Animal Kingdom or Old Key West?

[BriJul]

Hi! My wife and I have been to Disney a few times in the past few years. We stayed at Animal Kingdom last year and it is our favorite resort so far. We are coming down in November and bringing a couple other people with us.Our question is, since we know how great Animal Kingdom is but have yet to stay at Old Key West, would our best bet be to take them Animal Kingdom or is Old Key West worth experiencing?

 

[MagicalMonorail]

I highly reccomend Old Key West. The rooms are very spacious, and it has a very laid back atmosphere. The only thing is, it's not as exciting as the AKL. There are no African animals or a highly energetic restaurant. OKW just has a good relaxing atmosphere. In my opinion, you need that after a day at the parks.

 

[BriJul]

Thanks for the reply! Just one question. Even the regular stuido rooms at OKW are pretty spacious?

 

[jordanyosh]

OKW, being the first DVC resort, has slightly larger guest rooms than those DVC resorts built since. In addition, the guest buildings are sort of like apt units in that you can drive up and park near your building. The resort itself is spread out and that can be nice for privacy. There is only one sit-down restaurant and one small counter service. Depending on when you are going, I saw somewhere that the main pool will be going down for rehab to add a waterslide....I agree with Monorail that if what you're looking for is laid back then OKW is the place. Proximity wise it is very close to Typhoon Lagoon and DTD.

If you want the wow factor then AKL would be where I would stay. It really depends what you and your friends want...

Hope that helps...

Just looked up square ft of resorts. Regular DVC studio=355-359 sq ft, OKW studio=376 sq ft., AKL std room=345 sq ft and AKL deluxe room=381 sq ft.

 

[MadameCheshire]

We've gone to OKW almost every year we've gone down to WDW. It is a really nice resort, and layed back. This year we are staying in a studio room, and they really are nice and spacious.

The only other thing to consider is.. if you will be in the parks and other things alot.. or by the pool. The pool isn't as well-themed as the other pools. Don't get me wrong.. it is nice, and I like it, but it isn't lavish. However.. if your a DVC member.. pool hopping in hotels is always fun Except on Y&B Club and AKL.. you can't do that at those hotels anymore..

It really just depends on whether you want a layed back atmosphere or a wild one. Both are nice. Have fun!

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Most said

Folks captured the differences pretty well.

With OKW, you also get jacuzzi, laundry room, living room and kitchen...kind of like an extended stay hotel. If you like that down time, it will be fun. The only wild animals you will see carry golf clubs (a bit disconcerting as the place we had there was near a green, so you had that "thwak" sound periodically and well as an occasional projectile cutting through the brush and people wandering past the back of your room.

Timing wasn't bad, but we got the "feeling" that transportation took longer, maybe because you had to travel everywhere...there was no real close park.

AKL is just more to my taste between the two.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Why not try Old Key West. You will get a nice big room, and the resort seems really nice. It should be a good change.

 

[BriJul]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

If it was just me and the wife going, we would probably pike the OKW. But it is the other couple's first time and think that Animal would be more fun for them. Besides....the only time we spend in our rooms is from 2:30am till 7 or 8am, so the more spacious option really doesnt sway us either way.

Thanks again!!

 

[joviacdan]

I'm actually staying at OKW for the first time in September and I'm a bit concerned about it.

I've always stayed at the All Star Resorts, and it's PURE Disney. Everyone says how "laid back" OKW is.

I have a feeling that when you get back to the resort, there isn't much of a Disney feeling in the atmosphere. Is this true?

 

[BriJul]

If you have only stayed at the All Stars and the Carribean, you will love the new experience. even though I have not stayed at OKW I can almost guarantee that it's like a different world than the All Stars, but for the better.

 

[figmentmom]

I'd go for the "wow" factor at the AKL. The place really is amazing! Old Key West is fun, and a charming, spacious place to stay, but I don't think it carries the wallop that AKL does.

 

[DisneyPhD]

We are DVC members and of all the DVC resorts, OKW is our least favorite. Don't get me wrong, I am not a OKW basher, but compared to other deluxe resorts, OKW is more like a mod resort, with really great rooms. The resort is very spread out, the studio rooms don't have good views of almost anything (they are corner rooms next to a one bedroom.) The studios are better then a normal hotel room because they have a microwave, refridger, toaster, coffe maker ect... If that means a lot to you, stay there. (it does to us, we save alot on food staying at DVC rooms.) The one bedrooms are very big with really great acomodations, whirlpool tubs, DVD players, Washer and Dryers. They are putting in a water slide at OKW, but not until this fall (not sure when it should be done.) OKW can make for some long walks from the bus in the rain or hot weather. If you have a car, one plus is you can park right near your room. The resort is very lovely, laid back and fun, but not like AKL at all.


We stayed one night at AKL (and 9 nights at OKW last year.) The one night was for our aniversary while BIL and SIL stayed in our OKW room with DD. We were really impressed with AKL, we loved the restarants, the feeling of the lodge and the rooms. One plus is you don't share busses with any other resort and there is only one stop. That cuts down on how long you travel on the bus. We had really good luck with the busses at AKL. We were really fed up with the busses at OKW, but some people don't seem to mind them. The resort is so big that if you get on the 1st stop, it is 10 to 15 min until you actually leave the resort and are on your way.

We were disapointed with OKW when we compared it to other Deluxe resorts. If you were asking BCV or AKL, I would say BCV. If you really love AKL and you want your friends to be as impressed as you are, you might want to do AKL so you aren't dispapointed.

 

[BriJul]

Thanks DisneyPhD...that's a review of OKW I was looking for.