Are Saratoga Springs boats operating?

[amyjeanbeck]

Has anyone recently stayed at Saratoga Springs? I'm trying to find out if the boats are operating between Saratoga Springs and Disney Springs. Thank you in advance!

 

[omniscientmommy]

I don't think they are

 

[amyjeanbeck]

I don't think they are

Thank you! I didn't think so either, but I can't seem to find confirmation online.

 

[KimPittPA]

Is it walkable? I can't recall. Have only visited SS by boat.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

Is it walkable? I can't recall. Have only visited SS by boat.

I think that depends on the portion of SS you're staying in along with the person's abilities. The walkway to Disney Springs is in the bottom right of this map so it's easily walkable from Congress Park but questionable from other areas.

 

[minthorne]

It’s pretty much less than a mile walk from any villa and closer from many. There is also the option to jump on the next bus going by your station and hop off at Congress Park (which I believe is the second to last stop of any bus but a DS bus) and walk, or wait for a DS bus. Also - Congress Park currently is completed renovated so it may be worth going for the preferred room for both that and walking location.

 

[KimPittPA]

Thank you Starport Seven-Five and minthorne. Under a mile seems walkable although you raise a good point about the refurbished rooms also being the closest. Good call out.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thank you Starport Seven-Five and minthorne. Under a mile seems walkable although you raise a good point about the refurbished rooms also being the closest. Good call out.

The rooms that are currentlly being renovated or already renovated are at Congress Park and the Springs. These are considered to be Preferred booking category.

 

[TigerInGa]

I was there last weeks. Still no boats. I've gotta think (and hope) that with all the other boats running now, we are next.

 

[kverdon]

Currently at SSR and the boats are not running.

 

[nkereina]

Is it walkable? I can't recall. Have only visited SS by boat.

Any section of the resort is walkable to DS in that there are pathways to follow. It just depends on your tolerance for distance.

 

[leebee]

Are the DVC rooms in a dedicated area (like Congress Park)? I was thinking of renting points (for Jan 2021) but was mostly interested in SSR because of the boats to DS.

 

[skeeter31]

Are the DVC rooms in a dedicated area (like Congress Park)? I was thinking of renting points (for Jan 2021) but was mostly interested in SSR because of the boats to DS.

No, the entire resort is DVC so every room on property can be booked using DVC points. It’s not like Grand Floridian or Boardwalk where there is only a small area of DVC rooms, Saratoga and Old Key West were built as DVC resorts and all rooms are DVC. Now, you can buy some rooms with cash, but they are all DVC.

I wouldn’t count on the boats being back by January. The boats to DS service Saratoga, OKW and Port Orleans. With Port Orleans still closed indefinitely that’s a big portion of the guests that use those boats not using them. Also, the boat launch at OKW would be a nightmare to have a socially distanced line as the launch is directly off the main thoroughfare by the restaurants, front desk, and main pool. So I don’t see the DS boats returning until social distancing is a thing of the past. They’re not going to just resume boats for Saratoga as it would cause confusion at the boat launches at DS.

 

[WEDWDW]

No, the entire resort is DVC so every room on property can be booked using DVC points. It’s not like Grand Floridian or Boardwalk where there is only a small area of DVC rooms, Saratoga and Old Key West were built as DVC resorts and all rooms are DVC. Now, you can buy some rooms with cash, but they are all DVC.

I wouldn’t count on the boats being back by January. The boats to DS service Saratoga, OKW and Port Orleans. With Port Orleans still closed indefinitely that’s a big portion of the guests that use those boats not using them. Also, the boat launch at OKW would be a nightmare to have a socially distanced line as the launch is directly off the main thoroughfare by the restaurants, front desk, and main pool. So I don’t see the DS boats returning until social distancing is a thing of the past. They’re not going to just resume boats for Saratoga as it would cause confusion at the boat launches at DS.

Totally agree unfortunately.

I don't think there will be any Boats on the Sassagoula until the Quarter and Riverside rejoin the Party.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

Are the DVC rooms in a dedicated area (like Congress Park)? I was thinking of renting points (for Jan 2021) but was mostly interested in SSR because of the boats to DS.

No but there are standard and preferred rooms. Preferred are in Congress Park and The Springs.

 

[Tonberry]

For anyone wondering, we were chatting with a CM who use to charter the boats from Port Orleans to Disney Springs.
They brought all the boat operators back from furlough and trained them on the Friendship boats from Epcot, BC, YC, BW, Swan, Dolphin, and HS.
He said that the boats from PO, Saratoga and Old Key West were all funded from the Port Orleans budget. And you won't see SS or OKW boats running again until Riverside and French Quarter open up. He was also told by Disney they are hoping to re-open RS and FQ this coming summer.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...He said that the boats from PO, Saratoga and Old Key West were all funded from the Port Orleans budget. And you won't see SS or OKW boats running again until Riverside and French Quarter open up. He was also told by Disney they are hoping to re-open RS and FQ this coming summer.

I seriously doubt that OKW and SSR aren't paying for their own boats since member fees pay for everything the resort uses. My transportation costs for 2021 at OKW just jumped quite a bit for the increased buses for sure and we paid for the boats last year. So they were already in the budget. The SSR boat only serves SSR and the OKW boat only serves OKW. The PO boats do not go to SSR or OKW.

Plus there is zero problem loading and unloading the boats as they arrive at the Hospitality House at OKW. New riders are held behind a rope until the boat unloads and those disembarking go on a different set of stairs than the one getting on the boat. Most of the time there are only a few guests, maybe eight or so, getting on the boat at a time. Keeping them socially distanced shouldn't be a problem at all.

 

[Tonberry]

I understand that PO boats don't go to SS or OKW. He told us that PO funds four resorts boats and the boats won't run until PO are open again. Maybe SS and OWK pay a portion into the boats but it's not enough to entirely fund them or the staff.
He also said that they only called the CM boat drivers back only after the cash side of Yacht, Beach Club, and Boardwalk re-opened, as those resorts funded the Epcot and HS friendship boats.
I'm not saying that he's right or wrong. It's just what he said.

 

[skeeter31]

I understand that PO boats don't go to SS or OKW. He told us that PO funds four resorts boats and the boats won't run until PO are open again. Maybe SS and OWK pay a portion into the boats but it's not enough to entirely fund them or the staff.
He also said that they only called the CM boat drivers back only after the cash side of Yacht, Beach Club, and Boardwalk re-opened, as those resorts funded the Epcot and HS friendship boats.
I'm not saying that he's right or wrong. It's just what he said.

Just remember most CMs are notoriously ill informed on the goings on at the park. Always have to take what they say with a grain of salt. I would believe what he’s saying that they won’t be returning for a while, but he would really have no way of knowing how they are funded.

 

[skeeter31]

I seriously doubt that OKW and SSR aren't paying for their own boats since member fees pay for everything the resort uses. My transportation costs for 2021 at OKW just jumped quite a bit for the increased buses for sure and we paid for the boats last year. So they were already in the budget. The SSR boat only serves SSR and the OKW boat only serves OKW. The PO boats do not go to SSR or OKW.

Plus there is zero problem loading and unloading the boats as they arrive at the Hospitality House at OKW. New riders are held behind a rope until the boat unloads and those disembarking go on a different set of stairs than the one getting on the boat. Most of the time there are only a few guests, maybe eight or so, getting on the boat at a time. Keeping them socially distanced shouldn't be a problem at all.

But they would be lined up in the walkway near the HH and would need to be socially distanced in that line so there would be even more 6 foot stickers added into that walkway. And there are already a bunch for the bar and QS. They would most likely want the line stretching opposite the way to the pool, towards the road, which would put them alongside the main walkway. I just can’t see it working right now.