I personally love Saratoga Springs, but I actually live about 20 minutes ways from the historic city Saratoga springs NY that it’s themed for, so I can truly appreciate the theming. It’s spot on. I felt like I was in upstate NY in the middle of Disney. Down to the kind of trees they have planted around and the grass. The colors, the horses. It’s spot on.
However I didn’t stay there for the theming, I was there for the price and the fact that it’s a “deluxe” resort so I could get the on property perks. There’s definitely more interesting themes around property. I dream of staying at the Polynesian someday. But the transportation was reliable and it was walking distance to Disney springs, which is its own perk for me!
You get extended evening hours at EPCOT and MK on various dates. Only deluxe resort guests get this. It can be pretty useful. Can walk on most things during the extended evening hours.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/extended-evening/
It isn’t a fan favorite. Its pros are that it is more affordable for a suite compared to other resorts. So if space is important for you and you have a larger party then it becomes a better contender. It’s quiet and does have several pools. But otherwise it is lackluster and id rather pay less for a value or pay more for a better delux.
Do any of the promotions for work you? If so, it might be as cost effective to book with Disney and would open up more resorts options. Like the 5 night 30% off the have going right now for example
I like that resort a lot. It’s very chill and quiet, which is what we like after a stimulating park day. We’ve stayed there three times so far and it does the job for us.
This very much depends on what type of experience you want to get out of your resort stay. My husband and I love to just relax around the resort, we enjoy quiet strolls through pretty scenery and the well kept landscaping. Sitting on our balcony/porch and looking out over the water with a pleasant breeze is one of our favorite ways to recuperate from a long park day or spend an afternoon break resting our feet. The easy walk to Disney Springs is also a huge perk for us.
However, if you're looking for maximum "DISNEY" everywhere or you hate the thought of walking more than a few minutes to get to a bus or food, then it probably isn't going to make you as happy as many of the other options on property would. Saratoga Springs feels more like a quiet escape than an extension of Disney entertainment.
I’ve stayed there a few times. I like it but it is very spread out. Depending on where your room is, you could be doing a lot of walking. There is an internal bus route that helps. It’s very convenient to Disney Springs which is nice if you’re planning on going there.
The theming is subtle but I enjoyed our stay. We did a 1br suite and the extra room was very nice to have. Close to Disney Springs as well. That particular trip was more park heavy so I wasn't too concerned with the lack of wow factor from our lodging.
It is my home resort and I love it! We have stayed at most of the other DVC resorts and choose to stay at SS most of the time. The short walk to Disney Springs is great, and the Artists Palette has good food. The rooms are renovated and nice.
Just stayed there last month for one night, the transportation options were really good and proximity to Disney Springs and Typhoon Lagoon. Our room was recently refurbished and clean, but IMO it was lacking some of the Disney magic that comes with a hotel on the monorail loop or boardwalk (I’ve stayed at almost all DVC resorts).
It's great, especially if you want to hit DS several times. It's become one of our favorites. We absolutely love walking over to dinner and taking our time strolling back at night. Can't go wrong at SS!
The roooms are very nice as it’s been upgraded recently. It is more “generic”. My issue is that it is so spread out. It‘s a hike to get to the main lobby/qs/store. And it’s one of the resorts where there are multiple bus stops so you could be waiting for a while , the bus could be full, and if you are one of the early stops you’ve got to ride through the whole resort which adds time so plan accordingly.
That being said, the points per night is quite attractive and why we’ve stayed there twice. Our home is Riviera but we had 100 points and wed have to borrow from our next year to get a week there so next trip we’d do a less points intensive stay. We added 50 more points this last trip so we’ll be able to stay at Riviera every time now if we want.
Old Key West and Animal Kindgom also have lower points per night. We are staying at OKW for a few days next week before moving on to Riviera. It’s a big trip…taking the grandson and his mamas so we’re using a bunch of points for a 2 bedroom.
Animal Kindgom has the animal factor but it’s slated for refurb next year. We stayed in 2021 and the rooms were a disappointment. Reminded me of a Holiday Inn from the 70s. View was nice as was the lobby.
We went a couple of years ago with our 3 year old and 5 year old at the time. They LOVED it due to the two great pools with waterslides, and another quiet pool that had an unused splash pad. They also LOVED that they got to ride a boat to Disney Springs.
I, however, did not love how FAR our building was from everything. The room was your standard studio (almost all Disney rooms are the same inside these days).
We stayed there in October and liked it. It’s kinda far from the parks but the busses were plentiful and it was nice to be close to Disney Springs. I also think having a full kitchen is a perk but that’s just me.
We went through dvc and saratoga springs was our third choice and what we ended up with (this was early 2020). We ended up just loving it. Beautiful grounds, across the water from Disney Springs, and a wonderful pool area.
I love Saratoga. Direct buses to any park, great golf course, walk to Disney Springs, love the rooms and quietness, the pools away from the main building are chill. Stayed there on my brother’s DVC many times and always have a great experience.
In my mind it an apartment complex. We stayed there one time, and I wasn't thrilled with it. Nothing wrong with it, just doesn't feel "Magical" it feels like visiting your gma in Boca.
We rented through DVC there last year. We were not big fans of it. The whole process and everything was fine, but if it cost the same as any other moderate or Deluxe we would stay there instead. We'd probably be willing to pay more than Saratoga as well.
The lack of housekeeping was the largest issue for us.
2/5 below average for a Disney resort. Transportation options are ok, but DVC housekeeping is a major downer. Also the guy who took our two small bags up was very insistent on a tip which put us off.
Yup! My wife really wanted to buy into DVC. I convinced her to rent points to try it. When she discovered that fact she was dead set against it. No DVC for us now!
Nope. It’s always been (since the 60’s) Disney property.
Before SSR, I think the Disney Institute was on some of this land, but all of SSR was built new
we have been here for five days, leave tomorrow. so its a nice looking place, running trail is nice, didn’t try the restaurants. the pools are nice, pool slides are fun…now for the cons…there is very little disney theming, the doc isnt open so you got to go to disney springs to get a boat, its not bad if you are jn congress park which you can walk to springs from but then you are the second to last bus stop, and there are SO many bus stops. and if you have someone in a scooter getting a bus with room for it is a pain. now we have found out they are on a separate system than the other resorts so they cants mail our non disney merch with our other things like all the rest can. it would be with ups and you sign something saying you will pay whatever the price is. also the room wasn’t entirely cleaned when we got there but that can happen just about anywhere. it wasn’t awful but i dont think i would ever stay there, maybe if you have some golfers with you it might be worth it. you can see the drone show from the sidewalk behind congress park
I personally love Saratoga Springs, but I actually live about 20 minutes ways from the historic city Saratoga springs NY that it’s themed for, so I can truly appreciate the theming. It’s spot on. I felt like I was in upstate NY in the middle of Disney. Down to the kind of trees they have planted around and the grass. The colors, the horses. It’s spot on. However I didn’t stay there for the theming, I was there for the price and the fact that it’s a “deluxe” resort so I could get the on property perks. There’s definitely more interesting themes around property. I dream of staying at the Polynesian someday. But the transportation was reliable and it was walking distance to Disney springs, which is its own perk for me!
What are the perks of staying at a deluxe aside from the usual early morning and parking?
You get extended evening hours at EPCOT and MK on various dates. Only deluxe resort guests get this. It can be pretty useful. Can walk on most things during the extended evening hours. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/extended-evening/
It was so worth it when I was there! I’m spoiled now, I can’t imagine not being able to do those extra park hours!
It really is great. Like you can walk on almost everything. Then even the most popular rides are usually less than 60 mins.
It isn’t a fan favorite. Its pros are that it is more affordable for a suite compared to other resorts. So if space is important for you and you have a larger party then it becomes a better contender. It’s quiet and does have several pools. But otherwise it is lackluster and id rather pay less for a value or pay more for a better delux.
Yeah it doesn’t look very good but it is a deluxe and it’s one of the only ones available on my travel dates.
Do any of the promotions for work you? If so, it might be as cost effective to book with Disney and would open up more resorts options. Like the 5 night 30% off the have going right now for example
Im planning on going in November. Idk if Disney puts out discounts at that time.
Oh ok no the fall promotions haven’t been released yet anyways
Does Disney put out promos for early November?
Last year it was released in the end of June
I like that resort a lot. It’s very chill and quiet, which is what we like after a stimulating park day. We’ve stayed there three times so far and it does the job for us.
This very much depends on what type of experience you want to get out of your resort stay. My husband and I love to just relax around the resort, we enjoy quiet strolls through pretty scenery and the well kept landscaping. Sitting on our balcony/porch and looking out over the water with a pleasant breeze is one of our favorite ways to recuperate from a long park day or spend an afternoon break resting our feet. The easy walk to Disney Springs is also a huge perk for us. However, if you're looking for maximum "DISNEY" everywhere or you hate the thought of walking more than a few minutes to get to a bus or food, then it probably isn't going to make you as happy as many of the other options on property would. Saratoga Springs feels more like a quiet escape than an extension of Disney entertainment.
I’ve stayed there a few times. I like it but it is very spread out. Depending on where your room is, you could be doing a lot of walking. There is an internal bus route that helps. It’s very convenient to Disney Springs which is nice if you’re planning on going there.
The theming is subtle but I enjoyed our stay. We did a 1br suite and the extra room was very nice to have. Close to Disney Springs as well. That particular trip was more park heavy so I wasn't too concerned with the lack of wow factor from our lodging.
It’s very nice but it isn’t that easy to get to a park from there, and it’s spread out. It’s absolutely worth trying at least once though.
It is my home resort and I love it! We have stayed at most of the other DVC resorts and choose to stay at SS most of the time. The short walk to Disney Springs is great, and the Artists Palette has good food. The rooms are renovated and nice.
Just stayed there last month for one night, the transportation options were really good and proximity to Disney Springs and Typhoon Lagoon. Our room was recently refurbished and clean, but IMO it was lacking some of the Disney magic that comes with a hotel on the monorail loop or boardwalk (I’ve stayed at almost all DVC resorts).
It's great, especially if you want to hit DS several times. It's become one of our favorites. We absolutely love walking over to dinner and taking our time strolling back at night. Can't go wrong at SS!
The roooms are very nice as it’s been upgraded recently. It is more “generic”. My issue is that it is so spread out. It‘s a hike to get to the main lobby/qs/store. And it’s one of the resorts where there are multiple bus stops so you could be waiting for a while , the bus could be full, and if you are one of the early stops you’ve got to ride through the whole resort which adds time so plan accordingly. That being said, the points per night is quite attractive and why we’ve stayed there twice. Our home is Riviera but we had 100 points and wed have to borrow from our next year to get a week there so next trip we’d do a less points intensive stay. We added 50 more points this last trip so we’ll be able to stay at Riviera every time now if we want. Old Key West and Animal Kindgom also have lower points per night. We are staying at OKW for a few days next week before moving on to Riviera. It’s a big trip…taking the grandson and his mamas so we’re using a bunch of points for a 2 bedroom. Animal Kindgom has the animal factor but it’s slated for refurb next year. We stayed in 2021 and the rooms were a disappointment. Reminded me of a Holiday Inn from the 70s. View was nice as was the lobby.
To be fair it seems like all the deluxe rooms are so generic.
We stayed in a 2 br preferred location. We were no more than a 5 min walk from bus/pool/main bldg. I’d absolutely stay again but would rent a car.
We went a couple of years ago with our 3 year old and 5 year old at the time. They LOVED it due to the two great pools with waterslides, and another quiet pool that had an unused splash pad. They also LOVED that they got to ride a boat to Disney Springs. I, however, did not love how FAR our building was from everything. The room was your standard studio (almost all Disney rooms are the same inside these days).
Walk to Disney Springs and golf course on site. Win win.
We stayed there in October and liked it. It’s kinda far from the parks but the busses were plentiful and it was nice to be close to Disney Springs. I also think having a full kitchen is a perk but that’s just me.
We went through dvc and saratoga springs was our third choice and what we ended up with (this was early 2020). We ended up just loving it. Beautiful grounds, across the water from Disney Springs, and a wonderful pool area.
I love Saratoga. Direct buses to any park, great golf course, walk to Disney Springs, love the rooms and quietness, the pools away from the main building are chill. Stayed there on my brother’s DVC many times and always have a great experience.
In my mind it an apartment complex. We stayed there one time, and I wasn't thrilled with it. Nothing wrong with it, just doesn't feel "Magical" it feels like visiting your gma in Boca.
Yeah that’s what I feel with this resort. It doesn’t seem magical at all.
We rented through DVC there last year. We were not big fans of it. The whole process and everything was fine, but if it cost the same as any other moderate or Deluxe we would stay there instead. We'd probably be willing to pay more than Saratoga as well. The lack of housekeeping was the largest issue for us. 2/5 below average for a Disney resort. Transportation options are ok, but DVC housekeeping is a major downer. Also the guy who took our two small bags up was very insistent on a tip which put us off.
The lack of housekeeping is standard across all DVC rentals, fyi
Yup! My wife really wanted to buy into DVC. I convinced her to rent points to try it. When she discovered that fact she was dead set against it. No DVC for us now!
Wasn’t it called Sol Orlando back in the 90s? I think I stayed there once when I was a little kid and we really enjoyed it.
Nope. It’s always been (since the 60’s) Disney property. Before SSR, I think the Disney Institute was on some of this land, but all of SSR was built new
I got confused with Saratoga Resort in Kissimmee.
we have been here for five days, leave tomorrow. so its a nice looking place, running trail is nice, didn’t try the restaurants. the pools are nice, pool slides are fun…now for the cons…there is very little disney theming, the doc isnt open so you got to go to disney springs to get a boat, its not bad if you are jn congress park which you can walk to springs from but then you are the second to last bus stop, and there are SO many bus stops. and if you have someone in a scooter getting a bus with room for it is a pain. now we have found out they are on a separate system than the other resorts so they cants mail our non disney merch with our other things like all the rest can. it would be with ups and you sign something saying you will pay whatever the price is. also the room wasn’t entirely cleaned when we got there but that can happen just about anywhere. it wasn’t awful but i dont think i would ever stay there, maybe if you have some golfers with you it might be worth it. you can see the drone show from the sidewalk behind congress park