Category — q. Reviews

In mid-May 2013 I made my fourth visit since this site opened to Disney’s Old Key West Resort.

This time, I was assigned an accessible One-Bedroom Villa, and what follows are some of the differences between these spaces and standard rooms.

(There’s a full review of standard villas at Old Key West here.)

ACCESSIBLE VILLAS AT OLD KEY WEST

I noted three spaces with differences: the entry door, the kitchen, and the bath.

The entry has a buzzer which presumably provides both audible and visible signals for both the hearing and visually challenged. (I was visiting solo, so did not have a chance to test it.)

The kitchen has multiple differences compared to standard villas.

The items of the work triangle–sink, fridge  and stove–are pushed to the ends of the kitchen, so that the kitchen island presents fewer access problems.

The sink now is set up so a wheelchair can pull up underneath it.

The countertops are at 34 inches tall, rather than 36 inches tall–at the upper end of the sensible range of such accessible counters.  Moreover, the bottoms of the wall cabinets are only 16.5 inches above the counters.  These two changes together put the lowest shelf of the wall cabinets 3.5 inches lower than in standard rooms.

The fridge in this room gains accessibility by being side-by-side, rather than over/under as in standard rooms.

The bath has a couple of features making it much more accessible.

The bath sink has clearance for a chair below it, and note both the safety bars and fold-up seat in the shower.

The toilet area also has multiple safety bars.

My room was a lock-off One-Bedroom Villa on the ground floor.

I imagine that since only three Old Key West buildings have elevators, and because a lock-off is the most flexible type of space, that most other accessible villas at Old Key West are also first floor and lockoff.

For more on Disney’s Old Key West Resort, see this.

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THEMING, AMENITIES, AND CHOICES AT DISNEY’S OLD KEY WEST RESORT

Disney’s Old Key West Resort is described on Walt Disney World’s website as “an island hamlet of brilliant green landscapes, pastel-colored Victorian architecture and ornate gingerbread accents…nestled among swaying palm trees, shimmering waterways and… lush golf fairways.”

Its 156 acres include an area called the Hospitality House. You’ll find pretty much everything here except your room itself. (There’s a map on the first page of this review.)

It includes the check-in lobby, where you’ll also find concierge services…

…a comfortable lounging room off the lobby

…and a well-stocked shop…

…with a nice assortment of groceries–which makes sense, given all the kitchens here.

Also in the Hospitality House area you’ll find the table service restaurant, Olivia’s…

…a small bar…

…and a small snack bar, which is the only counter-service offering here (there’s another one at the far end of the resort near the Turtle Pond quiet pool)… understandable, I suppose, given all the kitchens, but awkward for anyone on the dining plan…or in a studio.

The bar and snack bar are close to the main pool.

At the main pool you’ll also find a hot tub…

..and a sauna!

Near the main pool you’ll also find a pool for little kids, and beyond it a playground.

Nearby there’s a marina…

…and the dock where you can catch a ferry to Downtown Disney.

Beyond this area, the resort has several different sections with their own bus stops, and, for the more distant sections, quiet pools.

The quiet pool at the far end of Old Turtle Pond Road, which is about as far from the Hospitality House as you can get, is particularly substantial and has its own snack bar.

Hours at this snack bar can be short–in mid-May 2013 they were 9a-5p–and the menu limited. (Like all the images, if you click the menu it’ll enlarge.)

The rooms at Old Key West are grouped into several different areas, and are now labeled by the roads they are on. There is no difference in theming among these areas, so use the material on the first page on best and worst rooms to pick your building.

Disney’s online check-in system lets you pick two from among many choices. However, when we did it, no choice was either “near the Hospitality House” or “in a building with elevators.”

See the image for the choices offered (at least in April 2013) and my comments on them…

Disney’s Old Key West Resort opened in December 1991 as the first of the Disney Vacation Club Resorts–its first name was the Disney Vacation Club Resort! It expanded over the years until the current layout was completed–with buildings 62, 63 and 64, the newest, opening in 2000.

It was fully renovated over the course of 2010 and 2011.

The fact that it was the first DVC resort perhaps explains both some of its negatives and some of its positives…

Its sprawling layout, community (rather than hotel) feel, and large rooms perhaps came from Disney’s attempt to figure out whether it was building vacation homes in a community or a hotel. Perhaps it split the difference.

The next wave of later DVC resorts shrank the rooms and (with the exception of Saratoga Springs) shrank the layout into hotel footprints. Planning for the most recent DVC resorts–Kidani Village and Bay Lake Tower–added back sorely needed living/dining/kitchen space.

Among the DVC resorts, Old Key West’s strengths for first time visitors are its relatively lower prices and relatively larger rooms.

The principal negatives are its sprawl, absence of elevators in almost all buildings, awkward bath access in most buildings, and lack of convenience and kid appeal.

Returning visitors often find Old Key West to be a favorite. Its spaciousness can be a godsend for a boisterous family, and among the DVC resorts it is far and away the best value for money.

EXTERNAL LINKS FOR DISNEY’S OLD KEY WEST RESORT:

• Official Disney Old Key West web page
• Official Disney Vacation Club web page

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MORE ON WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

• For where to stay, see this
  • For your next best choices, in order, see this
  • For picking your resort based on appeal to kids, see this
  • For picking your resort based on convenience, see this
  • For where not to stay, see this

• For what you get in each resort price category, see this
  • For Walt Disney World resort price seasons, see this
  • For resort reviews, see this
  • For the value resorts, see this
  • For the moderate resorts, see this
  • For the deluxe resorts, see this
  • For suites at the deluxe resorts, see this
  • For the Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) Resorts, see this

• For a (geeky) overview of comparative room size, see this

• Large families should look at this, and also at
  • Large Families Looking for Value Pricing at Walt Disney World
  • Large Families Looking for Deluxe Accommodations at Disney World
  • Beds and Sleeping Spaces at the Walt Disney World Resorts
  • Renting Disney Vacation Club Points
  • Suites at Walt Disney World

• Military/DOD families should look at this

• Tightwads should look at this

• Families seeking the most comfortable place to stay should see this

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MORE ON DISNEY’S OLD KEY WEST RESORT

There are currently 7 official Disney Vacation Club resorts at Walt Disney World.

However, I have come to count them as nine, because two of the resorts–Saratoga Springs and the Animal Kingdom Villas–have two very different areas.

In order of their appropriateness for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World, they are:

1. The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
2. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas–Jambo House
3. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas–Kidani Village
4. Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
5. Disney’s Beach Club Villas
6. Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
7. Disney’s Old Key West Resort
8. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, main resort
9. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, Treehouse Villas area.

These resorts are available to anyone to reserve through the regular Walt Disney World website or resort reservations phone number at 407-939-7675.

They also are available to the general public at great discounts through renting points from a Disney Vacation Club member. (They are also of course available to these members themselves.)

All Disney Vacation Club resorts have studio rooms, One-Bedroom Villas, and Two-Bedroom Villas.

Most have Grand Villas as well.

Old Key West floor plans of all four room types, which were all renovated in 2011-2012,  are below.

At Old Key West, Studios sleep 4 and have a microwave and a mini-fridge.

See the second page of this review for multiple photos of a Studio--disguised as the second bedroom of a Two-Bedroom Villa!

The One-Bedroom Villas sleep 5, including three on fold-out beds in a full kitchen/dining/living space.

See the second page for more images of the master bedroom, and the third page for images of the combined kitchen/living/dining space.

They also have large porch or balcony, and a separate master bedroom.

Two-Bedroom Villas add a second four-person bedroom (similar, or identical, to a Studio) to the amenities of a One-Bedroom, and sleep 9.

Functionally they combine the amenities of a Studio and a One-Bedroom Villa, so the images on pages 2 and 3 all apply to Two-Bedroom Villas as well.

Grand Villas sleep 12 in almost twice the space of a Two-Bedroom Villa, in three bedrooms plus sleeper sofas. At Old Key West, Grand Villas are two-story spaces.

Grand Villas hold three more people in space almost twice as big a the 9-person Two-Bedroom Villas.   The extra space downstairs comes from doubling the already commodious size of the kitchen/dining/living area, and moving the seocnd bedroom the the upper level–where it is joined by a third bedroom, also sleeping four.

These spaces are also about twice as expensive as Two-Bedroom Villas…

You all haven’t found the sponsors of this site quite appealing enough yet for me to have been able to afford to stay in a Grand Villa, but I’m sure they are quite nice!!  And a fellow can dream…look for a review of one here within the decade…

(To each of the capacity figures above, you can add one more kid under 3 at time of check in who sleeps in a crib.)

THEMING, AMENITIES, AND CHOICES AT DISNEY’S OLD KEY WEST RESORT

This review continues here.

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This is the second page of this review of Disney’s Old Key West Resort. For the first page, see this.

A PHOTO TOUR OF A TWO BEDROOM VILLA AT DISNEY’S OLD KEY WEST RESORT

Disney’s Old Key West Resort has four room types–Studios, One-Bedroom Villas, Two-Bedroom Villas, and Grand Villas.

You can see the bones of each of the first three room types in a Two-Bedroom Villa, and that’s what this photo tour covers.

See the Two Bedroom floor plan.

At the lower right you’ll see a space with two beds.  That’s basically the same as a Studio, and the rest of the spaces are the same as a One-Bedroom Villa.

Some Two-Bedroom Villas are literally the combination of a Studio and a One-Bedroom, with locking doors between, and two entrances–one to the Studio and one to the One Bedroom.  These are called ”lockoffs.”

Other Two-Bedroom Villas are designed as single units, and thus don’t have the second outside door.  Instead they have a second closet where the outside door is shown in the above floor plan.

My photos are from a Two-Bedroom Villa designed as a single unit. Our unit also was the mirror image of the floor plan, with the second bedroom/”Studio” on the left of the entry, rather than the right.  This almost certainly will confuse me, and perhaps you too…

THE SECOND BEDROOM/ “STUDIO” SIDE OF A TWO BEDROOM VILLA AT DISNEY’S OLD KEY WEST RESORT

The second bedroom/”Studio” side sleeps 4 in a spacious room with two queen beds.

Also in this space is a good-sized table with two chairs…

…a TV and dresser…

…and at least one, and depending on the room type, as many as two closets. One closet is in the space just outside the bath…

And the other closet, if present, is in the space where in a Studio, or lock-off Two Bedroom, you’d find the outside entry door to the Studio/bedroom.

In addition to the first closet, just outside the bath you’ll find a sink. In lockoffs/Studios you’ll also find here a microwave and mini-fridge. (My rule, in case you were wondering, is “No microwave, no focus!)

The bath in the second bedroom is fine.

True Studios have their own balcony–unless a Two-Bedroom Villa is a lockoff, the second bedroom won’t have this balcony.

While there’s nothing special about these second bedroom/Studios, they are large, spacious, and quite livable.

THE MASTER BEDROOM IN ONE AND TWO BEDROOM VILLAS AT DISNEY’S OLD KEY WEST RESORT

The master bedroom, with a king bed, easy chair, and associated bath, is the same in both One and Two-Bedroom Villas.

On the floor plan above it’s on the left; in our room, it was at the right of the entry.  See the images above for shots of the king bed from both sides.

Also on the bed side of the room is an easy chair.

On the other side of the master bedroom you’ll find a door to the balcony…

…drawers with a TV behind doors above them…

…and further along a padded bench with a couple more large drawers.

This bedroom also has a spectacular divided bath, with a whirlpool tub and pedestal sink…

…a closet nearby…

…and a separate space with a toilet, large shower, and sink.

As noted on the first page of this review, in a major design error, many One and Two-Bedroom Villas, have no entry to this bath from the central living/dining/kitchen area.

This means access to this bath for those sleeping on the fold-out beds in the central space is directly through the master bedroom…which kinda defeats the purpose of having a private master bedroom…

THE CENTRAL LIVING SPACE OF ONE AND TWO-BEDROOM VILLAS AT DISNEY’S OLD KEY WEST RESORT

This review continues here.

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OVERVIEW: DISNEY’S OLD KEY WEST RESORT FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS

Disney’s Old Key West Resort (a Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) Resort) is a wonderful place for returning visitors to Walt Disney World to stay.

It’s the most spacious, most livable, and least expensive of the DVC resorts, and is my personal favorite among them.

For typical first-time visitors, I don’t recommend the Disney Vacation Club resorts.

That said, these “DVC” resorts can be a great choice for first time visitors with large families, needing extra sleeping spaces, or looking for a more comfortable place to stay.

Among the Disney Vacation Club Resorts, Disney’s Old Key West Resort ranks seventh overall for first time visitors, with its particular strengths being livability and value for money.

OLD KEY WEST AND THE DISNEY VACATION CLUB RESORTS

[Read more →]

LOEWS PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is one of three deluxe hotels in the Universal Orlando resort. (The other two are the Royal Pacific, reviewed here, and the Hard Rock Hotel.)

This site’s Instructions for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter suggest that families wishing to visit Harry Potter that can afford it book a room at at one of the Universal hotels.

This is because the Universal hotels give terrific perks at Universal Orlando to hotel guests.

Most relevant to Harry Potter is that the Wizarding World opens to guests of these hotels one hour before it opens to the general public.

(If you are staying just one night, this is true both your day of check-in and your day of check-out.)

This makes it particularly easy to fit in both Ollivanders and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey without hours of waiting.

Another great perk is that Universal hotel guests can use their room key as the equivalent of a FASTPASS for many rides at any time.  This does not apply to the Forbidden Journey or Ollivanders--the only perk that applies to them is the early entry.

All three hotels are nice, convenient to both parks at Universal Orlando, and expensive. Loews Portofino Bay is the most gorgeous (and expensive) of them, but its village theme will go over the head of most kids.

We had the chance to stay at Portofino Bay in early March. Our stay wasn’t long enough for a full review of the hotel and all its services, so this is really just a review of our room (though as you’ll note there’s photos of the rest of the place above). [Read more →]