Saratoga Congress park vs. The Grandstand

[surgefest]

Which do you think is better?? Now i realize they are both great in their own way and it depends on what your preferences are. We'd like a room with a nice view. (downtown disney would be great) Somewhat close to the main building. Nice pool. just overall nice area. what are the pro's and con's. Thanks

 

[surgefest]

anyone?

 

[sznk]

Search in the "SSR Lovers and/or Owners Thread!" in Mousecellaneous - it's all there.
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1329308

 

[Paticake]

We just stayed in a Grandstand room last month. We usually stay at Congress Park. I loved the Grandstand location, the pool and pool bar. Our view was not as nice as the Congress park room and the walk to DTD was a little longer so for us it is a toss up. I am requesting either one when I make my res. for next Oct later today!

 

[Amy&Dan]

If walking back and forth to DTD is important, go with Congress Park. Otherwise, I think the Grandstand is wonderful. Just stayed there for three nights 10 days ago and being the first to be picked up and dropped off on the buses is really nice. You are also very close to the Springs, less than a five minute walk and the quiet pool at the Grandstand is wonderful. It has spray cannons and jets and a pool bar which makes it more than just your average quiet pool. Our studio was on the golf course which was very pretty. It was also very quiet. You can't go wrong with either one really, both sections have their pluses and no minuses that I can think of. Have a fun trip!

 

[Dina]

I just booked SSR for June, and told MS I wanted to request something near the main pool (my oldest has a thing for waterslides), and she said that I wanted Congress Park--- that's what's on my reservation---- was that wrong?? I know I shouldn have done my own research, but we booked at the last minute, and I didn't get a chance.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

If you want to be near the pool slide...you want the springs NOT congress park. CP is a good walk to the main pool which has the slide. Springs is closest to the slide. I'd change my request if I were you. CP will only be close to the quiet pool, which (while really beautiful) does NOT have a pool slide.

ETA: Hello from the Philly suburbs here too!!!

 

[Dina]

Thanks, I'll change it!!!!!!

Hi neighbor!!! We're from Havertown!!!

 

[disneyfan2kids]

Springfield (Delco) here!!! Hello from a mile away!!!

 

[surgefest]

Has anyone else stayed at both places??? Or even if you've stayed in one of them what did you think of it??? Thanks!

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Only have stayed at Congress Park. Really love that quiet pool (it is beautiful and very quiet !!)and with 4 teenagers the quicker walk to DTD is a plus. However, I am encouraged by the very positive reports on the Grandstand and would probably try that one next to see how we like the pool...the kids have young legs anyway and would probably then take the boat to DTD. As they usually like to hang out by Virgin and House of Blues they may like the Grandstand area better. There is a walk over a bridge from that area right? But it is ok to walk at night?

 

[ACDSNY]

We've stayed in both places and my preference would depend on if I wanted to walk to DTD often. We typically travel in the off-season so the parks close earlier and we'll shop and eat at DTD. I would say our views have been great a Congress Park. Our DN loved the Grandstand pool.

 

[ldo]

We loved GS. Newest section. The quiet pool has very wide steps across one side for younger kids (with parent) to play, plus a spray ground. Since the spray ground is out of the pool---you can sit at table and supervise without having to be in pool for younger kids--a nice perk if you have kids who want to be in water all day--plus, you can sit in hot tub and watch kids on spray ground as it's right next to it---are you seeing a theme here??
GS Pool was never crowded (Aug) and you can go for a quick swim--we did this a few days when it looked like it might thunder and we didn't want to walk over with stuff to bigger pool---sure enough, after 20 minutes--it started to thunder, no big deal, just run into room 50 feet away.
Last summer, SSR showed 8 PM movies at GS pool--my kids thought this was great. Walk to Springs (food, other pool)--5 minutes tops. I would request GS again.

 

[surgefest]

What are the views like in the grandstand section?? Were going to be in a grand villa. I dont know if that helps. Thanks!

 

[KandiB47]

We had a golf course view in GS. I loved the GS and I would request it again. If you are using the buses it is a major plus. GS is the first to be picked up and the first to be dropped off. Also, if you just barely miss a bus you can take the 3-5 minute brisk walk to the Springs and catch it there (Springs is the last bus stop). The pool in GS is great too! I loved the kiddie pool for DS. We never make it to High Rock Springs pool.

 

[BroganMc]

As they usually like to hang out by Virgin and House of Blues they may like the Grandstand area better. There is a walk over a bridge from that area right? But it is ok to walk at night?

Personally, if I was going to spend most of my DTD time in West Side, I'd opt for Grandstand. The walkway is a LOT shorter than I expected. It's lit up all the way so night time travel is not an issue. The only wilderness portion is a little bit of golfcourse before the bridge over the canal. And the walkway takes you directly to HoB and DQ.

One day last October, we took our breakfast over to West Side via the walkway and ate outside DQ. Then we went into Virgin to do some shopping. Eventually we made our way over to Marketplace for more shopping before walking back that way to our car in the Springs.

PI and Marketplace along with Congress Park walkways seem much longer because they are not a direct route. You do a lot of detours around things.

What are the views like in the grandstand section?? Were going to be in a grand villa. I dont know if that helps. Thanks!

Depends on which building and if you're in the middle or side. The building nearest the bus stop has a street view on one side. Most every other unit of the section views golf course, pool, canal or the resort itself. We were on the ground floor of the building nearest the bus stop, directly in the center. Our view was of golf course then the major resort road in the distance.

The section felt remote enough to be very peaceful and yet had a couple shortcuts to the main areas of the resort. It gave us the feeling of having an exclusive residence.

This was our view: