Old Key West review

I stayed at Old Key West for the first time in January 2020, while I was running the Dopey Challenge. It hadn’t been my  first choice, but I’m so glad that’s where I ended up because I ultimately fell in love with this resort! I know we will definitely be back for a stay here in the future.

Location

Old Key West is in the Disney Springs area. They have a boat that runs from Old Key West to Disney Springs, which was a great way to get around and we took advantage of it a number of times. In terms of the theme parks, the resort is closest to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. I’d say it was probably around 8-10 minutes to get there. Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom are a bit further, with Magic Kingdom taking us the longest to reach on the bus – I’d say it was close to 20 minutes. Since I stayed here during Dopey weekend I was trying not to plan long days in the parks, so being able to relax at the resort and then go to Disney Springs for dinner was perfect!

Themeing

This resort probably has the most “Florida” theme out of any Disney resort, since it’s inspired by the island of Key West, FL. I spent a day in Key West on a Disney cruise a few years ago and loved it there, so I should have expected to really like this resort too! It felt the most relaxed and low key out of any place I’ve stayed at Disney. Maybe it’s because everything is pretty spread out, but it didn’t feel like there were a million families just rushing around all the time.

Food

There is one main table service restaurant at Old Key West called Olivia’s. We had both breakfast and dinner here, and while both were very good we really enjoyed dinner in particular. The conch fritters were definitely a highlight! There’s also a (pretty small) food to go area where you can just get something quick. There’s no seating here so you can either eat outside at a few tables they have around or bring it back to your room. You’ll find Turtle Shack Poolside Snacks in the pool area where you can also eat and get some drinks. But if you’re looking for some good afternoon beverages, the Gurgling Suitcase is an adorable hole in the wall sort of bar that’s open air and looks out towards the pool area.

The Room

Old Key West is a DVC resort, which means that instead of standard hotel rooms you have studios and villas. We had a standard studio, which is just one basic room. However we were impressed with how large this room was for a studio! There was a lot of space, a small kitchen area with a fridge, coffee maker, etc., and a decent sized bathroom. There was a small porch area in the back, though ours mostly just looked onto trees and the entrance to the resort. The room itself felt bright and clean, with light blue walls and a few Disney inspired beach paintings.

The Pool

I really liked the pool area at Old Key West. The main pool is pretty large and has a fun slide that looks like a sandcastle. Since we were relaxing on this trip we visited the pool area multiple times during our stay. I really enjoyed the hot tub after my races. It would occasionally get crowded but there was always room as it was a pretty large hot tub, and very relaxing. Plenty of lounge chairs around as well.

Size

Old Key West is a very large resort. There are small clusters of buildings spread throughout the grounds and around bodies of water. It’s big enough to have its own internal bus system, like Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs, which I know can be an inconvenience for many people. We were lucky enough to be staying near the hospitality suite so we were close to the food and main pool. Just something to keep in mind if you’re relying on Disney transportation and not driving your own car.

Things to Do

In addition to the typical things you expect from a Disney resort (pools, arcade, etc.) there are lots of things to do at Old Key West. They host a nightly campfire where you can make s’mores, or gather for their movies under the stars. There are plenty of recreation options here too, including fishing, bike rentals, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, and playgrounds for the little ones.

Would I stay again?

Definitely! For whatever reason, Old Key West just made me feel happy. Maybe it was the more relaxed, tropical vibe that I enjoy on a vacation. The food was good, the pool was nice, and the boat to Disney Springs was great. I’d definitely stay here again especially if I was planning a slower trip where I don’t want to be in the parks every moment.

If you liked this post, make sure to check out my Port Orleans French Quarter resort review and Coronado Springs review!

Would you be interested in staying at Old Key West? What’s your favorite place in Disney to stay?