Disney’s Old Key West Resort

You can experience two getaways in one at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.

Inspired by the serene island beauty of turn-of-the-century Key West, this ambling resort is covered in lush greenery and palm trees, with quaint seaside dwellings in warm tones and tropical flowers providing cheerful color to the resort.

Old Key West is a Disney Deluxe Villa resort, and the accommodations range from single room studios to three-bedroom grand villas. Pastel-colored bungalows with gingerbread accents are sprinkled around the extensive grounds, alongside tranquil waterways and the fairways and greens of the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course.

The Old Key West Resort was the first resort to be created as a time share for members of the Disney Vacation Club. These days, many rooms are available to other Disney guests in search of the cozy villa experience.

Disney's Old Key West Resort
Entrance to Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Resort Layout and Rooms

This is an extensive resort divided into several different sections. These sections and the streets from which they derive their names are Miller’s Road, North Cove Road, Penninsular Road, Old Turtle Pond Road, and South Point Road.

The studio rooms at Old Key West are very similar to, although slightly larger than, the standard hotel rooms at other Disney deluxe resorts. They have two queen size beds in the bedroom/living area, a porch or balcony, and a bathroom area. In addition, the studios have a kitchenette with a microwave and refrigerator.

Whether one, two, or three bedrooms, the villas all feature separate living and dining rooms in addition to the bedrooms, as well as fully equipped kitchens. The living rooms have sleeper chairs and pull-out sofas to sleep additional people, and the two-bedroom and three-bedroom villas have two and three bathrooms respectively.

Pools and Sauna

Old Key West has four heated pools in total; the largest near the main building known as Hospitality House, and three smaller pools scattered throughout the different sections of the resort. The main pool area has a water slide, a kiddie pool and a hot tub, as well as a playground with sand and a jungle gym. There is also a sauna next to the feature pool complex.

Other Recreation Opportunities

One pleasant and homey feature of Old Key West is the Conch Flats Community Hall located in the Hospitality House. This gathering area for guests has several daily planned activities, games, a large television, and DVDs for rental.

There are two arcades at the Old Key West Resort. The game room, called Electric Eel, is located inside the Hospitality House.  A second arcade, called Flying Fish game room, is in the southern part of the resort in the Old Turtle Pond Road section.

The Lake Buena Vista Golf Course plays right through the Old Key West Resort, and it’s not just there for ambiance. This is a four-star golf course that has hosted PGA and LPGA Tour events, and avid golfers can enjoy the enviable experience of playing right past their own front doors.

Bikes are a great way to explore the extensive grounds at Old Key West, and guests can rent bikes or surreys at the rental center near the Hospitality House. Safety equipment, including helmets, are also available with rentals.

The R.E.S.T. Complex

R.E.S.T, despite the name, is not a place to relax. It stands for the Recreation, Exercise, Swimming, and Tennis center, and area includes a fitness center that is available to all guest at the Old Key West Resort. Located next to the hospitality house, the complex has fitness equipment and a sauna as well as the resort’s signature pool, tennis, volleyball, shuffleboard, and basketball courts, and a sauna.

Places to Eat

Although the kitchen or kitchenette in each villa gives guests the ability to handle their own meals when they choose, there are also several dining options for guests at the Old Key West Resort.

Disney's Key West
The nautical theme of the resort is everywhere.

Olivia’s Café

Olivia’s Café serves three meals a day in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you come for the signature banana bread French toast, a dish of Florida seafood, or a Key Lime tart, Olivia’s serves American comfort food with a few Key differences.

Good’s Food To Go

Good’s is a fast food service counter serving American standards such as burgers and hot dogs. Along with Olivia’s Café, Good’s Food To Go is located in the Hospitality House building.

Turtle Shack Snack Bar

The Turtle Shack is situated in the Old Turtle Pond Road section, next to the quiet pool that also serves guests in this area. It serves food similar to that at Good’s, as well as featured cocktails and other adult beverages.

Transportation

The Old Key West Resort is in the Disney Springs resort area, between Epcot and the Disney Springs shopping and dining area. To get to other parts of the Disney World resort, the options are to take a bus, a bus, or another bus. There are also ferryboats that can take guests into Disney Springs, although travel by bus is generally quicker.

Key West DVC
Giant sand castle at Old Key West pool.

Pros and Cons

Old Key West is a large, spread-out resort, and the only handicapped-accessible rooms are on the ground floors of the bungalows. Guests who prefer not to walk long distances, or who struggle with stairs, should be sure to request a ground floor room close to Hospitality House. All of the main amenities of the resort, including the feature pool and sauna, fitness center, Olivia’s Café, and bus stops, are grouped in this area.

Guests who do not mind a longer walk can enjoy a more secluded bungalow on the quiet outskirts of the resort. The beautiful grounds of this resort are one of its primary draws, and truly create the illusion of a Key West retreat.

A Cozy Getaway for Large or Multiple Families

Old Key West is both spacious and cozy, with extensive grounds and large rooms, and warm country-home décor that doesn’t overwhelm with theming and Disney imagery. For larger families looking for a degree of independence, especially for longer stays, Old Key West is a great value.