First ever dvc stay!

[klbrow11]

So I am the travel planner in my family. We just got back from Orlando late last night. Actually went for a seaworld trip so just did a budget trip staying at a hampton inn there at seaworld. We originally planned to just have 4 full days and leave on NYE. Well the week before we were due to leave my husband said he doesn't have to work monday so why not extend the trip. I was all for but was like why couldn't you tell me this when I booked in April lol. Well our little Hampton was booked for NYE of course. We are very new to dvc and just bought in september. Of course nothing available for NYE so we booked a cash room at coronado springs. I have never paid rack rate so my eyes bugged out a bit but with a small discount with orbitz it came to $250 total so not awful awful considering NYE.

Fast forward to NYE day and we spent a day at Gatorland. We were just having such a fun trip and I said I hated for it to end without a little disney. DH said well let's go and I said are you crazy the parks will be a madhouse today let's stick to our dinner at Boma and fireworks at the Poly plan. Then he says well let's just stay another day and can go to the parks tomorrow. At first I said no but then the wheels started turning and he said "you are totally thinking about it aren't you?" I am the budget conscious one and he is the spender so first thing I do is look at credit card damage we made to see how much it would hurt our budget to buy one day MK tickets. Basically I was like we can afford the tickets but another hotel cost would be a little much plus food in parks. So I checked dvc website expecting to find nothing for new years day. But I did! Saratoga Springs had a preferred studioroom so I grabbed it and we got our extra day!!!!

We went to MK as close to rope drop as we could but we're out till 1am NYE and with a toddler in tow were not there till 9:30. We still managed to do everything we wanted except mine train. About 3:30 I got a txt saying our room was ready so we left MK for some much needed pool time. We got to Saratoga and easily found our room in the springs section. The room was nice, bed was so comfortable, and I loved being close to the pool and main areas. My 2 year old loved the little slide at the springs pool so total success. Now we didn't spend a ton of time exploring but we did enjoy our stay. DD loves horses so she enjoyed the theme. The theme felt like we were at home. We live in Louisville KY so horse racing is what this town is known for lol. The only negatives we had were did not like outside entrance to room (DH is weird about this but doesn't bother me much) and it is such a big resort that at the end of the day after MK is was tough waiting for our bus stop. Overall though it was an enjoyable stay and would not hesitate to book again. I probably would not buy there since I love our home resort but don't see why there's so much hate for it.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I am pleased to read that it all worked out for you and you got your first DVC stay on NY day! What a bonus. We love SSR it is one of our home resorts. Nice location, theme and pools.

Hope you enjoy your DVC membership as much as we have!

 

[dboules]

I think if you love SSR depends upon where your room location is and your expectations.
The first time we stayed there we were in the middle of the resort and it felt more like an apartment complex than a resort. It was a LONG walk to anywhere.
The second time we stayed there we had a little more knowledge and requested to be close to the walkway to Downtown Disney. We LOVED the location. We could see downtown disney from our balcony and really loved the freedom of walking over to eat or shop.

I prefer other resorts because the bus rides are not as LONG and the feel is more "resort" like - but I would definitely stay there over not going to Disney

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Well hello from another fellow Louisvillian. Glad you had such a great time and nice to hear about how you enjoyed SSR. We have never stayed there before and it's not exactly on our list but good to know it's a decent option.

 

[com_op_2000]

Welcome Home and Much Pixieduston your future stays.

 

[klbrow11]

There is something wonderful when they tell you "welcome home". Have two more dvc trips booked this year. A short stay at Hilton Head in june and a week at our home resort at Polynesian (may have bought there for dole whips alone

 

[William Ades]

Saratoga Springs is a beautful property with spacious rooms, great pools that are never over crowded, and within walking distance of Disney Springs. We have enjoyed every stay that we have had there. Would stay there over Bay Lake and Grand Floridian. Although those resorts are fantastic, they aren't worth extra amount of points that are required and are often overcrowded. There is enough of that at the parks, I don't need it at my resort.