Olivia’s Cafe is truly a hidden gem and best kept secret. So, head on over to Disney’s Old Key West Resort for a delicious meal and a fun day out with the kids. No Hotel Reservations Needed!!!
Disclaimer: There are some links in this article that are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them, we receive a small commission. This is never an extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
One of the biggest misconceptions about Disney is that everything is expensive. Now, I do agree that there are many things that are expensive, but not everything has to be. You just have to know where to go and what to do to in order to keep things in budget and inexpensive yet fun for the kids. That’s where I come in, as your Florida insider.
Old Key West Resort
Old Key West Resort is a Disney Springs Area Resort and part of the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) family. Families have been coming here since it’s opening in 1991 when it was the ONLY home Disney Vacation Club location. This can be seen by the countless family photos sent in over the years which now cover almost all the walls of Olivias and other areas of the resort. Be a part of the Disney Old Key West family the moment you arrive, with “Welcome Home” greetings from all the staff. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the busier Disney resort areas, you fall into that old Florida laid back vacation vibe right away. But yet, you are close enough to still be ready for all the fun activities Disney has to offer.
Conch Flats General Store
You can read my blog post about all the travel accessories I never leave home without. But on the off chance you forgot something, then head into the Conch Flats general store to find it. Not only stocked with shirts, picture frames, and other souvenirs, you can also find any other household items you may have forgotten like diapers, suntan lotion, snacks, water, etc.
Hospitality House
Hospitality House is the check in location for the resort. Inside you can find a cool and quiet place to hang out. There’s a pressed penny machine for another inexpensive souvenir of your day out at Disney. Or you can relax and watch the joggers, bikers, buses, and water taxi stop by as you rock on your rocking chair on the patio.
Olivia’s Cafe
Breakfast: 7:30am – 10:30am
Brunch: 7:30am – 2pm (Saturday and Sunday Only)
Lunch: 11:30am – 2pm
Dinner: 5pm – 9pm
Price: A La Carte Menu and can range from $15 up to $35 for adult entrees
Kids Meals, Side Items, and Deserts start from $5 and up
Olivias Menu
Gluten Free and Dairy Free
Being gluten free and dairy free, Disney will always be my go-to for worry free dining. We even went there for our honeymoon. Read about my gluten free and dairy free experience at Topolino’s Terrace too. Once at your table, you’ll scan the QR code, which takes you to the Disney website with Olivias menu. We’ve eaten breakfast, brunch, and lunch here at Olivias. I’ll have to go back again at dinner to update this post. You know research. 
The food is always delicious here. Many of the servers are well-versed regarding allergies, but if there is ever a doubt, ask for the chef to come out. And while there are many gluten free and dairy free items on the menu to choose from, if there is something you want made special or something not listed for your particular allergy, just ask. The chefs are always willing to accommodate if they’re able to.
Disney Old Key West – Things to Do
Once you’re done eating, the fun has only just begun. There are so many activities here at Old Key West Resort and many of them don’t require a hotel reservation to enjoy. Read about my Disney secret on how to experience some of Disney’s hotel amenities without an overnight stay. Although if you do want to stay here overnight and enjoy all the action and activities, then book here.
Disney Transportation
At Disney Old Key West Resort, there are two main modes of Disney transportation to get around. Firstly, is bus. The property is so big, that there are a few bus stops located throughout Old Key West to shuttle you to the main resort area. Right outside Hospitality House which is where check in is located, you’ll find the Disney bus to take you to all the theme parks including the water parks. There is a timetable video to tell you the next time of arrival. Although the water taxi service takes you to Disney Springs, there is a bus that stops at Old Key West periodically as well.
Water Taxi Service
Every 20 minutes from 10am to 11pm daily
Destination: Disney Springs
The only other mode of Disney transportation at Old Key West Resort is the water taxi service.
But it’s not just your ordinary boat shuttle. Sit back and enjoy the ride though the scenic and untouched woods of Disney property. Pass the many walking trails that connect Saratoga Springs to Old Key West, see players tee off on the greens of the Lake Buena Vista golf course, look out for Florida wildlife, and keep your eyes peeled to see if you can spot the treehouses of Saratoga Springs.
Just as you come to the end, the river opens up to a panoramic skyline view of Disney Springs. Stretching from the Rainforest Café at one end to Cirque du Soleil at the other. Once at Disney Springs, you can walk to some fun and inexpensive activities, eat sweet treats, and enjoy plenty of places to shop for Disney souvenirs.
You can also find the hub of Disney buses ready to take you to any and every Disney property you want. From there, you can pretty much catch any other Disney transportation (like the Monorail or the Skyliner) to take you to exactly where you want to go. We’ve even spent the day just going on all the different types of Disney transportation.
Community Hall
Conch Flats Community Hall is right around the corner from Olivias and has some fun and free things to do with the kids. And some with a relatively inexpensive price.
For free you can escape the Florida heat to watch a Disney movie, play pool, color pictures or magnets, or the little ones can play with toys. You can also get your scavenger hunt list here and once it's all completed, be sure to turn it in for a prize.
For a small fee, you can personalize all different kinds of Disney souvenirs to take home including tie-dye Mickey shirts.
Or you can rent out sports equipment. They have foosball, table tennis, regular tennis, volleyball, shuffleboard, corn hole, and basketball. Plenty to stay active and busy.
Surrey Bike Rentals
Price: 2-Seat per 30 minutes: $21.30 & DVC Member $19.17
4-Seat per 30 minutes: $23.43 & DVC Member $21.09
Ages: 18 and up to rent and drive, but can have other ages on board
Hours: Open daily from 10am to 6pm
Bike Rentals
Price: Per 60 minutes: $9.59 & DVC Member $8.63
Per Day: $19.17 & DVC Member $17.26
Ages: All ages. Child seats are available. Must be 18 and up to sign waiver for bike rental.
While you are in Community Hall, don’t forget to rent either a regular bike or a surrey bike for loads of fun. Old Key West Resort is a large property, so there are tons of paths to take. But, for a barrel of laughs ride the surrey bike. It’s so much fun. The 2-seater or 4-seater surrey bikes are relatively close in price for rental, so it just depends on how many people are pedaling. With a canopy for shade and a little basket seat in the front for the kids, you can pedal along Old Key West Resort.
Bike Path
Jogging Trail
If you are renting the surrey bike, then make sure you stay on the sidewalks. The jogging trail map of Old Key West Resort follows a sidewalk for most of the way. But there are some parts of the jogging trail that are just meant for jogging or maybe a regular bike versus the larger surrey bikes. Either way, there is plenty of space to explore. If you are jogging the trail, then be prepared to cover almost 1½ miles. In all that mileage, you will pass the beautiful pastel colors of the resort, the pools, the playgrounds, the beautiful canals, and the bright green of the Lake Buena Vista golf course.
Arcade
There are also 2 arcades located at Old Key West Resort. Electric Eel Game room which is located right next to the Community Hall or Flying Fish Game room located towards the back of the property. The Disney arcades are open daily, and each resort has their own timetable for opening and closing. You can purchase a game card via a kiosk inside the arcade which can be used at any other arcade locations throughout Disney.
Disney Playgrounds
Believe it or not, not every Disney resort has a playground. But Disney’s Old Key West Resort has 4 playgrounds! Each one is scattered throughout the property and each one is located next to one of its 4 pools. With one of those playgrounds situated just outside of Olivias and right next to the largest Old Key West pool, the Sandcastle pool. With soft sand underfoot for the little ones and some umbrellas for shade, your little ones can run back and forth going down the slides as many times as they can.
If they get tired, then most conveniently located right outside the playground are hammocks. They are shaded by the beautiful palm trees and ready for some Old Key West, Florida relaxation.
Old Key West Pool
As mentioned above, there are 4 pools located all across Old Key West, with the largest being the Sandcastle pool. The Sandcastle pool is right at the entrance and has a long, swirly, and fast water slide. We came here with Roman when he was still pretty small and didn’t know how to swim. Thankfully, the kids are allowed to wear a floaty to go down the slide. If you didn’t bring one, then don’t worry, there’s usually a stand at the pool entrance to use for the day or you can purchase it at the Conch Flats General Store. But I remember going down the slide first, then waiting at the bottom to catch Roman as he came out of the slide. Oh boy, he came out lightning fast, that it swirled me around when I caught him. Needless to say, it was a lot of fun and he enjoyed it.
They have a small round kids pool here as well.
Don't forget to stop in at the hot tub or the lighthouse that doubles as a sauna.
Campfire Activities
Days: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Times: 6pm to 7pm
As day turns to night, the fun doesn’t have to stop. If you take a walk past the Sandcastle pool, and the playground, and follow along the waterway, at the end you come to the fire pit. At night, this gets lit to enjoy the ultimate campfire activities like smores. You can bring your own smores ingredients to make or you can purchase a kit at Community Hall. These kits are not typically allergy friendly. So, if you are gluten free and dairy free like me, you may need to bring your own ingredients. I usually make my gluten free and dairy free smores with these particular ingredients: graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. So, yummy.
Movies Under the Stars
Days: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Times: 8pm
Just past the Sandcastle pool and playground, you will stumble upon a life size checkers and chess board. With massive playing pieces, there is still more fun to be had. On select days of the week, this seating area becomes the set up for Disney’s movies under the stars. Sometimes, movies under the stars may be set up at the pool deck instead, so you may want to check first to be sure. We love movies under the stars and were frequent visitors for this at Fort Wilderness. Many of the Disney resorts have movies under the stars now, so you can always check with each hotel to find out their days of participation and times. Although most often it’s at 8pm in order for it to get dark enough outside to enjoy.
Things to do in Florida with Kids
While we are frequent visitors of Disney both the property, hotels, and parks, if that isn’t your speed, then I’ve got you covered. There are plenty of non-theme park things to do in Florida like blueberry picking, strawberry picking, blackberry picking, pumpkin picking, or a train ride. You can always follow us on Instagram to see what other Florida activities we are getting ourselves into. If you have any questions, then leave it below in the comments.
Disclaimer: There are some links in this article that are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them, we receive a small commission. This is never an extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
