Disney’s Old Key West Resort Review (By Resorts Gal)

Let me preface this review by saying that Disney’s Old Key West is not for everyone. But don’t get me wrong. In its way, Old Key West is one of the best things Disney has going for it. If I were asked to describe the resort in one word, I couldn’t. Instead, two words come to mind: loyalty and nostalgia.

Why loyalty? Old Key West is the first-ever Disney Vacation Club Resort, a timeshare development owned by Disney. (Yes, even though Old Key West is a timeshare property, any guest can reserve a room there.) When Old Key West first opened, guests, many of them baby boomers, began buying into the development. They were committing to a lifetime of visiting Walt Disney World with their families, and many of them still do to this very day. Loyalty.

As for nostalgia, Disney’s Old Key West was only built in the 90s. However, the resort reminds you of a time when cell phones weren’t glued to our hands, and the internet wasn’t on standby.

It’s kind of like Fort Wilderness, except plush. Only we’re not talking plush like a deluxe resort. So, if you arrive at Old Key West with expectations of a glamorous vacation, you will probably be soon disappointed. That is unless your idea of a dream vacation includes walking, spending time outside, playing shuffleboard or tennis, or riding bikes. Guests who fit the resort’s mold are rarely in a rush to get to the Disney Parks.

Let’s examine whether a stay at Disney’s Old Key West is right for you.

Old Key West Review

Since Old Key West is a DVC Resort (Disney Vacation Club), it falls under the category of deluxe villa resorts. It’s one of the few stand-alone resorts of its kind. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa and Disney’s Riviera Resort are the only two other dedicated DVC resorts. However, there are numerous other deluxe villa resorts that are part of larger deluxe resorts. For instance, the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian are part of the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Nearly all of Disney’s deluxe resorts have a separate timeshare wing.

As we continue, we’ll discuss a few of the things that make a villa resort stand out from a regular resort. But first, I want to discuss the two most important factors you’ll want to consider: Old Key West’s size and its lack of elevators.

Disney’s Old Key West is a sprawling resort on well over 100 acres, backing up to the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course. For you, this means you’ll likely spend a good deal of time walking to various locations around the resort. However, you don’t necessarily have to walk to get everywhere. You can rent a bicycle or hop on any bus and ride it up to Hospitality House. (That’s the last stop before the bus leaves for the parks.)

So, if the idea of staying somewhere that requires a good deal of extra steps sounds exhausting, you might consider one of Disney’s deluxe resorts with interior halls and rooms.

Secondly, there is one other huge inconvenience. Only a handful of the buildings at Old Key West have elevators. Most of the buildings are three stories. So, if you receive a room assignment on the second or third floor, you must tackle the stairs every time you come and go. You’ll also have to deal with luggage, groceries, etc., on arrival. Getting it all back down at the end of your vacation could be an issue for some.

Unfortunately, the resort’s lack of elevators is a negative factor for almost everyone. Even if you argued it wasn’t an issue, what if you or someone in your party sprained their ankle during your trip?

Now that we got those unpleasantries out of the way, every resort has them. Let’s walk through the resort’s main entrance. A porte-cochère sits out front, providing a covered area for arriving guests.

Instead of walking directly inside, you’re greeted by this stunning covered walkway that leads to the lobby, shops, and restaurants. This entire area is called Hospitality House.

Disney’s Old Key West has a stunning lobby and community room that was refurbished a while back.

Adjacent to the lobby is Papa’s Den, which offers a nod to Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway wrote many famous pieces of literature during his time in Old Key West, and his nickname was Papa.

It’s a pleasant place to meet up with friends, or you might find a comfortable spot to read a book.

Disney’s Old Key West Layout

Since Disney’s Old Key West is spread out over a massive landscape, your accommodations likely won’t be close to Hospitality House. There are only a few buildings with guest rooms near Hospitality House. Those buildings are 11, 12, 13, and 14 and are listed as “near Hospitality House.” Additionally, a small loop sits across the water within proximity to the Hospitality House. The buildings in that loop are 23, 24, 25, and 26.

Other buildings within a reasonable distance of Hospitality House are 15-22 and 62-64. Anything else I consider to be in the back forty. That’s a remote place. That said, for this stay, we received a room assignment in “the back forty.” We were in building 52, right outside the South Point Road bus stop.

When I realized where we were staying, I couldn’t help but think it was just my luck to get about as far away from Hospitality House as possible. But I ended up enjoying the privacy. Also, I walked to the front of the resort early one morning to get photos of the pool when it opened. It was a nice walk, and I had breakfast at Olivia’s before returning to the room.

As someone who enjoys being outside as much as possible, I couldn’t help but marvel at the resort’s beauty. It’s a humble place.

Benefits of Staying at Old Key West

While there are many benefits to staying at Old Key West, Disney has extended two benefits to Walt Disney World Resort guests. However, one of these benefits is only extended to guests of deluxe and deluxe villa resorts, for which Old Key West qualifies.

That first benefit is early theme park entry. Per Disney: Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels and select other hotels can take advantage of a 30-minute early entry into Walt Disney World theme parks every day.” (Learn More: Hotels That Qualify for Early Park Entry)

Additionally, Old Key West qualifies for extended evening theme park hours since it’s a deluxe villa resort. These hours are usually offered two times per week. (Learn More: Extended Evening Hours)

Being able to take advantage of both of these benefits is a big deal. Ultimately, you will have more time in the parks with fewer people.

Rooms

We stayed in a deluxe studio on the top floor of our building. I can assure you that dealing with the luggage was a headache, considering I don’t pack lightly. But it was more of a nuisance than a deal breaker. Here are the room types you can reserve at Old Key West:

• Deluxe Studio
• 1 Bedroom Villa
• 2 Bedroom Villa
• 2 Bedroom Villa (with lock-off)
• 3 Bedroom Grand Villa

Each of these rooms has the “near Hospitality House” location offering. However, as discussed in the resort’s layout, these rooms are limited and fill up quickly. If you’re wondering what a lock-off unit means, it combines a one-bedroom unit and a deluxe studio. Do you know how some hotel rooms have a door that could potentially connect to another room? This is the same idea.

We have an example of a two-bedroom lock-off at Disney’s Riviera if you want to get an idea of the layout. However, the floor plans and finishes will be entirely different and much more costly at the Riviera.

The picture below shows a few important things. First, you can see two flights of stairs with a landing in between. This was the walk-up to our room. Then, you can see a smaller structure with a sidewalk around it. This was the bus stop, and there was an ice machine on the side of it. So, if you’re looking for ice at the resort, it’s at the bus stop.

We couldn’t have been closer to the bus stop, but as I noted in the room tour, I could hear the bus beeping every time it arrived. However, it was more of an observation than an issue.

Rooms at Old Key West are laid out differently from most rooms. They are a bit more spacious square-footage-wise. Deluxe studios have two queen beds. So you don’t have to worry about a sofa bed like some of the other villa resorts.

Here is an alternate view of the room. Note there’s a small table with two chairs.

Another standout feature you’ll only find at deluxe villa resorts is the kitchenette. Deluxe studios have a sink, mini-fridge, microwave, and a few small appliances. Of course, one-bedroom and larger units have a full kitchen. Additionally, the deluxe studio at Old Key West has a standard bath with a tub-shower combination.

All rooms at Old Key West will have a balcony or patio. Our balcony has a table with chairs facing the golf course. It was a relaxing space with a decent amount of privacy.

Related: Old Key West Deluxe Studio Room Tour

Dining

I’m the first to admit that Old Key West’s dining options are a bit lacking. But one significant factor makes up for it. Since the resort makes up part of the Disney Springs Resort Area, the resort offers boat and bus transportation to nearby Disney Springs. So you can hop on a boat and dine at Disney Springs when you get there.

Not only is the boat ride pleasant, but Disney Springs has excellent dining options, ranging from quick service to fine dining.

Related: Disney Springs Best Restaurants List

Olivia’s Cafe is the table-service restaurant at Disney’s Old Key West. Most guests will want to plan at least one meal here during their stay.

Olivia’s offers a ton of charm along with a simple menu. We’ve had breakfast, lunch, and dinner here over the past few years. Their Southernmost Buttermilk Chicken is a staple menu item for lunch and dinner. During this stay, I stopped in and had an order of pancakes with a side of grits and bacon. It was the perfect start to my day. I even requested to dine outside on the patio.

Related: Olivia’s Cafe Review

Good’s Food to Go is the primary counter service at Old Key West. This tiny hole-in-the-wall establishment is located at Hospitality House. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Items range from Mickey-shaped waffles to sandwiches, burgers, and chicken nuggets.

Speaking of holes in the wall, Old Key West’s lounge, the Gurgling Suitcase Libations and Spirits, is next door and also serves as the pool bar. On most days, the bar’s doors are slung open, and you can walk up and order a drink. There are also plenty of shaded and covered areas nearby to enjoy a cocktail.

Since Old Key West is such a large resort, they have an additional quick service location at one of the resort’s leisure pools, Turtle Shack Poolside Snacks. Hours may vary based on the season.

Related: Disney’s Old Key West Dining Guide

Recreation

One thing is for sure. Old Key West is winning when it comes to recreation. There is so much to do here. You could spend your entire week having fun at the resort. First, there is the resort’s feature pool, the Sandcastle Pool. This large pool is located at Hospitality House and has a huge sandcastle feature that doubles as a water slide.

It’s a fun element that includes a bit of a hidden Mickey.

Several whirlpool spas and a kiddie pool are nearby. We have a separate article that goes into more detail about all of the resort’s pools.

Related: The Pools at Disney’s Old Key West

Oh, and before I forget. A stand-alone lighthouse at the pool has a dry sauna inside of it!

Theming around the pool is fun. I imagine you can expect to see dolphins at the real Old Key West in the Florida Keys.

Near the pool, a playground in a sandy area is available.

If you’re familiar with Florida (or cruising), you know that a shuffleboard court is a requirement.

Old Key West takes it a step further and offers a basketball court.

Tennis courts are also available, or pickleball, if you prefer.

If you continue toward the back of the recreation area, you’ll find various outdoor games, such as chess and checkers.

Sports equipment for volleyball or anything else is available at Community Hall.

Where the sidewalk ends, there’s an outdoor fire pit with a place to sit. You might happen upon a marshmallow roast out here around sunset.

Old Key West has a fitness center, the Exercise Room, located at Hospitality House.

Related: Hotels with Gyms at Disney World

Here is a photo of the Electric Eel arcade at Disney’s Old Key West.

Like most of the resorts at Walt Disney World, Old Key West has a running trail.

In addition to the main pool, there are three leisure pools spread out across the property. So no matter which building you get, a pool should be nearby.

Lastly, Conch Flats Community Hall is located at Hospitality House. A recreation calendar lists the schedule for Movies Under the Stars.

Inside, they have a variety of things to do.

This is also where you would rent a Surrey bike.

Additionally, you might rent a regular bike. Before this stay at Old Key West, I visited the resort a couple of times to do some leg work in preparation. On one of those visits, I rented a bicycle. It was a fun afternoon and an excellent way to see the property.

Related: Bicycle Rentals at Disney’s Old Key West

Additionally, Old Key West offers a water taxi service to and from Disney Springs. The boat dock is located at Hospitality House.

It’s a beautiful trip down the river to reach Disney Springs. If you want to know more about how to get around Disney Springs, we have a separate article.

Related: Transportation Tips for Disney Springs

Amenities

Before we wrap things up, I wanted to share a few other amenities we’ve yet to mention. Old Key West has a darling gift shop, Conch Flats General Store, that offers resort-branded merchandise, grocery items, health, and other sundries. Since most of the rooms at Old Key West have a microwave or kitchen, there are also food items available that you can prepare in your room.

However, if you’re planning to cook several meals during your vacation, you would do better to have a grocery order delivered to the resort after arrival. Things at any gift shop can be pricey.

Related: Conch Flats General Store

Old Key West is the kind of resort where you might end up doing a load or two of laundry. Each pool area at the resort has a laundry room. However, one-bedroom and larger villas will have a washer and dryer in the unit.

Related: Laundry at Disney’s Old Key West

Final Thoughts

As far as Disney’s Old Key West goes, I would return in a heartbeat. Before this stay, I was unfamiliar with the resort. This visit surprised me in so many ways. First, as a person who loves Florida, I was delighted that the resort reminded me so much of it.

Sure, it has a few negatives that some will need to consider. But, like I said earlier, this resort is not for everyone. What I like most of all is that Old Key West remains a traditional resort. There’s no push to be modern here, even with its last renovation.

Disney’s Old Key West truly has an island-time feel that not just any in-land resort could achieve. But boy, do they ever. For more information about this resort, we have a Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Old Key West. You might also enjoy these other villa resort reviews:

• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa Review
• Disney’s Riviera Resort Review
• Disney’s Bay Lake Tower Review
• Copper Creek Villas Review
• Kidani Village (Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas Review)

In the Comments

What are your thoughts on Disney’s Old Key? Let us know below in the comments section. We love to hear from you and about your experiences.