My Two Cents
My thoughts on OKW -
This is Walt Disney World’s best kept secret for a resort! My wife and I stayed here on our honeymoon last November, and we loved the place! Here are my thoughts based on a 1-bedroom villa, since this is what we had during our stay. The 2-bedroom villa is identical, except it has a Studio villa attached -
Pros –
1) Large, large, large room! This is one of the biggest rooms on site, measuring over 1,000 square feet! Compare that to a moderate resort where you only get 314 square feet!
2) Park in front of your door! No need to slog your way through a general parking lot, then walk to the other side of the building – you get out of your car, and in a few steps, you’re in the front door!
3) Nice screened-in patio with a fan, with table and chairs!
4) Two-person Jacuzzi in the master bath – very romantic!
5) Washer and dryer are included, and if you get the right mouse-keeper, unlimited laundry detergent! Take home clean clothes for a change!
6) Fully stocked kitchen – eat some or all of your meals in your room! Keep snacks and cold beverages handy for mid-day snacks or late night munchies. Of course, there is a dish washer, so dirty all of the dishes!
7) Two TVs in two separate rooms. Does a member of the family need to take a nap? No problem – send them to the bedroom, close the door, and watch TV in the other room without disturbing them!
8) A TV with a VCR, if you need to watch a movie (which can be rented in the main building).
9) A very quiet, low-key resort.
Cons –
1) Average theming – nothing spectacular, but coherent.
2) Not very kid friendly.
3) Because the resort is sprawling, most buildings are a long hike to the main building for provisions, front desk, food, etc. But there are numerous bus stops and three extra pools strategically placed around the resort so you don’t have to walk very far for those services.
4) A stand-alone resort – you can walk or boat to Downtown Disney, but that’s all. You’ll need to use either the bus or your own car to go anywhere else.
5) The age of the resort is showing through in a few places.
6) Can be expensive – prices range for a 1-bedroom from $340 to $510 depending on the time of the year. This is almost $200 more than a moderate, BUT, you get a whole lot for the money.
Overall, this is a great place to stay. You get an awful lot for the money – more room, more amenities, more room, and some peace and quiet. Our honeymoon here was outstanding, and we will be back but maybe not with our kids. Having seen how other resorts cater to the kids (two words – Stormalong Bay), there is not a lot to keep young kids occupied. And having a free washer and dryer available meant we brought less clothes, and went home with only clean clothes. And did I also mention how big these rooms are?
Give Old Key West a try, you won’t be disappointed!
LT Hambone
Bleh. We just drove back to our room at BWV.
