Credit: Kellen Parker, FlickrDisney’s Old Key West Resort is important in Disney Vacation Club history because it was the first DVC property built. For over 30 years, returning guests have enjoyed the spacious villas and relaxed Florida Keys atmosphere. One cherished tradition is the photo wall at Olivia’s Cafe. Hundreds of picture frames displaying DVC member family photos have been on the walls near the check-in area since the resort opened. These photos represent many family milestones, annual traditions, and the multigenerational memories that are important to DVC members.
Now, as part of a planned refurbishment at Olivia’s Cafe, all of those photos will be removed. The removal started on February 16, beginning with the back room of Olivia’s Cafe and moving toward the check-in area, where most of the photos are. Disney has confirmed that all photos will be removed and moved to albums at the Conch Flats Community Hall, the gathering place for DVC members and guests. The restaurant will stay open during the refurbishment, but part of the dining room will be closed for a few weeks while the work is done. The back room windows are already covered with paper and blinds as renovation crews begin their work.
What’s Being Lost
The photo collection at Olivia’s Cafe consists of real family photos submitted by DVC members over the years, creating a living timeline of those who have made Old Key West part of their vacation traditions. Walking past these framed photos adds warmth and community to the dining experience.
Disney acknowledges that some photos have aged, which is why they will be relocated to albums instead of remaining on the walls. This preserves them from sun exposure and humidity, but it’s emotionally impactful to remove something that has defined the cafe’s atmosphere for over 30 years.
The photos will be housed in communal albums at Conch Flats Community Hall, open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., allowing DVC members to view their family photos. However, flipping through an album can’t replace the significance of seeing a family’s photo displayed prominently in a restaurant where countless meals have been shared.
The Bigger Refurbishment Context
The removal of Olivia’s Cafe is just one component of a much larger refurbishment coming to Old Key West, which Disney confirmed in late 2025. The scope of planned changes is significantly more substantial than the standard soft-goods refresh guests typically expect when Disney announces resort refurbishments.
Disney is treating this project as a comprehensive reset of the resort’s villas rather than just replacing carpets and curtains. Kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms are all targeted for changes, with plans to replace major room components throughout the property. That level of intervention puts this refurbishment in a completely different category from typical resort updates and raises questions about how much Old Key West’s familiar character will survive the process.
New cabinetry, updated countertops, modernized appliances, and completely new furniture layouts could fundamentally change how Old Key West’s villas look and feel. One unanswered question looms especially large for longtime guests: whether Disney plans to add Murphy beds throughout the resort. Murphy beds have appeared during recent refurbishments elsewhere on Disney property, and their potential addition at Old Key West would mark a significant shift for a resort specifically designed around spacious, comfortable traditional layouts perfect for extended family stays.
Why Old Key West Is Different
Understanding the significance of the refurbishment and photo wall removal at Old Key West requires recognizing its role as the original Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resort. Opened in the early 1990s, it emphasized a residential feel with spacious villas designed for family comfort, featuring full kitchens, separate living areas, and layouts for extended stays. This spaciousness fosters a tradition that keeps families returning year after year, creating deep emotional connections to the resort’s unique details, like the Olivia’s Cafe photo wall.
Disney Transportation and Other Changes
The refurbishment scope extends beyond just villas and restaurants. Old Key West will continue relying on buses and boats for transportation, which longtime guests generally consider part of the resort’s charm rather than a limitation. Water taxi service returned to the resort earlier this year following an extensive dock refurbishment, with new decking and updated safety features restoring one of the property’s most peaceful amenities. Boat rides to Disney Springs remain one of Old Key West’s most beloved features, offering a relaxed alternative to bus transportation that fits the resort’s overall atmosphere.
Disney Vacation Club Contract Activity
Another factor that adds significance to the refurbishment investment is Disney’s recent acquisition of Old Key West contracts through Right of First Refusal. Over the past year, Disney has been actively repurchasing ownership contracts from members who choose to sell, a move that, combined with major refurbishment investments, signals confidence in the resort’s long-term value within the DVC portfolio.
Old Key West has a unique contract timeline compared to newer DVC resorts, making Disney’s investment in comprehensive villa updates a meaningful statement about the property’s continued importance. Major renovations at a resort with an older contract structure suggest Disney sees Old Key West as worth preserving and modernizing rather than allowing it to age out gracefully.
The Challenge Ahead for Disney
Disney faces a challenging balancing act with the refurbishment of Old Key West, a resort beloved for its quiet, residential atmosphere. While modernizing the villas makes sense as guest expectations evolve, it’s crucial to maintain the resort’s distinctive character.
The removal of the photo wall illustrates this tension; relocating the photos preserves them but loses the communal display that gave them meaning. Similarly, updating kitchens and living room furniture may create more modern spaces that diverge from the charm guests have cherished for decades.
For DVC members, the news is bittersweet as cherished family photos will be moved from their walls in Olivia’s Cafe, where they’ve been since the 1990s. Although the resort remains the original DVC property, the extent to which its character survives the refurbishment will determine whether it becomes stronger or simply different.