An Outstanding Original – A Virtual Tour of Disney’s Old Key West

“Showing the Gingerbread Architecture and Whimsical Spirit of the Conch Republic,” Disney’s Old Key West Resort gives guests the opportunity to experience the charm of the Florida Keys on Walt Disney World property! 

In 1991, Disney’s Old Key West Resort opened as Disney’s Vacation Club Resort, the Disney Vacation Club’s first resort offered to members, and has since been captivating guests with its beauty! 

Old Key West is my favorite resort on Walt Disney World property! From the pastel-colored buildings to the air of tranquility around the resort, this resort makes you feel at home the second you step on the property. Let’s take a tour around the resort to see up close all it has to offer!

Most trips to Old Key West will begin at the Hospitality House. This is where you will be dropped off and picked up if you are using the Magical Express, as well as where you can find the Resort Airline Check-In can be found for the end of your trip! Bell Services Cast Members can be found here as well, being able to help you with your bags or point you in the right direction of wherever you are going. This is also the last bus stop before leaving the resort to go to the parks if you are using Disney’s complimentary bus transportation.  

Inside the Hospitality House is where you can find the check-in area, which features a beautiful mural of Key West behind the desk. Some days, the Cast Members have balloon art behind the desk to give away to select lucky guests! 

Across the way from the Hospitality House is Conch Flats General Store. Here is where you can find any necessities you may have forgotten to pack, along with snacks and souvenirs for everyone in your party! 

Adjacent to Conch Flats General Store is the entrance to Olivia’s Café, Old Key West’s table service restaurant. Olivia’s Café is one of the best-kept secrets on Walt Disney World property.  Inspired by the Florida Keys, this nautical-themed restaurant offers indoor as well as covered patio seating for guests to enjoy. Olivia’s Café is great for any meal of the day, and there is something on the menu for everybody! If you’re stopping for breakfast, the Banana Bread French Toast is one of their specialties, and if you’re there for dinner, their Prime Rib is one of my favorite meals on property! 

As you continue down toward the water behind the Hospitality House, you will find the ferry dock. 

Here is where you can catch the ferry that will take you to The Landing Boat Launch at Disney Springs. Operating hours can be found at the entrance to the dock. 

If you’re looking for a spot to wet your whistle, the Gurgling Suitcase is a great place to stop for a drink or a bite to eat. Serving signature cocktails until late in the evenings, you can enjoy your treat inside or by the pool just steps away!

Right next to the Gurgling Suitcase, you can find one of the quick service restaurants, Good’s Food to Go! Serving everything from breakfast to dinner, Good’s Food to Go offers the standard Disney quick-service food along with a few Key West favorites. The Mango-Rum Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwich is definitely worth a try during your trip!

If you are looking for a perfect place to relax, enjoy a cold beverage, and head for a swim, you have to check out the Sandcastle Pool! 

You can slide down a 125-foot-long water slide through a sandcastle that features a great hidden mickey, or, if you’re looking for something more relaxing, you can soak in the whirlpool spa or take a steam in the dry sauna. 

There is even a kiddie pool located around back and a cute decorative dolphin fountain! There really is something for everybody to enjoy at the Sandcastle pool. 

Across from the pool, you can find the Old Key West Exercise Room and the Conch Flats Community Hall. 

The Exercise Room is typically open 24 hours a day for guests to enjoy. The Conch Flats Community Hall is where you can create crafts and play a game of Foosball or ping pong during the day.

Old Key West offers a basketball court, tennis courts, a volleyball court and shuffleboard for guests to use. All of the equipment can be signed out in the Community Hall. These activity courts can be found steps away from the Community Hall, making everything close and easily accessible for guests! 

Behind the Sandcastle pool, right by the hammock area, you can also find the Family Tree. This tree was planted when the resort opened, and as the tree grows, it signifies the growth of the DVC family! It has a plaque out front to let guests know exactly which tree it is.

Old Key West is so beautiful and larger than most DVC resorts, offering more rooms for guests! All of the buildings are located in neighborhoods that each offer their own bus stop, making traveling to the parks and around the resort convenient for all guests. 

As you leave the Hospitality House area and turn to cross the bridge, you will pass the first bus stop. The Peninsular Road bus stop will be the first bus stop for most buses traveling around the resort. 

You can see here the buildings around Old Key West are all pastel-colored and, although the resort has a more muted Disney theme compared to others, there are hidden mickeys located on the railings of the buildings! As well, all of the neighborhoods around the resort offer parking so that guests who are driving can park in a convenient location.

The next bus stop is located on South Point Road. South Point Road is the furthest spot from the Hospitality House but offers a quiet pool and playground for guests to enjoy as well as a quick pathway to the Turtle Pond pool and snack bar. You will also be able to find a laundry area and BBQ area in the South Point Road neighborhood for the convenience of guests staying here!

The next stop will be the Old Turtle Pond Road. Here, there is another quiet pool and playground, as well as the Turtle Shack Poolside Snacks that serves lunch and specialty cocktails! Old Turtle Pond Road also offers a laundry area and BBQ area for guests. 

Next, you will come across the Miller’s Road bus stop. Miller’s Road offers a quiet pool for guests to enjoy, along with a laundry area and BBQ area. 

The last bus stop takes you back to the Hospitality House. Because of this bus route, all of the buses that travel around the resort can get guests from any stop to the Hospitality House easily. This is designed out of the convenience for the guests, so that no matter where you stay on property, you can enjoy all the resort has to offer! 

Disney’s Old Key West really transports you out of the busy Disney life into quiet surroundings to help you relax after a long day at the parks. This is why I love Old Key West, and I hope you enjoyed our tour around the resort!

~Alyssa