Which building at Old Key West?

Pseudonym · Nov 29, 2020

Hello. For our 6th trip to WDW, we are hoping to rent points for a two week stay at Old Key West, late next year. A Studio room for 2 adults. After a *lot* of research, I think the relaxed, quiet style of OKW will work perfectly for us. Also that it's Disney at less-than-Disney prices.

I was hoping for advice on building requests. Here is what we are looking for.

1. Ground Floor Room. Both my husband & I have difficulty with stairs.

2. Room with window *plus* balcony / porch door. I think 4??? Buildings have Studios without a window, only balcony.

3. Quiet Room. Away from the highway, main road, resort bus stops etc. We will have a car, so a building with outside parking.

4. Water / Canal View would be wonderful.

For folks that own / rent at OKW, which building would you recommend? Looking at the Resort Map, building 46 leading up to South Point Road, seems to meet our requirement.

Thank you for your time & advice.

MICKIMINI · Nov 29, 2020

We like Turtle Pond area for the quiet pool. There are quite a few buildings near the pool. There is a bus stop there, but we never heard the bus from our villa. We had a gorgeous waterfront view in 35, first floor 1 BR.

jimandami · Nov 29, 2020

Agree with Turtle Pond. We were in building 44 (I think) two weeks ago, right across from the quiet pool. Perfect location, quiet, and convenient to laundry and the quiet pool, although I preferred the main pool because is was TOO quiet. We did not have a water view, but, our balcony was still a nice place to relax.

SwanVT2 · Nov 29, 2020

Is Turtle Pond considered preferred? Does anyone have a photo of their quiet pool? We love SSR but are thinking we might stay OKW next time just for change in scenery. Thanks!

MICKIMINI · Nov 29, 2020

Turtle Pond is not preferred as there is no "preferred" at OKW. Unless you book Hospitality House (close to the boat) you can be anywhere. I think you can find a photo of the pool online...it is lovely, there is a snack bar (seasonal) and very few people. We just booked 8 nights for next Oct in a 2 BR and will request Turtle Pond so I can walk to the pool early in the morning...bliss!!

Deb & Bill · Nov 29, 2020

You don't want 18, 35 or 38 if you book a non-Hospitality House villa. If you book HH Area, you don't want 14. These are the four buildings with the studios in the corners rather than at the ends of the building. 18 is Miller's Rd, 35 and 38 are Turtle Pond. If you request South Point or Peninsular Rd you will not get one of these buildings. Bldg 45 and46 are probably the most requested building with the view of Trumbo Canal. Make sure you request ground floor. We've stayed in 55 and 56 and both were quiet with plenty of parking. Not too far from the bus stop, too.

There are only two booking categories at OKW - Near Hospitality House and Not Near Hospitality House. Near HH Area is 11-14 and 23-26.

SwanVT2 · Nov 29, 2020

MICKIMINI said:
Turtle Pond is not preferred as there is no "preferred" at OKW. Unless you book Hospitality House (close to the boat) you can be anywhere. I think you can find a photo of the pool online...it is lovely, there is a snack bar (seasonal) and very few people. We just booked 8 nights for next Oct in a 2 BR and will request Turtle Pond so I can walk to the pool early in the morning...bliss!!

It would be so cool if they allowed pool sharing between SSR and OKW. I love checking out the different pools at SSR!

Pseudonym · Nov 30, 2020

Thank you to all those that took the time to respond. And to the DIS moderator that moved this query to the correct forum.

The information on the buildings numbers where Studios lack window + balcony natural light is incredibly helpful. Thank you, Deb & Bill.

I'm not quite sure how to attach an image to this post, but based on the map I'm using, Buildings 46 & 55 seem ideal given our specific requirements.

Any further advice would be gratefully received.

cpep42 · Nov 30, 2020

Best building is 62 third floor and it has an elevator. Great view and close to HH.

ishtaru · Nov 30, 2020

Old Key West owner for 26 years, would recommend staying in a one bedroom near the Hospitality House, would be cost saving fully kitchen, great patio to enjoy your own meals, or just to relax and enjoy the views, full size laundry in room, two large tv's, near bus pickup, near main pool, near restaurant bar and quick service food, away from all traffic and noise

Simba's Mom · Dec 1, 2020

ishtaru said:
Old Key West owner for 26 years, would recommend staying in a one bedroom near the Hospitality House, would be cost saving fully kitchen, great patio to enjoy your own meals, or just to relax and enjoy the views, full size laundry in room, two large tv's, near bus pickup, near main pool, near restaurant bar and quick service food, away from all traffic and noise

Do you find that the rooms near the HH have parking problems, due to people parking there to access the pool or Olivia's? I thought I read that once Also, how are the views from the HH villas, particularly one bedrooms, for golf course views?

GrumpyInPhilly · Dec 1, 2020

Simba's Mom said:
Do you find that the rooms near the HH have parking problems, due to people parking there to access the pool or Olivia's? I thought I read that once Also, how are the views from the HH villas, particularly one bedrooms, for golf course views?

We just stayed in a 1BR HH category in Oct. Requested buildings 23-26 (got 24), golf course view. No noise. No parking problems. Nice view of course. Quick walk to HH.

kverdon · Dec 1, 2020

The only issue we have had at OKW was on the ground floor where we were given a room right next to the back of air conditioners. It made sitting on the patio very noisy.

Pseudonym · Dec 2, 2020

Thank you, cpep42. We were tempted by building 62, but decided against it. I'm sure the 3 buildings with elevators are heavily requested & in some cases genuinely needed. We can easily manage 5 - 7 steps to a ground floor studio, & we will have a car, so we're ok with a ground floor room away from HH.

Hello, Ishtaru. Wow, 26 years at Disney, that's wonderful! Our trip will be over 30 nights, with NY & Orlando. I'm afraid our budget stretches only upto a studio room. But perhaps a 1 bedroom on a later trip.

Hello, Simbasmom & Grumpyinphilly. We are also keen on a building with outside parking. And would much prefer a water view. Although building 24 does seem quiet & convenient.

Hello, Kverdon. That's an excellent point on noise from air conditioning units. Could you please elaborate? Which building were you assigned & which type of room?

I live in a city with a lot of urban noise, & strangely I've become more sensitive to it as years go by. So quiet, ground floor with a lot of natural light & water views would be my happy place.

Thank you for all the great advice!

GrumpyInPhilly · Dec 2, 2020

Pseudonym said:
Thank you, cpep42. We were tempted by building 62, but decided against it. I'm sure the 3 buildings with elevators are heavily requested & in some cases genuinely needed. We can easily manage 5 - 7 steps to a ground floor studio, & we will have a car, so we're ok with a ground floor room away from HH.

Hello, Ishtaru. Wow, 26 years at Disney, that's wonderful! Our trip will be over 30 nights, with NY & Orlando. I'm afraid our budget stretches only upto a studio room. But perhaps a 1 bedroom on a later trip.

Hello, Simbasmom & Grumpyinphilly. We are also keen on a building with outside parking. And would much prefer a water view. Although building 24 does seem quiet & convenient.

Hello, Kverdon. That's an excellent point on noise from air conditioning units. Could you please elaborate? Which building were you assigned & which type of room?

I live in a city with a lot of urban noise, & strangely I've become more sensitive to it as years go by. So quiet, ground floor with a lot of natural light & water views would be my happy place.

Thank you for all the great advice!

Just my 2 cents: I always use Google Earth to zoom in on a villa or hotel to see where the AC units are. If on the ground, I ask for higher floor; if on the roof, I ask for lower floor. OKW has units on the ground and there are a lot of them It seems like there could be an individual unit for each villa but not sure on that. We stayed at OKW this past Oct. in hopes that the air filtering would be just for our villa (covid-19 concern).

Deb & Bill · Dec 2, 2020

Studios are located mainly at the ends of the building except in the four three sided buildings (studios are in the inner corners). AC units are normally located at the ends of the building at OKW. Parking can be an issue with Bldg 11-14 and 62, 63 and 64. 11-14 are Near HH area buildings. When the parking lot at the HH fills up (swimming weather is good), guests will overflow to the parking lots at 62 and 63 or 13 and 14. 64 doesn't even have it's own parking lot and shares with 63. The parking lot at 15 is smaller and you gets guests from 15 and 64 parking there.

wdwjan · Dec 2, 2020

We're going to be at OKW for 10 days in January. I typically book an upper floor but have had a few issues with stairs this year. I love balconies, and from pictures I've seen the ground floor rooms (1BR) at OKW look like they have little fences around them like a balcony. Is this true of all the ground floor rooms? I think this balcony-snob would like those! Opinions?

dachsie · Dec 3, 2020

Pseudonym said:
Hello. For our 6th trip to WDW, we are hoping to rent points for a two week stay at Old Key West, late next year. A Studio room for 2 adults. After a *lot* of research, I think the relaxed, quiet style of OKW will work perfectly for us. Also that it's Disney at less-than-Disney prices.

I was hoping for advice on building requests. Here is what we are looking for.

1. Ground Floor Room. Both my husband & I have difficulty with stairs.

2. Room with window *plus* balcony / porch door. I think 4??? Buildings have Studios without a window, only balcony.

3. Quiet Room. Away from the highway, main road, resort bus stops etc. We will have a car, so a building with outside parking.

4. Water / Canal View would be wonderful.

For folks that own / rent at OKW, which building would you recommend? Looking at the Resort Map, building 46 leading up to South Point Road, seems to meet our requirement.

Thank you for your time & advice.

I made those requests and ended up on 2nd floor of bldg 64 which has elevator. It’s perfect! I overlook a water fountain in the pond with nothing obscuring the view. It’s very peaceful. Only caveat I would say is to walk to the Peninsular road bus stop in the mornings instead of HH. I waited a hour for an AK bus that never came before I gave up to drive on Monday. Buses were filling up and for some stupid reason the couldn’t send a bus to every stop so everyone could go to the parks. MK bus never came either there by the time I left.

ishtaru · Dec 3, 2020

Simba's Mom said:
Do you find that the rooms near the HH have parking problems, due to people parking there to access the pool or Olivia's? I thought I read that once Also, how are the views from the HH villas, particularly one bedrooms, for golf course views?

never had a problem with parking, many parking places in front of each building plus additional parking in the resort check in parking area, all rooms have water some with fountains or golf course views, building 62 and 63 have elevators

SueM in MN · Dec 4, 2020

Pseudonym said:
Thank you, cpep42. We were tempted by building 62, but decided against it. I'm sure the 3 buildings with elevators are heavily requested & in some cases genuinely needed. We can easily manage 5 - 7 steps to a ground floor studio, & we will have a car, so we're ok with a ground floor room away from HH.

If by steps, you mean stairs, all the ground floor villas at OKW are level to the ground, no steps to get in.

wdwjan said:
We're going to be at OKW for 10 days in January. I typically book an upper floor but have had a few issues with stairs this year. I love balconies, and from pictures I've seen the ground floor rooms (1BR) at OKW look like they have little fences around them like a balcony. Is this true of all the ground floor rooms? I think this balcony-snob would like those! Opinions?

All of the OKW villas have the same type of balcony, with a tile floor, ceiling and the little ‘fence’.
The only difference between a ground floor and a higher floor is the view.

Which building at Old Key West?

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