Saratoga Springs vs Marriott Cypress Harbour

[ignitorr]

Which would you choose a 1 bedroom villa at Saratoga Springs or a 2 Bedroom Villa at Marriot's Cypress Harbour? Is the price difference worth staying off site? The 2 bedroom at Cypress Harbour is $600.00 cheaper (with discounts) than the Saratoga Springs.

Travel party consists of 2 children ages 4 and 7 along with my spouse and I.
In addition to the Disney parks we will also be visiting Sea World and one of the Atlantic Coast beaches. Obviously we will have a car at our disposal so the buses of WDW are insignificant.

Your experience(s) and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ignitorr]

anyone?

 

[daisyduck123]

I haven't stayed at the offsite place you mentioned, but just spent 8 nights at SSR in May. Onsite always gets my vote!

Your children will love the pool & activities there!

 

[jwfla422]

I also agree with the previous poster. I can't remember the last NON WDW resort I've stayed at except for areas other than WDW...

We loved SSR. We were in a 1 bedroom villa upgraded from a studio. We have a studio booked for the end of next month and can't wait. We loved SSR's location. We were in the CP section which was within walking distance of DTD and the bus depot there so we were able to take one bus to any park which picked us up right outside of our resort or in 10 min. we could hop a bus to any of the resorts within WDW. Beautiful grounds, a great main pool area, lots of activities for the kids too.

We haven't stayed off property in over 15 yrs and probably never will. Even when we stayed at SSR we actually spent most of our time at Seaworld which was only a 10 minute drive away. I almost booked a resort near SW at that time but when a special came up for SSR we did that instead and I'm sure glad we did.

 

[Goofy4WDW1964]

I have never stayed at the offsite resort you mentioned, so a lot is going to depend on the location and the comparable amenaties and the time of year you are there.

We have stayed at SSR twice and we did like it. But, if the off site hotel has a good location and similar amenaties, SSR is not worth an extra $600.00.

We have stayed off site once and vowed we would never again. But, with the increase in WDW Resort rates and the drastic drop in service, we will stay off site from now on, if we even go back.

Disney Resorts have lost their advantages for us. Location? There are offsite resorts that are almost just as close. Amenities? Give me a break. You get more for your money offsite. Transportation? This would be a big advantage, but we always have our own car. Extended Park Hours? No way. Every time we have used extended park hours, the wait times have been longer than during the day. So, now, we plan our trips by going to a park that does not have extended park hours. So, that perk is now gone.

We have stayed at CBR (three times), POR, CSR, AsSp, OKW, SSR (twice). If we go back, we will be looking for a place offsite. The other advantage is eating. Offsite, you will be closer to more food choices. Before last year, we always ate on property. But, last year, since we were at SSR, we were a lot closer to offsite dining. So, we ate offsite a lot. We had much better food, lower cost, and more choices.

On site is loosing it's value.

 

[iluveeyore]

We just shared onsite accommodations with another family who had two small boys aged 3 and 8 (along with my 12 year old daughter). They had never stayed onsite with the kids, and were questioning if it was 'worth it'. Now they are planning their next trip and will never stay anywhere but onsite. Their comments - loved being able to get to the parks for early morning extra magic hour and then getting back to our room for lunchtime to take a break from the parks, have lunch (in the full kitchen we stocked with groceries), and have a nap or pool time. Then we would all have a nice, relaxing dinner prepared in our room, relax on the patio, then head back out to the parks with well-rested and well-fed children. If you are in a one or two bedroom at SSR, and you have your own car, grocery shopping is a great way to save eating out and much less stress for the parents of tired children that don't want to sit in a restaurant. We have stayed at SSR, and it's my DH's favourite resort - beautiful, newer, lots to do for the kids, and a quick walk to DTD - we love getting something 'to go' from Wolfgang Puck Express and taking it back to SSR to enjoy at our leisure. The boat ride is great too.

 

[spiceycat]

you are on the wrong board - this one will say WDW resorts regardless. come over to the Orlando hotels & attractions.

Marriott Cypress Harbour is definitely one of the better Marriott in the area. It is closer to SW than WDW however. but since you are driving I might go for it.

no EMH
no WDW transportation
no DME - if you have a car you weren't planning on using this anyway
no deliver of your packages to your resort
no DDP

 

[vellamint]

I've not stayed in Saratoga but I have stayed in OKW studio , Boardwalk Villa studio , Beach Club Villas 1 bedroom and Wilderness Lodge Villas studio.

We have also stayed at Marriott Cypress Harbor 2 bedroom.

Cypress Harbours room is at least triple what you will be getting in a Disney one bedroom.

Cypress Harbour is an absolutely gorgeous resort with many, many amenities.

You need to decide if you need the "on-site" magic or not. A few years ago I would have said Marriott for sure but right now I am at the point that I would prefer 2 value resort rooms to a larger offsite resort - even one as nice as the Marriott.

 

[Snookies]

I've stayed at both and have relatives that own at Cypress Harbour. Since you'll have a car, I assume DME and WDW transportation are not issues for you. Since you have at least 2 days devoted to non-WDW activities, I also assume that DDP is not an issue for you. That leaves EMH and resort package delivery as the primary perks of staying onsite. Marriott's Cypress Harbour is a very nice property and I'd stay there again. If I were choosing between a 2-bedroom at Saratoga Springs and a 2-bedroom at Cypress Harbour, I'd choose Saratoga Springs because of proximity and onsite perks. If I were choosing between a 1-bedroom at Saratoga Springs and a 2-bedroom at Cypress Harbour, I'd choose Cypress Harbour, given the extra space you'll have at the latter.

 

[spiceycat]

here are the websites

Cypress Harbour
http://www.vacationclub.com/resorts/cy/default.jsp

SSR
http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/resorts/resortDetail?id=ProspectsSaratogaSpringsLandingPage

non-sponsor Marriott or DVC sites

cypress harbour
http://www.peg-soft.net/Cypress.html

ssr
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showgallery.php/cat/547

 

[spiceycat]

SSR opened in 2005

MCH opened in the early 90's (I think - it might be older)

 

[AmyAllan&Eve]

All of the previous posters have given great advice.

If you want more luxury, go for the Marriott. If you want more childlike magic, go for SSR.

For me, the childlike magic is more important at this time in my life. I like the feel of being on Disney property. I like the wake up call each morning from Mickey Mouse (or Stitch). I like the Mickey soaps. I like looking for hidden Mickeys in my room.

I like being at Disney.

If I wanted luxury, I would probably skip the theme parks and stay at a nicer hotel (like a Four Seasons or something) and do the spa thing, shop in NYC or Paris, visit famous landmarks, lounge near some spectacular ocean view. And one day, I will crave that I am sure. I hope I will. But right now, I have a three year old daughter, and I'm having a blast being a child again.

I think it just depends on where you are.

 

[littlestar]

Marriott's Cypress Harbour is a gorgeous resort. The theming actually reminds me of Old Key West. I know DVC members who own at OKW and Marriott's Cypress Harbour both! Cypress Harbour is rated No. 9 on Trip Advisor for Orlando resorts. It actually beats out all the Walt Disneyworld resorts. I think Marriott's Horizons resort is rated No. 10 and Wilderness Lodge is No. 12.

Marriott's Cypress Harbour is a terrific resort. We're staying there New Years week (while I have my kids/nieces and nephews staying on our DVC points at VWL). We supplement our DVC points with stays at Marriott's Cypress Harbour and Marriott's Horizons (the staff/employees are wonderful).

 

[stacy6552]

No contest. Always stay with Disney.