This was the first Disney Deluxe Villa property. Although the resort is a time-share property, units not being used by owners are rented on a nightly basis. Disney’s Old Key West Resort is a large aggregation of two- to three-story buildings modeled after Caribbean-style residences and guesthouses of the Florida Keys. Set subdivision-style around a golf course and along Bonnet Creek, the buildings are arranged in small, neighborhood-like clusters. They feature pastel facades, white trim, and shuttered windows. The registration area is in Conch Flats Community Hall, along with a full-service restaurant, modest fitness center, marina, and sundries shop. Each cluster of accommodations has a quiet pool; a larger pool is at the community hall. (A new waterslide in the shape of a giant sandcastle has been installed at the main pool.)

This resort offers some of the roomiest accommodations at Walt Disney World. Studios are 376 square feet; one-bedroom villas, 942; and two-bedroom villas, 1,333. Studios contain two queen-size beds, a table and two chairs, and an extra vanity outside the bathroom. One-bedroom villas have a king-size bed in the master bedroom, a queen-size sleeper sofa and fold-out chair in the living room, a laundry room, and a full kitchen. Two-bedroom villas feature a king-size bed in the master bedroom, a queen-size sleeper sofa and fold-out chair in the living room, and two queen beds in the second bedroom. All villas have enough closet space to contain your entire wardrobe. Studios and villas are tastefully decorated with wicker and upholstered furniture and peach and light-green color schemes. Each villa has a private balcony that opens onto a delightfully landscaped private courtyard.

Transportation to other Disney World destinations is by bus. Walking time to transportation loading areas from the most remote rooms is about 6 minutes.

An Erie, Pennsylvania, reader thinks Old Key West is Walt Disney World’s most well-kept secret:

We’ve been coming to WDW for 14 years and have stayed at all the DDV resorts except the new one at Animal Kingdom Lodge. O ld Key West has the most spacious rooms and villas and the easiest access to your car (right outside your door!). It’s in a great location and built around a gorgeous golf course. There are a number of small, almost private pools, so you don’t have to go to the main pool to swim. You don’t hear much about O ld Key West, but if you go there you won’t want to stay anywhere else.

Would you recommend this hotel to a friend?
Hotel Definitely (+/- since 2010)
Disney's Old Key West Resort 66% (-14%)
Average for WDW hotels 74% (+3%)
Average for off-site hotels 79% (+10%)
Average for vacation homes & condos 95% (N/A)

Would you stay at this hotel again?
Hotel Definitely (+/- since 2010)
Disney's Old Key West Resort 86% (-4%)
Average for WDW hotels 90% (+1%)
Average for off-site hotels 94% (+5%)
Average for vacation homes & condos 100% (N/A)

Hotel Photos

Video

Good (and Not-So-Good) Rooms at Disney's Old Key West Resort

Old Key West is huge, with 49 three-story villa buildings. Each contains a mix of studio and multiroom villas. Views are nice from almost all villas. To enhance the view, all multiroom villas and some studios have a large balcony furnished with a table and chairs. Though nice vistas are easy to come by, quiet is more elusive. Because the resort is bordered by busy Bonnet Creek Parkway and even busier Buena Vista Drive, the best villas are those as far from the highway noise as possible. For quiet isolation and a lovely river view, ask for Building 46 or 45, in that order. For a lake and golf-course view away from road noise but closest to restaurants, recreation, the marina, the main swimming complex, and shopping, ask for Building 13. Nearby, Buildings 12 and 11 are likewise quiet and convenient but offer primarily golf-course views. Next-best choices are Buildings 32 and 34. Building 32 looks onto a lake with the golf course in the background, while 34 faces the golf course with tennis courts to the left and a lake to the right. None of the buildings recommended is more than a 2- to 5-minute walk to the nearest bus stop or pool. Avoid Buildings 19–22, 38 and 39, 41 and 42, and 49–51.

Ground-floor villas make lugging in suitcases and groceries less taxing. Though the top floor requires a three-story climb, views from on high are superior. The top floor also ensures that you’ll have no noisy neighbors clomping above you.

Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths Weaknesses
Extremely nice studios and villas Large, confusing layout
Full kitchens in villas Substandard bus service
Quiet, lushly landscaped setting Limited on-site dining
Convenient self-parking No easily accessible off-site dining
Small, private swimming pools Extreme distance of many guest rooms to dining and services
Recreation options No character meals
Boat service to Downtown Disney
1BR units hold 5 guests

Disney's Old Key West Resort Dining

Commuting Times to the Parks
Park Commuting Time
Magic Kingdom 11 minutes
Epcot 6 minutes
Animal Kingdom 15 minutes
Disney's Hollywood Studios 11 minutes