Saratoga Pros/Cons and Bus systems

[Ashleymbahr]

Staying at Saratoga for first time in December. We have a prefferred room, but I have heard negative things about the bus systems. Anyone have good or bad experience with the buses there or any experience with the resort in general?

 

[Suejacken]

I’m following this because we are staying there in November. First few nights in a standard room then a preferred room for the balance of the stay

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The bus system is fine? It works much like the bus does at any moderate - multiple stops, because it's a large resort. Frequency is good.

 

[SamFaniam]

Staying at Saratoga for first time in December. We have a prefferred room, but I have heard negative things about the bus systems. Anyone have good or bad experience with the buses there or any experience with the resort in general?

We love SSR but do not stay in a preferred room. My favorite area is the Grandstand for a couple of reasons. First there’s a nice pool there, it’s a short walk to the main building, and it’s the first bus pick up stop. That means when you get on in the morning there’s always a seat, and when you’re coming back in the evening you get off the bus first. I think both of those are a positive.

 

[ilovebassets]

We stayed in the Paddock which was the 3rd of 5 bus stops. Worked great for us. We always got seats but the bus was often full after the Paddock stop. Buses came reasonably quickly every time.

 

[westie55]

I've stayed at most of the hotels on Disney property including SSR and found the bus situation to be very similar to the moderate resorts with multiple stops. We enjoyed our stay at SSR! We stayed in the Grandstand area which was the first bus stop. By the last stop, there were times that the bus was full so I would consider staying in the Grandstand or walking to one of the earlier stops if you are trying to take a bus during a peak time.

 

[Ashleymbahr]

We love SSR but do not stay in a preferred room. My favorite area is the Grandstand for a couple of reasons. First there’s a nice pool there, it’s a short walk to the main building, and it’s the first bus pick up stop. That means when you get on in the morning there’s always a seat, and when you’re coming back in the evening you get off the bus first. I think both of those are a positive.

Yes I’ve heard that and to stay at grandstand! We only rented prefferred because that’s all that was available. Maybe I’ll still try and request it, even though we “paid more” for prefferred lol. Thanks

 

[Ashleymbahr]

I've stayed at most of the hotels on Disney property including SSR and found the bus situation to be very similar to the moderate resorts with multiple stops. We enjoyed our stay at SSR! We stayed in the Grandstand area which was the first bus stop. By the last stop, there were times that the bus was full so I would consider staying in the Grandstand or walking to one of the earlier stops if you are trying to take a bus during a peak time.

We were thinking of Congress park. I think that’s second to last stop, but other “prefferred” area option is springs which I heard is last stop. Thanks for the input !

 

[Deb & Bill]

Preferred is Congress Park or The Springs. Standard is The Paddock. Grandstand or Carousel. Grandstand is the first stop, then Carousel, then Paddock, next Congress Park and last Springs.

 

[Ashleymbahr]

Preferred is Congress Park or The Springs. Standard is The Paddock. Grandstand or Carousel. Grandstand is the first stop, then Carousel, then Paddock, next Congress Park and last Springs.

Thanks!

 

[Moliphino]

I'm just not a fan of how long it takes for the bus to go through the resort (same with OKW). It's worse than the mods because it's not just a circular route, there are places you drive up and turn around and it just takes forever.

 

[skippytx]

We stayed at SSR about 2 months ago, and I didn't really have any issues with the buses. The app informed you when the next one was coming, and the signage at the stops worked well. Never really had to wait too long for a bus to come around. It's a very relaxed resort. You can expect busy buses during peak times (park openings and closings) but other than that it wasn't bad. I'd take the buses at SSR over AoA any day.

I too was also dreading the buses before I got there, but they really weren't that bad. We usually stay at Bay Lake/Contemporary so it was an adjustment for sure, but we enjoyed our stay in Congress Park and being walking distance to DS.

MinnieVan/Uber/Lyft is always an option as well if you don't want to wait for a bus, or are trying to get to a different resort for a dining reservation.