Will I hate Saratoga Springs?

[BEASLYBOO]

It's a very elegant, country club style, resort and spa.

Excellent description, though each DVC resort is different or special in its own way, focus not so much on the esthetics but rather on spending quality family time together.

SSR is not my favorite resort but I had a wonderful stay there this June, Congress Park, DTD view. I booked a family trip for November and due to last minute additon of family members I had to change my res. and yet again landed at SSR. I have to say I'm looking forward to it, we have res. at the Turf Club the 1st night (hidden gem, great prime rib). You can take the boat over to DTD, you can walk there if you choose, the resort is beautiful!

I'm sure you'll make the best of it! Good Luck!

 

[Daddio]

and springs bus stop is the first pick up point in that resort.

Small correction. Springs is the last bus stop before heading out to the parks. Grandstand is first, followed by Carousel, Paddock, Congress Park then Springs.

Remember....you are at DW.

Exactly. It is better than staying off property and far better than staying at home. Regardless of which building you get, I am sure you'll end up really enjoying your trip.

David

 

[Brian Noble]

Take advantage of that proximity to DTD. Eat in a few of the well-regarded places there that you don't usually get to from BWV. If you have a car, enjoy the fact that you can walk outside your door and practically be there, rather than wending your way through BWV's lot. Enjoy the peace and quiet, the ability to get away from it all, and schedule at least one spa appointment.

 

[DizGirl20]

Remember....you are at DW.

Exactly! Beats staying at home, right?!

Although I have never eaten there, check out The Turf Club. I read great things about it on these boards. It will be the first ADR I make in a few weeks. You can check out the menu on AllEars. Looks delicious!

ENJOY YOUR TRIP!

 

[ree123]

I stayed there 2 years ago and we loved it! 1 bd villa was spacious and beautiful golf course right outside our door! Easy, relaxing walk into DTD and tons of dining and our little ones loved hanging out near the lake with all the geese and ducks. The quick service(cant remember the name) onsite was reaaaaaly good. The sandwiches were enough to split between two adults. I loves that we had a few pools to choose from-but I found the main pool amazing. The pooolside bar was great and the spa/gym was the best on property in my opinion! Its different from BWV, but different is good

 

[Mr_Potts]

There is so much to enjoy at Saratoga. Unlike BWV, there is a counter service breakfast option at the Artist's Palate. The smell of the homemade waffles there in the morning is intoxicating. And without the huge lines you see at the Boardwalk Bakery.

We have all kinds of food favorites at Saratoga. There are the homemade Saratoga potato chips. Also, the yummy flatbread pizzas, which you can also have delivered to your room. And the burger at the Turf Club is my favorite on Disney property. We have been having it since before there even was a Turf Club restaurant. They used to serve the burger on the limited bar menu at the Turf Club lounge. The lounge itself is a great place to watch a gane on TV or play pool. It is very popular with the golfing set.

If you are at all into horses, the horse theme is wonderful. We love looking at the framed silks that line the wall, the horse statue out in front, and the paintings in the lobby area.

People forget that the theme of Saratoga is "health, history and horses", and they are all present there. Take a walk and look at the wonderful statuary in the counteryards, which I am told is inspired by the Yaddo Artists Colony. Other fountains and statues are copies from the public parks in Saratoga Springs, one of the gilded age's great resorts.

SSR has the best fitness facilities at DisneyWorld as well. If you are into exercise you should definitely look forward to this. My mother loves the spa and don't forget to look into some of the specials they have for DVC members there. I think mom always gets the peppermint pedicure.

Finally, don't forget that you are on a lake there. A real one. It can be fun just to sit on the rockers along it and watch the boats go by.

There are also nice tennis courts there if you play tennis.

You might also look forward to visiting some of the model rooms which are at SSR. Possibly the Aulani model will be open when you visit.

As you can see, we love visiting our first DVC home of Saratoga Springs, and we have just as many favorite things there as you do at BWV. We are looking forward to our next visit there in less than 30 days!

David (Mr. Potts)

 

[supersuperwendy]

We've stayed at BWV and SSR. It is nice to walk to Epcot from BWV for sure. We always enjoyed that.

At SSR we LOVED taking the boat to DTD. We spent a lot of time at DTD and had a great time. I think the villas at SSR are so nice too. We had a beautiful golf course view from The Grandstand. We had a great pool to use at the grandstand or we could walk to high rock springs. We truly fell in love with SSR!

 

[jkfreeman33]

Thanks for the positive replies. Our home resort is BW and this is the first time we will be staying at SSR in Oct. We booked too late for the F&W and everything was booked except SSR.
I read that the Springs was the best section but now I'm thinking that the Grandstands may be where the 5 of us adults may be better off requesting.
Also, did I read correct that the room entrance is outside? I don't think I knew that and not sure that it makes a difference. I guess I'm used to BCV and BWV that are inside a hall.
The last time I stayed at a WDW resort was before we bought in 1998 and it was All Star Music and we lugged luggage up a flight of stairs. Stayed there one time and bought in to DVC.
I can't imagine anyone would "hate" any resort a WDW. Come on....it's WDW and how "bad" can it be. I'm sure there are some we like better than others but "hate".........????
While I might prefer to be staying at the BW or BC, I'd rather be at SSR in Oct than home in Chicago.......
Thanks -

 

[nykidatheart]

Glad this was posted because for along time we have avoided SSR preferring to stay at other resorts especially since we are already from NY. We have a split stay with 2 days at SSR and 5 days at BWV. Both resorts are firsts for us so we're excited to try both out in one trip.

 

[Sammie]

Thanks for the positive replies. Our home resort is BW and this is the first time we will be staying at SSR in Oct. We booked too late for the F&W and everything was booked except SSR.
I read that the Springs was the best section but now I'm thinking that the Grandstands may be where the 5 of us adults may be better off requesting.
Also, did I read correct that the room entrance is outside? I don't think I knew that and not sure that it makes a difference. I guess I'm used to BCV and BWV that are inside a hall.
The last time I stayed at a WDW resort was before we bought in 1998 and it was All Star Music and we lugged luggage up a flight of stairs. Stayed there one time and bought in to DVC.
I can't imagine anyone would "hate" any resort a WDW. Come on....it's WDW and how "bad" can it be. I'm sure there are some we like better than others but "hate".........????
While I might prefer to be staying at the BW or BC, I'd rather be at SSR in Oct than home in Chicago.......
Thanks -

I would call the hallways semi-enclosed. Your door will be under a closed ceiling with open air breezeways. I like it, as they keep them very clean by power washing, no odors, and no stains from garbage bags being set outside of doors in halls that have carpet which no one should do but does.

Here is a photo of the semi-enclosed hallways.

http://allears.net/acc/ss187.jpg

I think SSR is one of Disney's most beautiful resorts. Very lush landscaping, upscale decor in the rooms with Thomasville furniture, good restaurants, fun pools, a Spa, golf, and of the best staffs Disney offers.

 

[jkfreeman33]

Thanks Sammie for the reply & picture.
That brings up another point......do they have a trash room and an ice machine area? On the way to our room at BC or BW, I'm always looking for the trash/recycle room and ice machine room. I hope each building has it, especially the trash. I would hate to be dragging our garbage to a cental location.

 

[Sammie]

Thanks Sammie for the reply & picture.
That brings up another point......do they have a trash room and an ice machine area? On the way to our room at BC or BW, I'm always looking for the trash/recycle room and ice machine room. I hope each building has it, especially the trash. I would hate to be dragging our garbage to a cental location.

Yes near vending and ice machines. As you enter the center archway entrance to the building, take a right and then a left and then straight to the trash room. It is in a corner. It also butts up to room XX27 and XX35, so I try very hard not to let the door slam.

Any other questions please ask.

Here is a photo of the main entrance to the building. Each is different but very distinct. http://allears.net/acc/ss65.jpg

 

[Coach81]

Beautiful grounds, great theming, relaxed atmosphere...

 

[mybabesuz]

We stayed at SSR with our developer points when we first bought DVC.
We prepared ourselves to be underwhelmed but we were very pleasantly surprised.
We love SSR... Bright and Beautiful!

 

[imLissy]

You guys make it sound like we've really been missin' out! lol

Now that I have a plan and I booked all my resies, I'm much more excited about it.
I looked at the menu for The Turf Club and it really didn't excite me much, I'm not a burger and steak kinda gal, but the Pumpkin Ravioli at Wolfgang Puck *drool*
Kouzina shall wait another trip.

Being across from DTD will probably work out well since we were bored at night on our last trip. Well, probably it was literally 32 degrees out and we didn't want to spend any more time outside.

Here's hopin' for better weather!

 

[adminjedi]

shhhhhh....I will say this as quietly as I can.....I really hope you have a wonderful magical trip, but.....we did not like SSR, and we stayed there a few times. It is just too spread out and inconvenient, we don't like the resort food options, the 10 bus stops, and DTD is just not that big of a draw for us.

 

[Sammie]

shhhhhh....I will say this as quietly as I can.....I really hope you have a wonderful magical trip, but.....we did not like SSR, and we stayed there a few times. It is just too spread out and inconvenient, we don't like the resort food options, the 10 bus stops, and DTD is just not that big of a draw for us.

Certainly no resort is going to appeal to everyone, but let's at least share facts, there are only 5 stops, not 10. Except for AKV all DVC resort buses make multiple stops.

 

[imLissy]

the buses at the boardwalk make stops at the beach club, yaht club, swan and dolphin. Not much difference there.

 

[jekjones1558]

the buses at the boardwalk make stops at the beach club, yaht club, swan and dolphin. Not much difference there.

Sometimes during slow seasons this is true. Usually the bus stops at Swan/Dolphin only. Caveat: I only use the bus for MK. It could be different for different routes. But you are right--BWV does NOT have its own bus.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

If you are still really worried and want something different then keep calling to see if anything else has opened up. People change their minds all the time.