Anybody stayed at Saratoga Springs?

[HappilyScrappily]

This is our fourth visit to WDW but our first to Saratoga Springs. Who's been, did you like it? Give me the scoop!
Thanks

 

[MinnieSummer]

We've stayed there once and I will say that I liked it with hesitation. This resort is HUGE!!! Our room location was really far from the main building and to walk there took a really long time - 20 minutes at least. But, the walk was worth it as the pool was great and the counter service restaurant was wonderful offering a different variety of foods than your typical hamburger and fries. Our room, location aside, was very nice. My DD enjoyed the pull out sofa and having a microwave for her pop tarts. I didn't find the staff to be anything special although they did welcome me home. I would stay here again if the price was right but I would rather stay at WL or AKL for the same money.

 

[kpk89]

We have stayed here, and loved it. Our location was nearby to the main building and feature pool area, maybe a 2 minute walk if that. We walked to Downtown Disney, but could also have taken the boat.

We found the staff, the food, and our room to be outstanding.

 

[Girldreamer02]

I haven't stayed there, but we visited last yr to look into becoming dvc members. It was very nice...I would love to stay there. The rooms are awsome, the pool looked like a blast and the dinning area seemed like the place to be. There is also a spa there if you want to be pampered on your vacation. That would of been our place had we signed up for the dvc, but it just didn't seem to fit into the budget at the time. I would love to stay at ssr so if you do plan on staying there let me know how it was.

 

[ChefBilly]

We've stayed there twice (it's our home resort.)
It's very nice, the staff is great, but as others have said - it's huge.
Also, the bus service was HORRENDOUS. This was in December of 2006. We had friends there the week before we were there, and they had the same complaint. People were lining up to complain about the bus service when we were checking out. It was the buzz of the lobby.
On 15 previous trips we never got a rental car or felt the need for one. After one stay at SSR, we got a car. Now we'll never go without one again.

But I don't want to leave you with that... I love the resort and I'll stay there any time.
Both times we were in walking distance of Downtown Disney. In fact, during the December trip we used the buses at Downtown Disney instead of the buses at the nearest stop. DTD was closer. (We were on the very end of the building closest to the marketplace.)

I would recommend SSR to anyone - but I'd also recommend a car.

(Edited to add: I love Disney bus drivers. They are not to blame and I'd never want to insinuate that. The resort was newer then, and crowds seemed to be much bigger than previous years at that time. Probably a scheduling thing.)

 

[magicalmcwho]

Hi,

We have stayed there 3 times and it is our home resort as well.
One of those times was end of this past May & begining of June. We had no issues with the bus transportation on either trip and also had our truck since we drove. We only used our truck to eat offsite and buy groceries.

We stayed in the newest section called the grandstand. Try to get the buildings next to the second themed pool, one will be between the pool and the bus stop for the grandstand and I thought it was great. Also the grandstand is the first stop for the bus going and returning from the parks.

Its a short walk to the main building and the main pool area, but you can save one way of the walk by hopping on a bus and riding until the springs bus stop next to the main pool.

Jim.

 

[pcparamedics01]

This is our fourth visit to WDW but our first to Saratoga Springs. Who's been, did you like it? Give me the scoop!
Thanks

Just came back on the 4th. Request Congress park. It was a great view of Downtown Disney.

 

[pcparamedics01]

I didn't find the staff to be anything special although they did welcome me home. I would stay here again if the price was right but I would rather stay at WL or AKL for the same money.[/QUOTE]

I did not think the staff was great either.

 

[princessvacg]

We just got back from a split stay SS and BWV. This was our first time at SS and it was great!! The staff was incredible, pool was great. They had a DJ with music and games for the kids at the pool in the afternoon. The food court was decent, much better than the non existant food court at BWV. (Still loved BWV) We requested a room at the Springs which was a great location, close to the pools and the food. We also ate at the Turf Club and the food was fantastic. I was very impressed with the resort and ablsolutely loved it. The only downside was of course, the same complaint as everyone else, the bus service. The problem is not only bus service to the parks, but we seemed to have issues with busses coming to pick us up at the parks to go back to the resort. We were at AK and there was a line of people waiting to go back to the hotel enough to fill at least 2 busses. All of the other resort bus lines were pretty average. We were the last ones on the first bus that came after waiing about 20 minutes. While we were on the bus, which was not even scheduled to pick us up, (it was a training bus) they had to call to send more busses for SS.

 

[PlainJane]

I did not think the staff was great either.

That's weird, my mother and I both agree that we think SSR's CMs are the nicest on property.

The buses were about as efficient as all the other WDW resorts I've stayed at. MK always took the longest, but I've noticed that at all the non monorail resorts I've stayed at.

I've stayed in the Paddocks which was about a ten minute walk to the main area, and the Springs section which was about a three minute walk.

 

[rparmfamily]

We've stayed 3 times now, all 3 times in The Springs, so we are close to the main pool and food court. We love it. I love having all of Downtown Disney at my backdoor for dinner or shopping!

We always have a car so I can't comment on the buses. I found the staff great, though I didn't really have much interaction with them because I didn't need to, KWIM?

 

[paulaken]

We stayed at SSR last January and had a great time.
At checkin the CM told us we could drive our car and park at any of the villa areas. We parked our car near the walkway to downtown disney and then just drove back to our villa in the Paddock area. They have a big parking lot near the boat dock which is great. The ride on the boat at night is beautiful. You can see all of the Marketplace lit up and one time during the day we went past Old Key West.It was beautiful with all the little porches and hanging trees.
We had a two bedroom and had lots of room and a good view of the nice lawn and ponds. I loved it as you can tell.