Disney’s Old Key West Resort launched the Disney Vacation Club concept when it opened its doors to members and overnight guests in December 1991. The Key West-style resort hotel, located in the heart of Walt Disney World Resort, features a quaint waterfront village of colorful, clapboard-sided, tin-roofed vacation villas. Resort amenities include a themed restaurant, four on-site pools including one with a water slide, a well-stocked general store, two children’s play areas, tennis and volleyball courts, a lighthouse sauna, four outdoor whirlpool spas, outdoor barbeque grills, an exercise facility and marina. Most vacation villas also boast a beautiful view of water, Disney’s Lake Buena Vista golf course or woods.

Being a Disney Vacation Club resort, it has the standard rooms which include deluxe studios, one- and two-bedroom homes and two-story, three-bedroom Grand Villas that sleep up to 12. Rooms include wet bar, microwave and small refrigerator(studio), or a full kitchen(non-studio).

This was the first resort in the Disney Vacation Club lineup and is located on the Lake Buena Vista golf course. Most rooms have golf course views and a screened in deck with ceiling fan. The room sizes here are about 15-20% larger than othe DVC accommodations.

Like many deluxe resorts on the Walt Disney World property, this resort has the standard set of activities outside of the theme park which include a health club, tennis, a newly renovated swimming pool with slide, sauna and other planned recreation activites. Guest of this resort get preferred tee times at the Lake Buena Vista golf course.

Dining includes Olivia's Cafe, a family-style restaurant and poolside fare at the Gurgling Suitcase or Good's Food to go. If nothing here tickles for fancy then catch a boat launch, near Olivia's Cafe, to Downtown Disney. Other than Downtown Disney, all other guest areas are serviced by bus only.

Being DVC members, our family has stayed here several times over the years. We have studio and 1-bedroom accommodations and our overall opinion is that we would only stay here if all other DVC resorts were full during the time we wanted to go. (poor baby right?). I really like the Key West theme but i have more issues with the way the resort was setup than anything else.

First of all, there are no elevators (there is a newer section that does), and climbing 3 flights of stairs with all of our luggage, no thank you. Second, the bus stops are not always close and we ended up taking our car to the bus stop (along with our ice bucket). Third, the ice machines are next to the bus stops, are you kidding me! I have to go down 3 flights of stairs and get in my car to go get ice?????? Forth, it feels more like an apartment complex than a disney resort (this might be a plus for some). Because it felt like an apartment complex, I felt more removed from the disney magic.

Is there anything good about this resort? Absolutlely! The size of the rooms are nearly 20% larger than standard DVC level rooms. The one bedroom was HUGE with tons of room to walk around in. The decks are equally large which were screened in (to keep the bugs and balls out). The decks featured a full size table and chairs and was especially fun to watch people put golf balls in the water and get mad about it. Very Entertaining!

It is very quiet in the evening time, for some this is a plus but for me I like being in the middle of the action. The main feature pool has been remodeled and now features a rather tall sandcastle waterslide which my daughter and I enjoyed. There are smaller "quiet" pools dotted around the complex. Also, be sure to take the boat to downtown disney in the evening, as it is a rather spectactular sight to see from the water. If you do end up staying here, make sure you request the newer section has it has elevators and ice machines in the same building.

1510 North Cove Road
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Phone: (407) 827-7700
Fax: (407) 827-7710

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