Questions about Saratoga Springs

[brooksfan5]

My family and I have stayed at a few Disney resorts, Carribean Beach, Animal Kingdom, Old Key West and Fort Wilderness. However we have a 1 BR booked into Saratoga Springs in mid October. This is our first stay at Saratoga Springs.
Any information on areas to request for views. How the restaurant is. Boat landing to get to Downtown Disney. Any information on the resort would be appreciated.
We also thought about the Hoop De Doo with the grandkids. Anyone who has done this, how did you like it.

Thanks,
Dean

 

[chalee94]

you might want to check out the SSR lovers thread over on the DVC boards. or for more general information: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/Resorts/saratoga.htm

i would request congress park for a DTD view, but i actually stayed in the paddocks and loved my plain old view of the fountains. for reference, the grandstand area is newest and the springs are closest to the main pool. a map can be found here.

i've never eaten at the turf club but you can find reviews on the DIS. for counter service, i preferred to go to DTD and eat at earl of sandwich but artist's palette is nice.

IMO, the rooms are as nice as any on the property

 

[spiceycat]

the rooms are nicer. they quit trying to made the resort look old. So everything at SSR is brand new and generally looks it.

It is a very beautifully resort - I loved my Congress Park DD view. but springs and paddock both have some very, very lovely view of the fountains.

the only place I would try not to get is the Carousel with a street view - the fountains are fine.

my order
Congress Park
Grandstand
Springs
Paddock
Carousel


forgot if you get Congress Park - forget the boat you can walk to DD quicker than you can walk to the DD.

If you get Grandstand the boat is short walk away. Springs isn't much further.

 

[denise5374]

Here iss the view from our room at Saratoga Springs, I think it was Congress Park but I do not know the room number.

Denise

 

[chalee94]

forgot if you get Congress Park - forget the boat you can walk to DD quicker than you can walk to the (dock).

yep - if you're in congress park or the edge of paddocks nearest that, you are a very short walk from DTD and its bus hub - which is very convenient if you are trying to get to another disney resort for an ADR or something...

 

[poohlovermom]

I stayed there in early August. We loved it. They upgraded us from akl to a 2 bedroom villa. I can tell you don't take the bus to ddt. Way too long.The boat ride was enjoyed by us and very quick.I cann't remember the name of our area but we did stay very close to the main building. They do have a cafeteria that is ok. They also have groceries. Prices alittle high but not too bad. Hope this helps.

 

[erin.w]

We stayed in the Springs, which was really close to the main area/pool. We ate at Artist's Point a number of times, and enjoyed it. Despite being the last drop off spot in the Springs, it was nice to be the last bus stop before heading to the parks, and not having to ride around the whole resort to all the bus stops when trying to get to the parks for an ADR.

 

[pooh6890]

I have heard that with so many bus stops it's takes you 45 to 1 hour to get to any park. Also, after a few stops there are no seats. Any truth to that?

 

[spiceycat]

I have heard that with so many bus stops it's takes you 45 to 1 hour to get to any park. Also, after a few stops there are no seats. Any truth to that?

well it was only 3 stops when I stayed there.

the problem I had was with the bus drivers. both OKW and SSR have MORE than their share of new drivers.

now some will take advice and will listen.

others will completely ignore - I KNOW WHERE I AM ARE GOING. - yea right,
anyway one took us to DD instead of SSR, another took us to Kissimmee instead of SSR. was told that Disney is working on this problem - but they need to change the bus drivers attitude as well - and that is a much harder problem.

a lot of the problems with the buses is the new bus drivers.

 

[chalee94]

I have heard that with so many bus stops it's takes you 45 to 1 hour to get to any park. Also, after a few stops there are no seats. Any truth to that?

when i was there in nov of last year, it seemed like it only took around 20-30 mins to get to the parks (might have been slightly longer to AK...i didn't watch the clock.) had no problems with limited seating.

not sure how things have changed with carousel and grandstand...or what it's like in a busier season...