Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
Contributed by
Melissa McGill
Picture This: Beautiful landscapes with scenic views of The Sassagoula River, Disney Springs and Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course close by, and pathways lined with cheerfully colored Victorian-style buildings. This is a small description of what makes Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa beautiful.
Resort Theme
This Deluxe Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Villa Resort is located in the Disney Springs Resort area, within walking distance to Disney Springs. Inspired by historic Saratoga Springs, a late-1800s’ New York retreat famous for its spas and horse racing, this charming, Victorian-style Resort hotel is nestled between rolling golf course greens and the shimmering Lake Buena Vista. Dotted with unique accents, the resort pays homage to the Saratoga Springs Race Track featuring horses and race inspired details.
When you arrive at Saratoga Springs, the theming is evident right away with horse statues and a horse drawn carriage. The Lobby is adorned with paintings of Disney Horses including my two favorites - Baby Pegasus and Max!
There are two preferred resort areas, The Springs and Congress Park, and four additional resort areas - The Paddock, The Grandstand, The Carousel, and the Treehouse Villas.
Room Types
There’s lots of horsing around at Saratoga Springs and this extends to the spacious rooms which are richly themed with charming colonial accents. The recent refurbishments of the rooms are a must see! Guests can also choose from a variety of room types and all have nods to golf and horse racing. When staying at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort you can choose from the following options:
Deluxe Studio - featuring a Queen size bed, double pulldown and kitchenette, sleeps 4.
One Bedroom Villa - enjoy the comforts of home with one bedroom with a king size bed, queen and twin sized pull down beds, and a full kitchen with dining nook. Sleeps 5.
Two Bedroom Villa - enjoy the comforts of home with one bedroom with a king size bed, bedroom with two queen beds, queen and twin sized pull down beds, two bathrooms and a full kitchen with dining nook. Sleeps 9.
Treehouse Villa - located in the woods, these treehouse themed villas sleep up to 9 and offer a full kitchen, dining room and multiple bedrooms.
Three Bedroom Grand Villa - the ultimate in luxury with vaulted ceilings, full dining room and space for up to 12 guests!
We absolutely love the spacious rooms and luxury amenities which allow us to have the comforts of home on vacation. The rooms are decorated very nicely in muted blues, greys and green tones, making it perfect for busy families. As our children have gotten older, it gives everyone space to enjoy themselves without being cramped in a typical hotel room. One of my favorite accents to the rooms are the large soaking tubs and separate sink areas to allow for multiple guests to get ready at once. Another great amenity are the balconies and patios. We love enjoying our morning coffee with the beautiful resort, golf course and Disney Springs views (varies by room type and location).
Studios (as well as the One, Two, and Three Bedroom Villas) are also available in preferred categories, which are located close to the main lobby, pool, Artist’s Palette, and Disney Springs. We think it is well worth the upgrade as this is a vast resort.
Among the Trees:
For an extra magical stay, check out the Treehouse Villas that Saratoga Springs has to offer, located on the Sassagoula River. These treehouses sleep 9, offer a full kitchen, and provide a more remote location to get away from the hustle and bustle of Disney. If you have ever taken the ferry to or from the Port Orleans Resorts, then you may have seen these tucked away along the riverside.
Resort Facts: Dining, Pools, and Transportation
Dining:
Our favorite pool also features our favorite Pool Bar - The Paddock Grill! If you like Shrimp Tacos, they are a must try and a favorite of ours. This pool bar is unique because it offers breakfast options as well as lunch and dinner offerings and great adult beverages.
Head over to Artist’s Palette to enjoy lots of great quick service options like pizza, sandwiches and hot plates for dinner. You can also grab my favorite cupcake here- be sure to try the Hole-in-One cupcake, a brownie and cheesecake combination topped with caramel and pecans. Yum!
For a Signature Dining experience, visit the Turf Club Bar and Grill, a delicious steakhouse, or enjoy the Turf Club Lounge for your drink of choice.
On the Rocks, Backstretch Pool Bar, and Chip 'n Dale's Cafe are additional places around the property where you can grab a snack or cold drink.
PS: Saratoga Springs offers seasonal DOLE WHIP on-site! We enjoyed Cherry Vanilla on our last stay here. This is also where you can find the must-try Buffalo Chicken Chips.
Pools
Saratoga Springs features 3 themed pools, including our favorite Disney Pool (yep, you read that right, out favorite pool in all of Disney World), The Paddock! The Paddock Pool is a zero entry medium sized pool with a great water tower themed slide that’s also the best slide on property in our humble opinion. Just beyond the pool is a great splash pad for younger children too, making it easy for the whole family to enjoy themselves.
There are two Feature Pools on property, High Rock Springs and The Paddock, and three leisure pools, including the themed Grandstand Pool and splash pad.
Transportation
You can take Disney’s complimentary bus transportation to all four parks. You can also take a boat ride to Disney Springs via the Sassagoula River Cruise. It is also just a short walk to Disney Springs depending on your room location. This is definitely an added bonus as it offers additional dining, shopping, and entertainment options!
Resort Amenities
With so much to offer, it can be easy to overlook all the amazing amenities that Disney’s Saratoga Springs has to offer.
Community Hall with on-site ceramics, ping-pong, foosball, arts and crafts, video games, DVDs, board games and more.
Barbeque pavilions near the quiet pools.
Surrey Bike Rentals and Bike Rentals
Resort Campfire Activities like Roasting Marshmallows by the Fire
Movies Under the Stars, located on the lawn near the Carriage House
Fishing
Joggling Trail and health club
Basketball court and tennis
Playgrounds
Win, Place, or Show Arcade
What makes Saratoga Springs Special?
This resort is unique from the other 11 Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resorts for its scenic beauty, golf course access, and theming. Even for non-golfers the views from this resort are a treat. But, if you have a golfer in the family, then Saratoga Springs is a great option with Lake Buena Vista Golf Course on-site. Be sure to stop by the Pro-Shop for fun Disney themed Golf merch too!
Another great feature of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort is the quick access to Disney Springs as well as 4 other Disney Resorts along the Sassagoula River. The closest resort area to Disney Springs is Congress Park which is considered preferred. From our 2 Bedroom Villas in Building 21, we timed a 7 minute walk to Disney Springs along the water.
As you enter the Disney Springs area, you can also hop a boat back to Saratoga Springs or to any of the three Resorts along the river - Old Key West, Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter. We highly recommend a quick trip to OKW for brunch at Olivia’s, French Quarter for Beignets, or Riverside for some fun tunes with Yeeha Bob!
Fun Fact: This resort was previously home to the Disney Institute. It opened in May 2004 and is now the largest DVC Resort.
This would be an ideal resort for you if…
"This resort would be ideal for guests traveling with larger groups or wanting more space with the comforts of home. It’s perfect for a resort only stay (no park visits) with lots of pools, resort activities, large rooms, and quick access to Disney Springs (as well as 3 other resorts). Golfers will definitely love this vast property and the refurbishments make it an excellent choice for anyone who likes an updated place to stay. Additionally, it is a great option if you want to try out a DVC property that gives you a little more space, but is a more affordable option than other on-site Disney deluxe properties."
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