Just back from SRS - my review

[Letsbgoofy]

I know that a lot of people were asking about Saratoga Springs because they got the POP upgrade. This was our first visit - we rented points for one night because it was our last WDW resort to try out.

What I liked:

The resort was clean.
The main pool is very nice - we didn't see any of the others.
The area where we were (The Springs) was close to the main pool, bike rentals, food court, etc.
The bathroom was very clean - I have a thing about that.
The panini special at the food court was amazing.
We wanted the DP and this was the only way to purchase it without buying tickets - we were going to TL so that wouldn't have worked for us.
Check in was very quick. There were many CMs working and no line at all.

What I didn't like:

Way to big - I can't imagine being at one of the buildings far from everything.
The CM at the front desk seemed a little confused and gave me no park information.
The food court area is small and limited compared to value and moderate resorts.
The hallways are all outside.
One vending machine per huge building. It was hard to get a soda or bottle of water.
We checked in at 12:15 and our room wasn't ready until 4:00. I know this is the check in time, but we have never had to wait so long at a Disney resort before.

If you got an upgrade from POP, I think you will be happy. I suggest bringing water or drinks with you. Ask for a room near the main pool - I think that is where most of the studios are anyway.

We paid $128 for the room and it was worth it. Regular price for that room was $330 plus tax. I would stay at a moderate before I would pay that. I felt SSR was a moderate for deluxe price.

Any questions, I will try to help.

 

[borgthe]

Hi,

Were you in a studio or 1 BR? We will be in a studio. Me and my 5 year old. Is is large and comfy?

Thanks!

 

[crazy_for_the_dis]

Not sure if you have stayed at any of the deluxes, but most of the "food courts" (not really called that in the deluxes, just counter service) at the deluxe hotels are very small and nothing like the ones at the values and mods. WL and Poly are extremely small, and BW, BC,YC are virtually non-existant (except at the pool at SAB, pizza window at BW). This is one of the main complaints people have with the deluxe resorts, but SSR is not much different (if not better from what I read) than most of the deluxes.

 

[Starr W.]

Artist Pointe is huge compared to Roaring Forks at WL. You can barely move in that place without taking out someone's tray!

 

[Deb & Bill]

...What I didn't like:

Way to big - I can't imagine being at one of the buildings far from everything.
The CM at the front desk seemed a little confused and gave me no park information.
The food court area is small and limited compared to value and moderate resorts.
The hallways are all outside.
One vending machine per huge building. It was hard to get a soda or bottle of water.
We checked in at 12:15 and our room wasn't ready until 4:00. I know this is the check in time, but we have never had to wait so long at a Disney resort before.

If you got an upgrade from POP, I think you will be happy. I suggest bringing water or drinks with you. Ask for a room near the main pool - I think that is where most of the studios are anyway.

We paid $128 for the room and it was worth it. Regular price for that room was $330 plus tax. I would stay at a moderate before I would pay that. I felt SSR was a moderate for deluxe price.

Any questions, I will try to help.

The studios are spread out over the entire resort, so they are not located in just one area. Each building will have a mix of different room types in it.

With the kitchen or kitchenette, most DVC members fill up their refrigerator with their own beverages - either from a shopping service or they do their own shopping or they bring them with them (we usually bring some and head to Publix to get a few more).

SSR is far from moderate. Especially in the larger villas. The king bed in the one bedroom master bedroom is what I like. We don't stay in studios because we think they are just too small for the three of us. And when our son heads to college, my husband and I will be staying in a one bedroom. (See my sig. ). Moderates don't have balconies, don't have queen sized beds, don't have microwave ovens, don't have the larger undercounter refrigerator.

The check in time for DVC resorts is 4PM, so you might not get your villa until after 4PM. It takes longer to clean the DVC villas because of the dishes to wash, the multiple bathrooms, etc. Occasionally you will get in early (once we got into our villa at 8AM, but it was a smoking optional and didn't smell bad so we took it).

I think a lot of the formerly All Stars and Pop guests who got SSR or OKW will discover Disney's Best Kept Secret. DVC is a great way to stay at WDW.

 

[borgthe]

Which building should I request for me and my 5 year old?

Thanks!

 

[Starr W.]

Which building should I request for me and my 5 year old?

Thanks!

You request areas(multiple buildings). We stayed in Congress Park, but we're a family of walkers so it wasn't a big deal getting to the Carriage House or the main pool. My 5 yr old had no problems with the walking(but he's a very energetic kid )

You could request the Springs(closest to the rest. & pool) or personally I would ask for the Grandstand area(brand new, also close to CH, with it's own pool and the first bus stop!)

I would like to try it, but DH will want to stay at CP(closer walk to DTD and the place he fell in love with SSR ).

 

[bapvoeller]

We just got back from our first stay in a studio at SSR. This resort is nicer than any moderate resort we have stayed at. The studio rooms are much nicer and bigger than any moderate rooms. The food at the Artist Palette was awesome. DD6 loved the main pool area at this resort.

We stayed at Congress Park. Ask for a Downtown Disney (DTD) view which is really awesome at night. DTD is a short walk from Congress park. Less than 10 minutes if you take the nature trail. This gives you access to all the eating places in DTD. The walk to the main pool was about 5 minutes from Congress park. This resort is more spread out than others, but I personally like this. CBR is our favorite moderate resort which is also spread out.


Night time view from our room

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Not sure if you have stayed at any of the deluxes, but most of the "food courts" (not really called that in the deluxes, just counter service) at the deluxe hotels are very small and nothing like the ones at the values and mods. WL and Poly are extremely small, and BW, BC,YC are virtually non-existant (except at the pool at SAB, pizza window at BW). This is one of the main complaints people have with the deluxe resorts, but SSR is not much different (if not better from what I read) than most of the deluxes.

Yes I have, and would agree with you on this. I am trying to make a comparison for people who got the POP upgrade. We always split our trips between POR and a deluxe when my son was young because the food court at POR was so convenient and had so many choices for kids. POPs food court is bigger/more choices than SSR.

With the kitchen or kitchenette, most DVC members fill up their refrigerator with their own beverages - either from a shopping service or they do their own shopping or they bring them with them (we usually bring some and head to Publix to get a few more).

I'm sure they do, but I'll bet most of the people who got the upgrades aren't planning to go shopping - hence my suggestion to bring their own drinks. We also didn't go shopping for the one night we were staying there. If they are going to sell the rooms to non DVC guests, they should make accomodations for people who might not plan on shopping.

SSR is far from moderate. Especially in the larger villas. The king bed in the one bedroom master bedroom is what I like. We don't stay in studios because we think they are just too small for the three of us.

I was specifically talking about the studios - that's what most people who got the upgrade will be getting. I've heard that the 2 bedroom units are huge - but you can't really compare that room to a studio.

I'm not knocking SSR. The $128 we paid by renting points was worth the price. In my opinion, it's not $330 plus tax nice; I would pay $200/night less and stay at a moderate. For the people who got the upgrade from POP - I said before that I think you will be happy.

DTD is a short walk from Congress park. Less than 10 minutes if you take the nature trail.

The CM at the front desk wasn't even sure where the trail to DTD was. I asked her how long it would take from our room, and she said "It's a long walk, take the bus". If you were only 5 minutes from the main pool, it couldn't have been that far of a walk for us!

Were you in a studio or 1 BR? We will be in a studio. Me and my 5 year old. Is is large and comfy?

We were also in a studio. Compared to POP, it's large. Compared to other resorts in that price range, I didn't think it was very large or plush. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice room and plenty of space for 2 - I just felt that the resort had more of a moderate feel to it.

 

[Tinkerbell_Tiffany]

my mom and I will be going in september.
we both have studios, will we be able to have adjoining rooms? like have the door opening between both of them?
does anyone have a better map of the resort? The one I saw is way too small...it is hard for me to see.....thanks

 

[borgthe]

Since the studios are made from locking off a 2BR unit, I don't think the studios can have adjoining doors. A studio and a 1BR could. Please correct me, DVCers, if I'm wrong.

 

[Deb & Bill]

my mom and I will be going in september.
we both have studios, will we be able to have adjoining rooms? like have the door opening between both of them?
does anyone have a better map of the resort? The one I saw is way too small...it is hard for me to see.....thanks

Studios only connect to one bedrooms to make a two bedroom. They sometimes may be close to each other, but they never connect to each other.

If they are going to sell the rooms to non DVC guests, they should make accomodations for people who might not plan on shopping.

You can purchase beverages at Artist Palette or the OKW store in the refrigerated section. You can purchase gallons of milk (or smaller sized), juice, sodas, wine, etc.

I was specifically talking about the studios - that's what most people who got the upgrade will be getting.

I've heard about lots of people who are getting one bedroom villas. Quite a step up from a value room. And OKW has two queen beds in the studio, so that is also a big step up from a value. Anyone who gets a one bedroom upgrade to OKW is going to be flabbergasted by all the room.

 

[Tinkerbell_Tiffany]

well I have never stayed in a dvc resort before.
do they have mousekeeping everyday? change sheets, trash?
do they have turndown service like moderates?
I am new to this resort and dvc and would appreciate any advice you can give or suggestions.
I think we are going to ask for the springs building because mt stepdad just had hip surgery and people said thats the closest to everything....are they pretty good about requests?

 

[Deb & Bill]

well I have never stayed in a dvc resort before.
do they have mousekeeping everyday? change sheets, trash?
do they have turndown service like moderates?
I am new to this resort and dvc and would appreciate any advice you can give or suggestions.
I think we are going to ask for the springs building because mt stepdad just had hip surgery and people said thats the closest to everything....are they pretty good about requests?

Moderates don't have turn down service, only deluxe resorts. Because of how DVC is based, you usually don't get turn down service at DVC resorts, but sometimes you can if it is connected to another deluxe resort. SSR is a stand alone.

If you stay on points, you get limited housekeeping service. But if you have a reservation through CRO (which the upgrades are through CRO), you get daily cleaning. However, I don't think any of the Disney resorts (and most of the other hotel chains for that matter) are changing sheets every day any more to save energy.

The Springs is close to the main pool and the Carriage House. There is a bus station in every section so buses shouldn't be a problem. The Grandstand is the newest section to open and it is also close to the Carriage House. Congress Park is closest to DTD by walking. But you can take a bus there.