I am so excited to introduce you to a new resort here on Dixie Delights! In all of the years I’ve been going to Walt Disney World, I had not yet stayed at Disney’s Old Key West Resort… until this February!
Tranquility at Old Key West
At Old Key West, you will experience the romance of the Florida Keys at the tranquil community of Conch Flats. As you know, every Disney locale has a story! This sprawling island hamlet features shimmering waterways, swaying palm trees and manicured golf-course fairways.
Arriving at Old Key West
Arriving at Old Key West is like coming home, with the lobby and reception area featuring comfy chairs, bookshelves, televisions and, of course, friendly smiles!
Video Tour of Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Dining at Old Key West Resort
The many eateries are all located around the Conch Flats hub and reception area.
Olivia’s Cafe
A longtime resident of Conch Flats, Olivia welcomes diners with Island-inspired dishes. This nautical-themed eatery has the friendly, familiar feel of a neighborhood institution. Olivia’s Cafe is a long time favorite of mega Dis-nerds so I was thrilled to finally eat here!
- A must-visit spot for breakfast, Olivia’s Cafe serves up traditional favorites as well as several of Olivia’s own specialties: Banana Bread French Toast and pancakes and eggs.
- Conch Fritters, the Conch Flatts club sandwich and the Havana Beef Sandwich make for a leisurely and fully loaded lunch.
- Dinnertime is delicious time with Southernmost Buttermilk Chicken and slow-cooked prime rib.
- If you have any room left, you can’t go wrong with the Key Lime Tart or the warm Banana Bread Pudding Sundae with bananas foster topping.
- Olivia’s also offers a cavalcade of Island cocktails for Guests over 21.
She this post for a full review:
Gurgling Suitcase
If you’re staying at Old Key West, you must belly up to this cozy little Key West-style bar and try the Turtle Krawl! Yum!! Our girls group certainly enjoyed the fruity, island style pool side cocktails. The lunch and dinner menu from Olivia’s Cafe is also available!
Good’s Food to Go
Good’s is your quick serve eatery, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Burgers, salads, desserts, snacks and beverages are all ready to grab ’n’ go—perfect for when you just want to find a shady picnic table near the main pool and enjoy a cheeseburger. We particularly enjoyed the Key Lime Pie. When in Old Key West…
Recreation at Old Key West
You will delight in sun-soaked pools, playgrounds, jogging trails, fishing, tennis, basketball, volleyball and so much more!
The Sandcastle Pool is one I’ve had on my bucket list for ages. Just look how cute!! Here you can sweep down a sandcastle waterslide, and discover a dry sauna at the base of a lighthouse (not currently open). Adults with littles will love to relax in the whirlpool spa, and soak up the sun on a sand beach—all while your little ones splash about in the adjacent kiddie pool.
In addition to Sandcastle Pool, there are 3 all-ages quiet pools in the Old Turtle Pond, South Point and Miller’s Road sections—each with a whirlpool spa. Turtle Shack Poolside Snacks is another quick serve location at Old Turtle Pond.
The pool area is all wonderfully landscaped and themed. Every detail is darling!
It’s 3 times the fun with 3 playgrounds for little ones. Children can climb and slide at play areas near the main feature pool, the pool area at Old Turtle Pond and the pool area at South Point.
At Conch Flats Community Hall, adjacent to the feature pool, you can play complimentary foosball, pool, video games, ping-pong and shuffleboard, and check out equipment for tennis, basketball and volleyball.
The Surrey Bikes were not reopened for rentals yet, but my family has some fun and hysterical memories from tooling around Disney resorts on past trips.
There is a great little store for your Disney souvenirs and small market to stock your room with food, snacks and drinks. When we visit Disney in a villa, we always have our groceries delivered on arrival day from Instacart!
Old Key West Accommodations
We’ve covered off on all the darling, colorful, tranquil details of Old Key West! Now, let’s talk about the rooms. This is a sprawling (HUMONGOUS) resort. All rooms will open to an outer walkway or stairwell. There are studio and villa type accommodations here.
Studio features:
- Kitchenette
- Spacious floor plan with queen bed and sleeper sofa
- Large bathroom
- Patio or balcony
The villas are designed with comfort in mind, ideal for families and larger parties. Choose from 1-Bedroom Villas, 2-Bedroom Villas and 3-Bedroom Grand Villas with the following features:
- A full kitchen, so you can prepare meals and snacks from the comfort of your villa
- Spacious living and dining areas where your family can share quality time together
- Separate bedrooms that offer space, privacy and tranquility – so it’s easy to rest, relax and recharge your spirit after each exhilarating vacation day
- A washer and dryer, so you can pack lightly and avoid airline baggage fees
Old Key West Grand Villa
We stayed in a three bedroom grand villa on this trip. The villa covered two stories and was extremely spacious and comfortable. There is a large, fully equipped kitchen with eat in breakfast area and a soaring two story den with a sleeper sofa and sleeper chair.
A full bathroom in the living space is wonderful for the guests who may be sleeping down here!
The master bedroom is on the main level and is also spacious! There is a king bed, seating area and large bathroom.
Going upstairs, you will find a second bedroom with two queen beds and a bathroom.
Down the hall is a third bedroom with two queen beds and it’s on full bathroom.
The views here are of the golf course and are so serene you forget you’re at a theme park destination!
Old Key West Grand Villa Video Tour
Overall, my thoughts on this room are that you cannot beat this amount of space for the price. The villa sleeps 13 comfortably. I think the decor is a blah and the bathrooms felt dated. Of course, it was as neat as a pin so no complaints there.
Old Key West Location & Transportation
Let’s talk real now…. Old Key West is beautiful. The pool is wonderful. The dining is solid. The rooms are large, if dated and a little blah. The glaring downsides to Old Key West are location and its expansive size.
First, the resort is located near Disney Springs, so not close to any theme parks. There was previously a boat taxi to Disney Springs, which is really nice. It was my experience that the bus service here was atrocious. The resort is expansive and every bus must first circle an internal loop before leaving the park. Well, more often than not by the time bus got to us it was already full. If you cannot drive or take Uber to the parks, this is something to be aware of.
Also, due to size, your room could very well be a bus ride away to the feature pool, dining and amenities. It was too far of a walk for us to go get coffee in the morning, for example. Of course, we had a coffee maker so that wasn’t a deal breaker. Again, if you have car, no problem. Otherwise, you could be left waiting on a bus for hours just to get your breakfast.
Overall, I really like Old Key West. I think it is a great fit for a large extended family that wants t make a reunion out of their Disney trip. The price point is really good compared to similar size / type accommodations at resorts closer to the parks. I don’t hesitate to send my clients here, I just make sure they have all the pertinent information before making a decision!
Let’s Travel & My Services
As a Premier Level Advisor with Glass Slipper Concierge, I am recognized for providing the highest level of customer service, experience, and knowledge in the industry. I use my personal connections and firsthand expertise to craft bespoke Disney trips for the most discerning clients. On top of that, Disney vacations are expensive and I know how to get the best value for your time and money.
My family has taken five trips to the most magical place on earth since the reopening – 9 days in July, 10 days in September/October, 7 days over Thanksgiving, 5 days in January and 6 days in February! We continue to be blown away by the thoughtful, practical and comprehensive precautions Disney has in place to safely welcome guests and cast members. I don’t have all of the words to convey how special it felt to be back. We laughed, we played, we ate too much, and we felt a level of happiness we hadn’t had in too long. I can assure you, magic is there!
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