Can anyone sell me on Saratoga Springs?

[shalom]

I think SSR is very pretty (the pics here http://www.dldigitalimages.com/image...9/DVC2009.html are great, thanks!), but I don't think it will give me that 'transported to another place' feeling. I could be wrong, but that's just the impression that I get.

Looking at pics of SSR I thought it was, eh, okay. But when we toured all the DVC resorts this past spring, I definitely liked it the best. What's more, all the kids I had with me liked it the best. (Although youngest hastened to tell me that, even though she liked SSR the best, she does still want to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge, too. ) It is lower key than Animal Kingdom, but it does have that "transported to another place" feeling for us.

When we walked into the Swan, that didn't feel like Disney. But SSR sure did!

Best of luck, whatever you decide.

 

[adminjedi]

Can anyone sell me on SSR?

Personally? Nope. Bought it, Sold it. Just not our cup of tea.

 

[River Country]

Hopefully i can help. I have been traveling to WDW since 1986 and when i used to go we stayed at the Vacation Villa'/Fairway Villas. This is where SSR was built. I took a trip in May with DW DD (4) DD and DM. We had a 2br at SSR and would you believe we bought there on the spot. The main pool my DD had a blast on both slides, and they are building the 2nd pool that is supposed to rival the one at BCV. It was the most economical $99/point and ITS HUGE and you can always get availability as a PP mentioned. It really is a beautiful place good restaurants Turf Club was very good. It has all the benefits of feeling like you are in your own private community , like being home. I highly recommend SSR. Dont get me wrong i will try other DVC resorts in the coming years i am sure but SSR to me from when i was a kid will always be HOME.

 

[adminjedi]

It was the most economical $99/point and ITS HUGE and you can always get availability as a PP mentioned.

If you can always get availability at SSR (which is true IMHO), then it would make sense to have a different home resort. That would give you two options! If you own at SSR and want to stay elsewhere, you may not find availability. If you own elsewhere, most of the time, SSR will be available (exception:treehouse villas).

 

[adminjedi]

Looking at pics of SSR I thought it was, eh, okay. But when we toured all the DVC resorts this past spring, I definitely liked it the best. What's more, all the kids I had with me liked it the best. (Although youngest hastened to tell me that, even though she liked SSR the best, she does still want to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge, too. ) It is lower key than Animal Kingdom, but it does have that "transported to another place" feeling for us.
When we walked into the Swan, that didn't feel like Disney. But SSR sure did!

For us, looking at SSR was nice. Staying there was something totally different. Some buildings are so far out, the walk to drink refill stations, restaurants, boats, and pools is ridiculous. The main pool is small. The bus takes for ever.

Swan isn't Disney.

 

[kendzee94]

If you can always get availability at SSR (which is true IMHO), then it would make sense to have a different home resort. That would give you two options! If you own at SSR and want to stay elsewhere, you may not find availability. If you own elsewhere, most of the time, SSR will be available (exception:treehouse villas).

We have points there and added on there as the THV's are our favorite! I wanted to make sure that I would be able to book at the treehouses whenever we want to stay there (11 month booking advantage!) We will be back for 10 nights at Christmas!

 

[Blondie1973]

Thanks for all of your replies so far!

We are doing a split-stay in November due to availability. I would've rather stayed at Jambo House the entire time, but it was not available on the weekend, so we are moving to Kidani Village for the last 2 nights. I started thinking that since we're moving anyway, it might be more fun to move somewhere totally different. Do you think it would be a huge disappointment to move from AKL to SSR, in terms of theme/atmosphere? FYI, we are a couple in our 30s, no kids.

I'm probably a little late to the party but we did a split stay this last May. We stayed at Kidani Village for 4 nights and then moved to SSR for 3 nights. Now, it could be that we went from a Studio to a 1 bedroom but I preferred SSR much more than Kidani Village. The animals are nice. But there was just something about being at SSR that made me feel more at home.

 

[shalom]

Swan isn't Disney.

The OP was saying she was unhappy on an earlier trip moving onsite to offsite and was concerned that she'd feel the same way moving from AKL to SSR. I was surprised at how strong the difference is to me (some people say the Swan feels "onsite", since there is a story to it and fantasy elements and all, so I expected it to feel at least somewhat similar), and I also think SSR does feel Disney.

 

[Flyerfan]

For us, looking at SSR was nice. Staying there was something totally different. Some buildings are so far out, the walk to drink refill stations, restaurants, boats, and pools is ridiculous. The main pool is small. The bus takes for ever.

Swan isn't Disney.

The looong walks are what we love about this resort...along with several other things, of course. The pools are of no concern to us and the buses...well, most of the time they are OK. On occasion, we'll have to wait...but we are in no hurry. This just goes to show you, "to each his own".

 

[ShesAPirate]

Thank you all for your opinions, and for giving me so much information!

As of now, we are still booked for 4 nights at Jambo, and 2 nights at Kidani -- BUT we are wait-listed for those last 2 nights at BLT and BWV. I would be thrilled if either one of them came through, but no matter what, I'll just be happy to be there!

Oh, and I definitely plan to make some time to go look at SSR and walk around the grounds, just to see what it's like.

Thanks again, everyone!

 

[DVC Grandpa]

We stayed in January and found it overwhelming and not a top choice for us. Our villa was on the fringe of everything although we drove over to dining area and found it to being very nice with a good selection of food to take out or eat in.
Will only stay there again if it is the only available location.

 

[disneynutz]

Ugh, I'm so confused!

My original desire was 6 nights at AKV Jambo. It turned out that Jambo was available only for the first 4 nights. Could've gone with Kidani for all 6, but I realllllllly wanted Jambo, so I booked the split stay.

I'm a renter - not sure if that makes any difference - renting from a DVC rental company (not sure if I'm allowed to say which one, so I won't). The guy I've been working with has been wonderful and patient, but I really feel bad for asking him so many questions, and that's why I opened this thread -- and I can't tell you all how much I appreciate all of your responses and opinions!

I did sent the rental company guy an email asking if I can wait-list another resort for the 2nd part of the trip, as a renter. I don't want to switch for the whole trip. I still want those first 4 nights at Jambo -- because I love it, and because my boyfriend (who's never been to WDW) will totally love it, too. Ideally, WL for the 2nd part of the trip would've been ideal, since the theme there would appeal to him, too. But I know WL is nearly impossible, so... anyone have any idea what the chances are that something at BWV or BLT would open up as the dates get closer?

Thank you all again for reading all of this and for your help!

IMO, if you like Jambo over Kidani, then SSR isn't for you, too quiet and too spread out.

Bill

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

We love SSR. We do like to try all the resorts but miss SSR if we don't stay there regularly. Our teenagers request it when they go along. If the plan is that they meet us midway through the vacation they make sure that their part of the stay is at SSR.

So glad that DVC has so many choices!