Unconfigured Ad Widget

Collapse

Unconfigured Ad Widget

Collapse

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

My observations of Disney's Old Key West Resort

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • My observations of Disney's Old Key West Resort

    My family is staying this week at Old Key West resort for my kid's Spring break week. We are in building 46 in a nice 2 bedroom unit on the second floor with a fabulous view of the river/lake.

    Here are some of my objective and not so objective observations.

    1) Overall, this is the single best timeshare we've had in all of Orlando using both objective and subjective criteria. We've stayed in BWV, but not VWL, BCV or SSR. If the price were only double or triple the alternatives, I wouldn't stay any place else. I draw the line at 4 times.

    2) The floor plan is really good. Most of the rooms are shaped like pentagons making a nice honeycomb layout. This makes for very spacious rooms. This has got to have over 1300-1400 square feet. There are double sinks in both bathrooms and there is actually 4 separate private areas for the bathrooms. I've never seen that before. The unit has a separate laundry room with a full size washer and dryer. The master bath features a very large hot tub. Lots of closet space. It would be very easy to live in this unit year around. The second bedroom features two queen beds.

    3) The furnishings are average. Very similar and reminiscent of Fairfield Royal Vista. The Marriott's, Hyatt's and newer HGVC resorts have much higher end furniture. For me, this unit is fine and my taste does not deduct points for average furnishings. I much prefer larger accommodations and views to more expensive furniture.

    4) The room view is to die for. I know it's a man made lake/river. But, it is perfectly executed. It seems natural. And, there is just enough landscaping to provide shade from the morning sun and privacy. The river boats escorting guests to and from Saratoga Springs and Downtown Disney run all day long, but it just makes it seem like a real home on a working lake. My unit has the long view of the lake and it can be seen from all points in the family room, kitchen and master bedroom. If I could get this room every visit, I would do it.

    5) Disney service is as good as it always is. I didn't really want to plan ahead and do anything extra to request a room. So, I didn't. I figured I would let the roulette wheel stop where it may. When I got here, though, Disney allowed me to choose a room from a list of available ones. So, I picked the room that I thought would have the best view. This surprised me that I could pick my Villa. The whole mantra of "welcome home" is very good one. It reinforces the guest experience of ownership.

    6) This is the first time ever that I decided to use Disney transportation exclusively. It's nice to be able to come home at different times from the rest of the family. And, my wife and I took the ferry to Pleasure Island last night. That was very nice. We had to return by bus since the ferry's stop at 11:30 pm. That's good to keep it quiet for the quests.

    7) Olivia's is a fine restaurant. It's nice to have a high end restaurant on site.

    8) Nice pool area. Allows rentals of 2 person sea rays. We are going to rent one later in the week. We thought that it was not possible to use pools at other DVC properties while you are a guest. But, one cast member said that it was allowed. I doubt that is true. If it is, we will spend a half day at the Beach Club.

    9) Parking. One of the benefits of being on site is the ability to park anywhere on Disney property for free. I thought it was just for theme parks. But, I learned that your parking pass allows you to park at any resort as well. I think we will park over at the contemporary resort to go to the Magic Kingdom.

    10) Charging to your room. I am doing it. I thought I'd do it to see if I like it. I thought I would do it to see if I could get a statement of everything we bought. Well, that didn't work because my wife charged stuff on our normal credit cards. So, I don't think this benefit will be very valuable to us.

    11) Delivering stuff to your room from theme parks. We were at Animal Kingdom yesterday to check out the new Everest ride. My kids went to Dinoland and won a bunch of stuff animals. We decided to try the delivery service. It was nice that they are delivering, but they are not delivering it to our room. We have to pick it up at the gift shop in OKW. And, the goods don't arrive until a day later.

    12) Broadband internet. This is a must for every resort. You pay $10/day. But, it's worth it if you don't over pay for the accommodations.

    I would say that this trip has increased my willingness to pay for DVC points. I tried to buy some last year, but lost them in ROFR. I think I'll buy a couple hundred points.

    That's it for now. I'll post more if I have any other observations.
    __________________
    My Rental Site
    My Resale Site

  • #2
    Great review of OKW. Really resonated with it - this is becoming our favorite resort at Disney for many of the reasons you mentioned.
    We must have similar tastes - like the Bluegreen system as well!

    Comment


    • #3
      Very good review. You're making me "home" sick. Now I really can't wait until our trip to OKW in May.

      Lisa

      Comment


      • #4
        You can pool hop to the other resorts; except for Beach Club Villas and Animal Kingdom. Also, I am not sure what your room card says, but if it says DVC member, you can also try and get discounts at the restaurants and shopping. They are supposed to ask you for your blue DVC card in addition to your room card, but I have never been asked for mine. Discounts can be found in the small carry book (or maybe it was a card ) that they give you at check in. We own at the BWV and can never pull away from staying there to visit the other resorts, although eventually I would love to stay at them all. Every time I think about it I remember how much I hate the bus (we still have 2 smaller kids and we bring the double stroller); but someday I will get to visit them all. You make OKW sound like a great place. Have fun!!!

        Comment


        • #5
          Sound like you had a great time.

          How about posting your observations in the resort database?
          Bill

          Comment


          • #6
            Boca, why would you buy points, if you could exchange into the resort with Bluegreen?

            It seems that Bluegreen (still a strange name for a great points system) will get you anywhere you want to go. I noticed that off-season times it is only 8 points per night, weeknights, so I can see adding an additional five days to a Sun-Sun week for a cheap price, but I cannot see paying that much money for weekends or full weeks.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by shopgirl
              It seems that Bluegreen (still a strange name for a great points system) will get you anywhere you want to go. I noticed that off-season times it is only 8 points per night, weeknights, so I can see adding an additional five days to a Sun-Sun week for a cheap price, but I cannot see paying that much money for weekends or full weeks.
              There are several reasons for buying Disney points rather than renting or exchanging.

              Don't get me wrong. If I can exchange for a week, I will do it. The problem is that by exchanging, I cannot get ANY week I want. I am limited by what Disney decides to deposit.

              Second, by owning, I can do direct trades with Disney owners for points and transfer them to my account. I can book 5 nights from Sun to Thursday and I can use Bluegreen for Friday and Saturday on bonus time.

              Lastly, if I can't use my points, I can rent them pretty easily for a modest return on invested capital of about 8%. Not great, but it covers the carrying costs of the upfront capital. And, the benefits I gain for owning are worth it.
              My Rental Site
              My Resale Site

              Comment


              • #8
                I am nuts for Disney, a true fanatic.

                We rented an OKW studio and thought it was a great value for $100 per night, at least when you compare that cost to a Disney hotel, and I know the person paid about $32.00 per night for the points that we used, because it was a slow season. I was even tempted to buy, but if I could get trades to OKW, even for a one-bedroom unit, I would be happy to go during off-season because that is when we go anyway.

                I really did love OKW, though hubby didn't think it was all that special (no king bed and no whirlpool tub). We usually stay at Marriotts and really enjoy the new units at Cypress Harbour and Grande Vista. But I really loved being on Disney property. I am a Disney nut. There is just something special about being a part of the magic by staying at a Disney resort.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Thanks for the information on exchanges to DW. I was not sure how often weeks are deposited for exchange.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Disney does not put in holiday weeks.

                    you can generally find May, Sept, Oct, Nov, Jan often.

                    the summer months can be found sometimes. the same for spring break weeks.

                    Christmas, Thankgiving, July 4 - I have never seem on II for a DVC resort - doesn't mean it won't happen - just I haven't seem it...

                    Disney does not space bank. they don't have too. what the members don't use they use CRO (disney's Central reservation organizations?) to rent the villas to the general public.

                    so someone has to trade in a DVC exchange for II to get it.

                    I have owned DVC (OKW) since 93 and I still love it!!!

                    in those days it was even better - we got free tickets to WDW!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      We stayed at OKW last Feb. in a one bedroom, and LOVED IT! I hope we can trade back into DVC next Feb.

                      Ray

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        OK, I'm continuing my trend of replying to old threads!

                        I own at Disney's Boardwalk Villas and really love the location. I like the Boardwalk itself, with it's free entertainment, and I love being so close to Epcot that I can walk there. In some ways, Disney's Beach Club is even better than Boardwalk. It is even closer to Epcot (when I stayed at Beach Club, I was able to step out of my room and be inside Epcot about 6 minutes later) and it has Stormalong Bay -- a fabulous, fabulous pool complex.

                        I've also stayed at Old Key West, and it's a great resort. However, I prefer Boardwalk and Beach Club due to their locations (and Beach Club due to its pool.) In fact, when I stayed at Beach Club, I traded into a studio; one and two bedroom units were available as trades at Old Key West for the same dates, but I wanted Beach Club so I could use Stormalong Bay. However, this was a solo trip, so I didn't mind being in the tight quarters of a studio and figured I might as well leave the larger units for a family. (Disney's studios are really just glorified hotel rooms. They are the same size as the regular hotel rooms in the non-timeshare halves of Disney's timeshare resorts.)

                        Among DVC members, there are often intense debates as to which resort is better. Both Old Key West and Boardwalk have their devoted fans. In fact, the endless "Old Key West versus Boardwalk" debates on the DISboards are very reminiscent of the "Points versus Weeks" debates on TUG! Beach Club Villas and Villas at Wilderness Lodge are great resorts, but they are so small that many DVC owners have never stayed at them, so usually they don't come up in the "which DVC resort is best" debate. Saratoga Springs, the newest DVC resort, has a few devoted fans, but most people seem to think it shares Old Key West's main drawbacks (further from parks, no valet parking or room service) but none of Old Key West's advantages (great landscaping, spacious suites, bargain DVC Points cost).

                        As for trading in to Disney, my understanding is that they never deposit weeks from "Premier Season", which is Christmas Week and the two weeks around Easter. Dates for premier season can be found here. They also never deposit "Grand Villas" (three bedroom units.) I'm not sure about Thanksgiving week.

                        Originally posted by BocaBum99
                        My family is staying this week at Old Key West resort for my kid's Spring break week. We are in building 46 in a nice 2 bedroom unit on the second floor with a fabulous view of the river/lake.....
                        4) The room view is to die for.....
                        8) Nice pool area. Allows rentals of 2 person sea rays. We are going to rent one later in the week. We thought that it was not possible to use pools at other DVC properties while you are a guest. But, one cast member said that it was allowed. I doubt that is true. If it is, we will spend a half day at the Beach Club.
                        9) Parking. One of the benefits of being on site is the ability to park anywhere on Disney property for free. I thought it was just for theme parks. But, I learned that your parking pass allows you to park at any resort as well. I think we will park over at the contemporary resort to go to the Magic Kingdom....
                        I would say that this trip has increased my willingness to pay for DVC points. I tried to buy some last year, but lost them in ROFR. I think I'll buy a couple hundred points.
                        Boca, glad you liked OKW! Do you remember what room you were in? I want that view!!!

                        The free parking is a nice perk. It includes free valet parking at the DVC resorts that include valet parking (Beach Club, Boardwalk, and Wilderness Lodge.) I'm not sure if valet parking service is included at the non-DVC resorts that provide it. Even at the resorts with no valet parking, it's nice to just flash your DVC member card at the security gate and not have to explain why you want to go to that resort. I like to go to Coronado Springs resort just to sit in the hammocks on the beach and watch the sunset over the lake, and to go to the Polynesian to watch the fireworks over the Magic Kingdom. I'm not sure these are considered legitimate reasons for non-DVC members to go to these resorts. If I wasn't a DVC member, I could lie and say I was going to a restaurant at the resort -- but I don't like lying.

                        People aren't supposed to park at the resorts in order to go to the parks, but I don't think that is enforced. Even if it were enforced, having a DVC parking pass on your dashboard would probably mean your car's presence in the parking lot would not be questioned, since you'd be eligible for free parking at the theme parks, and therefore wouldn't be parking at the resort as a way of avoiding the theme park's parking fees.

                        As for pool-hopping privileges, I believe anyone staying on DVC Points, whether as an owner or as a guest of an owner (which would include renters) is entitled to pool hop. I believe it needs to say "DVC Member" on your resort ID to qualify, so technically people trading in via II don't qualify. Pool hopping is suspended at various busy times. Unfortunately, Stormalong Bay is no longer included in pool hopping privileges (which is especially a shame since it's the next closest pool to Boardwalk, and Boardwalk's main pool has an ugly clown waterslide that scares kids!) I don't think the pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge was ever included -- that pool is nothing special; I think it is excluded just to limit the number of people who show up at Animal Kingdom Lodge, which, due to its free zoo area, already attracts lots of people who aren't staying there.

                        Buying a few hundred DVC points? Well, let me give you a (slightly premature) "Welcome Home!" Gee, you must own a ton of timeshares. If you used them all yourself (no renting), in, say, one bedroom units in pinkish-red time periods, how many weeks would that be?

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          What I like about OKW, which makes me like it best ,(although I love all of the DVC resorts) is that it's more of a condo type resort versus the hotel type of Boardwalk Villas and Beach Club. Saratoga is the condo type.
                          Beags

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by JudyS
                            Buying a few hundred DVC points? Well, let me give you a (slightly premature) "Welcome Home!" Gee, you must own a ton of timeshares. If you used them all yourself (no renting), in, say, one bedroom units in pinkish-red time periods, how many weeks would that be?
                            You wouldn't believe it if I told you.
                            My Rental Site
                            My Resale Site

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by BocaBum99
                              You wouldn't believe it if I told you.
                              Oh, I probably would! Send me a PM if you think you'd trigger "timeshare envy" on the board.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X