Trips by Mary clients come in all shapes and sizes. From couples to large families to groups of friends. While I have a few favorite resorts, I truly believe that Disney has something for everybody. One resort that I think is often overlooked, and underrated, is Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort, where I stayed on a recent visit. I am going to tell you why I selected it and how it worked out for me.
Selection Process
There's a lot to consider when selecting a resort. There is no 'one-size-fits-all' resort because guests all have different expectations and values. Clients often ask me which resort is the best. And, I have to answer, 'It depends." While I may have some favorites, those may not work for another family for a variety of reasons.
Now, Saratoga Springs has never been a resort that I chose for my own family. Until we decided to plan a trip for my daughter's graduation and we brought her friend and friend's mom with us. And then it became our top choice.
At that point, we could have selected two rooms at any resort to accommodate our party of six adults. But, I wanted a kitchen and thought the washer/dryer in a villa would come in handy as well. And, we wanted to stay together. With two rooms, we would not have any common space to hang out and could have been placed far apart from each other.
We checked out videos for all of the two bedroom villas on property to see what would work for our group. Saratoga Springs, with it's recent remodel, was the clear winner. The price point was lower than comparable villas and Disney added a murphy bed AND a twin size pull down in the living room, giving us 'just right' sleeping spaces.
As a plus, Saratoga Springs is walking distance to Disney Springs. This was a bonus for our family as we planned a meal there and wanted to do some shopping as well.
I was worried about the size of the resort and the multiple bus stops leading all the way up to our trip. I even considered switching resorts. In the end, I decided to give it a try and I am so glad that I did.
Location
When we arrived at Saratoga Springs, we were met by a Cast Member who went out of her way to ask us where we wanted to stay in the resort. We wanted to be close to Disney Springs but I didn't want the last bus pick up. Once we got our room assignment, we saw that we were placed in the Paddock. This location worked out beautifully. The Congress Park bus stop was across the road from us and we had just a few minutes walk to the main lobby and two pools. Plus, Disney Springs was a ten minute walk as well.
My main concerns - the resort being huge and possibly having poor bus service - proved to be a non-issue. Yes, the resort is large. But, we had no problem walking to get food or to the pools. As for bus service, it was awesome for our trip. I kept thinking we would have long waits and it just never happened. Of course, your mileage may vary. It just worked out very well in my personal experience.
Room
Our two-bedroom villa worked out for us perfectly! Everyone had the sleeping space they needed to get a good night's rest and no one was on a pull out sofa. The room remodel made such a difference to this resort! It definitely feels deluxe now.
We used the kitchen to make coffee and breakfast each morning. With the dishwasher, clean up was easy and no one felt like they were 'the maid' on vacation.
Since it was very hot, the washer/dryer kept our clothing fresh so we were able to keep packing to a minimum and we went home with clean clothes instead of a pile of laundry.
Overall, I thought this resort was much better than expected. The only weakness, in my opinion, was the lackluster dining and shopping experience. Both are small and the food selection was not great. However, we only ate at the quick service twice as we had breakfast in our room each day (which also saved us a lot of money!)
There you have it! My mini-review of Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort. Overall, I genuinely enjoyed my stay at Saratoga Springs and would not hesitate to stay here again. Definitely consider this resort if: you have a larger family or need more space, and/or if you plan to dine/shop at Disney Springs a couple of times during your trip.
Mary Graham owns Trips by Mary, an affiliate of Cruises & Tours Unlimited and is celebrating six years in business. She has stayed in almost every resort at Walt Disney World, has been to many After Hours and holiday parties and most recently sailed on the Disney Dream.
She takes the stress and hassle out of planning. Theme park vacations. All inclusive resort vacations. European destinations. Ocean Cruises and River Cruises.
Contact her by email: mary@tripsbymary.com
or call 919-817-4081.
Visit her website: www.tripsbymary.com.
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