Disney's Old Key West Resort

Disney's Old Key West Resort Information: Rooms, Pools, Dining, and More

On this page is information on Disney's Old Key West Resort, including pictures of the view from every hotel room, pictures and video from inside Old Key West rooms, a list of amenities, restaurant reviews and dining menus with prices, pool photos and reviews, reader comments, childcare options, and more. Last updated: November 13, 2024

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Disney's Old Key West Resort Overview

Although the resort is a time-share property, units not being used by owners are rented on a nightly basis. 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.

Old Key West has centralized many of its services and amenities into two adjacent areas. The Hospitality Area includes Hospitality House for resort registration; Olivia's Cafe restaurant and Gurgling Suitcase bar; and Conch Flats General Store for gifts and sundries.

The Recreation Area sits next to the Hospitality Area, and includes Community Hall for socializing, a modest fitness center, and a marina.

Each cluster of resort buildings has a quiet pool; the resort's main pool - The Sandcastle Pool - is at the Hospitality Area. (A waterslide in the shape of a giant sand castle highlights the pool.)

Old Key West boasts some of the roomiest accommodations at Walt Disney World, with all rooms having been refurbished in 2018. 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 in the living room, a laundry room, and a full kitchen with coffee maker. 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. Closets are large enough to hold your entire wardrobe

Studios and villas are tastefully decorated. The latest refurbishment toned down the Key West beach theme while adding subtle Disney characters—we like it. Kitchen cabinets and TVs, along with the living room and bedroom furniture, were also upgraded. One-bedroom and larger villas have wood flooring instead of carpet.

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 it’s Walt Disney World’s best-kept secret:

Old Key West has the most spacious rooms and the easiest access to your car—right outside your door! There are a number of small, almost private pools, so you don’t have to go to the main pool to swim.

How Disney's Old Key West Resort Compares to Other Disney Deluxe Resorts

Old Key West is different because of its location. The resort is located downstream from Disney Springs, and can be accessed via a short boat ride. If you like larger rooms, you’ll probably be a fan of Old Key West. Likely due to it being the first Disney Vacation Club resort, rooms here are larger than at all other Disney Vacation Club resorts.

Transportation and lack of on-site dining options are Old Key West’s main weaknesses with readers. This family from Basingstoke, England, also found that the groundskeepers often get started early in summer:

We enjoyed our stay at Old Key West, but we would not return as we found it a bit noisy. Crews were leaf-blowing at 6:40 one morning, and the rooms are not soundproofed well at all. We also found the quick-service breakfast offerings very limited.

Where To Check-In, Get Theme Park Tickets, and Make Dining Reservations

A security gate guards the entrance to Old Key West's grounds. If you arrive by car, you'll need to provide photo ID at the gate; it's not necessary to provide your reservation number or paperwork. A dedicated parking lot across from the lobby serves as temporary parking for those who need it while checking in.

Guests keeping a car at the hotel overnight will be charged $25 per day. (This fee is waived for DVC members staying on points.

Check-in time at Old Key West is 4:00 PM, and check-out time is 11:00 AM. Old Key West participates in Disney's Online Check-In program, which allows you to you provide name, address, and credit card information up to 60 days before your arrival. If you've checked-in online and provided a mobile phone number or email address, you will receive your room number electronically. Then you can go straight to the room and use your smart phone or MagicBand to open the door, skipping the lobby altogether. Old Key West's registration staff can provide MagicBands for your stay, if you don't already have them. Beginning January 1, 2021, guests will no longer receive complimentary MagicBands but will still have the option to purchase them.

If you've not registered online, look for signs pointing you to the Registration/Check-In area. You'll need to provide a government-issued photo ID and credit/debit card when you register. While parents are completing the paperwork, kids can unwind in a nearby play area decorated with child-sized furniture, and a television showing classic Disney animated films.

Get theme park tickets and dining reservations at the Concierge Desk, to the right of the Registration Desk. If you need to check in and obtain theme park tickets, you can save some time in line if one adult gets in line for tickets while another adult is wrapping up the registration process. The Concierge Desk can also make Disney dining reservations, and you can avoid a wait there by making them online prior to arrival.

Disney's Old Key West Resort's Rooms

Old Key West Studios: Studios sleep up to four people and include two queen-size beds. The total Studio room size is 376 square feet.

Old Key West one-Bedroom Villa: The one-bedroom villa sleeps 5 and provides a formal kitchen and a living room in addition to the studio bedroom. The living room's sofa and chair both fold out to provide beds for up to 3 more people. One-Bedrooms Villas are 942 square feet.

Old Key West Two-bedroom villas: Two-bedroom villas sleep eight and include all of the kitchen amenities found in a one-bedroom, plus an extra bathroom. One of the baths is attached to a second bedroom with two queen beds or a queen bed plus a sleeper-sized sofa. As with the one-bedrooms, a sofa bed in the living room provide extra places to snooze. Two-Bedroom Villas are 1,333 square feet.

Old Key West Grand Villas: The two-story Grand Villas sleep 12 and include four bathrooms and the same master-bedroom layout. One bedroom has 2 queen beds, while the other has 2 double beds. An upstairs seating area overlooking the main floor provides a sleeper sofa and chair. Grand Villas are 2,202 square feet.

Handicap-Accessible Room Options

Disney's Old Key West Resort has around 64 handicap-accessible rooms. Some feature roll-in showers, while others include assistive hearing devices. A subset of these rooms have been converted to comply with Florida's Accessibility Code, with changes to everything from bed, counter-top, and dresser drawer height, to door widths, wheelchair ramps, and more. Use our hotel room finder to see which rooms have which feature

Because it's a Disney Vacation Club property, some room locations are available only to Members. There are only elevators in 3 buildings and most buildings go up to 3 stories. Specifying room requests for medical reasons is highly recommended.

Old Key West Pools

Old Key West has four pools. The largest sits sits near the outside of the resort's lobby, Hospitality House. There is also a hot tub and kiddie pool.

The other smaller pools are located in near buildings 19 and 20, buildings 39, 40 and 41, and another one near building 55.. These pools are basic concrete pools and are considered "quiet pools," meaning that loud play and splashing around are discouraged.

Old Key West's pools range in depth from around 3 feet 6 inches/1.1m to 4 feet 9 inches/1.4m. Pool are open every day, including during winter. The pools are heated to 82°F/28°C throughout the year. We've swum in temperatures as cold as 40°F/4°C; the water was fine, but getting out was a shock. Old Key West also has a hot tubs located near the main pool.

The main pool has one water slide that all ages are free to use. Guests can find showers, storage lockers, restrooms, and laundry facilities. Pool hours are at least 10AM to 10 PM, extending to as much as 8 AM to 12 AM during busy times. The main pool will have lifeguards during the pools' operating hours.

For more information on the pools at WDW resorts, including towels, entertainment programming, handicap access, kiddie pools, life vests, and much more, see our Walt Disney World Resort Pool Fact Sheet FAQ.

Playgrounds at Disney's Old Key West Resort

Small playground sets are located near the Sandcastle Pool at the Hospitality Area, the Old Turtle Pond Pool near buildings 41 and 42, and the Southpointe Pool near buildings 55 and 56. Each set has a small plastic slide and a couple of sections with a few steps for toddlers to go up and down. Safety seems to be Disney's concern here - there are no swings, and the entire area is covered in sand.

Restaurants and Dining

Old Key West has one table service and two counter service restaurants. If these don't fit your needs you can hop on a DVC Ferry boat near the Hospitality House and ride over to Disney Springs.

Olivia's Cafe

Olivia's Breakfast Menu - Olivia's Kids Breakfast Menu - Olivia's Cafe Lunch Menu - Olivia's Cafe Dinner Menu - Olivia's Cafe Kids Lunch/Dinner Menu

Olivia's is a fun out-of-the-way dining spot if you have a little extra time to navigate out to Old Key West Resort. Service is excellent and the theme is a Disneyfied Key West: lots of pastels, tile floors, and tropical trees in the center of the room. There is some outside seating, which looks out over the waterway. Tile, wood siding, and no tablecloths add up to a very noisy dining room that's getting a little worn around the edges. Disney Vacation Club member photos decorate the walls - Disney's Old Key West Resort was one of the first DVC resorts, so members consider Olivia's their home kitchen.

At breakfast, try the eggs with shrimp and conch cakes; banana-bread French toast; and Cuban sandwich with scrambled eggs, ham, Swiss cheese, and pork loin. At lunch, try the Key West burger topped with grilled shrimp and pepper-jack cheese. At dinner, prime rib, sustainable fish with black beans and rice, and coconut-encrusted mahimahi.

Turtle Shack Poolside Snacks

Turtle Shack Lunch/Dinner Menu - Turtle Shack Kids Lunch/Dinner Menu

Turtle Shack has a small menu made up of hot dogs, pizza, salads, and sandwiches. There is also a small selection of beers and cocktails. This is also a great place to use your refillable mug (see below).

Good's Food to Go

Good's Food to Go Breakfast Menu - Good's Food to Go Kids Breakfast Menu - Good's Food to Go Lunch/Dinner Menu - Good's Food to Go Kids Lunch/Dinner Menu

Good's Food to Go offers a selection of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and sides like french fries and onion rings. For breakfast Good's sells a breakfast platter and a selection of pastries.

Good's Food to Go participates in Disney's Rapid Fill refillable mug program, where you purchase a souvenir plastic mug once, and get free refills for the remainder of your stay. The cost is a flat $19.99 for your length of stay.

Restaurants at Old Key West participate in the Disney Dining Plan; meals cost 1 credit. Tables in Wonderland cardholders are eligible for a 20% discount at most resort restaurants.

Pizza delivery is available to your room from Disney's own delivery service. Besides pizza, chicken wings, desserts, beer, wine, and sodas are also available. However, delivery can take up to 90 minutes, and the food quality is often below average. You're probably better off either walking to the food court or calling Domino's. Pizza delivery hours are 4 PM to midnight daily. A medium (16") cheese pizza costs around $14 and a pepperoni around $16. Minimum order is $15, and Disney will tack on an 18% tip, $3 delivery charge, and 7% sales tax. Thus, a $30 pizza order will cost you $40.50 delivered.

Transportation to and from Disney's Old Key West Resort

Driving Your Own Car Disney's Old Key West Resort is just off of I-4 in Lake Buena Vista. Take I-4 Exit 67 Epcot Center Dr. Take the exit toward Downtown Disney Resort Area. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Port Orleans/Eagle Pines and merge onto Disney Vacation Club Way. Old Key West will be on your right.

Disney's Old Key West Resort's GPS address and location are:

Disney's Old Key West Resort
1510 North Cove Road
Orlando, FL 32830

Latitude: 28.375585 North, Longitude: 81.533714 West

From Orlando International Airport See our Walt Disney World Transportation Options page for information about how to get to and from Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World.

From Sanford International Airport It's about a 40-minute drive from Sanford to Disney's Old Key West Resort. If you're not renting a car, be aware that Sanford's airport offers fewer transportation options than Orlando's, and Sanford's options are generally much more expensive. A taxi from Sanford International Airport to Disney's Old Key West Resort will cost between $120 and $150, depending on traffic. Mears Transportation offers 3-passenger towncar service to Disney's Old Key West Resort for around $140 each way, plus tip; 5-passenger SUV service or 10 -passenger van is around $190 each way. That means round-trip transportation will run you somewhere between $240 and $380, plus tip, between Sanford and Disney's Old Key West Resort. At those prices, it may be less expensive to rent a car and park it at the hotel.

Getting to the theme parks, water parks and Disney Springs Disney provides free bus service from Disney's Old Key West Resort to Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Disney's Old Key West Resort's bus stops sit along the front wall of the lobby, between the lobby and check-in parking lot. Each theme park has its own bus stop somewhere along the wall. Animal Kingdom's bus service is shared with Blizzard Beach. Disney Springs is accessed via a boat that can be loaded near the Carriage House.

Disney's Old Key West Resort's Bus Schedule

Ask a Disney Cast Member about Old Key West's bus schedule, and they'll tell you that buses run about every 20 minutes. In reality, Old Key West's bus schedule varies considerably depending on the time of day and where you're headed.

For example, if you're headed to the Magic Kingdom between 8 AM and 11 AM, you'll wait around 15 minutes, on average, for a bus to arrive. The bus schedules for Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Disney's Hollywood Studios are about the same early in the day, with a bus arriving every 15-20 minutes, on average. Bus schedules to the water parks are a little less frequent, and you could wait anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes for a ride.

Buses run a little slower from around 11 AM to around 4 PM, when most people are already in a park. Disney's evening buses are scheduled around the theme parks' closing times, where most of the fleet is deployed to get guests back to their hotels. Your waits to return to your hotel from a theme park should average out to around 30 minutes under most circumstances.

If you've got your own car, it's faster to drive yourself to Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach water parks. Disney's bus service is faster to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Getting to another hotel from Disney's Old Key West Resort If you've got dining plans at another Disney hotel, the cheapest option is to take a Disney bus from Disney's Old Key West Resort an open theme park (or ride the boat to Disney Springs), then take another bus from there to your destination hotel. Do the reverse to get back to Disney's Old Key West Resort. While that's free, it can take anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours each way. If your destination is one of the Magic Kingdom monorail resorts, and the Magic Kingdom is still open, you could take a bus to the Magic Kingdom, then either walk (to the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower), hop on the monorail (to the Polynesian and Grand Floridian), or take a boat (to Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, the Polynesian, or the Grand Floridian). We suggest you still allow at least an hour for that.

The fastest option, however, is almost always a taxi from Old Key West to wherever you're going; it's generally not more than a $20, 15-minute cab ride to get to most Disney hotels from Old Key West, and often less. Taxis are available outside the lobby; if a taxi is not already sitting out front, the bell services desk also serves as a taxi stand, and they'll call one for you.

To Universal Orlando If you're staying at Walt Disney World and don't have a car, Mears Transportation will shuttle you from your hotel to Universal and back for $18 per person. Pickup and return times are at your convenience. A one-way taxi ride is around $36, and may be the cheapest option if you have three to five people.

Shopping, Recreation and Things to Do

Old Key West's gift shop is Conch Flats General Store. It is located in the Hospitality House near the lobby. As you'd expect from a Disney gift shop, Conch Flats has a decent collection of souvenirs ranging from small trinkets such as keychains and pens, to embroidered jackets and Disney princess dresses. Prices for these items are about what you'd pay in the theme parks or Disney Springs.

Conch Flats also sells basic pharmacy items such as sunscreen, aspirin, allergy and cold medicine, baby diapers and formula, shampoo, and the like. And Conch Flats has Disney-branded cookies, chocolate, coffee tins, and similar items, if that's what you're looking for. Prices for these items are considerably higher - about double - than what you'd probably pay at home.

Located near the lobby is the Electric Eel Gameroom, which has a decent collection of relatively recent video and arcade games. Most games cost $0.50 to $2.00 per play, which can add up quickly. It's helpful to set a budget with your kids before they go in. There's a similar Flying Fish Gameroom adjacent to the Old Turtle Pond Pool (buildings 41/42).

Walkers, joggers and runners can find a jogging trail. The trail is a 1.37-mile path along the golf greens and water canals.

Old Key West features several sports courts, including shuffleboard, tennis, volleyball, and basketball. Equipment is available for free at Hank's Rent and Return.

Besides socializing, Community Hall offers crafts, a pool table and for-rent movies and board games.

The resort also offers a complimentary walking tour of the history and storyline for Disney's Old Key West Resort. The tour is every Wednesday and Saturday morning at 10 am and is called "The Legend of Conch Flats." No advanced registration is required and begins in Papa's Den, adjacent to the Lobby.

Disney's Old Key West Resort Babysitting and In-Room Child Care

Disney contracts with a third party company, Kids Nite Out, to provide babysitting services at the resort hotels. See our Disney resort childcare page for more information.

Miscellaneous Old Key West

There are on site washers and dryers available for guest use. For more information on guest laundry services at Walt Disney World hotels, see our WDW Laundry Information page.

There is a non-advertised walkway to Disney Springs inside Old Key West. The walkway is paved along the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course and is only open from dusk to dawn. The path begins by buildings 54 & 55 in Southpointe.

If you lose something during your stay, contact Disney's Old Key West Resort's Lost and Found department by calling (407) 827-7700.

Blog Posts About Disney's Old Key West Resort

• Which Section of Disney’s Old Key West Resort is Right for You?

Would you recommend this hotel to a friend?

Hotel	Definitely (+/- since last year)
Disney's Old Key West Resort	66% (-14%)
Average for WDW hotels	76% (+0%)
Average for off-site hotels	57% (+0%)

Would you stay at this hotel again?

Hotel	Definitely (+/- since last year)
Disney's Old Key West Resort	86% (-4%)
Average for WDW hotels	92% (+2%)
Average for off-site hotels	79% (-7%)

Hotel Photos

Hotel Videos

Old Key West 1-Bedroom Villa Tour

Old Key West 1-Bedroom Villa Tour

Old Key West Resort Tour and Overview

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

Old Key West is huge, with 49 three-story villa buildings spread over about 100 acres. Views are nice from almost all villas; all multiroom villas and some studios have a large balcony furnished with a table and chairs.

Because the resort is bordered by busy Bonnet Creek Parkway and even busier Buena Vista Drive, the best villas are those located as far from the road noise as possible. For quiet isolation and a lovely river view, ask for building 46 or 45, in that order. For nice lake and golfcourse views away from roads and close 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; they offer primarily golf-course views. The next-best choices are buildings 32 and 34; the former looks onto a lake, with the golf course in the background, while the latter faces the golf course, with tennis courts to the left and a lake to the right. Avoid buildings 19–22, 38, 39, 41, 42, and 49–54, which border Bonnet Creek Parkway and Buena Vista Drive and get their attendant noise.

Finally, if you want to use your balcony without the sun in your face, use the map on page 167 to check out the position of your building relative to sunrise and sunset. If you want to use your balcony in the afternoon, ask for an east-facing building. Conversely, request a west-facing building if you primarily want to use your balcony in the morning. We like to enjoy a drink on the balcony in the afternoon or evening, so we ensure shade by asking for an east-facing villa.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
Largest villas of the DVC/DDV resorts	Multiple bus stops
Often available at discounted rates or as a DVC rental	No elevators in many buildings
Mature landscaping	Highway noise
Homey, well-themed lounge (The Gurgling Suitcase)	Fewer baths per bedroom than newer
Close to Lake Buena Vista Golf Course	DVC/DDV properties
Boat service to Disney Springs	Mediocre on-site dining
Gift shop with grocery selection
Convenient parking

Disney's Old Key West Resort Dining

• Conch Flats General Store (Market)
• Good's Food to Go (Quick Service)
• Gurgling Suitcase Libations and Spirits (Bar or Lounge)
• Olivia's Cafe (Table Service)
• Turtle Shack (Quick Service)

Commuting Times to the Parks

Park	Boat	Bus	Personal Automobile
Magic Kingdom	–	24.0 min	36.0 min
EPCOT	–	23.0 min	18.0 min
Hollywood Studios	–	25.0 min	18.0 min
Animal Kingdom	–	27.0 min	19.0 min
Disney Springs	19.0 min	22.0 min	9.0 min