Best Request for SSR STANDARD room

We never travel to WDW in the summer so walking to DS is usually an enjoyable experience. Totally hear you that summer strolls in the ultra heat are totally different.
As the father of a teacher and a granddaughter in school as my travel partners I am envious of your travel schedule.
 
I also request Grandstand and either near pool or near transportation (prefer either buildings 81 or 85).
This is what I call the SSR standard room lottery. I won it with our trip and it's the best location.
 
For those of you who walk over to Disney Springs do you travel to WDW in the summer months? We travel in August, and I have always figured when we stay at SSR we most likely would not walk but take the boat. Very similar how we handled staying at BLT- we took the monorail to MK and when we stayed at BWV we took the boat to Epcot and HS.
If you don't walk from BLT to MK, then you'll likely take the bus from SSR to DS. It's not too different.
 
Bus versus walking….
We do both depending on where we plan to go at DS. Earl’s Sandwich is pretty far from the bus stop so walking is our preference. If we’re headed to D-Lux Burger for a quick bite, the bus is faster.
The boat from SSR always seems to take longer to us but it can drop you off in several locations. Sometimes checking the map will help you decide what option may be best.
 

For those of you who walk over to Disney Springs do you travel to WDW in the summer months? We travel in August, and I have always figured when we stay at SSR we most likely would not walk but take the boat. Very similar how we handled staying at BLT- we took the monorail to MK and when we stayed at BWV we took the boat to Epcot and HS.

I travel to Disney generally every year during June and September, and have stayed at Saratoga during both of those months. I do continue to walk - I request Congress Park - even in the hot and humid summer, it's a really easy walk especially if you get Building 1 or 2, the Saratoga side of the walk is mostly under trees, and you enter Marketplace which has trees, overhanging roofs, etc so often you're reasonably shaded too...the bridge from Rainforest to TRex is the most exposed you are.

If I don't want a table service meal, rather than eating at Saratoga's quick serve (which by the way is not bad at all - sometimes I just want something different), I often walk over from Saratoga to DLuxe, BB Wolf, Polite Pig, and Blaze, and walk the food back to my villa to eat. The walk from the farthest restaurant (Blaze) is still only 10 minutes to Congress Park, so the food's still warm and ready to eat.

I could understand not wanting to walk in Florida summers - it's easier for me since I live in S Florida and am accustomed to the heat - I walk 5-8 miles every weekend in the Everglades and wetlands down here doing bird and animal photography, so walking around Disney is a breeze by comparison!
 
We have stayed at Paddock near the pool but closer to the side you want to be on to walk to DS. We also stayed in the Springs very close to carriage house and the main pool. While I liked staying the springs for the easy walk to all including DS -yes Congress is closer but it is maybe 3-5 minutes longer. Paddock was a bit of a longer walk but easily doable if I recall it was around 15 minutes.
To is Paddock is the best compromise while the internal bus may take maybe 8 minutes (just a guess) for all stops being first stop or last stop like the springs it felt like 8 minutes Paddock is in the middle and was a few stops either way. The walk to carriage house was not far you also have a drink station and food at the Paddock pool which is also a decent pool. Personally I would choose Paddock for standard but can also understand Grandstand. I will add a few things. If a full bus passed the springs there was an empty one right behind it making Springs the first stop and Grandstand the last. Springs felt far nicer then Paddock when leaving the room as you can see a main road from Paddock can't speak for Grandstand as I never stayed there. I also know Grandstand has the 24 hour resort mug filling station by the pool if that matters but never walked there.
 
For those of you who walk over to Disney Springs do you travel to WDW in the summer months? We travel in August, and I have always figured when we stay at SSR we most likely would not walk but take the boat. Very similar how we handled staying at BLT- we took the monorail to MK and when we stayed at BWV we took the boat to Epcot and HS.
Be aware that the boat from SSR can & does stop running sometimes due to unpredictable low water levels. We were there in May, using the boat frequently. The day after we came home, the boat was discontinued for about 2 weeks, I think.
 
We just spent 2 weeks at SSR and not once was there a full bus at any point...both rope drop or later. We always request Paddock area near pool. I think those 2 building on either side of the pool are the best standard buildings. If you want to go to DS just jump on any bus and get off at Congress park. This trip we got put in the last Paddock building near Congress park(terrible location BTW) So we walked over to the congress park stop for busses and never had an issue sitting.
 
We just spent 2 weeks at SSR and not once was there a full bus at any point...both rope drop or later. We always request Paddock area near pool. I think those 2 building on either side of the pool are the best standard buildings. If you want to go to DS just jump on any bus and get off at Congress park. This trip we got put in the last Paddock building near Congress park(terrible location BTW) So we walked over to the congress park stop for busses and never had an issue sitting.
With the limited time we will be there. I don't think we will be using pool but just walking by to check it out for future stays. I was eyeing up that last building for the walk to DS and the Congress bus stop being right there. Seem like Paddock is popular and especially by the pool but I think priority for us is the Springs and bus stops.
Thanks for information!!
 
With the limited time we will be there. I don't think we will be using pool but just walking by to check it out for future stays. I was eyeing up that last building for the walk to DS and the Congress bus stop being right there. Seem like Paddock is popular and especially by the pool but I think priority for us is the Springs and bus stops.
Thanks for information!!
Then I'd request paddock in the 66xx building/room area. We were right near the side stairs facing the congress park bus stop. Could even see the drone show from the balcony.
 
Are both pools at Saratoga comparable, or is one better than the other? I guess I'm wondering if the pool at Paddok is less busy/have more chairs available? Is the pool food/bar the same? I know they both have a slide.
I think I will request Paddok for the easier walk to DS, but I was going to request the area near Congress Park and walk to the main pool. But now thinking of requesting closer to Paddok pool if the location overall is better?
 
Both pools have a slide, although the main pool by the carriage house is bigger and slightly better. Both have a quick service and plenty of chairs.
The pool at grandstand does not have a slide, but it’s still a decent size pool with a splash area for kids. It has a limited QS and bar but it is not always open.
The walk from the far end of paddock to the pool is less than 5 mins I would say, so you are always close enough to one or the other.
 
















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