Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

Very poor customer service, our room wasn’t ready on time which left us stranded with no where to go when the tropical storm hit.

Being that this has been our home DVC for about 8 or 9 years I know the condition from back then and now.
Today’s date 6÷2÷2016
The location is starting to look a little dated.
I have seen trash in the hallways on a few occasions this trip.
The room is dated and needs updating and better use of the space.
4 towels for the first 4 days of our stay.
No extra garbage bags.
No coffee for our brewer day 4.
On the day we were to get our clean set of towels, they did not bring them.
We had to ask for them. When they delivered them, they were in a bag. They use to deliver in a basket. They did not bring coffee, enough towels etc.
Carpet is old. Perhaps changing it out to a ceramic wooden look style would be nice.
Microwave is about the cheapest I’ve seen.
Shower curtain had a cheap feel to it. A glass door would help along with making the bathroom seem larger and not so confined.
The pool area in the congress area has no Concessions. The Paddock and the Grandstand have food and a bar. That was a disappointment.
The gym is very nice. I haven’t tried the spa yet.
They moved the Disney Springs bus (Downtown Disney) to the center of downtown. We like the other location because it was easy access from Congress park.
A bridge strait across the lake to downtown town would be nice. As of now, you have to walk all the way around to get to the shops. The boat takes too long.
The Artist Café has good breakfast and lunch items.
The main pool area is way too small. They could expand it by building a Deck over the pool kitchen area and over the street. That would also give a great view of the lake in the Saratoga Springs.
Bus service is slow.
The overall campus landscape is beautiful and well kept.
There was quite a few lights burnt out around Congress Park area. Not sure about the rest.
Beautiful view of Disney Springs.
A/​C worked great for hot June days.
We stopped at the Beach club for a bite. They use double ply toilet tissue there. They use single at Saratoga. Maybe just a onetime thing. Not sure.
Room for lots of improvements but still a nice place to stay and relax.

A friend of ours gave us a week at this Disney resort using their points so we could try it out and decide if we wanted to buy into the Disney Vacation Club. We will NOT become club members!
The resort is very old, it should have been updated over a decade ago, but they won’t be remodeling until 2019. The appliances worked, but were so noisy we had to wash dishes and clothes while we were out and the dryer took at least 2 runs to dry a small load of t-​shirts.
The shower head was the cheapest on the market (15years ago) and was moldy. Maintenance came the day after we called, but the shower he’s wasn’t replaced until we spoke with the manager the following day (a brand new $ 10 shower head).
We asked if they had any rooms with firmer mattresses, since both my husband and I have back problems, they said all mattresses were the same (I get that, it is what it is), but they offered a topper which might help. A couple of hours later a maid brought a mattress protector (there’s a huge difference) handed it to me and walked away.
Third night my husband and I sat on patio to relax, when we came in I noticed dirt on the back of his shirt that smelled like feces. I couldn’t figure it out until the next morning when I could see the patio furniture. There was feces smeared on the back of one of the chairs, walls and floor of the patio! I almost forgot to mention, when I was doing my last once over to make sure we didn’t forget anything I found a condom wrapper on the living room floor where my children were sleeping. Even when they do clean, they don’t do a thorough job!
Sorry this is so lengthy, but I keep reading about the beautifully maintained grounds. The shrubbery around the Grandstand hadn’t been trimmed in (at least) weeks.
I also found out that as a vacation club member, you are actually buying into being a second rate guest. If you pay cash you get daily cleaning, as a club member they give you exactly the number of towels matching the number of people each room accommodates every 4 days and cleaning every 8 days.
If we had stayed at a Circle 8 Motel, none of this would have surprised me, but not only were we at an upper/​mid level resort, but I expected the «Disney standard» that Disney used to have.
Believe it or not, I haven’t mentioned all of the negative experiences we had, like a maintenance worker spitting in the bushes facing me, not 20 feet away or the fact that the spa at the pool was stained and less than half of the jets worked., etc, etc, etc.

Is Customer Service dead?
Disney, how could you have forsaken me?
We go to Disney often, every other year at least. Always stay in the park. Always immerse ourselves in the Disney experience. We have Disney credit cards, we are in the Disney movie club, my daughter has a Disney princess room for goodness sakes. Ok, you get the picture …
So, we get to Sarasota springs and are checking in.
Wife — I ordered 4 Disney bracelets and only go

This was the third Disney property I have stayed at in Orlando, and my first moderate. I decided to try this place out after I saw the property during my last Disney World vacation and did the DVC presentation. The theme and grounds seemed nice so I decided to give it a try.
I was in a studio villa during my stay. The theming of the hotel is nice and seems more «adult». They have a golf course and spa so it seemed like there were a lot of older folks here during our stay. The room itself was nice, but nothing to write home about. There was a queen size bed and a pull out couch which was perfect for our party of two. It was also nice to have a kitchenette in the room (mini fridge, microwave, sink and various kitchen utensils). But besides that, just a standard hotel room.
Now the grounds themselves are beautiful. Very spacious with beautiful lakes, multiple pools, green lawns, and walking distance from Disney Springs. It was cool to see some running trails mapped out around the property as well. There are multiple bus stop locations around the property to get you to your various Disney destinations (though if you can rent a car I would do it. Some of the buses are overloaded and it takes about half the amount of travel time out).
I’ve stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Contemporary. Compared to those two the rooms aren’t as nice, but the hotel overall is much nicer than The Contemporary (Animal Kingdom Lodge is still my favorite).

What a wonderful place to stay while in Disney. We have stayed here several times for race weekends and have enjoyed it every time. The rooms are clean and well tended.
The pools and hot tubs are also well taken care of.
The staff is always pleasant, and beyond helpful.
The rooms can be a walk from the lobby, but that can be said for many other Disney resorts.
Our only issue was the wait for park transportation, having waited over 30 minutes for a bus and almost being late for a reservation.
The food in the café at the lobby is very good, far better than some of the less expensive resorts.

We got lucky and tagged along with family to the Treehouse Villas as they used Disney Club points to book this place. There was 10 of us, so it wasn’t the most care free experience, but there was plenty of room for everything and everyone. The beds served our needs (after walking 12+ hours a day I could sleep on the bushes outside) and the amenities were great. Being next to the dock for Disney Springs was also a plus! We were a bit separated from the bus stops as we had to walk to the Saratoga Springs location for that, but it wasn’t too bad (5 – 10 min walk). The bathroom was great; however, our tub had a drainage problem resulting in standing around in a lake even after a 5 min shower.

Great location to Disney Springs. It’s a 10 – 15 minute walk. The assigned building can be difficult to find, but what location isn’t hard to find when the resorts are so big?! The room was clean, but needs updating and/​or maintenance. The bathroom sink is separate from the toilet and shower, which is convenient for people trying to get ready at the same time as someone in the shower. The kitchenette area is blended with the walking area. It’s very cramped. Overall, I would stay here, again.

Room very moldy, so next day got ion machine put in. I called housekeeping 9 at night and asked if they wanted to pick up up then or the next day. They said the next day. That same night housekeeping knocked on our door waking us all up at 11:45 PM. I ignored it thinking it must be someone knocking next door. Then housekeeping calls us! At 11:45 at night and says they actually need the machine and want to come get it right then! I’m in my flimsy nightie pushing this thing in the hall with a man and woman from housekeeping at almost midnight! Our day we were leaving house keeping knocked on our door at 8:30 AM and woke us all up again! Maybe to see when we’d be leaving? The parking lot is empty and it’s Thursday, so what’s the rush?! Booked a studio. Room smaller than hotel room. VERY disappointing! Never again!

This is a fantastic Disney resort. It is very quiet and somewhat secluded, but close enough to everything to be convenient. The rooms are always nice and spacious compared to a few of the other Disney resorts. It is easily within walking distance of the ever improving Disney Springs, so late nights there are an option. Overall, if you’re looking for a quaint resort with decent amenities, Saratoga Springs is the place to go.

What I don’t like :
–The place is secluded and very quiet and you have to use the golf cart to go to hotel lobby.
–It’s not cheap. We paid more than $ 250/​night.
–It took them 90 minutes to deliver toothbrush to the room. We had to call multiple times :(
–It took them 90 minutes to pick us up.
–Other hotels seem to have more buses.
–The restaurants at Saratoga Springs were not great.
What I like:
–It’s not far from Downtown Disney.
–You can take the boat or the bus to go to other Disney resorts. The bus stop is right outside our hotel.
–The room was always clean.
–They always greet you «Welcome home»

What a classy, comfortable place. If you’re looking for that major Disney feel, stay elsewhere. This place is very muted when it comes to the mouse. It is somewhat upscale in terms of ambiance, catering more to adults and those looking for more peace and quiet. The rooms were quite spacious and comfortable. Furnishings were more «mature» and not very appealing for kids. As with every Disney property, grounds were immaculately manicured and well taken care of. Amenities include a few pools (one by the carrousel looked super fun!), golf, spa — none which we used. The restaurants are rated highly but we weren’t able to squeeze in time for a real meal. Breakfast is standard Disney fast service stuff which is convenient but nothing exciting. I was nervous about the buses taking long like many reviews said but that wasn’t an issue for us. Buses came and went at about the same intervals as other Disney resorts where we’ve stayed.
The biggest perk is the quick walk to Disney Springs, especially since they are notorious for crappy parking. It’s a nice option for meals and some shopping. I would stay here again in a heartbeat.

Welcome home! Not sure what to change to push Saratoga Springs to 5 stars but they had everything our family needed on our recent trip.
Our family had 8 people in one of their suites. My wife & I shared the king size bed with our 6 year old with our 17 year old slept on an air mattress in our room. My mother had her own queen bed while my sister & husband were in the same room. There was a pull out bed in the living room my 27 year old nephew used.
Both bedrooms had their own bathrooms. Our was a little confusing as it was two rooms. The jacuzzi tub was overkill but had it’s own sink while the shower was in a different «room» with a sink. If only the toilet was separate from the shower so someone could use it while someone showered. Still, plenty of space for even our family.
The kitchen was spacious & great for keeping the drinks & food we brought. It came fully stocked with silverware & plates/​dishes. Our room was on the ground floor in the Grandstand in close proximity to the pool.
The walk to the main lobby & restaurants were short. Also easy access to the buses &/​or boat for Disney Springs. The resort is a little further away from the parks but it also is quiet & very private. I’d recommend it for older Disney fans or for larger/​older families.
We had a few minor hiccups but overall I’d highly recommend Saratoga Springs. None of our party utilized the spa so I can’t comment on them. Also Darlene was definitely the best greeter in all of Disney!

Very please with our visit. The room was clean and a good size. If you want to have a closer walk to Disney Springs request Congress Park. The walk to Disney Springs is lovely! We will return.

Disney Magic at its finest. We booked for port Orleans and they over booked us or something, we ended up getting a 2 suite villa at Saratoga and it’s beyond my wildest dreams like Taylor swift ;).
This place is beyond gorgeous and my goodness that tub!
Shuttles to the park, Magic Disney hours it’s the whole nine yards at this place.
Beyond happy with my stay and definitely felt the Disney Magic with this place :) THANK YOU!

I recommend Saratoga Springs, but like everything Disney, recommend thoroughly doing your research before arriving.
— Very nice rooms with comfortable beds. Ours was like a townhouse with multiple bedrooms. Kitchen was large enough to accomodate everyone in the unit. No housekeeping services, however.
— Disney Springs is walkable across the pedestrian bridge (hard to find) or the water taxi (hard to find).
— Conveniently located to the parks.
— Saratoga Springs is huge and confusing to navigate when you arrive. You cannot walk from the main office to your room, you have to drive.
— Because it’s so large, you’ll have to figure out where the bus stops are. Our bus stop was a five minute walk from our room.

Nice resort on Disney property. Booked through RCI. Request to be near pool and bus stop was honored. Resort is a little far from everything but Downtown Disney so driving or taking Disney transportation is a must. The Disney buses were a little unreliable at times with waits of more than 30 – 40 minutes.

When they were building this Disney Hotel, I was excited because it overlooks Downtown Disney. Looking at the plans, they made it look so expansive and following a Upstate New York Saratoga Horse Racing theme and Spa made the hotel resort sound like a magical experience.
After construction was complete, the hotel is a sprawling compound. Its one of the largest Disney hotels. IMHO, when I go to Disneyworld I enjoy the having everything close to me. I understand Downtown Disney is available by boat. Its still far and getting to any of the parks is by bus. My home resort is Boardwalk, I’m kinda spoiled.
The Spa? Its here and I’ve never been
The beautiful grounds and hiking trails? Yes, the landscaping is very nice. I’ve never been hiking on my vacation.
The pools? I love the zero entry but I don’t have babies anymore and zero entry is not a selling point to me.
I did enjoy they lobby area! Very warm and inviting, I like their café, walking down the long carpeted hallway is nice for small children.
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is a very nice hotel that’s conveniently close to Downtown Disney

This was my first visit to the Walt Disney World Resort in 30 years. We had the opportunity to stay with a friend at the Saratoga Springs property and were pleasantly surprised and very comfortable.
Four of us stayed in a one bedroom unit. Two of us had the king bed and two of us used the hideaway bed. The hideaway bed was not as bad as I had anticipated, however I don’t recommend it for a grown adult for more than one or two nights. That said, the rest of the room amenities were wonderful.
The kitchen comes equipped with plates, glasses, silverware, cookware and coffee mugs. There is a coffee pot, full size fridge and dishwasher. Having the stackable washer/​dryer in the unit was an especially handy bonus, as we packed half as much.
The entire property is beautiful and the cast members helpful and pleasant. There’s an onsite gift shop with travel essentials, a café, a beautiful pool area and a gym. I’m sure there were other resort amenities that we did not use.
I especially enjoyed the transportation system from resort to the parks. The busses run efficiently and often.

What I love about Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa…
Gorgeous, Full-​Service Spa
Senses — A Disney Spa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, features 10 treatment rooms offering an array of therapeutic services including water therapy, massage and facials. A glass mosaic tile mural featuring hummingbirds in a nature setting takes center stage in the whirlpool room. There are also heated loungers and a steam room providing relaxation and renewal. The two-​story, full-​service spa features a glass doorway that leads guests to three manicure and four pedicure stations, a great way to recharge after a day in the theme parks.
Five Fantastic Pools
Including the quiet pool at the Treehouse Villas, Saratoga Springs boasts five pools. The High Rocks pool and the Paddock pool are zero-​entry pools and both have pool games hosted by Cast Members. Three of the pools have interactive splash play areas that young children love. The splash zone at the Paddock pool is particularly cool! For a nice quiet get-​away, try the pool at Congress Park.
Tranquil Setting
Saratoga Springs is a quiet, serene respite from everything Disney. It’s not overly themed, with bright colors and loud music. Instead, you will find a subdued sense of peace and quiet here, where the loudest thing you’ll hear as you stroll the grounds are the birds singing.
Fabulous Fitness Room
Fitness buffs, take note. The biggest, best fitness room on Disney property is located at Saratoga Springs, inside the Senses Spa. This nice, clean facility has a wide variety of equipment available. Cardio machines include treadmills, exercise bikes, and stairclimbers. There are also a good number of circuit machines and free weights. A nice thing about this fitness center is that you won’t have to wait for equipment, as there is plenty for everyone.
Beautiful Grounds
The Saratoga Springs Resort covers 65 acres with beautiful, lush landscaping. Trees and shrubbery were chosen specifically to emulate the look of the scenic upstate New York countryside where the real Saratoga Springs is located. Disney did a good job of including formal gardens and bubbling fountains, as well as wide open spaces and a nature path. Saratoga Springs in New York is known for its hot springs and lakes and you’ll find them here too — or at least the look of them. This really is a beautiful, relaxing resort.
Saratoga Springs is located on a pretty nature trail that leads from Old Key West to Downtown Disney. It’s about a 15 – 20 minute walk to Old Key West and about a 10 minute walk to Downtown Disney. This trail is an especially nice way to reconnect with nature. For a nice relaxing evening, take a boat to Olivia’s at Old Key West for an early dinner, then stroll along the nature path back to Saratoga Springs, watching the birds fly in to roost for the night.
Golf
If golf is your thing, this is the resort for you. Saratoga Springs is home to Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course. The course winds its way through the resort, creating a beautiful view to enjoy from your room.
Big Resort
With 1,260 rooms, Saratoga Springs is the largest DVC resort at Walt Disney World. Plenty of rooms means lots of availability. Even as little as a month in advance, it’s usually pretty easy to rent a room at Saratoga Springs.
The Treehouse Villas add even more rooms to the total. Nestled in natural forest glens, all 60 three-​bedroom Treehouse Villas are elevated 10 feet off the ground on pedestals and beams designed to blend into the forest environment. They each sleep nine and offer modern luxuries such as partial cathedral ceilings, a barbecue grill and flat-​panel TVs, all presented in a style dubbed «cabin casual.»
Pretty Rooms
The rooms at this resort are cozy and comfortable with intricate woodwork and finely polished furnishings. The muted green and blue color palette and floral patterns recall the country retreats of upstate New York in the late 1800s. Artwork and other unique touches showcase Saratoga’s horse racing history.
Convenient Parking
The parking at Saratoga Springs is right outside your door, making it easy to carry in luggage and groceries.
Close to Downtown Disney
It’s an easy walk to Downtown Disney, and all it has to offer, from Saratoga Springs. Or, if you’d rather, you can hop on the DVC Ferry for a nice boat ride over instead of walking.
Honorable Mention: Best Hidden Mickey
One of my most favorite Hidden Mickeys is at Saratoga Springs, but it’s up to you to find it next time you are there!