PassPorter Online
PassPorter.com
Award-winning travel guidebooks
Home Florida - Walt Disney World Caribbean - Disney Cruise Line California - Disneyland Resort Anywhere and Everywhere! Travelers Store Message Boards PassPorter's Club Help!
  About Us  |  Customs Office   |   Register Your Book   |   Book Updates   |  Newsletter  |  Articles  |  Photos  |   Follow Us on
Articles Menu
PassPorter Articles
Planning
Disney Dreaming
What Keeps Us Coming Back
Disney for Veteran Visitors
Rumor Round-Up
Finding Answers
Best Disney Trip Advice
Getting Your Disney Fix
How Young Is Too Young?
Top Ten Disney Questions
Tipping (Gratuities)
Timeshare Vacation Offers
Disney World on a Budget
Credit Cards 101
Money-Saving Strategies
Preparing Kids For Disney
Taking Toddlers to Disney
Planning Trips for Others
Convincing Others To Go
Importance of Being Lazy

Preparing For Your Disney Cruise
Ten "Must Pack" Items
Touring With A Group
Chaperoning A Group Trip
Traveling
Ten Travel Tips
Luggage Tips
iPhone, I Travel
Driving to Disney
Driving With Kids
Child Safety Seats
CARES Harness Review
Rental Cars
Amtrak Auto Train
Airline Security
Flying With Kids
Surviving Long Flights
Surviving Bumpy Flights
Surviving Bad Vacations
Surviving Long Airport Waits
Staying Healthy
First Aid on Vacation
Solo Travel
Pregnant at Disney
Dress For Travel
Traveling With Pets
International Travel
Taking A 'Greener' Trip to WDW

Orlando Sanford Airport
Lodging
Choosing a Resort
On-Site Lodging vs. Off-Site Lodging
Disney Resort Primer
Reserving a Room
Key to the World Card
Fun at Resort Hotels
Disney Vacation Club
All-Star Movies
All-Star Music
All-Star Sports
All-Star Vacation Homes
Animal Kingdom Lodge: Perfect for Teens
Villas at Animal Kingdom Lodge
Beach Club
BoardWalk Inn & Villas
Contemporary Resort
Ft. Wilderness Camping
Old Key West
Wilderness Lodge
Home Sweet Home
Grand Californian #1
Grand Californian #2
Grosvenor Resort
Hilton Resort
Orlando Airport Marriott
Priceline.com
Radisson Resort Parkway
Shades of Green
Westin Century Plaza
Making The Most of Bell Services at Disney's Deluxe Resorts
DVC's Old Key West Resort
Cruising
Preparing For Your Disney Cruise
New Ships!
Cruise Security
International Port Security
Convincing a Husband to Cruise
Palo Dinner Review
Vow Renewals Onboard
Cruising With Special Diets
Cruising St. Martin
One in a Million Cruise
Zip-A-Dee-Zip-Line: A Canopy Adventure
A 'Magic' Time In The Mediterranean
A Wrap-Up From DCL's Inaugural Mediterranean Cruise
DCL: Not Just for Kids!
Spa Villas Review
Touring
Laugh Floor Comedy Club
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Fantasyland For Adults
Mission: SPACE
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
Star Wars Weekends
Animal Kingdom
Expedition EVEREST
Surviving the Parks as First Time Parents
Surviving the Holidays
Overcoming Kids Fears
Planning Park Days
Four Parks in One Day
Touring with Toddlers
A Kid's Perspective
A Teen's Take
Educational Epcot
Flower & Garden Festival
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Scary Places (Halloween)
Playing "Millionaire"
Winning "Millionaire"
A Day With Allie
Past Attractions at Magic Kingdom
Meeting Mickey
Disneyland at 50
Future of Disneyland
Beyond the Disney Parks
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Monorail System
California Adventure
Expanding Disney's California Adventure
10 Reasons to Love Disneyland
A WDW Veteran's First Trip to Disneyland
A Disneyland Veteran's First Trip to Walt Disney World
Disneyland Homecoming
Walt Disney World With Pre-Teen Boys
Keys To The Kingdom Backstage Tour
Pirates & Princess Party
WDW with Teens? Absolutely!
Dining
Disney Dining Plan
More Dining Plan Tips
Dining Plan Revisited
Dining Plan Answers
Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) Strategies
Artist Point Review
California Grill Review
Nine Dragons Review
Spoodles Review
The Turf Club Review
Crystal Palace Review
Yak & Yeti Review
Tutto Italia Review
Character Dinners
Dine With A Disney Imagineer
Eating Healthy at Disney
Food Allergies
White Water Snacks
MurderWatch Mystery Theatre
Disneyland Dining: Yamabuki
Disneyland Area Dining: Pirate's Dinner Adventure
Party For The Senses
Artist Point
1900 Park Fare Dinner Review
Making Magic
Romance At Disney World
Beating The Post Trip Blues
Discovering the Magic
Magic of Slowing Down
Unexpected Treasures
Wishes Fireworks Cruise
Backstage Tours
Epcot's Segway Tour
Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival
Taking Great Photos
Taking Great Fireworks Photos
Digital Photo Q & A
Souvenirs on a Budget
Pal Mickey
Birthdays at Disney
Reunions and Gatherings
Holidays (Christmas)
More Holidays
Disney Intimate Weddings
Disney Vow Renewals
Custom Events
Scrapbooking
Preserving Memories
Scrapbooking Supplies
Finding Scrapbook Supplies at WDW
Memories and Milestones
Scavenger Hunts
Geocaching
Hidden Mickeys
Hidden Mickeys Book Review
Richard Petty Experience
More Richard Petty Rides
Ft. Wilderness Trail Ride
Disney Podcasts
MouseFest 2006
Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba
Sharing
Making of PassPorter
Rest of the World
United States:
Big Apple Greeter
City Pass Cards
Hawaii
Hilton Head Island #1
Hilton Head Island #2
Celebration, Florida
Key Largo & Islamorada
Miami, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
St. Augustine, Florida
Space Coast, Florida
Tampa-St. Petersburg
WonderWorks (Orlando)
Knoebels, Pennsylvania
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Francisco
Anza-Borrego Desert
Grand Canyon
The Poconos
New York City
New York Splash Tours
New York City Dining
New York: Antiques
New England
New Orleans
Nashville, Tennessee
Adventures by Disney: Wyoming
Fort Sumter, South Carolina
Zoos of the World
Universal Studios Orlando
New Attractions at Universal Orlando
Seuss Trolley Train Ride at Universal Orlando
Sanibel & Captiva Islands
Universal: For Non-Thrill Seekers?
Madison County, Iowa
The Great Smoky Mountains
Yosemite
Discovery Cove (Orlando)
Busch Gardens Africa: SheiKra Coaster Review
NASCAR AllState 400
Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Niagara Falls, New York
Blue Horizons at SeaWorld Orlando
International Travel:
London
London Museums
London's Globe Theatre
Kent, England
Bath, England
Great Britain via Harry Potter
Stonehenge
Ireland
Paris
Marseilles
Rome
Stockholm, Sweden
Helsinki, Finland
Quebec City, Canada
Prince Edward Island
South Africa
Leeds Castle
Pompeii
Windsor Castle
Wimbledon
Menorca
Dover Castle
Florence
Monaco
Niagara Falls, Ontario

Disney Vacation Club's Old Key West Resort


by Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Message Board Guide and Featured Columnist

I'm a Beach Club girl through and through. Let's just get that little fact out of the way first. Wherever we stay in Disney, no other resort will ever better my beloved Beach Club Resort.

Having said that, we don't spend our entire life at Disney in the Beach Club. (Much as I'd love to.) Firstly, I believe that variety is the spice of life and let's be honest, how do you know if one resort is the best and perfect for you if you don't try the others out? Secondly -- and, let's be honest, more importantly -- sometimes your first choice of resort isn't always available. That's exactly what happened to us as we planned for our fall vacation last year.

So faced with the news that we couldn't get into the Beach Club Villas for the last five nights of our stay, what were we going to do? The Disney Vacation Club was able to offer us Saratoga Springs or Old Key West. It didn't take long for me to decide. Not only would Old Key West cost us fewer Disney Vacation Club points, it would be new to us and I had been hearing good things about the resort for some time from those who'd already stayed there. So choice made, what did we make of the place?

The first thing you notice when you arrive here is that the resort is well hidden away. You can't really see it as you drive along and the only way you'll get a glimpse of it, without actually entering the resort, is by renting a boat from Downtown Disney. As soon as you get into the grounds, you notice how spread out everything is and it quickly becomes clear why that is the Lake Buena Vista golf course sprawls its way throughout the resort. Holes three to eight see golfers make their way around Old Key West and if you're lucky, you may even get a room overlooking the course.


PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2016 Guidebook

Available for
15%-35% Off!
Purchase includes a free Online Edition!
 

Set against the golf course and Trumbo Canal that cuts through Old Key West Resort are a total of 64 buildings, all in beautiful pastel colors. As with all Disney's resorts, there are superb photo opportunities all around this resort. The buildings make for some great shots, as does the Hospitality House area. This is where you'll find check-in and the resort's dining options. While they're not as plentiful as at some other DVC resorts, you can still enjoy a great meal at the resort's table service restaurant, Olivia's Cafe, get hamburgers or ice cream at Good's to Go or get some drinks at the Gurgling Suitcase. Many people choose to eat in their rooms, especially as every room, except for the studios, comes with fully-equipped kitchens. It's no surprise then that the Conch Flats General Store has a great range of items, including food, drink, Disney souvenirs and Disney Vacation Club and Old Key West merchandise.

Walk a little further and you'll find the recreation area, including Hank's Rent-n-Return. This is the place to either rent a boat (a great way to spend a couple of hours) or if you're feeling more energetic, you can rent bicycles here and set off on two wheels to explore the resort. Nearby you'll find a children's playground, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts and there's also a jogging trail that runs all around the resort.

If the weather doesn't inspire you to do any of those things, then there's also the Electric Game room or you can rent DVDs and games from Conch Flats Community Hall. The Hall is also home to various activities for youngsters -- it's worth checking it out to see what's going on while you're there.

The main swimming pool in the recreation area has recently undergone some major improvements, including the addition of a new slide. If the main pool is busy, there are three other quiet pools scattered around the resort, meaning you should never be too far from one.

As this is a sprawling resort, if you don't have a car, you may need to catch one of the many buses to get around Old Key West. As rental car drivers though, one of the things we most enjoyed here was being able to park right by the building we were staying in. Trust me; it's a big bonus when you come back from a long day at the parks. Instead of having to park and then walk for what seems like miles back to your room, you can pull up just outside.

And the rooms at Old Key West are perhaps the biggest draw. If you want space, this is the place to head for. This was the first Disney Vacation Club resort to open on Walt Disney World property, and rooms were built a lot bigger in those days. We were really impressed with the extra space we had in our studio, especially with the amount of luggage we were carrying with us! The pastel continues inside the rooms and we found that very relaxing.

But let's not forget, Old Key West is designed to be relaxing. That's the beauty of the place. It's laid back and has a wonderful community feel to it. We really felt as if we were part of a big family during our stay here and that's not something we've encountered to that degree at any other Disney resort.

So if you're looking for somewhere that will offer a complete break after a long day at the parks, then it's worth considering Old Key West. Although my heart remains firmly with the Beach Club, I can now say that Old Key West is an excellent alternative if our number one choice isn't available!

About the Author: Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, especially to America. They were on the first 11-night sailing of the Disney Magic around the Mediterranean and have recently returned from 19 nights in Walt Disney World. Cheryl is a Featured Columnist for PassPorter.com -- click here to read more of her articles.


Read real vacationer reviews and ratings of Old Key West, posted at PassPorter.com

Related Links: Disney's Beach Club Resort

Return to PassPorter.com | Ask a Question on the PassPorter Message Boards
 
 

Updated 02/14/2008 



Read additional articles from PassPorter.com

Subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter, PassPorter News, published for more than 58,000 opt-in subscribers worldwide. As an added bonus for subscribing, you will receive a 20% discount coupon for the PassPorter Store -- no catch!

E-mail Address:

First Name:

E-mail Format:
-Text/Don't Know  

-HTML

 
 

We respect your privacy and never sell or rent our subscriber list. Subscribing will not result in more spam! We guarantee it.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Copyright 1999-2015
by PassPorter Travel Press, an imprint of MediaMarx, Inc.

       LEARN MORE
Learn More With Our Award-Winning Guidebooks


PassPorter's Walt Disney World guidebook

PassPorter's Sidekick for the Walt Disney World Guidebook e-book

PassPorter's Disney Vacation Club Guide

PassPorter's Disney 500: Fast Tips for Walt Disney World Trips e-book

PassPorter's Disney Speed Planner: The Easy Ten Step Program to a Perfect Walt Disney World Vacation e-book

PassPorter's Disney Weddings & Honeymoons

PassPorter's Festivals and Celebrations at Walt Disney World e-book

PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World

PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line guidebook

PassPorter's Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Disney Cruise Trips

PassPorter Disneyland Resort and Southern California Attractions guidebook

PassPorter's Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line guidebook

       SPONSOR LINKS