Saratoga Springs-Room Suggestion Pls

[Girlstar30]

If you were on the bus yes. Or you can take the short walk to the lobby. And if you want, you can also just get on the bus stop there at the Carriage House (the Springs) and off you go! I've been told that the bus gets crowded sometimes before it reaches the carriage house. I did not notice this when we were there in December, always plenty of room on the bus. In all honesty, the bus loop is not as terrible as most make it out to be. We boarded at Grandstand and we're on our way to MK in under 15 mins. We got on the bus by 7am and were inside MK at 7:25am lol Granted, I did not experience any scooters getting on during our stay, those could slow the process a bit.

I am actually one of those weirdos that prefers the bus over boat and doesn't mind the bus at all so I dont think the bus system would bother me at all.

I always park at toy story lot over mickey and friends at disneyland because we prefer the bus transport and seems like the walk isn't bad when we're in a rush to go to SSR lobby!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Well-timed thread! I just found out that I have to add a day to an upcoming trip, and it appears that SSR may be all that's available. Never stayed there so I'm very interested in recommendations.

 

[CarolynFH]

Well-timed thread! I just found out that I have to add a day to an upcoming trip, and it appears that SSR may be all that's available. Never stayed there so I'm very interested in recommendations.

The first question is, did you book Preferred or Standard? Those categories refer to neighborhood, not view. Preferred will be either Congress Park or Springs, whereas Standard is Grandstand, Carousel, or Paddock. Each has its relevant characteristics and guidance on villa requests!

 

[tidefan]

We prefer Paddock over Grandstand because two of the Grandstand buildings are quite a bit further than the others and you could get put there.

Also, we really like the Paddock pool.

 

[Girlstar30]

Which area would you say has the best views?

 

[JimmyBean42]

Stayed there last week and was in the Paddock. Walk to Carriage House was pretty quick but also enjoyed that I could use my refillable mug at the pool at Paddock even before it was open for swimming.

 

[Canchaser143]

Which area would you say has the best views?

Golf Course View I'd say Grandstand. For water view/fancy view Congress Park since rooms face Disney Springs.

 

[kevtlas]

The first stop is at Grandstand, second is Carousel, third is Paddock, fourth is Congress Park, fifth and last is The Springs.

Thanks for the correction. It’s been a while since we stayed at SSR but I knew one of the reasons we chose those buildings was because that second stop was right outside the door.

 

[kevtlas]

Stayed there last week and was in the Paddock. Walk to Carriage House was pretty quick but also enjoyed that I could use my refillable mug at the pool at Paddock even before it was open for swimming.

Yes! One more reason we really like it there.

 

[cindala]

Well-timed thread! I just found out that I have to add a day to an upcoming trip, and it appears that SSR may be all that's available. Never stayed there so I'm very interested in recommendations.

Yes, well timed for me too, even if I am a few months late! Planning a trip for March and it looks like we could be trying SSR for the first time, so all this info is helpful. Seems like it is better to request standard over preferred locations.

 

[CarolynFH]

Seems like it is better to request standard over preferred locations.

Standard and Preferred are booking categories, so when you book you’ll know what your options are for location.

Standard = Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock

Preferred = College Park, Springs

 

[cindala]

Standard and Preferred are booking categories, so when you book you’ll know what your options are for location.

Standard = Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock

Preferred = College Park, Springs

Yes, I just noticed that many posting are recommending Grandstand or Paddock which are Standard locations.

 

[kilik64]

Yes, I just noticed that many posting are recommending Grandstand or Paddock which are Standard locations.

Yea SSR is a little different since preferred vs standard is just location where most other resorts you are talking about a type of view within the defined DVC area of the resort.

The main pros that people give for the SSR locations

Congress Park - Closest to DS, easy walk, so if you are planning to go to DS a lot, good spot. Has its own pool, would be considered the quiet pool for the resort.

Springs - Main area of resort, closest to High Rock Springs pool (main pool for the resort), the QS Artist's Palette and Turf Club TS

Grandstand - first bus stop is the main selling point, has its own pool that has a horse gate themed splash area for kids

Paddock - Great pool, solid pool bar, middle location for bus

Carousel - Least talked about, not sure what's good, doesn't even have a pool nearby?

Another main feature if you are driving is since SSR is set up like a Condo/Apartment complex, you can park really close to your room. Makes loading and unloading very easy and if you are driving anywhere while there, very easy to get to your car.

 

[CarolynFH]

Carousel - Least talked about, not sure what's good, doesn't even have a pool nearby?

Carousel is small, only 2 buildings, but the bus stop is 2nd after Grandstand, so I guess that’s the only advantage. The walk to the Paddock pool isn’t very far, or you can hop the bus there and get off at the very next stop, which is at the Paddock pool. We’ve stayed in Carousel and in the first Paddock building (the Carousel bus stop is actually in front of that Paddock building), and they were similar in convenience for us. We usually have a car, so being able to park in front of our building evens out the advantages some of the other neighborhoods have.

 

[andyDVC]

Carousel is small, only 2 buildings, but the bus stop is 2nd after Grandstand, so I guess that’s the only advantage. The walk to the Paddock pool isn’t very far, or you can hop the bus there and get off at the very next stop, which is at the Paddock pool. We’ve stayed in Carousel and in the first Paddock building (the Carousel bus stop is actually in front of that Paddock building), and they were similar in convenience for us. We usually have a car, so being able to park in front of our building evens out the advantages some of the other neighborhoods have.

Yeah, if you're in that first Carousel building, it is kind of like being in the last building of Paddock.

If I stay in standard, I usually request Paddock because of the pool and QS window at the pool there. Also, the main building and pool are not that far of a walk.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

Yea SSR is a little different since preferred vs standard is just location where most other resorts you are talking about a type of view within the defined DVC area of the resort.

The main pros that people give for the SSR locations

Congress Park - Closest to DS, easy walk, so if you are planning to go to DS a lot, good spot. Has its own pool, would be considered the quiet pool for the resort.

Springs - Main area of resort, closest to High Rock Springs pool (main pool for the resort), the QS Artist's Palette and Turf Club TS

Grandstand - first bus stop is the main selling point, has its own pool that has a horse gate themed splash area for kids

Paddock - Great pool, solid pool bar, middle location for bus

Carousel - Least talked about, not sure what's good, doesn't even have a pool nearby?

Another main feature if you are driving is since SSR is set up like a Condo/Apartment complex, you can park really close to your room. Makes loading and unloading very easy and if you are driving anywhere while there, very easy to get to your car.

It's quiet there if that's what you're looking for.

 

[cindala]

How far is parking if staying in either the Grandstand or Paddock areas?
Also, would mid March be considered a crowded time to affect buses being more crowded? Several talk about advantages of the bus stop location because the buses fill up during busier times.

 

[LadybugsMum]

There is parking outside of all of the buildings; so you wouldn't be too far from your room. We just stayed in the Paddock area in one of the buildings next to the Paddock pool. It was a great location in that we were near a bus stop and by the pool. The Paddock grill was also quite good, so having easy food close was also a bonus.

 

[JimmyBean42]

There is parking outside of all of the buildings; so you wouldn't be too far from your room. We just stayed in the Paddock area in one of the buildings next to the Paddock pool. It was a great location in that we were near a bus stop and by the pool. The Paddock grill was also quite good, so having easy food close was also a bonus.

Second this comment. I liked being able to use my refillable mug at the Paddock Grill. Sometimes I walked the extra steps in the morning and went to Artist's Palette. But if in a rush and getting ready or just wanted a late night refill, Paddock Grill was perfect for that.

 

[kilik64]

How far is parking if staying in either the Grandstand or Paddock areas?
Also, would mid March be considered a crowded time to affect buses being more crowded? Several talk about advantages of the bus stop location because the buses fill up during busier times.

We stayed there for our spring break in 2023 which was early March and pretty busy in the parks, we are rope droppers and never had a full bus and I think a couple of the morning we were literally the only people on the bus.

As far as returning from parks, I remember at least once maybe twice we chose to wait for another bus to have seats, but it was not a super long wait. This was also park close when everyone is leaving at the same time.