Back from Saratoga Springs

[Portugal1000]

Hello, glad you had a lovely time.

Question re Saratoga Springs .. we are thinking of staying there and paying rather than points.

How often was the room cleaned and new towels given please

Rooms cleaned everyday. When you get up in the morning there is a baset outside your room filled with towels, sheets, toiletries etc. On a few occasions we asked for no housekeeping but the maid said to just take anything we needed from the basket. I thought the housekeeping was excellent.

 

[Portugal1000]

We had no chance of getting weighed before we boarded the cruise but I believe after 16 days free DDP we didn't gain any weight, or very little. We were discussing it today, yes we ate plenty but they were more balanced meals than we eat offsite, ate more veg and potatoes rather than fries offsite, also we would usually goto Publix and spend a fortune on crisps & sweets, on DDP didn't need to. Some people say you get too much food on DDP, we didn't find that, it was just right for us, used every credit.
Le Cellier would probably be top of our list to book if we do it again, really impressed with quality of steaks & service there, didn't try Raglan rd and Turf club surprised me but we got a really good server, it was a lot better than I expected. Also agree with WPE, great for CS.

Same here, I honestly don't think I ate between meals once whilst there. I didn't order chips once and usually went for the healthier option for main course. Dessert was the killer, just couldn't resist. Did come back without using 2 TS and 6 QS. Wished I had booked a couple of 2 TS meals. Also had 15 snacks left on last day but went to Goofy candy store and stocked up. We too usually buy lots of snack from walmart/Target but didn't this time. Infact, I dont think we spent any money on food the whole time wew were there. I also like Pepper Market at Coronado Springs. The meals there were just like having a proper sit down meal and you got alot of food.

 

[wayneg]

Did you keep a track of what you would have spent? I posted mine here http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2249674&page=19
$2,409 over 16 nights.
Didn't try Pepper Market, being at OKW we were very close to the Port Orleans resorts, found their food courts very good, think we ate 3 times at each. Tried the one at Caribbean beach and didn't like that at all.
We did Hoop Dee Doo for a 2TS meal, includes alcohol and tips so quite a good deal. Wouldn't use 2 at Cali Grill again, we enjoyed Le Cellier more and thats only 1TS.

 

[scarletlancer]

Hi,

Glad you had a good time.

Few questions:

How far was it from the Grandstand area to the centre of the resort, I can see from overhead views that if you are in one of the buildings further away it does look a fair bit to walk.

Did you find the whole resort quite spread out - tempted by the price of SSR but worried we may end up at one of the more distant buildings.

We had a DVC tour a few years ago but only around the main area, I just thought the dining/bar options a bit limited Artiste's Palette for instance is a general store & a dining area too, didn't see the Turf Club.

Grandstand pool areas look great for kid's with the water fountains, is that how you saw it.

Did you alk to DTD or catch the boat.

Glad you had a good time , any response appreciated - to be honest it's ou 3rd preference behind Magic Kingdom & Boardwalk locations but that price is appealing.

We got back from SSR a few weeks ago and before we went we too had some of the concerns that you mention but I have to say that while the resort is certainly large, we had no problem whatsoever getting around on foot. We were in the Carousel section and regularly walked to the main pool area (about 5-10 mins) and to DTD (maybe 15-20 mins), and these walking times were with a fairly slow moving five year old who stopped to point out every lizard. I really do think that all this stuff about having to take an internal bus to get around the resort is a bit over blown as, unless the bus happened to be there as you walk by, you can almost always walk it to where you want to get to much more quickly.

We are not DVC owners but if we were it would be at SSR as we valued the ability to walk to DTD and the fact that it was just far enough from the hustle and bustle of the parks to allow us to have a really relaxing time.

 

[Portugal1000]

Did you keep a track of what you would have spent? I posted mine here http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2249674&page=19
$2,409 over 16 nights.
Didn't try Pepper Market, being at OKW we were very close to the Port Orleans resorts, found their food courts very good, think we ate 3 times at each. Tried the one at Caribbean beach and didn't like that at all.
We did Hoop Dee Doo for a 2TS meal, includes alcohol and tips so quite a good deal. Wouldn't use 2 at Cali Grill again, we enjoyed Le Cellier more and thats only 1TS.

We were averaging around $160 a day so over 17 nights around $2720 which is crazy. Our QS meals at Wolfgang Puck were $65! I would never have spent that normally but we did get to the point where we were eating for the sake of it. Did enjoy all the different restaurants though.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I didn't just request Grandstand, I requested a specific building, floor and view and got exactly what I requested. I asked for the closest Grandstand building and 8500/8800. I mentioned that I had been in room 8507 previously and would like the same building but on a higher floor with a golf course view. We ended up with room 8745 which was perfect. It was 2 minute walk from reception but what I liked most was that you came out of the building and the gate to the Grandstand pool was right there. In my opinion the best building of the whole resort because you have a quiet pool and a couple of minutes from the busier pool. Alsthough saying that, I also think The Grandstand pool has to be the nicest pool area to just relax. My son loved the splash area and added bonus that there is a small bar where you can also get your refills.
Also room was very quiet. Resort was 98% full and I never heard a sound from anyone when in the room.

I didn't really visit other parts of the resort but it is very big. I think you be ok with a room request as I should imagine alot of people requet the Springs and most probably don't request anything in advance.

I really lover Turf Club but also like Artist Palette as everything prepared freshly. wouldn't want to eat there every day but never had a bad meal.

We caught the boat and walked a couple of times to DTD but it was so hot i have to admit to being lazy most of the time and driving.

This is my favourite resprt and for the price they are offering at the moment I think its a fanstastic deal, especially with the free dining. Cant recommend highly enough.

Thanks for the response, I can certainly see the appeal of the Grandstand pool as we have seen many pictures of it. In theory Joshua would love it but you just never know with him these days , just an 'autism' thing. He loves water and I could guarantee a few years ago he would adore it. However, these days he doesn't want to know even the likes of the Curious George play area at Universal - so who knows?

SSR for the price is a bargain, we shall have to see what we decide to do once the flights are booked, but thanks for the feedback.

We got back from SSR a few weeks ago and before we went we too had some of the concerns that you mention but I have to say that while the resort is certainly large, we had no problem whatsoever getting around on foot. We were in the Carousel section and regularly walked to the main pool area (about 5-10 mins) and to DTD (maybe 15-20 mins), and these walking times were with a fairly slow moving five year old who stopped to point out every lizard. I really do think that all this stuff about having to take an internal bus to get around the resort is a bit over blown as, unless the bus happened to be there as you walk by, you can almost always walk it to where you want to get to much more quickly.

Thanks also. Joshua is not the best walker, although perfectly mobile he cannot walk for very long so we take a wheelchair with us, which to be honest we rarely use at all other than malls/theme parks in Orlando. Hence you can appreciate we don't want to have to walk a long way from the outskirts of SSR.

At the moment we have other choices we prefer but certainly with the kind feedback on this thread we know SSR is an option at a good price.

 

[EvertonCJ]

binkytell, we stayed in a 2 bed villa in SSR a few weeks ago and loved it. We took my sister in law and brother in law. They slept in the studio part of the villa and we (4 of us) slept in the 1 bed villa section. We asked for a lockoff, so that both families could have some privacy when it was required. Although my sister in law always seemed to walk in to our room when I was just getting out of the shower Trust me, you will have a fabulous time at SSR.

 

[dtm316]

Quick question about the DDP, how did you feel the restaurants where (both in the resort and in disney in general), was everything really busy, did you have to book many ADR's etc?

 

[wayneg]

Quick question about the DDP, how did you feel the restaurants where (both in the resort and in disney in general), was everything really busy, did you have to book many ADR's etc?

We did DDP 6th-22nd Aug, so busy time of year. We found many very busy, Le Cellier, Tutto Italia & Crystal Palace were 3 places(sure there were more) I heard them tell people they were fully booked the whole evening and not taking any walk in reservations but other places like Turf club grill SSR was half empty. We booked all our 16 nights in advance, if we do DDP again next August I will do the same. There are always places to eat without an ADR(never needed one at Trails End) but if you want the popular restuarants then you have to book.

 

[EvertonCJ]

I would strongly recommend booking all TS meals in advance. We booked everything in advance apart from our very last night. Whilst at SSR we tried to make several reservations for our last night and were told they were full.eg Crystal Palace, Turf Club. We could only get into the Liberty Tree Tavern.
When we were at the ESPN bar, I got talking to another British guy who was staying at the Beach Club. He had arrived at Disney without making any reservations whatsoever. On the first night he went to reception and asked could they book his family in anywhere that had the DDP as he had the free DDP. He was told that there was nowhere available. He ended up spending 250 dollars at a non-DDP restaurant. To Disney's credit when he spoke to a manager at the end of the evening they did refund his 250 dollars, But I know he had been struggling all holiday to find restaurants for his family.

 

[scojos]

i have been reading on the restaurant boards how the whole of epcot was fully booked during free ddp, last year we had to cancel a trip to 50s ptc due to TS fay, and found ourselves with ts free - we really struggled to find a spare space, and ended up back at boma for dinner.
it was teh best meal of our holiday
pls pls make adrs...
have you heard about the changes in the ddp? check out the restaurant boards but figaro fries have been taken off as a snack, the croissant at the boulangerie and goofys snacks have changed... not good!