Saratoga Springs Resort Tips

[pzbymindy]

We are looking to go in January and thinking of trying a new resort. Our favorites are BCV, BWV, and POR. We have visited SSR and like the close proximity to Disney Springs. Any tips on staying there or room requests?

 

[quandrea]

We love it there. The Congress park area is lovely and close to ds. It is a preferred area. The Paddock, which is standard, is also fairly close to ds. The Congress Park pool has a lovely view of the water. Both those areas are also not too far from the main amenity area and central pool.

They have a five km fun run on Thursdays, I think. Might be fun if running/walking is your thing. One of our favourite things to do is walk over to ds every day to grab a Ghirardelli chocolate sample. I enjoy the food at Artist’s Palette immensely.

The renovation is superb. It really is our preferred resort now.

 

[Mango7100]

We love it there. The Congress park area is lovely and close to ds. It is a preferred area. The Paddock, which is standard, is also fairly close to ds. The Congress Park pool has a lovely view of the water. Both those areas are also not too far from the main amenity area and central pool.

They have a five km fun run on Thursdays, I think. Might be fun if running/walking is your thing. One of our favourite things to do is walk over to ds every day to grab a Ghirardelli chocolate sample. I enjoy the food at Artist’s Palette immensely.

The renovation is superb. It really is our preferred resort now.

We are staying there for the first time on Friday. We have a preferred studio. Is Congress Park or The Springs a better request. We will probably not go to Disney Springs as much and plan on driving our own car to parks. We will be doing a lot of pool time though...

 

[quandrea]

We are staying there for the first time on Friday. We have a preferred studio. Is Congress Park or The Springs a better request. We will probably not go to Disney Springs as much and plan on driving our own car to parks. We will be doing a lot of pool time though...

I’d still choose Congress Park. Request a view of the water/Disney Springs. It’s beautiful both in the day and the night. The walk to the main area is not far at all.

eta: Have fun! Our border is closed here in Canada. I’m a bit jealous!

 

[pzbymindy]

We love it there. The Congress park area is lovely and close to ds. It is a preferred area. The Paddock, which is standard, is also fairly close to ds. The Congress Park pool has a lovely view of the water. Both those areas are also not too far from the main amenity area and central pool.

They have a five km fun run on Thursdays, I think. Might be fun if running/walking is your thing. One of our favourite things to do is walk over to ds every day to grab a Ghirardelli chocolate sample. I enjoy the food at Artist’s Palette immensely.

The renovation is superb. It really is our preferred resort now.

Thank you for replying! I love taking walks at night and from just visiting a couple times, I know I will like that about SSR. We will have a car, but my son and his girlfriend are going (her first time), so I thought this would be perfect for them to be able to so their own thing in the evening.

 

[pzbymindy]

I’d still choose Congress Park. Request a view of the water/Disney Springs. It’s beautiful both in the day and the night. The walk to the main area is not far at all.

eta: Have fun! Our border is closed here in Canada. I’m a bit jealous!

I've been waiting for the border to open. We live in upstate NY and want to take a trip to Toronto. I've never been and it's only a few hours from me.

 

[quandrea]

I've been waiting for the border to open. We live in upstate NY and want to take a trip to Toronto. I've never been and it's only a few hours from me.

Soon hopefully. I’m booked at SSR for November. I hope we can go. You’ll love Toronto once you get here.

 

[pzbymindy]

I don't know why I haven't been there yet. I've lived here most of my life and haven't even been to Niagara Falls. Lol We usually end up in Disney when we travel!

 

[PackPride]

As you can see from my profile pic, I'm very bias to SSR. That being said, I think the only area of SSR that is not a great location is The Carousel. It's not bad, but the location isn't great; it's far away from the Carriage House at SSR, and Disney Springs. If you go standard, ask for Paddock on one of the southerly buildings nearest Congress Park if you want to be closer to Disney Springs, or central if you want to be near the pool at The Paddock section. I haven't stayed at Grandstand, but others on here have expressed they like it a lot.

 

[MMSM]

Does anyone know if there is a refillable mug station near congress park?

 

[edk35]

We always request Grandstand. We arrive tomorrow snd that's our request. It's the first bus pick up and drop off. Close walk to Carriage House and has a pool.

 

[Goldfish Are Feral]

As you can see from my profile pic, I'm very bias to SSR. That being said, I think the only area of SSR that is not a great location is The Carousel. It's not bad, but the location isn't great; it's far away from the Carriage House at SSR, and Disney Springs. If you go standard, ask for Paddock on one of the southerly buildings nearest Congress Park if you want to be closer to Disney Springs, or central if you want to be near the pool at The Paddock section. I haven't stayed at Grandstand, but others on here have expressed they like it a lot.

I was a HUGE die hard Paddock fan. Loved the pool and the grill was nice too, but with my recent stay (last week) there was only room at the Grandstand. I was disappointed at first, but really ended up loving it! I was in a villa near the pool so that may had something to do with my love for it. But the location was nice, easy 5 min walk to the Carriage house and 15 mins to the Paddock Pool! Major bonus? First stop for the buses!

 

[PackPride]

I was a HUGE die hard Paddock fan. Loved the pool and the grill was nice too, but with my recent stay (last week) there was only room at the Grandstand. I was disappointed at first, but really ended up loving it! I was in a villa near the pool so that may had something to do with my love for it. But the location was nice, easy 5 min walk to the Carriage house and 15 mins to the Paddock Pool! Major bonus? First stop for the buses!

That is a nice bonus, I had not considered that before. By the way, Does the grandstand have a splash pad? I’ve heard conflicting things, but if so, my kids would love that!

 

[Goldfish Are Feral]

That is a nice bonus, I had not considered that before. By the way, Does the grandstand have a splash pad? I’ve heard conflicting things, but if so, my kids would love that!

Yes it does have little splash pad. My kids had fun with the little horses.

 

[JessLCH]

Thanks for the helpful tips in this thread. We have a standard grand villa booked for a late August trip with several teenagers. What do you think the best location is for teens? We could upgrade to preferred if it would make for a better experience. The main pool at The Springs looks too crowded to me. Paddock looks like a good option, with a nice pool and food. The kids will definitely want to walk to Disney Springs at least a couple evenings, so I am trying to keep that in mind for location. What would you choose for a stay with teens?

 

[tjkraz]

I would pick either The Paddock or The Grandstand and avoid the Preferred areas. Congress Park and The Springs (both preferred) are the last bus stops. Even without Covid passenger reductions, it's not uncommon for buses to be full before they reach those stops.

Grandstand has a quiet pool and is close to the Carriage House with Artist Palette and gift shop, along with the other feature pool. This is where buses stop first upon arrival at the resort.

The Paddock is close to its own feature pool and quick service food. Also easy walk to Disney Springs. Paddock has access to the 2nd and 3rd resort bus stops. If part of your motivation is to visit DS, I would recommend this location. Request a room "close to Disney Springs."

 

[SwanVT2]

Check their event calendar. They have yoga twice a week outside if it is nice or in a studio if it is raining. Outside is by the water ar Disney springs and it is a lovely way to start the day. Also the paddock pool makes great drinks and has a nice variety of food. It is zero entry and has a slide. Teens might like the main pool because it is bigger and has more areas to swim and we never thought it to be overly crowded or anything. I love checking out all the other quiet pools and hot tubs. We usually venture to one of these pools for something different.

 

[PackPride]

Thanks for the helpful tips in this thread. We have a standard grand villa booked for a late August trip with several teenagers. What do you think the best location is for teens? We could upgrade to preferred if it would make for a better experience. The main pool at The Springs looks too crowded to me. Paddock looks like a good option, with a nice pool and food. The kids will definitely want to walk to Disney Springs at least a couple evenings, so I am trying to keep that in mind for location. What would you choose for a stay with teens?

Very cool getting the grand villa, regardless of location. That’s a goal for us in the future when we can up our point count from the 150 we sat at currently.

I’m not sure where the standard grand villa is located at the Paddock, but if it’s in the far southerly building, I’d ask for that since it’s near Congress park, which is across from the bus stop and of course the pathway to DS. That way you’ll save some money, or points, on that stay by going standard and being really close to the preferred section.

 

[The Jackal]

Very cool getting the grand villa, regardless of location. That’s a goal for us in the future when we can up our point count from the 150 we sat at currently.

I’m not sure where the standard grand villa is located at the Paddock, but if it’s in the far southerly building, I’d ask for that since it’s near Congress park, which is across from the bus stop and of course the pathway to DS. That way you’ll save some money, or points, on that stay by going standard and being really close to the preferred section.

There are two GV’s in every building. All building layouts are the same.

 

[The Jackal]

Does anyone know if there is a refillable mug station near congress park?

No, nothing close. Wish they had one at the pool like they do in the Grandstand.