Saratoga Springs new points ...

[BillPA]

Just finished a chat about the new points at Saratoga Springs.
As expected, Springs and Congress Park are the preferred points.

From the chat:
Chandler: at 13:12:33

The Preferred Views will now include any locations located within the Congress Park and Springs areas of the property.

Chandler: at 13:12:43

The Standard Views will be the rest of the locations.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

There's also a note on the online booking screen about it.

 

[nkosiek]

So, question for someone who knows nothing of SSR other than the pictures and seeing it across the lake from Downtown Disney (haven't been since the renaming): where exactly is the pool that has some Donald Duck statue or play area? My wife and I remember seeing pictures of that and one of our 1 1/2 year old's few words/phrases is, "Donad Duck" so we are thinking of perhaps putting in at SSR some time next year.

I have taught him well!

 

[KilroyWasHere]

When is this effective? I assume bookings made prior to this point will be grandfathered in to the former points schedule?

 

[BillPA]

When is this effective? I assume bookings made prior to this point will be grandfathered in to the former points schedule?

The new points start with Jan 1, 2017 reservations.

 

[KilroyWasHere]

The new points start with Jan 1, 2017 reservations.

Thank you!

Just making sure they aren't going to try and hit me up for more points when I make my room request.

 

[jahber]

So, question for someone who knows nothing of SSR other than the pictures and seeing it across the lake from Downtown Disney (haven't been since the renaming): where exactly is the pool that has some Donald Duck statue or play area? My wife and I remember seeing pictures of that and one of our 1 1/2 year old's few words/phrases is, "Donad Duck" so we are thinking of perhaps putting in at SSR some time next year.

I have taught him well!

Donald is in the splash area at the main pool at the Carriage House

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So, question for someone who knows nothing of SSR other than the pictures and seeing it across the lake from Downtown Disney (haven't been since the renaming): where exactly is the pool that has some Donald Duck statue or play area? My wife and I remember seeing pictures of that and one of our 1 1/2 year old's few words/phrases is, "Donad Duck" so we are thinking of perhaps putting in at SSR some time next year.

I have taught him well!

Donald is in the splash area at the main pool at the Carriage House

You can see him in this High Rock Spring Allears.net photo. That's the Carriage House in the background. The Springs rooms are considered the closest booking area although it's not difficult to get there from other areas.

 

[Chip n Dale's Dad]

This is long overdue. We like CP, the Springs and the Paddock. Paddock has since become our all- around favorite. Its nice to know we have options, with some sort of idea where we will be in such a large resort.

 

[Mokat76]

This is long overdue. We like CP, the Springs and the Paddock. Paddock has since become our all- around favorite. Its nice to know we have options, with some sort of idea where we will be in such a large resort.

Completely disagree. In a resort this size this is unnecessary and just another way to hose loyal owners. This was the resort they stuck their necks out on, the one that had no geographic nearness to a cool attraction. We bought in anyway and hung in when DTD went through its down times. Now that they've finally decided to invest and amp up Disney Springs, they immediately see a way to steal my points. I think it stinks.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We usually asked for and got CP, but we have only had a nice view once. We'll book another section from now on, and save the points.

 

[DVC4US]

Completely disagree. In a resort this size this is unnecessary and just another way to hose loyal owners. This was the resort they stuck their necks out on, the one that had no geographic nearness to a cool attraction. We bought in anyway and hung in when DTD went through its down times. Now that they've finally decided to invest and amp up Disney Springs, they immediately see a way to steal my points. I think it stinks.

We usually asked for and got CP, but we have only had a nice view once. We'll book another section from now on, and save the points.

I totally agree - this is a hose job to all of us loyal owners. We usually request CP too, but will probably go with something else now to save the points. Don't know why they couldn't have just used booking categories like BWV(Boardwalk or Garden/Pool View) and OKW(near Hospitality).

 

[MHDTS]

I don't completely agree with the additional/premium point change for another reason: We have requested and stayed in Congress Park several times -- and not all of the units have superior views. Many of the studios look out onto the parking lot; many of the one and two bedroom villas on lower floors have views obstructed by tall trees; and even a few of the upper floor units overlook the roof of the building. So other than the location to the path to Disney Springs, think hard about spending those few extra points stay in Congress Park.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

It's as I feared. The member web site's online booking tool has finally be updated, and they have not separated Springs and Congress Park out as separate bookable categories. All preferred views are in a single booking category, and it will be a request for whether you want Congress Park or the Springs. I wouldn't mind paying extra for Congress Park if I really wanted the Disney Springs view. But since that isn't guaranteed, why would you want to spend the extra points? The Springs is my least favorite section, and it would really upset me to be put there if I knew I could have spent fewer points to stay in Grandstand or Paddock... or even Carousel.

 

[Donna M]

We bought into SSR while most of it was still being built. The points reallocation is a good thing in my view. There are now lots of units with lower points than what we have been used to. It's all about location, location, location, and in this case, not the view.

 

[pinklotusflower]

We stayed at SSR last year and I requested CP and got a lovely view of DS, I won't use the extra points though as a lot of the rooms look over the car parking area or bushes/trees and I wouldn't want to stay in the Springs area.

 

[DenLo]

I really enjoyed our Congress Park view of DS this past June, but like Bobbiwoz said it was the first time we actually got a view. A lot of the rooms have views of other buildings or even partial parking lot views.

Maybe we will try the Grandstand next time, although since we stay in a studio we want to be near the pool for laundry purposes.

 

[JWG]

It's not about the view...

 

[Donna M]

It's not about the view...

Exactly, it's about the location and its proximity to Disney Springs.