Totally overwhelmed with SSR- decide for me

[rentayenta]

I am so confused as to which part of SSR to stay at. It seems the Grandstand area is the most popular but when I look at a map, it seems the Springs would be best. Add in the new Paddock Pool and I want to be in that area too.

Here's what I'm looking for:

- near the main area and cs
- near a fun pool with a bar and food
- good views, no parking lots please, I'd prefer a pool or DTD view

We won't have a car and will be 100% reliant upon Disney transportation.

I would like the kids be able to navigate their way to the villa or to the pool without us being right there beside them. Of course we'll be at the resort. They will be 15, 14, 13, and 11 at the time of travel. We let them spread their wings during our recent trip to Disneyland and the GCV and they had a blast. Of course the GCV and DLR pale in size to SSR and WDW.


Can anyone help me? I thought the POR was huge but SSR feels overwhelming. I'm also having a difficult time wrapping my head around the resort in general. I have looked at a few maps tonight but neither have a clear view or show the new Paddock Pool area.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I am so confused as to which part of SSR to stay at. It seems the Grandstand area is the most popular but when I look at a map, it seems the Springs would be best. Add in the new Paddock Pool and I want to be in that area too.

Here's what I'm looking for:

- near the main area and cs
- near a fun pool with a bar and food
- good views, no parking lots please, I'd prefer a pool or DTD view

We won't have a car and will be 100% reliant upon Disney transportation.

I would like the kids be able to navigate their way to the villa or to the pool without us being right there beside them. Of course we'll be at the resort. They will be 15, 14, 13, and 11 at the time of travel. We let them spread their wings during our recent trip to Disneyland and the GCV and they had a blast. Of course the GCV and DLR pale in size to SSR and WDW.


Can anyone help me? I thought the POR was huge but SSR feels overwhelming. I'm also having a difficult time wrapping my head around the resort in general. I have looked at a few maps tonight but neither have a clear view or show the new Paddock Pool area.

We stayed at SSR in October 2008. We started with a studio in the Grandstand area. Beautiful view of the golf course with a short walk to the main pool! Loved that it was the first bus stop, too. We then moved to a 1 BR in the Springs area. First morning, we were awoken to the beeping sound of a vehicle backing up. We also did not have a nice view, and bus transportation was not as ideal. Those are the only areas I can speak on. Maybe others can give more suggestions.

 

[hmillerbarilla]

SSR is big, but you'll be fine.

I'd stay in the Springs. It is close to the main building and pool, and a short walk from the Paddock area. I think it's the best spot.

I find SSR to have great CS options. We love eating there! We've even travled there from other DVC resorts for lunch or breakfast. We just love it. The new Paddock area also has some good options.

 

[rentayenta]

We stayed at SSR in October 2008. We started with a studio in the Grandstand area. Beautiful view of the golf course with a short walk to the main pool! Loved that it was the first bus stop, too. We then moved to a 1 BR in the Springs area. First morning, we were awoken to the beeping sound of a vehicle backing up. We also did not have a nice view, and bus transportation was not as ideal. Those are the only areas I can speak on. Maybe others can give more suggestions.

Is the main pool in the Springs section? Can you walk to and from every area within the resort advise from the THV? What was wrong with the Springs transportation? Does each section have their own busses?

SSR is big, but you'll be fine.

I'd stay in the Springs. It is close to the main building and pool, and a short walk from the Paddock area. I think it's the best spot.

I find SSR to have great CS options. We love eating there! We've even travled there from other DVC resorts for lunch or breakfast. We just love it. The new Paddock area also has some good options.

We toured the resort, well some of it, it before buying. I didn't realize how massive it is. I'm seeing the Springs too as the best option at this point. It just doesn't look walkable from section to section. The menus for both the cs and Turf Club look great.


Is there a map anywhere of room numbers? Not like that won't open an entire new set of issues.

 

[hmillerbarilla]

I don't know where maps might be, but I'm sure they are somewhere on the DIS.

I like the Springs because it is walkable from the main builiding and the main pool. My kiddies like the pool, and I like being close to a shop and the food!

We didn't ever use the buses here. I did notice people waiting at the stops--but they seem to be waiting at the stops at every resort. Every resort has it's bus problems. I'd be willing to give it a go, and maybe you'll be lucky.

The paddock pool is a short walk over the bridge and they have a great kiddie pool area.

The Grandstand area (is that the one close to DTD?) seems just good to well, walk to DTD. We walked from the Springs, but it's a hike, and I'm one that will willingly walk all over CBR....

You can walk all over the resort, if you're a walker. We're walkers, and we'd do it again, but even I would choose the Springs.

 

[rentayenta]

I don't know where maps might be, but I'm sure they are somewhere on the DIS.

I like the Springs because it is walkable from the main builiding and the main pool. My kiddies like the pool, and I like being close to a shop and the food!

We didn't ever use the buses here. I did notice people waiting at the stops--but they seem to be waiting at the stops at every resort. Every resort has it's bus problems. I'd be willing to give it a go, and maybe you'll be lucky.

The paddock pool is a short walk over the bridge and they have a great kiddie pool area.

The Grandstand area (is that the one close to DTD?) seems just good to well, walk to DTD. We walked from the Springs, but it's a hike, and I'm one that will willingly walk all over CBR....

You can walk all over the resort, if you're a walker. We're walkers, and we'd do it again, but even I would choose the Springs.

Thank you, thank you! I'm a big walker too. I think the area closest to DTD is Congress Park? I found some good info on Allears that gave a decent overview. So there are bridges between areas? That makes way more sense. I just couldn't get a visual of how to get from area to area. I found 2 maps on the SSR lovers thread but they didn't help much with my spacial issues.

I'm not too concerned with the busses as long as we get on. At the POR it would sometimes take 3 busses at the end of the night to get on. It's a lovely resort but I can't do that again. I've been spoiled with the proximity from GCV to Cal Adventure at the Disneyland Resort.

 

[lions1995]

We stayed in the Springs at the end of November. I do not think there are any rooms that actually look into the main pool. If I had to do it over, I would have requested Paddock with a view of the pool. My kids loved the Paddock slide / pool / and play area over the Springs pool. There is also a Quick Serve at the Paddock pool (and drinks). Lastly this this is the 3rd bus stop coming into the resort and Springs is the last.

DVCnews.com has some good specifics on the DVC resorts. Maps of SSR are at
http://www.dvcnews.com/index.php/resorts/saratoga-springs/maps-a-photos

 

[HsvTeacher]

We've stayed in the Springs, the Grandstand, and Congress Park. We preferred the Grandstand. It is the first bus stop both going to and from the parks, so it's really easy to get a seat for the ride. It also has a nice pool area with food and a bar, and it's a quick walk to the Carriage House and main pool. The views, in my opinion, can't be beat! As for getting to the Paddock pool, you could always hop on a park bus since it's going to stop at the Paddock bus stop.

If you opt for the Springs area, depending on where your room is, you could end up pretty far away from the Carriage House. Since its bus stop is the last drop-off going to and from the parks, the buses get pretty full, and you won't have the opportunity to catch a ride to the Paddock area.

 

[jupers]

Sorry to hijack but I'm in the same spot! Staying at SSR soon and trying to decide between congress park and springs and the grandstand. Love the idea to walk to Dtd also want easy walk to carriage house.

 

[bigAWL]

I think it's going to depend on your priorities. Make requests on your reservation, but know that you might not get all of them them (or any of them).

- near the main area and cs

Request to be near the Carriage House. You'll most likely get the Springs, but could also get the Grandstand, I guess. This request will be more likely to get you a building close to the main complex, rather than a building in one of those sections that is a bit further away.

- near a fun pool with a bar and food

Request to be near a feature pool. The Springs is again likely. It's between the two main pools and an easy to walk to either one. The Paddock area is so long that it's possible to get Paddock rooms that are farther from the Paddock pool than just about anything in the Spings. Most food options and bar are at the main complex by the Carriage House, so again, request to be close to that. I haven't seen the new Paddock pool, but by the looks of it, the CS food service is much closer to the pool deck than the one by the main pool. Not sure if they have a bar there.

- good views, no parking lots please, I'd prefer a pool or DTD view

I believe there are parking lot views available in all areas. It looks like the Grandstand may have the fewest (best chance of getting a better-than-parking-lot view) and has mostly golf course views, though some of the quiet pool. Best views at the Springs are of lakes, but my view of the lake staying there was quite obscured by trees. Paddock will have lots of lake views available, and maybe a few pool views. Congress Park has the only DTD views, and also quiet pool views. No one talks about the Carousel, since that is the most remote area, but they have lake views, too.
Bottom line request the view you want most: water, pool, DTD, golf?

We won't have a car and will be 100% reliant upon Disney transportation.

I wouldn't worry too much about the differences in the areas when concerning buses. Yes, the order of the stops can make a difference to some people, but they all use the same bus, and they all have a stop. Most stops are pretty central to the area, so most buildings do not have a long walk to get there. The one problem child can be the Paddock which is pretty long as I said before. But I think any of the requests you made above would pretty much keep you out of those Paddock buildings with the longest bus walks.

My bottom line recommendation: request to be in the Springs and close to the Carriage House with a water view.

 

[supersuperwendy]

SSR is kind of big..but wonderful. Any area would be nice. We've stayed in the Grandstand..Loved it. We've also stayed at Congress Park and..Loved it!! If we go there again I think I'd request The Springs this time to be in the middle between High Rock Springs and the new Paddock Pool.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Is the main pool in the Springs section? Can you walk to and from every area within the resort advise from the THV? What was wrong with the Springs transportation? Does each section have their own busses?

The main pool is in the Springs section. Others have answered the question about walking within the resort. The problem with the Springs as far as transportation is that it is the last bus stop. Many times buses are already filled. When coming back from the parks, I would recommend getting off at the Grandstand area and walking back to your room if it's in the Springs.

 

[rentayenta]

We stayed in the Springs at the end of November. I do not think there are any rooms that actually look into the main pool. If I had to do it over, I would have requested Paddock with a view of the pool. My kids loved the Paddock slide / pool / and play area over the Springs pool. There is also a Quick Serve at the Paddock pool (and drinks). Lastly this this is the 3rd bus stop coming into the resort and Springs is the last.

DVCnews.com has some good specifics on the DVC resorts. Maps of SSR are at
http://www.dvcnews.com/index.php/resorts/saratoga-springs/maps-a-photos

Great link! Gives me a better overall picture. With the Springs being the last stop, does it create any transportaion issues such as not getting on or having to stand often?

We've stayed in the Springs, the Grandstand, and Congress Park. We preferred the Grandstand. It is the first bus stop both going to and from the parks, so it's really easy to get a seat for the ride. It also has a nice pool area with food and a bar, and it's a quick walk to the Carriage House and main pool. The views, in my opinion, can't be beat! As for getting to the Paddock pool, you could always hop on a park bus since it's going to stop at the Paddock bus stop.

If you opt for the Springs area, depending on where your room is, you could end up pretty far away from the Carriage House. Since its bus stop is the last drop-off going to and from the parks, the buses get pretty full, and you won't have the opportunity to catch a ride to the Paddock area.

Thank you, that answered my above question about the Springs and possible transportation issues. I am all about the view. Grandstand sounds nice.

Sorry to hijack but I'm in the same spot! Staying at SSR soon and trying to decide between congress park and springs and the grandstand. Love the idea to walk to Dtd also want easy walk to carriage house.

Hijack away!

I think it's going to depend on your priorities. Make requests on your reservation, but know that you might not get all of them them (or any of them).


Request to be near the Carriage House. You'll most likely get the Springs, but could also get the Grandstand, I guess. This request will be more likely to get you a building close to the main complex, rather than a building in one of those sections that is a bit further away.


Request to be near a feature pool. The Springs is again likely. It's between the two main pools and an easy to walk to either one. The Paddock area is so long that it's possible to get Paddock rooms that are farther from the Paddock pool than just about anything in the Spings. Most food options and bar are at the main complex by the Carriage House, so again, request to be close to that. I haven't seen the new Paddock pool, but by the looks of it, the CS food service is much closer to the pool deck than the one by the main pool. Not sure if they have a bar there.


I believe there are parking lot views available in all areas. It looks like the Grandstand may have the fewest (best chance of getting a better-than-parking-lot view) and has mostly golf course views, though some of the quiet pool. Best views at the Springs are of lakes, but my view of the lake staying there was quite obscured by trees. Paddock will have lots of lake views available, and maybe a few pool views. Congress Park has the only DTD views, and also quiet pool views. No one talks about the Carousel, since that is the most remote area, but they have lake views, too.
Bottom line request the view you want most: water, pool, DTD, golf?


I wouldn't worry too much about the differences in the areas when concerning buses. Yes, the order of the stops can make a difference to some people, but they all use the same bus, and they all have a stop. Most stops are pretty central to the area, so most buildings do not have a long walk to get there. The one problem child can be the Paddock which is pretty long as I said before. But I think any of the requests you made above would pretty much keep you out of those Paddock buildings with the longest bus walks.

My bottom line recommendation: request to be in the Springs and close to the Carriage House with a water view.

Thank you so much for taking the time to spell this out for me. I really don't want to chance being in the boonies or have a bad view. I wish I could my hands on villa numbers and request specifics. I did that at the GCV and it was very helpful.

SSR is kind of big..but wonderful. Any area would be nice. We've stayed in the Grandstand..Loved it. We've also stayed at Congress Park and..Loved it!! If we go there again I think I'd request The Springs this time to be in the middle between High Rock Springs and the new Paddock Pool.

Thanks! I don't hear much about Congress Park but as the DTD section so to speak, the views must be cool.

The main pool is in the Springs section. Others have answered the question about walking within the resort. The problem with the Springs as far as transportation is that it is the last bus stop. Many times buses are already filled. When coming back from the parks, I would recommend getting off at the Grandstand area and walking back to your room if it's in the Springs.

Full buses are bad. Good idea to get off quicker and walk a little way.



You guys are great and I truly appreciate all of the responses.

 

[hakepb]

Because Springs is the last stop, in my observation the bus will usually be standing room only by the time it gets to the Springs. If standing on a bus most times you go to a park annoys you, I would avoid Springs.

its always easy getting to the main/carriage house area because all park busses stop at Springs last.
(The DTD bus goes "backwards" to get from Springs to another area)

 

[rentayenta]

Because Springs is the last stop, in my observation the bus will usually be standing room only by the time it gets to the Springs. If standing on a bus most times you go to a park annoys you, I would avoid Springs.

its always easy getting to the main/carriage house area because all park busses stop at Springs last.
(The DTD bus goes "backwards" to get from Springs to another area)

So Springs is last to drop and pick up? But Spings is walk able to main/carriage area? Great info, thank you! Standing doesn't particularly annoy me but a crammed bus or having to wait for another does.

 

[kendzee94]

What time of year are you planning on going? Are you a park opener? My experience (from just coming back from the THV's and) using both the Springs and the Grandstand bus stops was this: if I was going to the park at opening, the Springs bus was full (standing room only). After 10am, the buses were not full (ie: standing room only). We have stayed in the Springs section twice. Once we had a 1BR that overlooked the main drive that all the buses come and go on with a street lamp outside the BR (when you look at the map, it is the blue building with room #'s 3101-3436). We also stayed in building with room #'s 3501-3836, and had a room facing another villa/building with the water outside. Very nice, but the luck of the draw on views. Both times, we requested the Springs.

We also had to contend with people who park at DTD trying to get back at the end of the night, and it seemed that every bus ride back, we had someone ask how to get to DTD! Anyway, if it's not a super busy time of the year, I would suggest the Springs, if it is a super busy time of the year, I would request the grandstand - building near the pool. And remember requests are just that, requests. I think you'll have fun wherever you end up!

 

[TosaTrio]

We prefer grandstand area if we can get in the buildings next to the pool, otherwise Springs. As others have said, Grandstand is the first bus stop, short walk to main Hot Springs pool and close to the ferry and walking path to DTD. However, that is only if you are in the buildings closet to the Grandstand pool ( which does have a pool bar). The other buildings seem very remote and not as desirable. In that case I would prefer Springs or Paddock buildings by the pool. We always try to check in early and ate willing to wait to get an area we like. It doesn't always work but we find Disney very accomidating.

 

[rentayenta]

What time of year are you planning on going? Are you a park opener? My experience (from just coming back from the THV's and) using both the Springs and the Grandstand bus stops was this: if I was going to the park at opening, the Springs bus was full (standing room only). After 10am, the buses were not full (ie: standing room only). We have stayed in the Springs section twice. Once we had a 1BR that overlooked the main drive that all the buses come and go on with a street lamp outside the BR (when you look at the map, it is the blue building with room #'s 3101-3436). We also stayed in building with room #'s 3501-3836, and had a room facing another villa/building with the water outside. Very nice, but the luck of the draw on views. Both times, we requested the Springs.

We're booked for October 2012. We may open the park once or twice but I'm afraid our commando days are mostly over. I am truly the only morning person in our party and I hate the parks alone. Thank you for giving me the villa numbers and specifics.

We also had to contend with people who park at DTD trying to get back at the end of the night, and it seemed that every bus ride back, we had someone ask how to get to DTD! Anyway, if it's not a super busy time of the year, I would suggest the Springs, if it is a super busy time of the year, I would request the grandstand - building near the pool. And remember requests are just that, requests. I think you'll have fun wherever you end up!

I don't think SSR will be a top choice in October as from what I've read, people mostly want the Epcot resorts due to F&W. That makes me happy. The less crowded, the better. So people park at DTD and then go to SSR to get to the parks? Sounds like a headache. Why not park at the park?

We prefer grandstand area if we can get in the buildings next to the pool, otherwise Springs. As others have said, Grandstand is the first bus stop, short walk to main Hot Springs pool and close to the ferry and walking path to DTD. However, that is only if you are in the buildings closet to the Grandstand pool ( which does have a pool bar). The other buildings seem very remote and not as desirable. In that case I would prefer Springs or Paddock buildings by the pool. We always try to check in early and ate willing to wait to get an area we like. It doesn't always work but we find Disney very accomidating.

I'm totally willing to wait for a good view too. On our last trip to the GCV we waited until 4:00 on the dot for a desired room. It's so worth it. Hmm...I'm pretty torn between Grandstand and Paddock area. Both have pools with food/bar service and pool views. Maybe I should request both?

 

[TosaTrio]

FYI - the Grandstand pool bar is only open until 5 if I recall correctly. Paddock's pool grill is more extensive and open longer but farther from the main pool.

 

[hakepb]

..And the grandstand refill station does not open before noon so morning refills are not possible.

Most of Grandstand has golf course type views. 2 of the buildings are as close to AP/Turf Club as Springs, but 2 buildings are farther and require a trek across the parking lot to get anywhere...

Paddock is more on the public edge of Disney and some views are more busy (ie the "fire station" view). I still think I would overall lean Grandstand, but as someone who likes variety I would request Paddock my next time (as I would like to try the new feature pool and dining)..