Saralago vs. Blue Tree

[wildeflowers]

Just wondering if anyone has stayed in any of these hotels/resorts lately and what your thoughts were? I'm taking a friend and her children with us on our next trip, and we are trying to keep everything budget friendly this time.

Does anyone know if there are any hidden fees for these places, such as resort fees or parking? They both seem to get pretty good reviews on Trip Advisor.

I was able to find the shuttle schedule and it looks like the shuttle schedule is better for Saralago, which is convenient. I'm not sure if I should make a decision based on the shuttle though. I've only stayed off property once before and drove in, so I'm wondering if it's easier just to do that and pay the parking fee.

I like the suite at Blue tree better because it's more spacious and my friend and I can have our own space separate from the kids. Saralago seems to be a more open suite, no separate rooms, so not as convenient for a larger group, but hey, it's just a place to sleep right?

Just wondering what others would choose and why? Or if there's another budget place I'm missing that would even be better?

TIA!

 

[mmmcl]

I don't know anything about the first resort you mentioned, but we've stayed at the Blue Tree and it was HORRIBLE! We did a time share deal with West Gate and their main resort was (supposedly) full so they put us at the Blue Tree. I wasn't at all impressed with the room, but it was free and we had no intention of buying anyway. Not long after we got in the room the lights started to flicker on and off, but we couldn't figure out what was going on. Later we noticed sparks and smoke comming out of the breaker box. We contacted the front desk and it took forever for someone to come and look at it. ''m thinking they would have someone there ASAP. They did a temporary fix on it since it was after 10 pm. We wanted to be moved to another room but they refused. We ended up packing up and checkng in at ASMo at midnight just to get out of there.

We showed up at our tour the next day and no one was even the slightest bit concerned...all they were worried about was pressuring us into buying into their resort. It was seriously the worst experience at a hotel/resort that we've ever had.

 

[TotoToo]

There are two "sides" to Bluetree - the Wastegate operated units and the ones operated by owners & managed by a group called SPM. The SPM units are very good - Wastegate is a mess no matter which one you may pick. The BT location is second to none with plenty to do within an easy walking distance & just 1 mile from DTD. You can also look for Cypress Pointe units - same planned development but a more upscale set of resorts. I wouldn't hesitate to stay at Bluetree SPM - I'd really want to be careful if I took a Wastegate Bluetree Unit. Especially avoid sales!

 

[wildeflowers]

Thanks! I am pretty sure that I would be booking the SPM side but I will call the travel agency and find out for sure.

Wow, mmmcl, that's really awful. It's amazing that one property can be split so differently depending on the management company.

I was also considering using Hyatt points, since I have enough to pay for the room, but all the Hyatts further away and they don't have full kitchens. My friend really wants a kitchen because she is planning on bring groceries and cooking most meals. So we wouldn't actually save any money and I would lose a lot of points.

I do like the location of Blue Tree though! Wow, it's close. So if it's SPM, I think I'll go ahead and book it. If not, maybe I'm back to square one.

 

[wildeflowers]

Well, I just booked it. I booked directly from the website, so I'm pretty sure we got the SPM Blue Tree. It seems the Westgate has their own website with a different booking agent. They do have no penalty cancellation policy so if I find a better deal or resort I would prefer for about the same rate, I should be able to switch.

I will report back on my experience. Here's hoping it's all great. *Crossing fingers*

 

[wildeflowers]

Well, I just booked it. I booked directly from the website, so I'm pretty sure we got the SPM Blue Tree. It seems the Westgate has their own website with a different booking agent. They do have no penalty cancellation policy so if I find a better deal or resort I would prefer for about the same rate, I should be able to switch.

I will report back on my experience. Here's hoping it's all great. *Crossing fingers*

 

[danetter]

We have stayed at Saralago for the night before we check into our resort the next morning the last 3yrs. We are going back to Disney this Sept and again have reservation for the night we arrive at Saralago. We are getting the kids suite this time since my MIL is going with us. We got it 2yrs ago and my girls loved it. No parking fees. Very convenient to everything and not to far away from Disney.

 

[TamaraQT]

I have stayed at both and prefer SPM bluetree hands down. Seralago feels more like a "motel" and Bluetree is more of a resort/condo feel. I loved having the full kitchen since Walmarts are everywhere to shop for quick meals instead of eating at the parks all the time. Also, Blue Tree is surrounded by many restaurants, in a very desireable location.

 

[wildeflowers]

Well, we just got back early this morning. We did get the SPM side of the Blue Tree Resort. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. The suites were spacious and comfortable. We had a 2 bedroom, 2 bath unit with a full kitchen. Everything was in great condition and clean and it was furnished with everything that we would need.

The pools, although they didn't have a waterslide, were great. I think there were 4 total, with the large one in the middle having a kiddie pool with sprinklers and a waterfall feature.

We were never bothered the whole time we were there by the staff, for any reason, even about the timeshare. We never even saw any promo materials about timeshares at all, which was great, because we have no interest in buying and prefer not to be pestered about that.

I only have 2 very minor complaints. One is the bathrooms tub/shower areas are a bit on the small side and the shower was on a weird pulse that we couldn't turn off. The bathrooms were just very basic, but I didn't expect luxury for the price we paid. I just wished they were a bit bigger/nicer. The other is we didn't have our universal tickets and they were supposed to sell discounted tickets in the lobbies. The SPM side was switching companies, and so they didn't have a rep in on the day I was wanting to get them, so I walked over to the Westlake side and that rep wasn't in until 3 pm, so I'd have to say the hours for that were pretty inconvenient. I ended up just going down the street and purchasing the tickets from Wal Mart, which worked out fine.

Which brings me to location. The location was excellent. We were about 2 blocks from entrance to WDW. About 1 block from a Winn Dixie, and 3 miles down the road from a Super Wal Mart and an outlet mall. It was a straight shot, not turns so no getting lost. (I personally am anti Wal Mart, but my friend loves them, so we shopped there a bit, only thing I can say is be prepared for big crowds there at practically all times of the day.)

We did end up driving and parking each day, because high season didn't start until Friday, and there was only one shuttle in the morning and one at night. There are more shuttles during high season. It was just easier and more convenient to take our own car.

I never thought I would enjoy staying off property, but I have to say I was really pleased. The property was really quiet and peaceful, it was nice to get away from the crowds. I really enjoyed it, and for the price, I can see big benefits to staying off site, getting such a large suite and a kitchen, for less than a half the price of a room at a budget resort on property. I totally get it, and we might do it again in the future. We could end up staying longer, doing more things just for the savings in the room alone.

 

[TotoToo]

One of the biggest pluses to the Cypress Pointe development - a planned community that includes Blue Tree Resort, Cypress Pointe Resort, Grand Villas Resort as well as the Country Inn, Staybridge Suites and the plaza with Giordano's, Steak and Shake and more is perhaps THE best location in Orlando. You can walk to virtually any service or restaurant you want and are a quick drive from every park - 10-15 min tops - just a mile from DTD. Very pedestrian friendly too - a rarity in Orlando.

Glad you liked it - we always do. We actually prefer it to the heavy traffic & crowds of on site. Things are closer, cheaper and better around the CP area. No monorail or buses but they aren't needed!