Our stay at the Saratoga Springs Resort

[WDWmom0920]

I wouldn't stay here again at .25 points. I could see into dozens of rooms and could easily throw a tennis ball onto dozens of "balconies" or what I would call slivers of concrete with railings. At other DVC resorts, they have USB charging ports in the kitchen and full sized tables in a one bedroom. Also, they've hired actual landscapers. SSR is the K-Mart of DVC.

I respectfully disagree especially being a SSR owner for over 15years. The refurb is outstanding and currently one of most elegant spaces even comparing to riviera and GF- with USB ports in many spaces. You may not like layout of the buildings or location of USB ports; fair enough but that doesn’t equate to comparison of a Walmart. SSR has beautiful ground to replicate NY not the Boardwalk nor Poly.

 

[MMSM]

What time does the security walk through for Disney springs open? From the walkway.

 

[sticker231]

My view off the balcony

 

[jimmytammy]

We too have found SSR to be a lovely and relaxing resort. Our 1st stay there many years ago when it 1st opened, we were under impressed, FF a few years later, it offered so much more than before, including the updated DS. We will be staying there a few nights in Oct.

 

[DonMacGregor]

My view off the balcony

Yeah, but could you see into “dozens of other rooms”?

(Just kidding).

 

[sticker231]

Yeah, but could you see into “dozens of other rooms”?

(Just kidding).

So many I lost count.

Biggest problem I’ve run into so far is deciding between using a USB port or plugging my phone in directly to charge. First world problems.

 

[MMSM]

Ok. I was discouraged by the poster who said that SSR was not great. This is my first time staying here. We are staying in a 1 bedroom. Takeaways- took a long time to check in, however we did get paddock and we are close to pool. Our door would not lock and they had to call someone at 9pm. Then they couldn’t fix it and the whole door had to be reprogrammed. I’m glad they fixed it (went to 11 pm) but when calling the front desk I was on hold for quite awhile. I don’t think a front desk should have a hold time like that. My experience has never been like that with BW, BC, Poly pr GF. Very frustrating. The room is nice and spacious with many places to plug in devices. The previous poster is right about balcony. We are very close to people next door. Maybe it feels different at BCV because they have walls that separate at times. However, my neighbor was never out when I was and it was never an issue. My family has liked it. We did not stay here on park days and never had to take busses (we rented a car). I would say that I personally would not stay here if I was doing parks. I do like proximity to parks. I don’t need theming but I still love the Poly. It’s just so much of a chill vibe. We have not tried any other pool yet because they have all been packed. Even quiet pool. Came down at 10:10 yesterday and every chair had been taken (opens at 10). This hotel should def have a cabana or pool rental. Food and drinks (and service) at paddock pool was great.

 

[CarolynFH]

Ok. I was discouraged by the poster who said that SSR was not great. This is my first time staying here. We are staying in a 1 bedroom. Takeaways- took a long time to check in, however we did get paddock and we are close to pool. Our door would not lock and they had to call someone at 9pm. Then they couldn’t fix it and the whole door had to be reprogrammed. I’m glad they fixed it (went to 11 pm) but when calling the front desk I was on hold for quite awhile. I don’t think a front desk should have a hold time like that. My experience has never been like that with BW, BC, Poly pr GF. Very frustrating. The room is nice and spacious with many places to plug in devices. The previous poster is right about balcony. We are very close to people next door. Maybe it feels different at BCV because they have walls that separate at times. However, my neighbor was never out when I was and it was never an issue. My family has liked it. We did not stay here on park days and never had to take busses (we rented a car). I would say that I personally would not stay here if I was doing parks. I do like proximity to parks. I don’t need theming but I still love the Poly. It’s just so much of a chill vibe. We have not tried any other pool yet because they have all been packed. Even quiet pool. Came down at 10:10 yesterday and every chair had been taken (opens at 10). This hotel should def have a cabana or pool rental. Food and drinks (and service) at paddock pool was great.

In future don’t call the “front desk” - it goes to a call center somewhere. Call Housekeeping or Maintenance or even Bell Services - they’re actually on property. This applies to all Disney resorts, not just SSR.

 

[Nickylv]

In future don’t call the “front desk” - it goes to a call center somewhere. Call Housekeeping or Maintenance or even Bell Services - they’re actually on property. This applies to all Disney resorts, not just SSR.

Great tip CarolynFH. We also do auto check in, they text us when the room is ready and the room number and our magic bands open the door.

 

[MMSM]

Great tip CarolynFH. We also do auto check in, they text us when the room is ready and the room number and our magic bands open the door.

Yes, we do online check too. But we learned if we don’t arrive early - we have no chance of getting any requests. And I just didn’t want Carousel. I understand completely that they do not need to honor requests nor let me in my room before 4. However, I don’t believe that housekeeping had nothing clean. After asking at 3:15 if there was anything in Paddock ready he called someone and said she will be in there next. At 3:35 we got text saying it was done. When we arrived no housekeeping in hall or anyone for that matter nearby. It wouldn’t of been so bad but there were “storms nearby” so all the pools were closed. As for calling front desk and being put on hold and not knowing this information is strange to me. I appreciate the tip now, but there should be a number to call someone if need be. It was a good visit at SSR, I’m glad I stayed in paddock.

 

[Melissa Perez]

Thanks! My girls (9 and almost 7) are beyond thrilled to be at SSR. They’re already planning for how many times they can convince my husband to go to WoD since they can walk and he no longer will need to drive us all there.

Ha I also find myself planning how many times I can just stroll over to WoD and Pandora. Oops!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

We have spent 2-4 weeks at SSR each January/February for several years. No parks, just our Florida home away from home (even though our DVC home is HHI). We love the seclusion, the ability to walk or boat to Disney Springs or other resorts, the pools. Everyone has their own opinion but i think OP is just ranting.

Our first DVC trip was in 2008 at SSR. Our 2 DSs were 12 and 10. We spent a lot of time at the parks but did hit the pool a couple of nights. We bought into HHI the very next year, but at that time it never occurred to me how similar SSR and HHI are. This past February, my DH and I did some resort hopping. SSR was one of the resorts I wanted to go back to and explore some. It began with a walk through the wooded area coming from DS.



We also enjoyed checking out the Treehouse Villas. The thing that made me think of HHI the most though was all the people riding bikes. I was just blown away with how much it gave me the HHI vibe. I can see us staying at SSR in the future if we want a relaxing, slow-paced vacation.

 

[pineapplepalms]

We stayed in a dedicated 2BR in Congress Park and our room was great. Here’s a photo of the view from our balcony. It was really peaceful and it didn’t feel like it lacked privacy compared to other DVC resorts we’ve stayed at. Do the layouts vary that much based on building or location within SSR?

It’s one of our home resorts but it’s not our preferred resort right now since we’re at double stroller age, and we’re prioritizing resorts that have walking access/non-bus transportation. But we still enjoyed our stay and the easy walk to DS was so nice. I could see us staying there more as our kids get a little older since we like going to DS. I like the spa there too, and it’s a bonus to have a playground for the kids.

 

[ParkHoppers]

For us these days there is just something special about staying at SSR the first 3 nights and going to restaurants like Chef Arts, Morimoto and Boathouse while we are there. Close proximity makes that experience extra nice. Then we move to a monorail or Epcot resort the last 4 nights for proximity to parks and an entirely different vibe.

 

[Stargazer65]

Really liked the QS @ Artist Point (much better than BC) and the walk or boat to DS.

I really like Artist Point too. I always had really good luck with their evening meals and for some reason they always seem to have the best bacon at breakfast (at least pre-covid they did).

Just FYI- SSR quickserve is The Artist's Palette. Artist Point is a table service restaurant at Wilderness Lodge.

I love Artist's Palette too. Just mentioning it to avoid confusion if you're trying to make a mobile order.

 

[Stargazer65]

We also enjoyed checking out the Treehouse Villas.

We went scoping the THVs two weeks ago in preparation for staying there next year.

Of course if they don't have a USB charging port in the shower and tub, forget it.

 

[clarker99]

Sharing this post with my wife She never wants to stay at SSR for the FOMO on the Boardwalk area or MK areas. We never find the time to go to Disney Springs and a nice 2 night stay in your room would be perfect. Thanks for the post.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

Just FYI- SSR quickserve is The Artist's Palette. Artist Point is a table service restaurant at Wilderness Lodge.

I love Artist's Palette too. Just mentioning it to avoid confusion if you're trying to make a mobile order.

Thanks for the correction.

 

[The Jackal]

We recently had stayed at BLT, even though there was a wall between our room and the next on the balcony, someone stuck their head around to see if anyone was on our balcony and I was there eating my breakfast, I wasn’t making any noise, so they had no idea I was there. Also we were facing the Contemporary. Guess what I could see all the balconies on one side of the building. It was awful. Looking at all those balconies. I can’t remember how many USB plugs there were.

 

[Nickylv]

For us these days there is just something special about staying at SSR the first 3 nights and going to restaurants like Chef Arts, Morimoto and Boathouse while we are there. Close proximity makes that experience extra nice. Then we move to a monorail or Epcot resort the last 4 nights for proximity to parks and an entirely different vibe.

Boathouse is our favorite Disney Springs Restaurant.