Saratoga Springs 1 bedroom or All Star Music family suite?

[KValo]

My wife and I are taking the family (3 girls, 15,7,4) on a surprise trip the first week of August. My wife thinks we’re staying off property but I’m going to make sure she gets her own surprise which is us staying on prop! I’ve narrowed my search down to Saratoga Springs 1 bedroom for $2600 for 6 nights, or an All Star Music family suite for $2000. (These are AP rates, FYI)

The immediate differences are full kitchen, washer/dryer (big plus in the sweaty summer!) and deluxe level so late night extended hours if we do choose to partake.

But is that all worth $600? Saratoga’s transportation isn’t great since it has to make so many internal stops vs All Stars singular bus stop. Im also concerned that when I try to surprise my kids with “look we’re at a Disney hotel!” and we roll up to Saratoga they’re gonna be unimpressed.

What is everyone’s thoughts? Are there alternatives that I’m not thinking about that I should?

 

[Miffy]

After a quick look at the Disney site, I'm guessing that the price you're citing for SSR is a DVC rental and the price of the All Stars family suite is a reservation directly through Disney. Yes?

If so, I think the All Stars is a better idea, since you'd be booking directly through Disney and you'd have control of the reservation, something you might not ever need, but if you did, you'd be happy to have it. For example, if you needed to change your dates for any reason, if you had to leave early, if you ended up having to cancel. Hey, these things happen.

I also think the All Stars would be more fun for your kids.

Is a suite at AoA out of your price range? Because then you'd get the Skyliner too.

 

[TikiRob]

While not "larger-than-life" like All Star Music, Saratoga has Disney touches. Honestly, I'm not sure all sections of All Star Music have a ton of Disney-specific theming like All Star Movies.

I think the quality of the room in a one bedroom, the deluxe pool with slide and hot tub, extended evening hours, and proximity to Disney Springs are worth the extra $600.

Your kids will be thrilled to be at WDW and you and your wife will likely appreciate the deluxe-level accommodations.

 

[PalmettoPath]

I don't know the Value resorts at all, but I love SSR and the recently reno'd rooms are awesome. Plus, the proximity to Disney Springs is a big plus. The busing from SSR is surprisingly not bad at all and fairly efficient.

 

[KValo]

After a quick look at the Disney site, I'm guessing that the price you're citing for SSR is a DVC rental and the price of the All Stars family suite is a reservation directly through Disney. Yes?

If so, I think the All Stars is a better idea, since you'd be booking directly through Disney and you'd have control of the reservation, something you might not ever need, but if you did, you'd be happy to have it. For example, if you needed to change your dates for any reason, if you had to leave early, if you ended up having to cancel. Hey, these things happen.

I also think the All Stars would be more fun for your kids.

Is a suite at AoA out of your price range? Because then you'd get the Skyliner too.

Both are direct through Disney.

 

[Miffy]

Both are direct through Disney.

In that case, I change my vote! Stay at SSR. The extra $600 is worth it just for the in-room washer and dryer in August. Also, the proximity to Disney Springs is great. And the deluxe evening hours.

I've stayed at SSR several times and really, the buses are not a big deal, especially on the return trip, since you could just get off anywhere and walk the rest of the way to your room. In fact, after you're there a day or 2, you can figure out which bus stop is the best for you and walk there to get the bus. You're not limited to the stop near your room.

ETA: Book your room soon. While I was looking on the Disney site, entire resorts were disappearing from the search results.

 

[Halle]

Definitely Saratoga, if you have a car you park right outside your building.

 

[Ashlander]

We loved SSR and the buses ran great the whole time we were there. The stops are quick and didn't add much time at all. The resort is beautiful and peaceful. Plus the added benefit of extra hours since it is a deluxe.

 

[Mle8308]

Another vote for Saratoga if you can get the 1BR. You will have a full kitchen plus laundry and a seperate bedroom for the adults! You may not plan on doing any laundry, but it's so nice to have. Especially in August if you get caught in a rainstorm. You can toss your wet sneakers in the dryer! No yucky stinky wet shoes the next day! And of course the extra magic evening hours if you will be there on a night they are offered.

 

[ffindis]

Just came back from Saratoga and really loved it. There are multiple fun pools and the buses were not bad at all. So my vote is definitely Saratoga!!!!

 

[KValo]

Looks like it's pretty unanimous, SSR it is! Thanks, everyone!

 

[aerxo17]

The biggest difference to me would be, are you going to use the full kitchen more or a second bathroom more? ASMu suites have two full bathrooms, large kitchenette, and 3 queen beds. Saratoga Springs 1-BRs have 1 King, 1 queen murphy bed, and 1 Twin pull down bunk bed, ONE bathroom, and a full kitchen.

For your family, your wife and 3 girls might appreciate having a second bathroom and the 15 year old might appreciate a whole queen bed to herself at ASMu. But, if you plan on cooking meals in your room and will truly be doing laundry, SSR is worth it.

 

[I Run Long]

Definitely Saratoga - we love it. This was our stay in a 1 bedroom in the Carousel section.

 

[starry_solo]

Would your 3 kids be okay with the two murphy beds?
Will you have your own car?
Do you plan to make your own meals or eat out a lot?

Honestly, I'd book both and then, before the cancellation period arrives, cancel one of them...

 

[nw6675]

We stayed in a 1 br preferred at SSR a few weeks ago. Granted, we had our car, but I highly recommend it. It is beautiful and peaceful. The kitchen and laundry definite perks. We loved it and honestly, I had not expected to!

 

[Piglet99645]

I'm staying at SSR 1 br next week and now I'm more excited thanks to this thread! (I did it for the washer/dryer)

 

[KValo]

Would your 3 kids be okay with the two murphy beds?
Will you have your own car?
Do you plan to make your own meals or eat out a lot?

Honestly, I'd book both and then, before the cancellation period arrives, cancel one of them...

1. Yeah, they'll manage. If they complain I can always regale them with stories of how when daddy was a kid we used to cram 6 people into one room at All Stars!
2. Yes
3. Breakfast for sure would be in the room, nothing overly exciting, mostly fruit and cereal...maybe eggs one morning.

 

[KValo]

The biggest difference to me would be, are you going to use the full kitchen more or a second bathroom more? ASMu suites have two full bathrooms, large kitchenette, and 3 queen beds. Saratoga Springs 1-BRs have 1 King, 1 queen murphy bed, and 1 Twin pull down bunk bed, ONE bathroom, and a full kitchen.

For your family, your wife and 3 girls might appreciate having a second bathroom and the 15 year old might appreciate a whole queen bed to herself at ASMu. But, if you plan on cooking meals in your room and will truly be doing laundry, SSR is worth it.

We've had a washer/dryer in our room on the last 3 of 4 family trips we've taken, so it's definitely something we are used to using on a daily/semi-daily basis.

 

[CarolynFH]

washer/dryer (big plus in the sweaty summer!)

We were at SSR in a 1BR last July and didn't go to the parks until after 4 PM because of the heat. It was still so humid and warm in the evenings that we literally stripped off our sweaty, sticky clothes and dumped them in the washer as soon as we got back every night. We could have packed just one set of clothing that trip because we washed every night!

 

[glocon]

Definitely Saratoga - we love it. This was our stay in a 1 bedroom in the Carousel section.

These pictures are beautiful!
Thank you for sharing.
I’d like to stay at SSR some day .