Saratoga Springs Impressions

[deide71]

We were in the Paddock section with a lovely view of the bus stop . To tell you the truth it didn't bother me at all. I guess I am easy to please.

 

[starbox]

In most areas of SSR, you are within eyesight or earshot of cars, buses, or ugly concrete skyscrapers of the Downtown Disney area.

I will agree that the view of the DTD area NON-Disney hotels (Living in an actual city, I am not sure they qualify to be called "skyscrapers" ) is not my favorite view - but I also think that relatively few rooms look out on those resorts. For us, it's just the price of having a resort so close to DTD - just like views of the non-Disney-operated Swan and Dolphin (resorts that one of our Disney bus drivers once described as "hotels with a design so fabulous that the architect is now designing tea pots for Target") come with the EPCOT resort location.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm sorry that you didn't have a magical time at SSR, and I hope you find something that you do like to fill in the times when you can't get into your real choices of Disney accomodations.

We haven't stayed at SSR since it first opened, and then it was only a 1 night stay, in a first floor studio whose patio overlooked the bus stop. However, we enjoyed the stay, we enjoyed the pool overlooking DTD, the walk to DTD and the little get together/buffet we arranged in our room for our family/friends who were staying at one of the values for this one night before the GG stay that we arranged for DM's 85th birthday at the BWV.

We're staying at SSR next month, a 3 night studio stay because that's what's available, and I'm a bit concerned. We'll only have a car the day we move from the BCV, so parking outside the villa doesn't mean much to me. I pick SSR over OKW because of the existence of elevators and the studio make up, sofa and 1 Q. I'm concerned but also excited, I want to see what SSR has to offer now, and can't wait to go on our (mostly) yearly, "end of school, anniversary of our meeting each other on June 10th 1966 " WDW trip! That's one month from today, yippee!

Bobbi

 

[ANTSS2001]

I'm sorry that you didn't have a magical time at SSR, and I hope you find something that you do like to fill in the times when you can't get into your real choices of Disney accomodations.

We haven't stayed at SSR since it first opened, and then it was only a 1 night stay, in a first floor studio whose patio overlooked the bus stop. However, we enjoyed the stay, we enjoyed the pool overlooking DTD, the walk to DTD and the little get together/buffet we arranged in our room for our family/friends who were staying at one of the values for this one night before the GG stay that we arranged for DM's 85th birthday at the BWV.

We're staying at SSR next month, a 3 night studio stay because that's what's available, and I'm a bit concerned. We'll only have a car the day we move from the BCV, so parking outside the villa doesn't mean much to me. I pick SSR over OKW because of the existence of elevators and the studio make up, sofa and 1 Q. I'm concerned but also excited, I want to see what SSR has to offer now, and can't wait to go on our (mostly) yearly, "end of school, anniversary of our meeting each other on June 10th 1966 " WDW trip! That's one month from today, yippee!

Bobbi

How's the jar opener coming along

hey you !!! I am sending you all the I got from my stay at SSR... it was my bday week and spent the it there... and had a blast... I hope you get the same feeling... I have pics of the the location of our room in my trippie below if you want to check it out... again sending your way for this upcoming trip... goodluck... even the picture of the laundry room was there... I also stayed in a studio at the Congress...

 

[bobbiwoz]

How's the jar opener coming along

......

DH thinks it's great, but too bad we don't have counter space to keep it out all of the time! It's not going to part of the re-gift exchange this year!

Now to look at your pictures!!!

Bobbi

 

[PlainJane]

SSR and OKW are my favorite DVC's because they're condo style, and some what spead out. It makes it feel like a small town. I have by the way stayed in the Paddocks and didn't think the walk was bad at all.

 

[ANTSS2001]

SSR and OKW are my favorite DVC's because they're condo style, and some what spead out. It makes it feel like a small town. I have by the way stayed in the Paddocks and didn't think the walk was bad at all.

I am looking forward in staying at the Grandstand next time.. anybody stayed there yet ???

 

[Anthony1971]

The only way to get the parking lot view on most of the villas is to glue your eyeball to the peephole on the door.

Please don't give people any ideas to support thier bad view.

 

[ANTSS2001]

Please don't give people any ideas to support thier bad view.

 

[DizWacko]

I guess that depends on how you define "large amount." The buildings all have their parking lots on the same side and there are no balconies on that side of any building. The only time you have balconies with any exposure to a road or parking lot is when buildings are set at odd angles or when they happen to have roads running on two sides.

Below is an image of the four Congress Park buildings at SSR:

The yellow marks I made illustrate the only two blocks of guest rooms that would have a balcony with a partial view of a road or parking lot. Each building has 8 units on this side (2 units per floor x 4 floors) for a total of 16 units facing toward the parking lot. That's about 8% of the 192 Congress Park units.

If I recall, Disney also did quite a bit of planting in the grassy area between these balconies and the parking lot to dress-up the view as best they could.

Certainly not all of the views are ideal, but the same can be said for every Disney resort.

Interesting, I guess we were one of those 8% at Congress Park. There were trees in between our balcony and the parking lot, but it was a sad excuse for a barrier because the parking lot, bus stop, and ugly skyscraper dominated the view (we were on 2nd floor). After driving through the resort many times , other sections seemed to have even more parking lot views ... but I suppose a map would prove it out either way.

 

[dwelty]

I will agree that the view of the DTD area NON-Disney hotels (Living in an actual city, I am not sure they qualify to be called "skyscrapers" ) is not my favorite view - but I also think that relatively few rooms look out on those resorts. For us, it's just the price of having a resort so close to DTD - just like views of the non-Disney-operated Swan and Dolphin (resorts that one of our Disney bus drivers once described as "hotels with a design so fabulous that the architect is now designing tea pots for Target") come with the EPCOT resort location.

I totally agree with you Starbox. You can really only see the highrise hotel from Congress park, and parts of the paddock. I have always hated the way the Swan and Dolphin tower over the Beachclub and Boardwalk. I think the Swan and Dolphin are really ugly hotels, that ruin some of the ambiance of the Boardwalk and Beach Club area. Why Disney would mix a turn of the century beach theme with modern hotels literally right next door is beyond me.

 

[Snookies]

Since I've always lived in large cities, I agree with starbox in that I don't regard the Downtown Disney Hotels as either skyscrapers or high rises. I also agree with dwelty's view about the aesthetics of the Swolphin. If you do a google search, you will find a number of articles that describe why the Swan and Dolphin were built on Disney property and in the Epcot resort area.

 

[nuts]

Well, I too have least favorite resorts, but not enough to have a disappointing trip. I am always amazed with people who come back disappointed from any disney resort. Least favorite resort vs preparing for my 8pm conf call with an irate customer....hmmmm...let me think about that one

 

[Sammie]

Why Disney would mix a turn of the century beach theme with modern hotels literally right next door is beyond me.

Believe me it was not by Disney's choice, other than Michael Eisner.

 

[loribell]

Well, I too have least favorite resorts, but not enough to have a disappointing trip. I am always amazed with people who come back disappointed from any disney resort. Least favorite resort vs preparing for my 8pm conf call with an irate customer....hmmmm...let me think about that one

I totally agree. How can you come back to the real world and all it has to offer these days from a trip to Disney and be disappointed.

To the OP, I'm sorry you did not enjoy what is now one of my two favorite resorts, the other is VWL. Maybe if all that is available next time is SSR you should try a moderate instead. It seems as though you might enjoy that more since they are, as you described, designed from the outside - in.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

I found this thread so funny...

We just returned from our first trip to SSR. We have stayed at all the other WDW DVC resorts (except for OKW).

I loved SSR specifically because I felt so removed from Disney. I felt like I was at my family's condo complex in Boca and it was great.

I love the BWV and BCV and especially VWL very much. I just see myself having different types of vacations - the "Disney Immersive" vacation where I want to know, see and feel Disney the whole time I'm there and the "Vacation Home" vacation - where I really feel like I'm in my vacation home.

To me (and I know this is different for everyone) - when I am in the BWV, BCV and VWL - I feel like it's a Disney Hotel vacation - it doesn't feel quite like a "vacation home" in the sense that our "real" (hate to use that word - but I'm trying to come up with a good way to explain what I mean) vacation home feels like.

Does this make sense to anyone? I absolutely loved SSR - we were in Springs - overlooking the parking lot facing the pool (right in front of where teh surrey bikes are parked). Location was fabulous- pool was dynamite. Bus service exceptional. Just a fabulous vacation all around. The parking lot didn't bother me in the least - the distant view of the Cirque tent and DD was terrific and a gentle reminder that we were still in WDW.

That's the best part about DVC - we can choose our "aura" for each vacation!

 

[BroganMc]

I have a different viewpoint. Here I am splitting my vacation between Marriott and Disney. I've been at Grande Vista since Sunday and so far all my time is being spent at the Disney resorts. Being at GV gives you a whole other perspective on parking lots and views. (Unfortunately ours this trip is a bit less than stellar. Marriott messed up for once and blocked off the wrong HA room with a view. So we ended up with Butcher's Leftovers. I hope Disney is better come Sunday.)

Sorry the OP didn't enjoy SSR. It's not an uncommon viewpoint but considering all the walking and touring we did today at VWL, BWV & BCV, it's a bit odd. My dad only walked half of it (used his scooter for the rest) and he did 2.5 miles.

 

[tjkraz]

Does this make sense to anyone?

Makes total sense to me!

My first DVC stay was at OKW and I distinctly remember making a comment in a trip report about how it felt like we were leaving the theme parks behind without leaving Disney behind. It gave the sense of being transported to another place and time while still being a short bus ride from the theme parks and sporting Disney-quality accommodations and service.

The Epcot resort area is very, very nice. But it's also very......busy. If you stand on the BoardWalk and look toward the stores, it's pretty cool. Now turn around. You've got the swolphin dominating the view in one direction....a faux shipwreck and differently-styled resort in another direction....Spaceship Earth rising above the horizon in another direction. It's very "Disney", but it's also impossible to believe you are anywhere other than Walt Disney World. Other resorts like SSR and OKW are more immersive, in my opinion.

 

[ANTSS2001]

.

That's the best part about DVC - we can choose our "aura" for each vacation!

I totally get you!!! it;s like after all the fun and giggles at the parks by the time I get home it is time to put your feet up and relax... the true meaning of vacation... fun.. giggles.. love ones and relaxation!

 

[DizWacko]

To the OP, I'm sorry you did not enjoy what is now one of my two favorite resorts, the other is VWL. Maybe if all that is available next time is SSR you should try a moderate instead. It seems as though you might enjoy that more since they are, as you described, designed from the outside - in.

Funny you should mention that .. we stayed the first 3 nights at Coronado Springs to save the weekend points .. .and guess what? Both my wife and I agree that after experiencing Saratoga Springs, we would opt for Coronado Springs (or maybe even POR) over SSR the next time. Yes we felt THAT strong about the lack of ambience at SSR. Obviously the inside of the rooms arent as nice .. but thats it.

SSR felt like we were staying offsite ..