Saratoga Springs vs OKW? Did I make a mistake?

[jaskemr]

I stayed at OKW in June 2005 (2 bedroom villa), and it was perfect. We were right by the main entrance/lobby/Olivia's, etc.

I just booked a another vacation for June 2007 at Saratoga Springs (2 bedroom villa).

After reading some more of the reviews on SSR, I am wondering if I should call and see if I can switch to Old Key West.

Not being familiar with SSR, I was asked where I wanted to to be, and I said near the main entrance. Now is that going to put me in Congress Park? Is that area an easy walk to DownTown Disney?

Let me explain what I am looking for, and perhaps someone here can educate me a bit.

1) I'd like a room that is walking distance (some say they were 5 minutes or so) to DownTownDisney.
2) I'd also like a room that is fairly close to the table service dining (Turf Club?)
3) I'd like a room that is fairly close to a bus stop.
4) I'd like a room with a view of the lake that looks toward DownTown Disney.

I will be traveling with my wife and 4 daughters ages 9-16.
I'll be on the Disney Dining Plan, so resturants that take the DDP in close proximity is important. The youngest got tired out by afternoon, early evening last time, so having Olivia's at OKW close by was very helpful. Hopefully, she can go longer this time, but having a close resturant when she was tired was beneficial.

We picked SSR, because:
1) it was similar to OKW
2) it was different than OKW
3) we saw alot of SSR buses last time when we were waiting for our OKW bus.
4) it appeared to be close to DownTown Disney, which we thought might open up more dining experiences for us.

Any help or suggestions on where to request in SSR would be appreciated.

Also, if you think I made a mistake, and should try and switch to OKW, let me know too.

Thanks a bunch!

PS. After further looking, it may be "The Springs" that I want to be located in. I can forego the view of the lake and Downtown Disney, for location. Any thoughts?

-Mark

 

[starbox]

Let me explain what I am looking for, and perhaps someone here can educate me a bit.

1) I'd like a room that is walking distance (some say they were 5 minutes or so) to DownTownDisney.
2) I'd also like a room that is fairly close to the table service dining (Turf Club?)
3) I'd like a room that is fairly close to a bus stop.
4) I'd like a room with a view of the lake that looks toward DownTown Disney.

I will be traveling with my wife and 4 daughters ages 9-16.
I'll be on the Disney Dining Plan, so resturants that take the DDP in close proximity is important.

You should request a lake view room room in Congress Park. There is a bus stop right there and it is next to the DTD walking path (with daughters age 9-16, it will likely be less than a 10 minute walk). It's also on the DTD lake. It's a 5-10 minute walk to the main buildings, or you can hop on any bus from the Congress Park bus stop and the very next stop is The Springs (and main building).

You'll have much easier access to a variety of DDP restaurants at SSR - because instead of needing to catch a boat, you'll be a short walk from all the Marketplace restaurants that take the plan. SSR also has an indoor CS restaurant as well as a sit-down restaurant (like Olivia's) and both are on the DDP.

 

[Deb & Bill]

SSR is a wonderful resort. If you want to have the view of the lake and/or DTD, you'd want Congress Park or maybe even the Grandstand (newest section opening soon). If you want to be close to the Turf Club and Artists Palette, you'd want the Springs.

 

[jaskemr]

I requested a room "near the front entrance". I wonder if that is going to be congress park or the springs? I suppose I ought to clarrify that. According to the map, it appears there is a bridge or something that leads from The Springs to DownTown Disney???

 

[jaskemr]

I'd trade the lakeview of DownTown Disney for a location that is closer to the turf Club and to Downtown Disney if that is possible. Is that a bridge to DTD that is shown just south of the Turf Club on the map above?

Please forgive my ignorance. I am trying to learn.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are looking at the road between the Springs and Congress Park, it's just a road with a culvert under it. There is a bridge that goes from the Springs over to the Paddock across the lake.

On the far right edge of the map, it shows the Pedestrial Walkway to DTD. It is right along side the roadway (Vista Way??) that the buses go to DTD. The sidewalk enters the DTD area right next to the bus loading area at the Marketplace. The lake/lagoon/Trumbo Canal?? ends at Vista Way.

 

[Nadine&Scott]

The bridge that you see on the map is part of the golf course. But you can take a boat to DTD from near that bridge. The walking path to DTD runs along the lake past the Congress Park section of SSR. I would guess the walk from The Turf Club area of SSR to the Market Place of DTD to be a solid 15 minutes.

Scott

 

[jaskemr]

Bill and Deb,

I was looking at the apparent path/bridge to the left and below the Turf Club (C) on the map.

-Thanks, Mark

 

[jaskemr]

The bridge that you see on the map is part of the golf course. But you can take a boat to DTD from near that bridge. The walking path to DTD runs along the lake past the Congress Park section of SSR. I would guess the walk from The Turf Club area of SSR to the Market Place of DTD to be a solid 15 minutes.

Scott

Scott,
So would you recommend Congress Park? Perhaps the middle, so it's not too far from the Turf Club and not too far from DTD????

Location to DTD and Turf Club is probably the most important factors.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[sue]

we stayed at both resort this past October. You will not be sorry staying at Saratoga!!! The beds are incredible!!!! We stayed in the springs section. It is close to the restaurants, main pool, arcade etc. You can take a bus to any other section if you need to. The resort is beautiful. We had a grand villa and also a 2 bedroom villa. Both were amazing. We found we liked Old Key West as well, but the beds were very hard. If you can, try out Saratoga Springs. You won't be sorry

 

[jaskemr]

Thanks Sue!

I have it booked, just was wondering if I was going to regret it.

It seemed like we had a perfect room/location at OKW.

Figuring, that having the best room/location on our first time out would be impossible, we decided to try SSR.

I'm not really into the apparent "snooty" atmosphere, but willing to give it a try. I'm from MICH, and not really all that snooty, but I am willing to learn.

Thanks,
-Mark

 

[Starr W.]

Hey Mark,

We stayed in 2710(2br) in CP on our trip. That's in the first building in the Congress park area. I have a 5 yr old an 10 yr old and they had no problem walking to the main pool or TC or AP. Nor did they have a problem walking over to DTD(5yr old ran most of the way). Just a short walk across the parking lot to the bus stop.

I like the atmosphere at SSR, which is one reason we decided to buy. Neither DH or I like overt themes in our resorts. The gym/fitness center is great according to DH, who got up at 6am to work out.

 

[jaskemr]

Thanks, Starr!

Congress Park is looking like the favorite for my situation.

Please anyone else please chime in on the pros and cons.

Why you liked or dislike a location at SSR will be equally helpfull in determining which location is best for my situation.

I understand everyone's situation is different, so I like to hear all oppinions.

Thanks again,
-Mark

 

[SueM in MN]

Our recent trip to SSR over New Years was in the Springs (room 3525). It was close to the bus stop (like about 2 minute walk) and close to the main pool and the restaurants (about 5 minutes). It was a long way from DD though. We walked there about 4 times during our stay, so it was not that far, but far enough. The path is easy to follow (just stay on the sidewalk next to the road until you pass the first Congress Park buildings, then take the path toward the Congress Park pool and toward the DD path).

As you can see, you would be closer to DD if you were already in Congress Park. We stayed there on an other trip and found it to be a nice location.

There is a path with a bridge that goes across the water. As someone said, that bridge is part of the golf course (and the bridge also leads to the walking path from OKW to DD). You can take it to DD. The only problem is that the path leads you to the parking lot on the edge of the West Side area of DD. So, if you wanted to go to the restaurants in DD, you would be far away from where you want to be.

 

[jaskemr]

Thanks Sue!

I was wondering about that bridge/path from the springs. So perhaps Congress Park is the better option???
We are staying for 7 nights and probably will go to the surf club twice, DTD maybe 3 times, and twice eat a table service in the parks.

We are on the DDP, so we willbe on the lookout for those places. Last time we never had a problem, although there are a few in DTD that don't take it.

Thanks,
-Mark

 

[starbox]

BTW - I think your wife and daughters will really like SSR.

 

[jaskemr]

We'll practice sticking our noses up in the air. So far so good. I can get used to this.

 

[starbox]

We'll practice sticking our noses up in the air. So far so good. I can get used to this.

It's really not snobby at all. The CM's are super friendly, as was our waiter at Turf Club (where my sister-in-law felt "at home" enough to eat with Minnie ears on!) I would say it has an "elegant" feel - but it's a very quiet and relaxed elegance. I would not be uncomfortable walking into the main buildings/AP in a swimsuit cover-up. Honest.

 

[jaskemr]

Thanks Starbox.

I'm not that well trained.

Not a hillbilly, but not a snooty type.

I have more money than the average person due to success online.
It took a long time, but I like the payouts now.

My relatives are from southern Indiana. Think Huntingburg, and Evansville.
Not quite the Beverly Hillbillies, but close....
We live right across the big pond (Lake Michigan) from Chicago.

We will be the folks white as ghosts when you see us.....
Farmers tans, etc... I can make fun of myself.....
It does'nt offend me to be made fun of either...

Nothing funnier than see me wear a tank top in FLA after wearing short sleave shirts in June in MICH.

Upper arms turn from White to Red

Laugh with me, folks.... I can take it...

-Mark

 

[nutz2notz]

Hi Mark,

We just returned from 13 day stay in SSR last week. This was our first trip home and it was so much fun. It was myself and my three younger kids, ages 16, 14 and 10. We stayed in the Springs section and had a wonderful time. The resort is very relaxed and we had nothing but great interaction with all the CMs.

When we wanted to go to DTD, we looked into walking, but we only went to DTD in the afternoon and evening after already being at one of the parks, so we decided to use the bus. I think if we had been closer, we may have chosen to walk and perhaps go more often.

I am planning our next trip for December 2007 and mentioned to the kids that we should see if we can stay at another DVC. All three said a resounding no. They had a great time at SSR and want to share it with their big brother (age 22) when we return. We have, however, decided that we will try and stay in the Congress Park area to be closer to DTD but still be close enough to AP and the Turf Club.

Just wanted to share our experience. Have a great time planning and going!

Ann