Saratoga...grows on you

culli

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 19, 2008
Messages
1,194
Every time I stay here I say Saratoga Springs is my favorite resort it is not the one we book 1st but it is the most relaxing and the most fun we have at any other resort as a family.

However for some reason We always book the boardwalk, beach club, or Bay lake towers first because of the convenience of walking to the parks. But every time we stay Here it has the best atmosphere and most relaxing situation of any of the DVC resorts.

We have been members for a while and the parks are not as important as spending time and relaxing with the family. They have the most recreation and just overall great feeling of any other DVC club. We love the pools and the community center and we actually enjoy the spread out nature of the resort.

I know we appear to be in the minority of people that think that Saratoga Springs is the armpit of DVC but I think it is a hidden gem and usually the best alternative especially for families looking to have family time.
 
We can relate. Two years ago, we did our annual February trip and stayed at VGF. It was great. Three weeks later we had the opportunity to escape winter yet again so we did a last minute trip to SSR. At the end of that trip, we agreed that we enjoyed SSR just as much as VGF. We thought SSR had a great atmosphere with a friendly cast.
 
I feel the exact same way. I own at SSR and always try to move out at seven months, but we always LOVE our SSR trips. The family time at the resort are some of my favorite times at Disney, and the proximity to Disney Springs has made the resort just that much better since the refurb.
 

SSR is a great resort, I wouldn't call it an armpit. One of the things that Disney does well is create resorts that are all different and unique.

Something for everyone!

:earsboy: Bill
 
Have any of you good things to say about Carousel area? Just wondering because we intend to spend about a week there next January, and would prefer one of the standard point areas.
 
We are proud to call Saratoga Springs home, we love it!!! It is so relaxing and we love being able to walk to Disney Springs.
 
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We have been members for a while and the parks are not as important as spending time and relaxing with the family. They have the most recreation and just overall great feeling of any other DVC club. We love the pools and the community center and we actually enjoy the spread out nature of the resort.
I happen to like OKW for many of the same reasons, and am taking my first SSR stay later next month. I'm looking forward to it!
 
Have any of you good things to say about Carousel area? Just wondering because we intend to spend about a week there next January, and would prefer one of the standard point areas.

We have only stayed there once and it was in January 2009. I remember that the bus stop was never very busy and the buses were usually pretty empty when they arrived. It looks like the Carousel area is the second stop for the park buses, so I consider relatively empty buses a good thing! I do remember that our view was not fantastic (we were second or third floor looking down on a grilling courtyard with a view of the road coming into the resort - 7501-7836). I don't remember it being very loud from road noise. It was quite a hike to the main building.
 
We have only stayed there once and it was in January 2009. I remember that the bus stop was never very busy and the buses were usually pretty empty when they arrived. It looks like the Carousel area is the second stop for the park buses, so I consider relatively empty buses a good thing! I do remember that our view was not fantastic (we were second or third floor looking down on a grilling courtyard with a view of the road coming into the resort - 7501-7836). I don't remember it being very loud from road noise. It was quite a hike to the main building.
Ok, thanks. We will have a 1 bedroom, so no worry about laundry. I will probably request Paddock, but will be OK with any of the standards.
 
Preach it!

I've stayed at Saratoga Springs twice - two of the most wonderful vacations my family has ever had. It was our love of SSR that inspired us to purchase DVC. I'd love to experience the other resorts - in fact we have vacations booked at Beach Club and Animal Kingdom - but we think of SSR as our home away from home.
 
I think with the evolution of Disney Springs SSR is turning the corner of oh I'll never stay there. It's been my base for well over 10 years now and I've stayed and many others. Not bashing any other resorts but my love for the quiet quaintness of SSR is what I compare it to and no others can compare if that's what you are looking for. I'm glad the OP enjoyed their stay.
 
Woo hoo for SSR! We are owners there as well. We stay at other resorts too but when we have stayed at SSR we love it just as much!
 
We have stayed at SSR twice and absolutely love it. We stayed a few days at OKW and it was OK but we preferred SSR. DH and I have pretty much decided we are going to buy into DVC in a couple of years and I think we have decided on buying at SSR. We really love the resort and the price is lower than the other resorts.

That said, I would really like to try a couple of the other resorts. In addition, I am really curious about the rumors about DVC being added to CBR. That could be a front runner if it ends up having EPCOT access.
 
We have only stayed at SSR 4 times. The first time it was because we were using holding points and had to book no earlier than 60 days out and had enough points for 10 nights. SSR was the only resort that we could book all 10 nights and since I was recovering from surgery we didn't want to move around. But now it is one of the resorts we check for availability first at the 7 month mark when we don't want to stay at our home resorts. It is a quiet resort and not all of the rooms have spectacular views, but there are so many areas that have places to sit and enjoy the view. And in cooler weather to take walks. We have never minded the walk to the Carriage House from Congress Park or the Paddock because the landscape is lovely. And we have not had problems with the bus service. I do not think we have ever waited more than 10 minutes for a bus to the parks. A real plus for me is that each building has an elevator.
 
I'm with you all. I didn't expect much from SSR, going into my split stay at SSR/OKW. I expected to like OKW much better. However, I came away wishing we had booked the whole 8 days at SSR. I thought the 2 BR villas were very elegant. We were in the Springs location, and it was super convenient to the Carriage House and the Paddock pool.
I think SSR is the most underrated DVC. However, they are all awesome, so it's really hard to rate them.
 
SSR is one of our three home resorts and we feel the same way. We have been actively booking it the last couple years and the more I stay the more I love it. So nice to hear others say the same thing.
 



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