Springs vs Congress Park

[emsip]

Hello everyone. My family will be going to WDW next week and will be staying at SSR for the first time. We are booked for a preferred room so I know it will be in either Springs or Congress Park. Which one should I request if we plan on mainly going to MK and DS? Thanks.

 

[kilik64]

Congress park is the closest walk to DS.

 

[PalmettoPath]

We always stay in Congress Park. It faces Disney Springs (and is a pretty close walk). It's also a very short walk to the main building and High Rock Spring Pool (although it has its own pool as well). We find bus service to the parks from there to be pretty good as well.

 

[emsip]

I meant to say going to MK and not DS. Probably go to Hollywood Studios as well.

 

[emsip]

How far is the walk from Congress Park to the main pool and food court?

 

[CarolMN]

I meant to say going to MK and not DS. Probably go to Hollywood Studios as well.

Then it probably doesn't matter. I'd ask for whatever bus stop comes first. Personally, I don't know what the order is, but I do recall that sometimes the bus is full before it makes it to the last stop or two.

 

[CarolynFH]

The bus picks up at Congress Park before it picks up at Springs - but it picks up at the Standard areas of Grandstand, Carousel and Paddock before it gets to CP.

 

[purpliequeen]

How far is the walk from Congress Park to the main pool and food court?

Couldn't have been more than 5 or 10 min. It's a VERY easy and very pleasant walk - and I was there the first week of May during a heatwave where temps were 90-100*F per day. We also booked Preferred (1-bed) hoping for Congress Park (to be closer to DS), but unfortunately they were fully spoken for when we arrived and we got one of the buildings in The Springs, which was slightly closer to the main building/checkin/main pool/etc. However, I walked to DS each morning (for Gideon's, coffee, etc.) and the walk from my bldg in The Springs to Disney Springs was about 11-15 min tops. It's VERY convenient. With the amazing renovation & all the wonderful options in DS, SSR is one incredible DVC resort. You'll have the best time. Enjoy!

 

[drusba]

The park buses make five stops when going in the following order: Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock, Congress Park, and Springs. Thus the shortest trip to a park is via Springs, while it is the longest trip when returning. One problem with Springs, but it can also occur at Congress Park, is having the bus already crowded when it arrives, resulting in your having to stand when going to a park. In other words, neither is that great if desire is always to sit when going to a park, but Congress Park has the better chance of avoiding standing.

Congress Park‘ s two major advantages is that you can get impressive views of the lake and Disney Springs from your room, and it provides the shortest walking trip to DS via a bridge that crosses from Congress Park area to DS. The walk is significantly longer from Springs. CP also has its own quiet pool, and is not real far from the Paddock theme pool.

The Springs has the advantage of being close to the main office, store, and main themed pool. If you want to go to other areas of the resort, it is more centrally located than any other areas and thus has like walking distances to other areas.

My personal preference is Congress Park for view and ease to DS but the reality is SSR has no bad areas and Springs is a very nice area.

 

[drusba]

Since you are going next week, I will add one additional point. If you are renting a car, you can always park close to your building but currently you should not consider renting a car for the purpose of going to the parks. The parking lots are large at the parks and you can end up a far distance from the park. Pre-pandemic, there was always transportation (a trolley) that moved guests from the areas they parked in to the parks (or to TTC at MK). Currently all that transportation has been suspended and thus you need to walk to a park from where you park and that can be a long distance. It is better just to take the SSR bus.

 

[denver7sb]

We stayed at the Springs in June and loved the location. Super close to the bus stop, both pools, and Artist Palette. Our 1BR overlooked the pond. The walk to Disney Springs was about 15 minutes and very pleasant.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

the reality is SSR has no bad areas

Every area has something to recommend except Carousel.

 

[Shellyred8]

We always try to get Congress Park. I love the views of DS at night from that area, especially if we have a room that directly looks over the lake and is on the 2nd or 3rd floor.

 

[bbn1122]

I will be there for the third time next week. I have stayed at both Congress Park and the Springs.
I have 2 bedroom Preferred for next week. I am hoping for CP for convenience to DS. The renovations are beautiful.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Can anyone tell me where the ice and vending locations are at Saratoga. Are they in the villa buildings or at the pool area like at OKW?

 

[lynnfitz]

I just wanted to jump in...back from Saratoga about 2 weeks now, 2 bedrooms are wonderful!! We received a text (we were at Seaworld), our room was ready-it was early about 11. It was for the Springs section, but we really wanted CP for the Disney springs location. In the text was a phone number, I called, nice CM I'll have someone call you back. About 10 minutes later my cell rang, another nice CM said Ok, you are now in Congress park! I know Disney sometimes doesn't get a lot of love now with all the changes, but I still came home saying, you can't beat Disney! Just wanted to add that positive comment!

 

[Tigger's ally]

I just wanted to jump in...back from Saratoga about 2 weeks now, 2 bedrooms are wonderful!! We received a text (we were at Seaworld), our room was ready-it was early about 11. It was for the Springs section, but we really wanted CP for the Disney springs location. In the text was a phone number, I called, nice CM I'll have someone call you back. About 10 minutes later my cell rang, another nice CM said Ok, you are now in Congress park! I know Disney sometimes doesn't get a lot of love now with all the changes, but I still came home saying, you can't beat Disney! Just wanted to add that positive comment!

Glad to hear you got some pixie dust. Yes, there is still a lot of it going on. Just have to stop and see it.

 

[lynnfitz]

Yes, I agree, know before you go, as they say! Also, might be off subject, I used the restroom at Bay Lake's pool-I have never seen such a clean public restroom-little things like that are so nice to see-