First Trip to Saratoga Springs- Tips please!?

[francis6306]

Hello! It's been so long since I have used DisBoards! I'm excited to be back. We have our first trip to Disney in 5 years this April, and I was able to book a 2 bedroom villa at Saratoga Springs! We are traveling with family, so 4 adults, 1 tween, 1 kid, and 1 baby!

We are taking the Covid restrictions seriously and hoping to enjoy a getaway during these crazy times!

I'm interested to know if I should try and request one section of the resort over another. At first I was thinking Grandstand, because I read that section is the first off the bus. However, if I am reading all of this about the refurb correctly, it appears that section may be under construction during our stay?

All this time away and now the restrictions make me feel like a complete newbie. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[bigAWL]

As far as I have heard, Grandstand and Carousel are the section still remaining for refurb. The others should all be done. If you have a preferred room category, then you should be guaranteed a new room. If standard category, then you'll probably need to request Paddock to guarantee a new room.

My personal preference in Congress Park for walking access to Disney Springs, but that's why it's "preferred."

 

[francis6306]

Okay, thank you very much! I don't so much care about the new rooms verses old, but I do care about construction sounds during the day. Thank you so much!

 

[csjordan]

Online check in offers close to bus stop, close to carriage house, or close to pool. We have a standard studio booked for May. Is there one or the other request that would give us a better shot at a refurbished room?

 

[TTA Rider Matt]

I don’t know if we’re allowed to reference Touring Plans on here, but they have a room request tool on their website where you can request specific buildings/blocks of rooms you’d prefer. As of the last DVC Fan update, 3 of the 5 Paddock buildings were complete with the other 2 underway. This was as of December 30, so I’m sure more progress has been made since. Here is the article if I’m not too computer illiterate to link it...

https://dvcfan.com/2020/12/30/const...efurbished-at-saratoga-springs-december-2020/

 

[csjordan]

I don’t know if we’re allowed to reference Touring Plans on here, but they have a room request tool on their website where you can request specific buildings/blocks of rooms you’d prefer. As of the last DVC Fan update, 3 of the 5 Paddock buildings were complete with the other 2 underway. This was as of December 30, so I’m sure more progress has been made since. Here is the article if I’m not too computer illiterate to link it...

https://dvcfan.com/2020/12/30/const...efurbished-at-saratoga-springs-december-2020/

Thanks! This will be helpful. In looking at the map, all sections have a pool and bus stop, so requesting close to carriage house might be the better option.

 

[bigAWL]

Here's a DVC Fan article from last week...
https://dvcfan.com/2021/02/19/refur...aratoga-springs-despite-ongoing-legal-battle/
This seems to imply that Only Grandstand and Carrousel renovations remain. But I suppose it's possible the final Paddock work hasn't quite completed yet. They certainly should be done by April, I think.

But I'd be careful about the "Close to Carriage House" request. It looks to me like the closest Standard rooms to the Carriage House are actually in the Grandstand. DVC Fan suggests, if you "request a Standard room in The Paddock, you should guarantee yourself a refurbished villa!" Is that not possible? I don't know.

 

[csjordan]

Thanks bigAWL. The only 3 options for online check-in are "close to pool", "close to bus stop", and "close to carriage house". Maybe I won't put in a request, and see where that takes me. I won't be terribly disappointed if we do not get a refurbed room. Not a deal breaker, for sure.

 

[quandrea]

Thanks bigAWL. The only 3 options for online check-in are "close to pool", "close to bus stop", and "close to carriage house". Maybe I won't put in a request, and see where that takes me. I won't be terribly disappointed if we do not get a refurbed room. Not a deal breaker, for sure.

I always send an email to member services with room requests and leave the room requests blank on the online check in form.

 

[justadreamaway77]

Did you reserve a preferred room or a standard room?

 

[Brian Noble]

The only 3 options for online check-in are "close to pool", "close to bus stop", and "close to carriage house".

Of those three, I like "close to pool" for Standard reservations. That puts you near either the Paddock pool or the Grandstand pool. The Paddock pool is excellent, with a decent CS location. It is between the 2nd and 3rd bus stops, so it is easy to get a space (though not always a seat) on the bus. There is a bridge connecting the Paddock pool with the Springs section, so the walk to the Carriage House is not long at all. The Grandstand pool isn't as nice as Paddock, but it is closer to the Carriage house and on the first bus stop. So far, with that request, I've had Paddock twice and Grandstand once.

For me, the biggest advantage of "close to pool" is that it limits the possibility of Carousel, because there isn't a pool there.

I would not worry too much about construction noise. I was last there in February '20, while Springs was under the knife, and while there was some visual evidence of construction I didn't really hear anything walking back and forth past it.

 

[bigAWL]

I would not worry too much about construction noise. I was last there in February '20, while Springs was under the knife, and while there was some visual evidence of construction I didn't really hear anything walking back and forth past it.

Right. I believe they are closing the buildings that they are working on. So I don't think there would be any construction noise in the same building as guests.

 

[heresabe]

I haven't stayed at Saratoga, so I am not qualified to answer the specific question. If I were to stay @ Saratoga, I think I would want to be in close walking distance of Disney Springs.

 

[csjordan]

Thanks All!! All of this is great information. I really appreciate your help!

 

[Stargazer65]

This seems to imply that Only Grandstand and Carrousel renovations remain. But I suppose it's possible the final Paddock work hasn't quite completed yet. They certainly should be done by April, I think.

I just got back from the grandstand last week. We were in an old style room, but I saw work started on other rooms in that section.

 

[Bellecruiser]

We just came back from SSR a week ago. We requested to be by the pool, and got the Paddocks right NExt door to the pool. It was perfect. It was a renovated room and next to the pool/snack bar and the bus stop. Easy walk to Disney Springs. Grandstand was full of construction.

turf Club was closed so we ate mostly at Disney Springs. Have fun! We had a great time there...it was wonderful.

 

[tiggerx3]

For a standard room, I’d request paddock and to be by the pool. The pool there is great and the quick service is opened too. Email the resort about 5 days before you arrive.
have a magical time!

 

[CP3uhoh]

Can anyone who has visited recently report how soon the busses have been starting before park open?

 

[tiggerx3]

When we were there over thanksgiving, the busses started about an hour before park opening. We did Uber to HS and it was around $9 plus tip.

 

[Emmiev02]

For a standard room, I’d request paddock and to be by the pool. The pool there is great and the quick service is opened too. Email the resort about 5 days before you arrive.
have a magical time!

This may be a dumb question but..... you can email the resort? I am staying in September and couldn't decide if standard was good enough or spend the extra points and do preferred.