Saratoga Springs 2br preferred location advice.

[O.Jones]

Completely confused by this. Getting conflicting advice as to where to stay. Had initially Marked down Grandstand, but I’m not even sure if that is preferred. We’re there for two weeks arriving start of August. 3 kids: 9,8 & 6. Probably won’t be hiring a car.

Other option is to move to a 1 bedroom Standard at GFV, but I’m not sure should I leave well enough alone. In the two years since this was initially booked(and postponed), I’ve moved us from Riviera, to OKW and now with this this almost here SSR.

Desperately need advice.

 

[PalmettoPath]

Our preferred location is Congress Park. It's right across from Disney Springs so it's a super easy walk to Disney Springs. It's also a pretty short walk to the High Rock Spring pool and the main lobby area and the Congress Park pool itself is nice. Great bus stop right out front. Whenever we stay at SSR, that's our favorite preferred location.

We love VGF as well, but you can't compare a 2BR SSR to a 1BR at VGF. You could hold five in there, but not as easily as a 2 BR of course. The main consideration is the vibe -- which is totally different. Also the park proximity and monorail loop access and so on. We own at VGF and stay there every year, but we also love the calm and quiet of SSR. So it's really about what ambiance you prefer and the relative value you place on the extra room.

 

[sdk1231]

Completely confused by this. Getting conflicting advice as to where to stay. Had initially Marked down Grandstand, but I’m not even sure if that is preferred. We’re there for two weeks arriving start of August. 3 kids: 9,8 & 6. Probably won’t be hiring a car.

Other option is to move to a 1 bedroom Standard at GFV, but I’m not sure should I leave well enough alone. In the two years since this was initially booked(and postponed), I’ve moved us from Riviera, to OKW and now with this this almost here SSR.

Desperately need advice.

With kids those ages, I'd personally do the Villas at Grand Floridian for the quick proximity to/from the MK w/transport options including the walking path, monorail and boat. Monorail to Epcot (with option to Skyline to DHS), or quick bus to DHS and DAK. I've stayed in the 1 bedroom at VGF and they are very roomy! The only reason I see to be way out at SS taking buses everywhere would be if you plan to visit Disney Springs a lot.

Note - the kids I travel with love the GF's Beaches pool (awesome slide) right outside the door of the VGF. They also have the huge nice Courtyard pool and the kids splash pad area. Running over to the Polynesian for Dole Whips is always fun, and so is renting pontoon boats and riding around Seven Seas Lagoon. Watching fireworks from the resort at night is awesome!

 

[leebee]

This is a toss-up for me. First, if you DO stay at SSR, request Congress Park for all the reasons PalmettoPath listed.

Regarding changing: For me, there is the question of privacy vs convenience. In a one-bedroom, who would sleep where? If the kids are in the living area, are you OK with parents hanging out in the bedroom after the kids are in bed (because you've given up the living area after bed time)? Do the kids have to walk through the bedroom to get to the bathroom- and are you OK with this? (This is the set up in a lot of Marriott properties these days; the bath is off the bedroom, no direct access from living area.) Obviously, a 2br unit gives kids and adults separate sleeping space and still a living room area. Are you concerned with having to take a bus everywhere you go? While GF puts you within walking distance to MK, on the monorail to MK and Epcot, and bus to DHS, AK, and DS, you still have to take transportation everywhere except MK- it's just a different form instead of the bus all the time. SSR requires buses to go everywhere except Disney Springs; even if the boats are back, they only take you to OKW and POFQ/POR, not to the parks.

Personally, two weeks in a one bedroom would be too much togetherness for us, I think. Can you do a split stay, one week at SSR and one week at GF? That might be my choice, if it's in the budget and you don't mind moving (Disney will move your luggage for you, I believe... someone here will know about that).

 

[Sandisw]

Preferred locations are Congress Park and the Springs. Grandstand is SV. The Springs is the area closest to the main building and the one feature pool. It is the last stop on the internal line to the parks.

Congress Park is closer to Disney Springs and is the second stop on the bus line. Personally, I’d rather be at VGF, but a 2 bedroom Is a great option and SSR offers you access to more pools with less crowds if you plan to do some resort time.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would be very happy with a two bedroom in SSR at Congress Park.

 

[Epcot Forever Forever]

With kids that age I would 1) want the extra space of the 2BR and 2) want to stay in The Springs to be by the feature pools.

As noted above, Grandstand is Standard, not preferred, and they will not put you there.

 

[Ronaldo17]

A 2 bed at SSR is a no brainer. We would pick the Paddock section, it's not preferred, it has a great pool and slide for kids and the pool snack bar has a great range of food options for families.

 

[CarolynFH]

Congress Park is closer to Disney Springs and is the second stop on the bus line.

On the bus to the parks, CP is second to last - buses stop at Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock, Congress Park, Springs and then head to the parks.

I believe the bus to Disney Springs goes in the reverse order, though, so CP would be second stop on that route!

 

[Sandisw]

On the bus to the parks, CP is second to last - buses stop at Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock, Congress Park, Springs and then head to the parks.

I believe the bus to Disney Springs goes in the reverse order, though, so CP would be second stop on that route!

That’s a change then from when I was there a few years ago. It was Grandstand.. where we were..Congress Park, Paddock, Carousel and Springs.

Thanks for the update!!

 

[BostonEd]

If it were a shorter stay, it would be more of a toss-up. But for two weeks, go for the 2 bedroom.

The Springs is the area closest to the main building and the one feature pool.

I would consider the Paddock's pool a feature pool as well. But in any case, if you're staying in the Springs section (which, with kids, I would pick over Congress), you can easily access both the High Spring Pool and the Paddock pool. The Paddock's pool is slightly smaller, but it has a better slide, better splash area, and IMO better quick service. But again, staying in the Springs gives you the best of all (Disney) worlds.

(I haven't stayed at OKW, but since you mentioned it, based on everything I've read and seen, SSR is better.)

 

[Sandisw]

If it were a shorter stay, it would be more of a toss-up. But for two weeks, go for the 2 bedroom.


I would consider the Paddock's pool a feature pool as well. But in any case, if you're staying in the Springs section (which, with kids, I would pick over Congress), you can easily access both the High Spring Pool and the Paddock pool. The Paddock's pool is slightly smaller, but it has a better slide, better splash area, and IMO better quick service. But again, staying in the Springs gives you the best of all (Disney) worlds.

(I haven't stayed at OKW, but since you mentioned it, based on everything I've read and seen, SSR is better.)

I agree it is a second feature pool but Paddock is a SV location and not a preferred one.

I consider the Spring pool to be the feature one for PV location and Paddock for when in a SV.

To be fair, though, I have never walked from CP to that pool but it seems farther than High Springs pool is from the Springs rooms.

 

[drusba]

@O.Jones, what is important is that you get any desired request for room location into MS quickly because you are close to arrival and it has been mentioned that they start assigning rooms a week before any given arrival date. See this map of SSR www.themeparkprofessor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/SSMap.pdf.

As noted above "Preferred" areas are Springs and Congress Park. "Standard" are Grandstand, Carousel and Paddock. The division between preferred and standard is simply location as the buildings and the type and size of rooms everywhere are essentially the same. Springs puts you close to the main themed pool, Carriage House (the front desk and bell services building). Artiste Pallet (quick service restaurant), Spa and Fitness Center, tennis courts, and a fairly short distance to the golf course clubhouse building which also has SSR's main restaurant The Turf Club, which also has a bar. A room request to consider for Springs is higher floor for better views.

Congress Park runs right along the lake front, has a a quiet pool, the shortest walk from SSR to Disney Springs, a number of rooms that can actually provide some good lake views looking over toward Disney Springs, a lake front walking path, and is not very far from the Springs area. If you choose to make Congress Park your request, and you have reserved a dedicated 2BR, you might also consider asking for a higher floor room ending in numbers 21 or 27 (that is the last two numbers for the rooms not the entire room number). Those are all dedicated 2BRs in the center of each of the Congress Park buildings and have fairly decent lake views.

Be aware that the bus to the parks stops, in order, at Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock, Congress Park, Springs and then to the park. For Springs, more so than Congress Park, there is some risk, particularly during the early morning rush hours, for ending up with standing room only, and even possibly having to wait for another bus.

 

[BostonEd]

I agree it is a second feature pool but Paddock is a SV location and not a preferred one.

I consider the Spring pool to be the feature one for PV location and Paddock for when in a SV.

Well, OK, but that doesn't really matter. I wasn't talking about which category of room. You can go to any pool no matter which room you're in.

To be fair, though, I have never walked from CP to that pool but it seems farther than High Springs pool is from the Springs rooms.

Depends on the room. Some of the rooms farthest away from the High Spring pool could flip a coin about whether the Paddock is closer or not. And I was very close to the High Spring pool--literally right across the street from the entrance--and still had no qualms about going to the Paddock pool several times. Just walk across that bridge and boom, you're there. The Grandstand also had a fun splash area, and that is also easily accessible from Springs.

I really think with kids, accessibility to pools is much more important than accessibility to DS.

 

[Sandisw]

Well, OK, but that doesn't really matter. I wasn't talking about which category of room. You can go to any pool no matter which room you're in.


Depends on the room. Some of the rooms farthest away from the High Spring pool could flip a coin about whether the Paddock is closer on not. And I was very close to the High Spring pool--literally right across the street from the entrance--and still had no qualms about going to the Paddock pool several times. Just walk across that bridge and boom, you're there. The Grandstand also had a fun splash area, and that is also easily accessible from Springs.

I really think with kids, accessibility to pools is much more important than accessibility to DS.

Yes, you can go to any pool. But, I thought the OP was looking for recommendations on where to stay with a PV room and out of the two, the Springs seems to be closer to a feature pool than CP is to one.

But, my stays have almost always been in Grandstand…my favorite area…and we don’t do the feature pools so it’s perfect. And, the one time we did stay in the Springs, it was definitely closer to High Springs than Paddock.

 

[kilik64]

Id either drop to standard 2br at SSR and request paddock, or leave as preferred and request springs.

The walk between the paddock area and the springs pool (and vice versa) aint exactly short, its a good little hike (albeit with a cool bridge to cross and nice scenery). The springs pool basically gets the artist palette food whereas the paddock pool has its own QS (which does serve some breakfast too).

Id not pick congress park with kids those ages, that pool is just a basic square.

High rock in the springs section was closed for refurb while we were there in March, but my kids (2,3,8) all love the paddock pool. Slide is really good and the splash pad area has a jungle gym built on it. Its a nice area to get in shade with tables too for adults.