wide-spread issue, or unique to me, but I did not receive a cleaning of ANY kind until I asked for it! It was 6 days and I was almost out of toilet paper, which prompted me to go to the main desk and ask. The hostess quickly apologized and set up a cleaning for the next morning, but I should have at least had a trash-and-towel in the meantime!
Like OKW, but not high on the list, good for last-minute trips, when you can't get in elsewhere, or don't have a lot of points to use. Recommend with reservations.
