Saratoga's good points?

[Anal Annie]

Thanks to all of you! I am truly feeling better about the fact we may have to stay there. I called and made a reservation for Oct. 24-31 and they had to get a manager to get me the 24th as it was technically unavailable. (I had already bought my air tickets as I was using points). There was no availability ANYWHERE, OKW was close but nothing on the 27th & 28th. I was very happy to learn about the waitlist! Hopefully that will work for us but if it doesn't I feel better and I think my husband is softening. These boards are a great place to learn the ropes!

As an SSR owner the more I think about your choice of words the more irked I am with them. But then again, that's how I feel about OKW. I would rather pay cash and stay somewhere else than use points to stay there. So I guess what goes around comes around.

SSR is a beautiful resort. It is new. It is clean. It is well kept. It has a lot of great pools, food and ammenities. Can't beat the proximity to DTD. We stayed there in May in the Grandstand section and were just at BCV in August...gotta say those 2 resorts rank equally with me. I think AKV & VWL are tied for my favorites so far. The buses (at least for us) ran the best at SSR & AKV and the worst at OKW. But at least I have STAYED at OKW before so I can SAY THAT from experience. You haven't even STAYED at SSR yet and you're knocking it.

But GEEEESH!! Give it a chance will ya before you go slamming it?? We are trying out all of the DVC resorts. For any trip planned at less than 7 months we are glad to find availability just about anywhere (anywhere but OKW).

 

[Amy&Dan]

The Unofficial Guide to WDW 2010 lists the following good points for SSR:

• extremely nice studio rooms and villas
• lushly landscaped setting
• best fitness center at WDW
• convenient self-parking
• close to DTD
• best spa at WDW
• golf on-property

Of course, they list the following bad points too:

• distance of some accomodations from dining and services
• limited dining options
• most distant of all Disney resorts from theme parks
• theme and atmosphere not very kid-friendly

One of the comments submitted said "Saratoga Springs is our least favorite resort. We did not enjoy the theming, and unless you have a car, getting around by the bus system is a real hassle. The food court is small for the size of resort.... Overall, our stay at SSR did not give us that Disney feeling we usually experience while staying at other WDW resorts, but rather the feeling we normally get when we stay off-property -- like staying at a high-priced apartment complex".

So just out of curiousity, what were the negative reader's comments for the other DVC resorts? Because I have yet to find any resort, ride, or restaurant in the Unofficial Guide that didn't have reader's comments very similar to the one you posted above.

 

[Starr W.]

As an SSR owner the more I think about your choice of words the more irked I am with them. But then again, that's how I feel about OKW. I would rather pay cash and stay somewhere else than use points to stay there. So I guess what goes around comes around.

SSR is a beautiful resort. It is new. It is clean. It is well kept. It has a lot of great pools, food and ammenities. Can't beat the proximity to DTD. We stayed there in May in the Grandstand section and were just at BCV in August...gotta say those 2 resorts rank equally with me. I think AKV & VWL are tied for my favorites so far. The buses (at least for us) ran the best at SSR & AKV and the worst at OKW. But at least I have STAYED at OKW before so I can SAY THAT from experience. You haven't even STAYED at SSR yet and you're knocking it.

But GEEEESH!! Give it a chance will ya before you go slamming it?? We are trying out all of the DVC resorts. For any trip planned at less than 7 months we are glad to find availability just about anywhere (anywhere but OKW).

Yeah, what Annie says.

Disclaimer: I did book at VWL studio at 3 months out for mid-October, first time I had ever tried to do that(must take a trip to use 12 points that would go to waste ).

I would have stayed at SSR, but since I'm travelling solo DH thought one of the hotel DVC's would be better.

 

[Simba's Mom]

The rooms are big.
You don't have to brush your teeth in the kitchen.
The bathroom doors lock.
You don't have to fix your breakfast in the bathroom.
You can catch a nice nap on the bus ride back to the resort.
No loud fireworks keeping you up at night.
Lots of exercise walking to / from the bus stop or pool.

Somehow I'm reminded of the late, great Richyams trying to find nice things to say about BWV. How about "the glass is very clear"?

 

[waltfan1957]

The Unofficial Guide to WDW 2010 lists the following good points for SSR:

• extremely nice studio rooms and villas
• lushly landscaped setting
• best fitness center at WDW
• convenient self-parking
• close to DTD
• best spa at WDW
• golf on-property

Of course, they list the following bad points too:

• distance of some accomodations from dining and services
• limited dining options
• most distant of all Disney resorts from theme parks
• theme and atmosphere not very kid-friendly

One of the comments submitted said "Saratoga Springs is our least favorite resort. We did not enjoy the theming, and unless you have a car, getting around by the bus system is a real hassle. The food court is small for the size of resort.... Overall, our stay at SSR did not give us that Disney feeling we usually experience while staying at other WDW resorts, but rather the feeling we normally get when we stay off-property -- like staying at a high-priced apartment complex".

Didn't feel like quoting any of the positive comments then? come on Mike we get YOU don't like SSR but don't be so biased as not to quote both sides.

 

[dis-happy]

duplicate post

 

[dis-happy]

Somehow I'm reminded of the late, great Richyams trying to find nice things to say about BWV. How about "the glass is very clear"?

That post made me think of Richyams too!!



One point about the busses: I don't agree that you can make a comparison between the BWV and SSR since at BWV you can WALK to two of the parks; not even an option at SSR.

During some busy seasons BWV has run an express bus to MK, skipping the S&D stops completely. Not sure if they are still doing this (or plan to do it) though.

 

[kikiq]

I do have a question about The Unofficial Guide to WDW 2010 statement that the theme and atmosphere is not kid friendly. According to who...the adults or did they really ask the kids. I think all the DVCs have kid components and some depending on interest and age are better than others. SSR to me is great for really active kids. There are open spaces/lawn that young ones can run their extra energy off without worrying about cars or people. You can actually ride the bicycles on paths and not worry about running into people. The area around the Congress Park pool is great for kids. There's a playground, the pool and the area with chairs and "spy" glasses pointing toward DTD. A parent can sit and watch their kids play their hearts out.

How many parents have taken their young children out for a walk around the lake and let them run without fear of running into people going into and out of the parks? And you can't lose sight of them with crowds of people. That is a pro not a con.

Kid friendly does not need to be in your face theming and in fact, SSR provides the kind of activity that requires the child to engage his own mind and not continuing be entertained by the music and the decor. The beauty of DVC is that each one is unique and you don't have to like all of them. I can see staying at different DVCs depending on the child's age and interest. My DDs are not beach/pool people and they are very active. We are not park commandos, so being close to the parks is not a priority. SSR works for us.

 

[Starr W.]

I do have a question about The Unofficial Guide to WDW 2010 statement that the theme and atmosphere is not kid friendly. According to who...the adults or did they really ask the kids. I think all the DVCs have kid components and some depending on interest and age are better than others. SSR to me is great for really active kids. There are open spaces/lawn that young ones can run their extra energy off without worrying about cars or people. You can actually ride the bicycles on paths and not worry about running into people. The area around the Congress Park pool is great for kids. There's a playground, the pool and the area with chairs and "spy" glasses pointing toward DTD. A parent can sit and watch their kids play their hearts out.

How many parents have taken their young children out for a walk around the lake and let them run without fear of running into people going into and out of the parks? And you can't lose sight of them with crowds of people. That is a pro not a con.

Kid friendly does not need to be in your face theming and in fact, SSR provides the kind of activity that requires the child to engage his own mind and not continuing be entertained by the music and the decor. The beauty of DVC is that each one is unique and you don't have to like all of them. I can see staying at different DVCs depending on the child's age and interest. My DDs are not beach/pool people and they are very active. We are not park commandos, so being close to the parks is not a priority. SSR works for us.

Obviously they didn't ask my 8yr old, who prefers SSR because he's in walking distance to the Lego store. To a Bionicle collector it's nirvana!

 

[littlestar]

Obviously they didn't ask my 8yr old, who prefers SSR because he's in walking distance to the Lego store. To a Bionicle collector it's nirvana!

(Laughter). I had to laugh because SSR is the first choice of our grown kids for a trip to Disney, too. They're extremely excited about a stay in the treehouses next March. We'll have to watch Swiss Family Robinson before the trip.

 

[Sammie]

I do have a question about The Unofficial Guide to WDW 2010 statement that the theme and atmosphere is not kid friendly. According to who...the adults or did they really ask the kids. I think all the DVCs have kid components and some depending on interest and age are better than others. SSR to me is great for really active kids. There are open spaces/lawn that young ones can run their extra energy off without worrying about cars or people. You can actually ride the bicycles on paths and not worry about running into people. The area around the Congress Park pool is great for kids. There's a playground, the pool and the area with chairs and "spy" glasses pointing toward DTD. A parent can sit and watch their kids play their hearts out.

How many parents have taken their young children out for a walk around the lake and let them run without fear of running into people going into and out of the parks? And you can't lose sight of them with crowds of people. That is a pro not a con.

Kid friendly does not need to be in your face theming and in fact, SSR provides the kind of activity that requires the child to engage his own mind and not continuing be entertained by the music and the decor. The beauty of DVC is that each one is unique and you don't have to like all of them. I can see staying at different DVCs depending on the child's age and interest. My DDs are not beach/pool people and they are very active. We are not park commandos, so being close to the parks is not a priority. SSR works for us.

I don't read the Unofficial Guide for this very reason, how in the heck can a resort at Disney World, with pools, arcade, basketball, playgrounds, tennis, bikes, organized kid activities, buses to theme parks, drawing pads at Artist Palette, kids area at check in, etc, etc, not be kid friendly.

It makes no sense at all. Obviously the person that wrote that has never stayed at SSR with kids.

 

[littlestar]

I don't read the Unofficial Guide for this very reason, how in the heck can a resort at Disney World, with pools, arcade, basketball, playgrounds, tennis, bikes, organized kid activities, buses to theme parks, drawing pads at Artist Palette, kids area at check in, etc, etc, not be kid friendly.

It makes no sense at all. Obviously the person that wrote that has never stayed at SSR with kids.

The last time I picked up a copy of it from the library it said Disney resort guests were allowed to pool hop all over property, too. And we know that's not true.