Admittedly, this review is a bit overdue – CP and I stayed at Old Key West a little over a year ago.  That said, Old Key West came back to mind recently on a particularly cold New England day – when the snow comes down and the wind is howling, Old Key West is the kind of warm Florida location to which you wish you could transport yourself.

Old Key West and I have a long history – my grandparents were some of Disney Vacation Club’s first owners, and thus their home resort was and continues to be OKW.  I visited Old Key West with them several times as a teenager, and in college my grandparents treated five of my friends and me to a weeklong stay in a grand villa. Last year, CP and I stayed with them at OKW as part of our first ever Christmas season trip to WDW.  There’s a lot to love about Old Key West, as well as a few points to make you think twice about staying there. Here are my thoughts:

Pros:

• Old Key West was Disney’s first timeshare resort. It also happens to be the largest. These two things are not coincidental; after building OKW, I’m sure Disney Imagineers quickly realized that they had really missed out on revenue opportunities by not cramming more units into the resort. Newer DVC resorts – take Bay Lake Towers at the Contemporary, for instance, or the villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – offer far smaller rooms, often for more money per night. So this is really Old Key West’s biggest selling point: whether staying on a cash reservation or using points on a timeshare reservation, OKW offers fantastic bang for your buck. The rooms are spacious – lord, that’s almost an understatement – and given a recent renovation, are very nicely appointed.  It doesn’t feel like staying at the Four Seasons or at the Ritz, but the value you get for such a large space makes it rightly feel like something special.

• Let me hit again on the “value” point, but from a different angle. Are you a family of four, looking for a bit more space in your hotel room, but you don’t want to stick your traveling companions (or kids) on a pull-out sofa? Old Key West is the only DVC resort that offers two queen-sized beds in the studio rooms.  Given the frequency with which Disney offers 35-40% off cash reservations at Old Key West, you can really get you and your family a lot of space and comfort for not a lot of money.

• By boat or by car, Old Key West offers (relatively) quick access to Downtown Disney. This is especially great given that the dining options at Old Key West aren’t spectacular.  Epcot and the Studios are also within quick driving distance, and even MK/AK aren’t that far. Old Key West is in a good location.

• Another selling point of DVC is its lack of overt Disneyness. I know this may be a controversial statement, but for some people, 24/7 Disney isn’t there thing. Old Key West really evokes an old Florida feeling, and as such it’s very peaceful and serene.  There are subtle Disney touches, yes, but you won’t be suffocated by them. For us, however, this selling point is actually a downfall – if we’re going to Disney, we want to feel like we’re in Disney. Your mileage may vary, as they say.

Cons:

In addition to lacking the Disney themeing that many of us love, there are a few other downsides to Old Key West.

• If you’re used to staying at other Deluxe Disney resorts, I think you’ll find the amenities at OKW to be lacking. Yes there’s a restaurant and a (little) bar, but neither are that spectacular. The quick service offerings aren’t great, either. If you don’t care about spending much time at or eating much at your resort, this might not be a bad thing. Also, there is no character dining, kids’ club, or children’s activities beyond what’s offered at the pool, so bear this in mind if you have young ones.

• Worse, even if you want to eat at the table-service restaurant or grab a drink at the bar, it likely won’t be easy for you to get there. Old Key West is a massive, sprawling resort, and although there’s an internal resort shuttle, you can’t count on it coming/going in a timely manner. So, it can be a long walk to and from the Hospitality House and the dining/shopping options near the main building. If you have a car it’s slightly less annoying, but you still have to get in your car and drive within the resort to get a burger or a beer. Not my favorite thing.

• Speaking of transportation, bus transportation at OKW is notoriously bad. I don’t know if this is because it’s a DVC resort, because it’s so big, or both, but I wouldn’t stay here unless I was traveling with a rental car.  (The only exception to this – and I make this exception at all of the Disney resorts – is that it *is* in fact advisable to take the bus to the Magic Kingdom. That may be the best Disney tip I will ever give you.)

• The last con may be a pro, depending on your taste levels, but I for one don’t love the room decor. Yes it’s better than it used to be, but it’s a bit…grandma? This isn’t entirely an Old Key West problem, though; the new modular furniture seen at OKW, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and elsewhere just has a hospital-like quality to it that I don’t find particularly Deluxe. If every DVC resort goes in this direction, I’ll have to take this complaint off of Old Key West’s list, as every resort will have this same problem.

In short:

Best for: Families who want a lot of space for a good value -those who normally stay at Values/Moderates can stay at a DVC for a reasonable price here, and can further save by using kitchenettes/kitchens to prepare their own food.

Worst for: Travelers without a rental car. Individuals who want a lot of Disney in their resort/room themeing. Families who want a lot of children’s amenities at their resort.

Pro tip: While rooms near the Hospitality House are in their own booking category, it wouldn’t hurt to request a room near the HH, especially if you’re without a car.

Finally, some Old Key West photos:

Master bedroom, Old Key West.

2nd bedroom, Old Key West. (Identical to an OKW studio room, except without a kitchenette.)

Bathroom off of the 2nd bedroom.

Kitchen, which is standard in all 1-,2-, and 3- bedroom units.

OKW living room, with grandparents. (Hi, grandparents!)

The marina dressed up for Christmas. Also, bar/quick service seating by the water.

Walking by the Hospitality House at night.

Transportation to/from Downtown Disney is a plus.