Best Rooms at Saratoga Springs?

[labdogs42]

We will be staying at SSR next week and I just got an email from them asking if I had any room requests. We have a 1 BR booked, so I thought I'd ask here for suggestions of which area I should request. We have a rental car, but we definitely plan to use the boat to Disney Springs a few times. So, I was thinking near the boat launch might be a good option? I also hope to use one of the pools, so pool access would be important. Any suggestions? This is our first time staying at SSR, but we are Disney veterans. Thanks!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Did you book Preferred or Standard?

To be near the boat launch or walking to DS, you need to have booked Preferred. Those rooms are in The Springs and Congress Park.

If you booked Standard, I'd recommend asking for either Grandstand or for The Paddock. Paddock won't be near the boat launch, but it's near a feature pool and you can walk over the bridge to the main resort amenities.

 

[labdogs42]

Standard

 

[Hopefully]

If you booked Standard you can not be near the boat launch or walking path to DS. That is why it is less expensive/less points, it is less desirable

 

[labdogs42]

but, of standard rooms, any suggestions? I booked through RCI and only paid an exchange fee (my grandmother's points), so I'm thrilled to be staying at SSR at all, so I'm happy to have whatever stabdard room I get! I just wanted to know what to request in my category.

 

[cutigerlady]

I booked through RCI and requested Congress Park. I had an awesome room overlooking DS and steps from the quiet pool. So you never know, you might get it!

 

[BigredNole]

We were in the Grandstand section. Don't know the building number, but on the map it is the one with 8101 in it. We overlooked the golf course. It was convenient to the bus stop, just 5 minutes to the lobby/main pool. We had a smaller pool right next to the building as well (J) on the map. When we wanted to go to DS, all we had to do is drive our car over to Congress Park section or just hop on the first bus to show up and get off at Congress Park.

To be honest, I was completely worried about going there and being "so far away". It really wasn't bad. We used our car in the mornings and buses in the afternoon/evening. We wound up just going to the main pool for the daily games and activities. It worked out great for us. DD met a friend there that was also alone. Her siblings were many years older or many years younger. She was kind of stuck to herself. She and my DD played together every afternoon for hours. We would have drinks and talked with her parents. They were simply there vacationing at the resort without going to any parks.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

My favorite area is Paddock, but if closer access to the boat launch is key, go for Grandstand.

 

[steg]

I was happy to see Grandstands be part of the standard views! It's a shortish walk to the carriage house and boat launch and is the first bus stop to everything but Disney Springs where it's the second stop. Having stayed at Congress Park i'd still pick Grandstands (near pool/transportation) to try and get in the building(s) closest to the bus stop and Carriage House with still having a short walk to the boat launch.

 

[labdogs42]

I was happy to see Grandstands be part of the standard views! It's a shortish walk to the carriage house and boat launch and is the first bus stop to everything but Disney Springs where it's the second stop. Having stayed at Congress Park i'd still pick Grandstands (near pool/transportation) to try and get in the building(s) closest to the bus stop and Carriage House with still having a short walk to the boat launch.

awesome -- thanks! Grandstands looks like the the best bet for what I was shooting for plus, we will have a car, so bus transport is not really a concern for me.

 

[westie55]

I recently stayed at the Grandstand, which has a major advantage: it is the first bus stop. Especially going to MK in the mornings, the bus was often full before it even got to the Springs stop. As I have a baby and a stroller to wrangle, standing on the bus is not really feasible. I'd recommend the Grandstand for this reason. It's also the first stop coming back from the parks and it's not a bad walk from the main building or main pool. It's where I would request to stay again if I go back to SSR, which I hope to in the future!

 

[MaestroTK]

I agree. The Grandstand is excellent. Short walk to the main pool/building.

 

[Deb & Bill]

but, of standard rooms, any suggestions? I booked through RCI and only paid an exchange fee (my grandmother's points), so I'm thrilled to be staying at SSR at all, so I'm happy to have whatever stabdard room I get! I just wanted to know what to request in my category.

You'll also have a $190 fee when you check in.

 

[labdogs42]

You'll also have a $190 fee when you check in.

Is that a cleaning fee? They didn't actually say anything when I checked in, but I guess I can check my bill.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Is that a cleaning fee? They didn't actually say anything when I checked in, but I guess I can check my bill.

No, that's the new and improved Exchange Fee.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Is that a cleaning fee? They didn't actually say anything when I checked in, but I guess I can check my bill.

That's the fee all RCI trades get charged when the owner checks in. It is supposed to cover the items that DVC member fees cover at the resort, like transportation, security, etc.

 

[DebbieB]

I booked through RCI and requested Congress Park. I had an awesome room overlooking DS and steps from the quiet pool. So you never know, you might get it!

When did you stay there? The Standard/Preferred started January 1.