These Transportation Tips Will Benefit Your Stay at Disney’s Old Key West
A few years back, I took a bus to Old Key West in an effort to get to Disney Springs. It was my first time visiting the resort, and I quickly became overwhelmed by all the bus stops.
Was this resort so large that it required five bus stops? My first impression left me feeling like this probably wasn’t the resort for me.
But I was wrong. Sure Old Key West is a sizable resort with plenty of bus stops. However, it’s also a beautiful resort with spacious rooms and picturesque views nearly every which way you look.
So for this article, we’ll look at the transportation options available to guests of Old Key West. These tips will help you learn the best ways to maneuver your way around Disney World to and from the resort if you’re planning an upcoming stay.
We’ll go over the different bus stops, the time it takes to ride between them, and where you can go from each one. Then, we’ll take a boat ride to Disney Springs. The water taxi service is a bonus for staying at Old Key West.
So grab a slice of Key Lime pie from your fridge, relax in your backyard lounger, and join me as we tackle transportation options at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.
Transportation Options at Old Key West
Old Key West offers the following forms of transportation:
- Disney Bus Service
- Water Taxis to Disney Springs
Guests can use bus service to travel to and from the following locations:
- Magic Kingdom
- Epcot
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Disney Springs
Additionally, guests visiting Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach can take a bus from the resort to Disney Springs. Then at Disney Springs, you’ll take a transfer bus across the street to Typhoon Lagoon.
*Important Note–You do not want to take the boat from Old Key West to Disney Springs to visit Typhoon Lagoon. The water taxi service drops off at The Marketplace.
From there, you would have to walk to the Marketplace entrance at Disney Springs. Then you would walk across most of the venue to reach the transfer bus to Typhoon Lagoon. I haven’t timed it precisely, but I estimate that route would take over an hour and involve a good deal of walking.
Therefore, if someone says, “Oh, you should take the boat over to Disney Springs to get to Typhoon Lagoon,” tell them no thanks. You’re much better off waiting on a bus.
This scenario is not something I would typically mention. But someone in a group recently said a cast member at the resort gave them these directions, and I was astounded. Her warning to others was NOT to attempt this route.
Naturally, that person took this route, not knowing any better. Imagine having your whole family dressed and ready to go to the water park (with all the extra items) and then traipsing across Disney Springs while trying to locate a bus stop.
Bus Stops at Old Key West
As mentioned above, there are five bus stops at Disney’s Old Key West. Those bus stops are as follows and drop off in this order:
- Peninsular Road
- South Point
- Old Turtle Pond Road
- Miller’s Road
- Hospitality House
On my last visit to Old Key West, I had previously been at Hollywood Studios. From Hollywood Studios, I took a bus to Old Key West.
Here are the times it took to travel from the park to the first bus stop and then to the additional bus stops.
- Left Hollywood Studios for Old Key West at 1:17 p.m.
- Arrived at Peninsular Road at 1:27 p.m.
- Stopped at the South Point bus stop at 1:31 p.m.
- Stopped at the Old Turtle Point Road bus stop at 1:34 p.m.
- Stopped at Miller’s Road at 1:38 p.m.
- Arrived at Hospitality House at 1:42 p.m.
Therefore it took ten minutes to travel from Hollywood Studios to the first bus stop. And if you were traveling to the resort’s main lobby (Hospitality House), the round trip was 25 minutes.
Naturally, the times between the resort bus stops vary greatly based on how many guests are riding. Additionally, if anyone has accessibility needs, it will take longer for a bus to load or unload at a stop.
On this afternoon, crowds were minimal, and there were no interruptions in bus service. So make sure to plan accordingly when you’re headed out to a park or for dining reservations.
Water Taxis at Old Key West
Next, we’ll look at the water taxi option at Old Key West. The resort offers a daily boat ride to and from Disney Springs.
Old Key West’s boat dock is located behind the resort’s main lobby, Hospitality House. Signage indicates that water taxis depart for Disney Springs daily from 10:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m.
The last boat from Disney Springs to Old Key West Resort departs at 11:30 p.m.
Old Key West boats can be easily identified by their green flag.
The boat ride to Disney Springs is pleasant. Some guests take the boat for the sole purpose of enjoying the ride.
You’ll pass other water taxis along the way. Eventually, you’ll float by Saratoga Springs Resort.
Related: Saratoga Springs Resort Review
Finally, you’ll approach the Marketplace boat dock at Disney Springs. From there, you’ll see a sizeable towering hotel in the distance. That’s the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace at Disney Springs.
Related: Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Review
When I visited Old Key West to do a bike rental, I had left my car at Hollywood Studios for the day. So on my way back, I decided to go to Disney Springs for an early dinner at Blaze Pizza.
I boarded the water taxi at Old Key West at 4:18 p.m. We arrived at Disney Springs at 4:35 p.m.
So it took 17 minutes to travel via boat between Old Key West and Disney Springs.
And if you’re wondering how I got back to Hollywood Studios, I took a bus from Disney Springs to Caribbean Beach. From there, I took the Skyliner back over to the Studios.
Related: Transportation Options at Caribbean Beach
Other Old Key West Transportation Options
Lastly, I always like to provide a few tips for getting from a resort to other popular destinations. Since you’re staying at Old Key West, you might want to visit a few surrounding resorts.
For Saratoga Springs, take a boat from Old Key West to Disney Springs. Then walk over to Saratoga Springs. (There’s a bridge by the Marketplace boat dock.)
You’ll want to take a boat to Disney Springs for Port Orleans Riverside or the French Quarter. Then board a boat back to the Port Orleans Resorts.
You’ll want to take a bus from Old Key West to Magic Kingdom when doing a little resort-hopping or visiting the Magic Kingdom resorts for dining. You can walk, boat, or monorail from Magic Kingdom to Grand Floridian or Polynesian.
Additionally, you can walk or monorail to the Contemporary. Or you can take a boat from Magic Kingdom to the Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness.
To visit the Epcot Resorts area from Old Key West, take a bus to Hollywood Studios. From Hollywood Studios, you can walk or take a Friendship boat to the Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin, or the Beach and Yacht Club.
And if you wanted, you could take the Skyliner from Hollywood Studios to get to Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation, Pop Century, or Disney’s Riviera Resort.
It’s good to give yourself a full hour to an hour and a half if you’re planning on using Disney’s transportation options to get to a dining reservation.
Hopefully, this transportation guide provided you with a few tips that will benefit your stay at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. Learning your way around is half the battle at Disney World.
For more information, you can view all of our articles related to this resort in our complete guide:
Here are a few others:
- Disney’s Old Key West Review
- Deluxe Studio Room Tour at Old Key West
- Olivia’s Cafe Review
- The Pools at Disney’s Old Key West
Or you might enjoy a few of our other popular transportation articles:
- Disney World Monorail Guide
- Skyliner Resorts with Travel Times
- Disney Springs Transporation Guide
- Magic Kingdom Ferry and Resort Boat Service
In the comments:
Did this article help answer your questions about transportation at Old Key West?
