Old Key West (OKW) Studio or Port Orlans French Quarter (POFQ) for Solo Trip?

[H20Babie]

Given the choice, which would you choose? Going solo for 8 nights, 5 park days, 2 rest/resort days, and MNSSHP?

Cost is relatively the same

Transportation is a wash as both are by bus to parks and boat to Disney Springs.

OKW has quiet pools but they may be further away. POFQ also shares with Riverside so I could go to a quiet pool there. I do like to take a mid-day break and find a place to read and cool off not in the room.

It doesn't look like OKW doesn't have many QS option as POFQ (and also beignets!).

OKW would also have extra evening hours but not sure if that is the perk it could be given I'll be going in September.

Also, will not have a car.

I know which way I am leaning but would like to hear your thoughts.

 

[Ayla]

I did 2 solo trips to POFQ and had a great time (one 5 days, one 7). I choose POFQ because of the small size and I love the architecture and landscaping at the resort.

It also has a QS with indoor seating (a must in September!), while OKW does not. I've stayed at OKW twice, both in 2 bedrooms. OKW isn't really a 'walking' resort. It's a collection of different buildings that you have to take a car or bus to get to.

My trips were still during the time of DME, so I didn't have a car, either, but I rather enjoy Disney's different transportation options (as someone who doesn't have public transit where I live).

I prefer POFQ overall, because it is a much quieter resort. OKW has the buildings all spaced out amongst roads, so you are always hearing cars/buses and having to watch for traffic anytime you want to try to walk anywhere.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

POFQ for sure. It’s charming, still has boat to the springs, better QS food options, and you are next door to Riverside with more charm, yeehaw Bob, etc.

And yes….. beignets!!!!!

I do enjoy old key west too…. Can’t really go wrong.

 

[tanc]

POFQ all day everyday, OKW is only decent if you stay in a location close to the lobby. Dealing with the chaotic bus situation after a long day is the last thing I want to deal with. Having a car sort of nullifies this but not entirely.

OKW rooms also exploded in price and it’s not justified imo. Also POFQ just finished their absolutely wonderful renovation. I stayed in it and it really was so spectacular.

 

[Worldlover71]

For a single traveler, POFQ gets my vote. We stayed at OKW last month because we were a group of seven and needed a two-bedroom villa. The lack of a food court is a real disadvantage (Good's Eats to Go isn't much more than a pool snack bar.) Also, the internal bus loop takes 20 minutes from the first stop, where we stayed, to the last, so it adds a lot of time to your daily park commute. We did use the Extended Evening Hours at MK which was nice, but it didn't outweigh the disadvantages. The atmosphere is very very relaxing, but we would only stay there again if we needed the space and got a really good deal. Given the choice between the two, POFQ's food court and single bus stop put it over the top.

 

[JIMINYCR]

I'm biased because I'm a fan of POFQ from staying there on many trips. As you stated in your post, you have the benefit of using PORS and that's a great reason to choose this resort. Utilizing both food courts is a plus with option of more food choices. The Beignets with chocolate or caramel, or the special ones with liquor are a late night must. The entertainment in both resorts adds to your night enjoyment.
POFQ all the way!!!

 

[monothingie]

Skip both and go to Coronado.

OKW studios are a disaster. You can probably get a wonderful tower room for around the same cost.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Check out the rooms at Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs:

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Coronado Springs is very nice - but it doesn’t have the same “Disney charm” for me.

If Disney said “here’s a free vacation, pick your resort” it would always be Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, or Port Orleans.

 

[Tinkerbella16]

I've done multiple solo trips at POFQ and once at POR, and absolutely loved it. It is such a small, charming resort. POFQ has a great food court, with great options and beignets as you mentioned.

 

[monothingie]

Coronado Springs is very nice - but it doesn’t have the same “Disney charm” for me.

If Disney said “here’s a free vacation, pick your resort” it would always be Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, or Port Orleans.

I am only talking about Destino tower here.

But other than STILL not getting daily house keeping (insane), Destino tower has the most high-end and well outfitted rooms on property. It has all of the amenities of the deluxe resorts, access to tons of dining options from QS to TS to multiple lounges and bars, and is a fraction of the price. The pool, fitness center, and recreation activities on property are better than a lot of the deluxe resorts.

Is it as intricately themed as AKL or WL or Poly? No, but it is certainly better than all of the other moderates and a lot of the Deluxe resorts on property.

 

[Ayla]

I've taken a solo trip at Destino and didn't care for it. It was much too "Marriott" for me. I was there for Disney.

I mean, it was nice, but it didn't feel anything like a Disney resort.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I've taken a solo trip at Destino and didn't care for it. It was much too "Marriott" for me. I was there for Disney.

I mean, it was nice, but it didn't feel anything like a Disney resort.

That’s my feeling too…. It’s very nice, but it doesn’t have the Disney charm that Port Orleans and the Lodges have.

 

[Plowboy]

We've stayed at both. 2 or 3 times at POFQ and about 5 times at OKW. We're big Key West geeks (the real one , you know, down in the Keys) and I find the architecture and landscaping quite reminiscent of the real one. Not nearly enough bars and live music though. Our accommodations were mostly Miller's Rd or across from Hospitality House save for one trip when we got stuck down in bldg 49 way to hell and gone at the far end of the resort (I mean you couldn't get any further from the Hospitality House). Even then, we enjoyed the room. Hey someone has to stay there! My memory tells me that the studios are massive compared to a room at POFQ, but for solo travel that's a non issue. POFQ is much smaller and quieter and just a short walk from Riverside. We've never had a bad room at either, so flip a coin.

 

[Skibum1970]

Between the two, I would choose POFQ for cost reasons and also because the bus service to/from the parks is excellent (although I would actually have chosen POR over POFQ). Plus, from a food perspective, I could walk to Riverside and expand my food options. I enjoyed staying at OKW but I prefer Riverside the most.

When I do solo trips (which is infrequent), I typically do All Stars because it is the least expensive room and the room is perfect for one person. Plus, if the cheerleading camp isn't in town, it's actually a fairly quiet resort in the room.

 

[Calmdownnow]

Wasted time on silly bus loops mean my vote is for POFQ. Can't somebody with sense just re-organize the OKW bus transit?

 

[nickys]

OKW is only decent if you stay in a location close to the lobby.

Or you just don’t mind either walking or riding a bus.

I actually wonder if this is a culture thing. I use a bus every day to work, into the city centre, everywhere. Or I walk.
We never used the bus at OKW when going to HH or back. And for the parks we just got on and off at our stop. Making other stops en route is a normal function of a bus.

 

[Plowboy]

Between the two, I would choose POFQ for cost reasons and also because the bus service to/from the parks is excellent (although I would actually have chosen POR over POFQ). Plus, from a food perspective, I could walk to Riverside and expand my food options. I enjoyed staying at OKW but I prefer Riverside the most.

When I do solo trips (which is infrequent), I typically do All Stars because it is the least expensive room and the room is perfect for one person. Plus, if the cheerleading camp isn't in town, it's actually a fairly quiet resort in the room.

It's funny that I've seen cost difference mentioned several times. We rented DVC points for our upcoming trip in October. 5 nights in an OKW studio is only about $100 more (total) than 5 nights at POP. POFQ runs about $80-100 more/night than POP. To me that's a no brainer.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

To me that's a no brainer.

Pop and Old Key West provide 2 very different experiences. For a solo trip - Pop is centrally located, smaller and more walkable layout, and has skyliner access.

There are obviously advantages to staying at Old Key West as well.

 

[Skibum1970]

It's funny that I've seen cost difference mentioned several times. We rented DVC points for our upcoming trip in October. 5 nights in an OKW studio is only about $100 more (total) than 5 nights at POP. POFQ runs about $80-100 more/night than POP. To me that's a no brainer.

I used DVC Rental Store for OKW and that time was less than a room at POR (probably same as Pop). OKW is very nice, the rooms are large, and it is quiet.

However, if booking direct, OKW typically is $50-100 more per night and I haven't found any good DVC rental prices laterly. If the prices were the same, we would probably still go POR/FQ. Just for preference's sake. I would actually choose Pop over OKW as long as the aforementioned kid camps are not going on. For a solo trip, I would be looking for the expensive route and that would point me to All Stars.