Old Key West was the first of the Disney Vacation Club resorts to open, in 1991. Being the only one, when it was first opened it was simply known as the Disney Vacation Club Resort, but is was renamed in 1996 when the Club began to expand. There are now 11 DVC resorts, seven of which are at Walt Disney World, and this week at the DVC Condominium Association Meeting, an announcement was made confirming the much anticipated 12th resort which will be The Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, due to open in late 2013.
Old Key West is located in the Downtown Disney area, and is on the corner between Buena Vista Drive (to the South) and Bonnet Creek Parkway (to the West). The main entrance is on Community Drive (to the North) and on the Eastern side of the property is the Sassagoula River.
We have travelled all of these routes many times, Buena Vista Drive being one of the main thoroughfares of the World, and one which can get particularly busy due to the large number of traffic light stops near to all of the parking entrances to Downtown Disney. As a result of this we have often taken Community Drive as a short cut in the past, and besides which, the main entrance to another DVC resort, Saratoga Springs, is also on this road. Bonnet Creek Parkway leads North past Old Key West and up to the Port Orleans resorts, but one of the preferred routes to get there is by taking the slow boat up the Sassagoula River, which links up Downtown Disney, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and the Port Orleans resorts.
We have travelled all of these routes many times, Buena Vista Drive being one of the main thoroughfares of the World, and one which can get particularly busy due to the large number of traffic light stops near to all of the parking entrances to Downtown Disney. As a result of this we have often taken Community Drive as a short cut in the past, and besides which, the main entrance to another DVC resort, Saratoga Springs, is also on this road. Bonnet Creek Parkway leads North past Old Key West and up to the Port Orleans resorts, but one of the preferred routes to get there is by taking the slow boat up the Sassagoula River, which links up Downtown Disney, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and the Port Orleans resorts.
The resort is built around the third through to eighth holes of the Lake Buena Vista Golf course, and so all of the villas in the resort come with either water or golf course views (or maybe even both for some). The guide books say that if possible, it is worth avoiding the buildings that are closest to the main roads, and so we will be putting in a room request soon. Apparently the best time to make a request is about four days before check in - soon enough that rooms have not been allocated up to that point, but not so soon that the front desk team will file it away and forget about it. I expect that we will also be keen to stay reasonably close to the Hospitality House, which is where the restaurants and store are - after all,
I don’t want to have too long a walk to fetch hot chocolate in the evenings (even if I could pinch Nanny’s scooter!).
The main restaurant at Old Key West is Olivia’s (see these Allears links for recent lunch and dinner menus). The Unofficial Guide says that “for resort guests it’s a good place for a down-home meal”, and recommends the pork chop with chipotle barbecue sauce and cheese grits, as well as the key lime tart. Counter service is provided by Goods to Go, which has looks like it has the usual sandwiches, nuggets and burgers on offer.
