Saratoga Springs

[Bill Blum]

What can anyone tell us about Saratoga Springs. We are currently looking into buying here, but are also leaning towards a resale for location. Help!!!!

 

[gene21fan]

we purchase ssr last year and went in nov[jersey week] we love it, it is a big place
but as my kids are in their teens they love being so close to dtd. it is quiet but since
you are across the water from dtd you have a place to spend a few hours and its
all in walking distance.the buses ran every 10mins, the food is good but dtd is right there,the quiet pool was nice,the main pool with slide is what the kids love,but we
really loved the rooms and the views....gene

 

[kweaver]

We purchased at SSR in October 03 and made our first visit in June 04. We have three kids (4, 7 and 10)

We love:
the proximity to DTD (and the view!),
the ease of going off site when we want (dinner, groceries, etc.),
the spa! & the ultimate fitness center,
the High Rock Springs pool and slide,
the playground & quiet pool,
the laid back, get away from it all feeling,
the great, quality decor and furnishings in the room,
the feel of a real home vs a hotel,
the easy access parking (we always drive),
the quick bus service (no other resorts on the route),
the extra 12 years

I would like to see the theming "spiced up" a little bit. It's kind of vanilla (but that's what keeps it relaxing).

 

[rinkwide]

...location...

...location, location.

Take the time to do a bit of very enjoyable (and valuable) homework, visit each of the on-site properties. After that I bet you'll know exactly which one is right for you.

 

[DarthGoofy]

I was just about to post the same question. We are seriously considering a SSR purchase in a couple of weeks. I would also like to hear more opinions on the resort.

So, lets hear your thoughts, good or bad on SSR.

 

[tjkraz]

Here's a link to my recent trip report from SSR:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=700844

It doesn't provide details on the resort from top to bottom, but should give you some useful information about the resort.

We really enjoyed our stay there and look forward to many future visits.

 

[mom2rb]

We stayed at SSR the first week of Dec. It was wonderful. We bought in Oct. of 2003. We go during the off season, when the parks close early. It was great to be able to walk to DD in the evenings. My kids loved the pool. I didn't eat at AP but my MIL and my kids did they said the food was very good. Over all I am very glad that we bought here.

 

[russct]

I have stayed at SSR twice (once in July and first week of December). I am new member (since 9/2003) and love it. Have only stayed at BWV, but personally love SSR better. Granted BWV is better location to Epcot and MGM, but I love being near DTD. Stayed at various resorts within Disney and Disney tranportation to DTD stinks, especially from the parks.

I love the room designs and landscaping better then BWV. Some people have problems with open hallways, but I like them better. I am sure all the resorts are great in there own way, but I love SSR. I have two reservations for 2005 and had BCV and BWV reserved, but changed both to SSR. Less points to use and why ruin a good thing if I'm happy with SSR.

 

[DrTomorrow]

We bought into SSR, have stayed there twice, are going back in May, and we love it! Yes it's a matter of taste, but there are pluses and minuses for each DVC Resort. Plus it seems like - now that people are actually staying at SSR, and not just driving / walking through - we're hearing more and more positive comments about the Resort.

IMHO - YMMV

 

[LIFERBABE]

I will add, I have stayed at all the onsite DVC's except for OKW. After staying at SSR for the third time last week, I can honestly say we really love it there. The fitness center is top notch and felt very Spa-like and less gym-like.

We really liked the location too. The weather was very bad on Christmas Eve and Day and Disney Quest was the packed park that day!
DTD stays open later all year round so we would much rather be close to that than any of the parks that will close earlier based on season.

NYE when DTD was very crowded and we were concerned about parking, we walked over from SSR which was closer than some of the furthest parking spots in the lot. Im sure there were many people who had to park and walk long distances that night.

I dont know why SSR is not considered a golf resort, as it shares facilities with SSR, although it is not owned by DVC. We want to take up golf also so it would be more than convenient to have the golf shack right behind the Carriage House.

I agree you should visit them, so you wont be disappointed in your purchase, but also know that all the resorts have their pluses and minuses and only you can decide what is important to your family.

For us SSR has minuses too, but the positives make up for it and we will choose to stay there many times in the future.

 

[Patpat15]

We were planning on staying there in April, one of our best friends bought there and we were all going to stay at Saratoga.

In November we did a drive through in and hated it. We immediately called member services from the parking lot to change our ressie for April to WLV.

It is huge, and we feel that this is Disney's way of mass producing DVC. On top of that, there is still alot of construction going on, and the view of the large hotels and dtd is just not for us. Don't get me wrong, we love partying at dtd's PI but I don't want a continuous view of it during a vacation.

The pool seemed small, and cheap, definitely not for us. There seemed to be no staff to assist or help with anything, much different from any of the other DVC properties. They also have all the old steel buildings up from the institute which adds a cheap industrial look to the entire area.

I personally cannot believe how many people love it so much.

We never, ever have any intentions of staying there at all. This may be a step up from All Star resorts or downtown disney complex, but from WLV, BWV and BCV it seems like a definite big step down.

And no matter what!!!
See any property before you buy it!
Never ever buy sight unseen.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Deemarch]

After what patpat15 said, I'm scratching my head wondering how we could have stayed in the same place and came away with totally opposite feelings...SOOOO, My advice is to go yourself, check it out and make your decision based on your feelings NOT SOMEONE ELSES!!

By the way, we just got back from a week at SSR in a studio and loved everything about.

Denise

 

[LIFERBABE]

There seemed to be no staff to assist or help with anything, much different from any of the other DVC properties. They also have all the old steel buildings up from the institute which adds a cheap industrial look to the entire area.

She got all of this from a DRIVE THRU?

I own 4 DVC resorts so I what the OP decides to buy is truly a personal choice. I have the 11 month window at all of them and benefit very little from resort bashing as I have seen enough good in them all to purchase there. Not that differing opinions are not welcome just clarifying my position.

As for staff assistance, I had plenty at SSR when I STAYED there for 6 nights last week. No they weren't out directing traffic or standing on corners, but I havent seen that at the other DVC's either.

 

[athenna]

yeah, really.
I think we are all going to form our own opinions anyway.
Since I am a new owner at SSR, I choose to listen to the people that like it and not the ones that don't.

 

[eporter66]

We own at SSR and love it. Love being close to the golf course and DTD. Rented a car and did not have any problems back and forth to the parks. As most will say - you may want to consider where you spend the most time (which parks), the different themes etc...... We love SSR

Eric

 

[sjdisneywedding]

This may be a step up from All Star resorts or downtown disney complex, but from WLV, BWV and BCV it seems like a definite big step down.

I like to take everyones thoughts into consideration when evaluating something, but the statement above just makes me discard the entire review.

SSR may be a step up from the All Stars please

 

[DrTomorrow]

[...] In November we did a drive through in and hated it. [...]

IMHO, a "drive by" review is worth very little....

 

[athenna]

Exactly.
I would certainly hope that I'm not spending the next 50 years vacationing at the all stars. Please.

 

[debbiedoo]

We are SSR owners. Bought Oct 2003. I bought this property under construction and do not regret it. I had toured at BW and they were pushing Vero Beach at the time.(2002)Vero Beach is my home town and I really did not want this at my home resort. I wanted 11 month booking window on property. Good things come to those who wait. I called in aug of 2003 and my rep told me that new sales were going to be offered in a couple of days. 1 1/2 months is was all done and we were owners.

My first trip home was June 7-13. First impressions were wonderful. Lots of rock work very open and spacious. Peace and quiet. Love the decor with the cherrywood and horses. Fell in love with it immediately.

I will say though from oct 2003 when I signed those papers until my first trip home, I was worried about liking SSR, then I came across pictures on this website http://allearsnet.com clicked on accomodations under home away from home and that's when things started to change. . . .

I really hope that they add a sit down restaurant, mentioned that in my survey, and the pool could of been larger for the size of this resort, great fitness place, and I will mention. . .could not hear the noise from DTD when the sliding glass was closed.

Hope this helps. . . . .

 

[gopherit]

Hmmm... We have stayed in VWL and OKW many times, and recently stayed at BCV for 2 days then BWV for 8 then finally SSR for 3 nts on our last trip (aug 2004)... and we certainly never felt like we were sliding into the slums on the last leg of our trip. What can ya say but one man's trash, another man's treasure (tho I do agree that a walk-through, or certainly drive-through, tells ya nothing. When we were house-hunting we drove through one neighborhood and I whispered to DH, "We are NOT buying into THIS development!" It just didn't seem like our kind of place. 12 years later and we have owned not one but 2 homes in this same neighborhood. Why? THe location, the people -- it's all great. After we outgrew our first home, we found a larger, newer one 3 doors down that would soon go up for sale and we seized it! I never judge wholly by first impression anymore!)

For you SSR owners -- a compliment to your home resort. We actually felt that service at SSR was ABOVE the service we received at the other 2 resorts. The staff was extra helpful to me at check-in, and anytime I needed help, and the community hall CMs treated my kids so great! One night my dd and I were headed back from community hall, and up zipped a CM on a golf cart. He literally saw us, grabbed a cart and offered us a lift to our villa! Now that's service (and my dd was of course thrilled with the ride!) Bus service at SSR was THE BEST.

As for the view, I'm no party animal, and have never even been to PI, but I found the view from our SSR villa to be among the best we have EVER had at WDW. It's not like you're looking right into the faces of drunken partying fools -- think PI from a very great distance! Close enough to walk -- but not so close as to see detail. Just imagine looking across a body of water at colorful DTD twinkling lights, add some fireworks at midnight -- it's lovely. Sitting in the hot tub at the pool facing those lights is so niccce! If that's a step down, well step me down NOW -- I wanna go back!

Now that said, I do whole-heartedly agree that every person has their preferences and should use their own heart when deciding upon their choice of DVC "home" -- not just go by the opinions of another. Many tastes, many choices! VWL is a fave of mine (tho I do love some part of ALL DVC resorts). My son loves BCV. ANother son loves OKW. DD wants SSR (the pool CMs treated her like a 4 yr old QUEEN). DH is like me, loves a bit of all (but does not like valet, so move SSR and OKW to the top of his list). Notice that none of us holds BWV as our first choice. So where do we own our pts? BWV. Funny, funny world. And why pray tell do we own at BWV? Cuz that's all DVC offered us when we bought and we were too ignorant to know resales existed. Had we known we would like SSR so well, we might have held off adding on to our original BWV contract and bought some SSR pts, but hindsight is always, well, you know.

So... If anybody has a contract for 205 pts at OKW or VWL to swap with us and can find a way to do it without ROFR and all that other mess, let us know... meanwhile, we'll just enjoy our pts as they are, but give the advice to others get your pts wherever YOU want to be... (unless, of course, you get a really great deal and can get twice as many pts and a bunch of banked ones, in which case, forget the other stuff I said and BUY! All the resorts are great anyway, so no worries, mate! Owning at a "lesser fave" hasn't hurt us yet!)