Sunday, March 11, 2012

Resorts - Old Key West

Disney's Old Key West Resort opened in December 1991 as the "Disney Vacation Club Resort", but was appropriately renamed in 1996. Boasting the designation of being Disney's first timeshare resort, Old Key West set the standard for all other vacation club resorts to follow.Keeping with our approach of introducing resorts with the full understanding that there are a multitude of blogs or sites available with in-depth information about costs, layout, etc.; we will again forgo the in-depth review you may find on other sites and offer a brief overview of things of interest surrounding the resort that may help you make the decision as to whether or not you would like to stay there.


Atmosphere: Reminiscent of the Florida Keys, the resort is awash with pale pastels and lush greenery. Palm trees sway over waterways that lead past a red and white stripped lighthouse to Downtown Disney, and alongside the beautiful fairways of the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course. Starting your morning by walking onto the deck outside your room, and listening to a symphony of birds chirping, as well as the "ping" of golf balls being tapped toward luxuriant greens, while the breeze gently blows through the palm fronds automatically sets a relaxing tone. The attention to detail in this storyline might even impress Key West's most famous former resident, Mr. HemingwayResort Location: Old Key West Resort is conveniently located near the Magic Kingdom and Downtown Disney, though not far from both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. As always, you can reach any park location using Disney's Transportation Buses. However, you may also take a nice trip in a ferryboat to Downtown Disney. There is also a walkway leading to Downtown Disney for those who would rather walk.


Restaurants: Old Key West Resort features 3 restaurants. Located near the Hospitality House, Olivia's Cafe is a casual restaurant. Olivia's offers both indoor and outdoor seating for the three main meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) daily. From conch fritters to spiced pecan-crusted Mahi Mahi, and key lime tarts; Olivia's menu is complete with a variety of delicious courses. Goods Foods to Go is a counter service restaurant near the pool area which serves everything from Angus burgers to conch chowder. The Turtle Shack is another counter service restaurant open seasonally. Lastly, the Gurgling Suitcase offers a place to sip adult beverages if that is what you desire.


Pools: As with all Disney resorts, the story is central to the theme. What story about the Florida Keys would be complete without a sand-castle? Climb the stairs to a second story seat on a water slide that rushes you through a sand-castle structure before releasing you into the refreshing pools waters through the sand-castle's Hidden Mickey opening. This pool is one of my kid's favorites for this reason alone.Other Activities & Attractions: You will find that most Disney resorts offer a wealth of fun and engaging activities, and Old Key West is no different. Tennis, Golf, Basketball Courts, Jogging Trails, Shuffleboard and Watercraft Rentals rank among a number of other available activities to choose from.Have you stayed at Disney's Old Key West Resort? What were your opinions? Was there something you liked about the resort or wanted to add in order to help people better enjoy their stay here? If so, just add your comments below, we would love to hear from you!

1 comment:

  1. That kid-sized sand castle is amazing! How did they build that? That’s pretty cool. I'm sure the kids would love going inside of the castle and exploring it. And the amenities of this resort are just outstanding!

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