Disney’s Old Key West Resort is the oldest Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resort on the Walt Disney World Resort property. It opened in the 1990s and features some of the largest rooms of any DVC resort. The theme transports guests to the sunshine and relaxation of Key West, Florida.
There are several things you need to keep in mind when staying at this resort, many of which will help you set your expectations and have a much more relaxing stay!
1. There Are No Elevators
A major downside to Disney’s Old Key West Resort is that the guestroom buildings do not have elevators. The resort was built long before accessibility requirements were established, so if you’re on the second or third floor, you’ll need to use the stairs.
This can be a huge pain, especially if you have lots of luggage. You’ll probably be okay if you have a Deluxe Studio room where you may be traveling light. If you have a 1-bedroom or larger room, you may wish to bring in groceries and take advantage of the full kitchen you’ll have access to. Lugging groceries, let alone luggage, up the stairs can be a nightmare.
If you need an accessible room, the resort can guarantee you a lower-level walk-up room so you won’t have to worry about any steps. You won’t be forced to use an upper-level room if a disability prevents you from doing so.
If you don’t have a disability, you can still request a lower-level room. During the check-in process on the My Disney Experience app, you can request a first-floor room, though this is not a guarantee (on a recent trip, I requested a first-floor room but was placed in a second-floor room).
Even if you don’t get assigned a first-floor room, the front desk can help you see what rooms are available. Stop by the Hospitality House, where the front desk is located, to chat with a cast member.
2. You’ll Navigate Multiple Bus Stops
Disney’s Old Key West Resort has 4 internal bus stops, which can be incredibly annoying. While many Disney Resorts only have 1 or 2 serving a main building, multiple bus stops are needed due to Old Key West’s size.
Bus stops are located at the Hospitality House, South Point Road, Old Turtle Pond Road, Peninsular Road, and Miller’s Road. For the most part, the bus stops are not near each other. If you board at a stop, you’ll have to wait on the bus as it travels to the other stops before exiting the resort for the theme parks. Similarly, on the return from a theme park, you’ll need to wait on the bus and travel throughout the resort to wait for your stop. This internal route can take 15 minutes or so, which is a lengthy time suck.
Hot Tip: If you want to head to the Hospitality House, catch any bus to any destination; the last stop of all routes is at the Hospitality House.
Peninsular Road is the first stop when the buses arrive at the resort from a theme park, and the Hospitality House is the last stop at the resort before the bus leaves for the theme parks. You’ll save a lot of time if you’re close enough and can walk to or from one of those stops. For what it’s worth, the Hospitality House and Peninsular Road bus stations are relatively near each other.
Even if you’re not going to a theme park, you can use any bus as an internal resort shuttle. This will essentially take you from near your villa to the Hospitality House, which is the main hub of Old Key West. Here, you’ll find the resort’s restaurant, general store, check-in, recreation center, main pool, and more.
3. All Basic Rooms Have 2 Beds
A unique feature of this property is that all of the “Deluxe Studio” rooms (which are the base rooms) have 2 queen beds. There is no option to have a Deluxe Studio with a king bed. If you want a king bed, you’ll need to purchase a 1 Bedroom Villa.
Because all of the Deluxe Studios only come with 2 beds, you’ll need to keep a few things in mind:
- These types of rooms are great for families since you’re guaranteed 2 real beds no matter what — not a sofa bed or drop-down bed from the wall.
- If you’re a couple, having 2 beds might be awkward since there’s no larger single bed.
- Because there are 2 beds, the room has limited seating. There is only a table flanked by 2 chairs, which isn’t comfortable for watching television or relaxing, for example.
Customers either love the 2-bed Deluxe rooms, or they hate them. There’s usually no in-between.
4. Hospitality House Rooms Don’t Cost More
At most Disney Vacation Club properties, rooms with a preferred location usually cost more points or more cash. At Old Key West, this isn’t the case.
The Hospitality House is the main focal point of the resort. It contains Olivia’s (the resort’s restaurant), the community center, a bar, a to-go food stall, the main pool, a general store, tennis courts, a bike rental kiosk, and more. Many guests prefer to be near the Hospitality Center for these conveniences, though some guests prefer to stay further away from the action in a quieter part of the resort, overlooking the golf course or the water.
Hot Tip: You don’t need to be a DVC member to stay at Old Key West. You can rent DVC points to stay here, too!
Taking this example in March, you’ll see that it costs 15 Disney Vacation Club points per night regardless of whether you choose a Deluxe Studio or a Deluxe Studio near the Hospitality House. Keep in mind that if you choose a Deluxe Studio (not near the Hospitality House), your room will be much farther away and, in some cases, not walkable. If it’s important for you to be near there, you’ll want to make sure you book that type of room, though inter-resort buses will always take you to the Hospitality House if you’re willing to travel by bus.
»Related:Is My Disney Vacation Club Membership Worth It? [1 Year In]
5. You Can Rent Surrey Bikes
Disney’s Old Key West Resort is one of the few Disney Resorts that allow you to rent Surrey bicycles.
These are the resorts that have these bikes that almost look like cars:
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
Many guests stay at Disney’s Old Key West Resort because they canrent a Surrey bicycleor participate in other amenities, such as tennis at the tennis courts. Disney’s Old Key West Resort is the original Disney Vacation Club property, so it was built with the intention of being the only DVC property. Because of this, you’ll find many amenities at the resort.
Final Thoughts
Disney’s Old Key West Resort is certainly one of the most tired Disney Vacation Club resorts (it’s the oldest!), but it has a certain charm about it that brings guests back year after year. The property is expansive, and the room types are some of the biggest at Disney, which is a huge selling point. While you may find the buses to be inconvenient and the lack of elevators a pain, Disney’s Old Key West Resort will always be a special place for Walt Disney World fans with its idyllic scenery modeled after Key West in South Florida.
