jenelope
In my house, I *am* the kid! (also, the mom, the d
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2000
- Messages
- 827
Has anyone ever looked at the Saratoga Springs site on Google Maps? I've been looking at maps of the area because we recently made a decision to rent a car on our trip and I want to be absolutely clear of the route from SSR to my friend's hotel on I-Drive. At first I was kind of disappointed because it seems like every map from AAA to Yahoo to Mapquest is out of date and lacking detail (most places list SSR as being located in the Epcot resort area!). However, I just had a lot of fun comparing the satellite hybrid maps to a current map of Saratoga Springs. Unlike a lot of areas of WDW, the satellite images can be zoomed to the highest level, giving an amazing level of detail.
I used an old Disney Institute map as a guide to what I was seeing. The satellite images were taken sometime between the time that the Disney Institute closed and whenever it was that they started construction on SSR. I could tell it was after it was closed because there are very few cars around the hotel room buildings and the pools are obviously closed. I seem to recall that the spa remained open even while the resort was closed. The grounds around the main buildings where the spa is are immaculate. Cross the bridge over Willow Lake, and it's another story. The easternmost pool, for instance, is brown with dirt and algae. The grass is patchy and it looks deserted. It's kind of weird looking at that area and then looking at pictures of it as it is now, the beautiful Congress Park area. It also looks like they've done some serious resculpture of the land itself. It actually looks like there was once an inlet of water where the quiet pool is now! I can't tell if Willow Lake itself was re-shaped because the SSR map is an artist's rendering, but it looks like it probably was.
Like I said, it's weird looking at it, but it's fascinating. I know I shouldn't be surprised considering it is Disney and they seem to pull construction projects out of thin air. But still, I'm amazed at how much they accomplished in such a short time. Now I just have to wait the six days before I get to see it in person!
I used an old Disney Institute map as a guide to what I was seeing. The satellite images were taken sometime between the time that the Disney Institute closed and whenever it was that they started construction on SSR. I could tell it was after it was closed because there are very few cars around the hotel room buildings and the pools are obviously closed. I seem to recall that the spa remained open even while the resort was closed. The grounds around the main buildings where the spa is are immaculate. Cross the bridge over Willow Lake, and it's another story. The easternmost pool, for instance, is brown with dirt and algae. The grass is patchy and it looks deserted. It's kind of weird looking at that area and then looking at pictures of it as it is now, the beautiful Congress Park area. It also looks like they've done some serious resculpture of the land itself. It actually looks like there was once an inlet of water where the quiet pool is now! I can't tell if Willow Lake itself was re-shaped because the SSR map is an artist's rendering, but it looks like it probably was.
Like I said, it's weird looking at it, but it's fascinating. I know I shouldn't be surprised considering it is Disney and they seem to pull construction projects out of thin air. But still, I'm amazed at how much they accomplished in such a short time. Now I just have to wait the six days before I get to see it in person!
)
