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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.
__________________
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.
__________________
) 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!!!
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. 
There is just something special about being a part of the magic by staying at a Disney resort.
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