On our last trip to WDW, we stayed at Saratoga Springs resort for the first time. This was a beautiful resort, but we had heard that it was at the bottom of many people’s list of DVC resorts. So how did we think it stood up? See my pros and cons lists below!
Saratoga Springs is a sprawling Disney Vacation Club resort with one of the largest footprints of any resort. It’s themed after the horse racing culture in upstate New York, and is decorated with paintings of Disney horses and actual horse racing memorabilia. This tends to be a love-it-or-hate-it resort among DVC members. After staying there, I think we could see both sides!
Pros:
- Newly refurbished rooms – The rooms at Saratoga Springs got a soft good refurb a little over a year ago. They are light and breezy, with soft color palates and florals. The theming here is minimalist, especially before the Murphey bed is pulled down. There are a few horse things here, and one pair of Mickey ears above the bed. But it’s well done, with beautiful tile in the bathroom and kitchenette.
- Chill, laid back atmosphere – There is so much space at this resort, and that means a lot of green space, and a lot of space between you and other guests. Where there are guests, everyone is laid back and pretty calm. I got the feeling this DVC resort was truly geared to people who come to Disney World often, and who were carrying less of the gotta-get-everything-done stress that first timers tend to have.
- Proximity to Disney Springs–Between the walking path and the boat, Disney Springs really feels like an extension of Saratoga Springs. Food at Saratoga is good, but basic. And their gift shop is very minimal. But because Disney Springs is right there you don’t miss the food or the shopping at the resort. You have Disney’s best right at your fingertips.
Cons:
- Very spread out, huge footprint – Saratoga Springs is huge. Like, unbelievably huge. We were lucky enough to have a room in The Springs right next to the Carriage House near the lobby, transportation, and all the amenities. (More on how I scored that room later!). But much of the resort is a hike away from everything. I suspect we would have enjoyed our stay much less had we been located in one of the back Carousel or Paddock buildings. You could easily walk the same distance as the whole length of Disney Springs just to get from your room back to the lobby.
- Multiple bus stops – While we’re on the topic of size, Saratoga has an internal bus system. This is helpful if you’re located back in the Paddock and need to get to the lobby, but it’s time consuming. It is especially bad after a long park day. Because of the number of rooms at this resort, busses were standing room only at the end of the night, and then we ended up standing through 5 bus stops to get back to our room. Not a great end to the night. Additionally, busses are the only transportation option to the parks. And while I don’t hate Disney busses the way many people do, they’re not fun. Or fast. Prepare for long transportation times going anywhere from Saratoga Springs.
Overall, we enjoyed our stay at Saratoga Springs. The rooms were lovely, and we appreciated the laid back vibe of the whole resort. That being said, with the size and transportation it’s not going to make our favorite resorts list right away. 6/10, would recommend with some reservations.
Check out our other resort reviews here!
