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This is officially my first blog post… Ever. At the ripe age of 25, there aren’t many Walt Disney World hotels that I haven’t stayed at. I was never a local, in the sense that I could be at the gates in 10 minutes until this year, so a majority of visits to “the Mouse” included an overnight somewhere either on WDW property or close to it.
Now that we’re almost halfway through August, my husband and I have challenged ourselves to try to stay at the resorts we’ve never visited, after being stuck in a Coronado Springs Resort rut… We’ll cross that bridge later.
So, we said goodbye to Winter Garden, and “hiya pal” to Saratoga Springs Resort. If you’re new to Walt Disney World hotels or haven’t stayed at Saratoga, the property is a Deluxe Villa, Disney Vacation Club resort, with rooms ranging from studios to 3-bedroom grand villas… Yeah, grand villas.
This resort is themed after, you guessed it, Saratoga Springs, New York - a town with a rich history stoked in thoroughbred horseracing. If you ever visit the real deal, you can find The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, as well as actual horse races, mineral spas, shopping, dining, and more.
Immediately when you enter the resort, which is hidden back behind Old Key West Resort and Port Orleans, you’re immersed in golf courses, pastel-colored buildings, and greenery. This property draws from the Victorian era (think: Grand Floridian of the north), and is minutes away from Disney Springs, and steps away from Lake Buena Vista.
Upon arrival, we were notified that our room wasn’t ready, which was probably due to our 1:00 p.m. arrival (standard check-in is 4:00 p.m.), and, via a Cast Member at the front desk, were placed in a ready room within minutes. Our one-night stay would conduct in “The Grandstand” portion of the resort, which faces the golf course and the Treehouse Villas. If you want to get specific, our room was 9505.
Situated on the first floor, we were staying in a newly renovated Deluxe Studio. The room was incredibly clean and fresh and boasted bright natural light from the front door to the back patio. We loved this refurb and were obsessed with the bed, headboard, and little black framed photos above it. We also were pleasantly surprised to find other little details that you might not consider such as an extendable coffee table, perfect for a working guest, gold hardware, a kitchenette, a full-length mirror, a Murphy bed, hanging hooks, and more.
Honestly, if we were staying for more than one night, I think we would’ve been more than comfortable. We were so cozy, we ended up staying until 11:00 a.m. the next morning because we were so sad to leave. There was plenty of storage for ~4 guests and the flow of the room was navigable and quiet. We heard nothing during the night and truly felt “away.”
Now, our biggest complaint with this resort, like many, is the busing. This hotel has 5 bus stops internally before you ever leave the grounds and head to your final destination. Depending on where you’re staying inside the resort, this internal loop can add about 10-15 minutes to your travel time. Staying in “The Grandstand,” we were the first drop-off on the way back from the parks, which is great after a long day. However, being the first to drop off, you’re also the first to be picked up. This means you’re waiting for that 10-15 minute buffer to grab guests from 4 other stops before you finally depart Saratoga Springs.
Depending on your energy level, we recommend taking a walk to “The Springs,” which is close to the lobby, and the last pick-up. One caveat though, on busier days, this could mean fuller buses and standing. Pick your poison, right? We visited on a weeknight so it wasn’t too busy and we found that everyone that boarded the bus from start to finish had a seat (same for the ride home from Magic Kingdom).
This resort is also within walking distance to Disney Springs and offers water transportation to and from the boat launch located both at the Treehouse Villas and near the lobby of Saratoga Springs.
In terms of amenities, Saratoga Springs Resort has everything you’d need for a week including multiple pools, a spa, a fitness center, rentals, family-friendly activities, and more. Since we only checked in for one night, we weren’t able to put everything to use, but enjoyed the walking trails, and loved having a pool and bar within a 3-minute walk from our room.
If you’re curious about where to dine at this resort, there seems to be plenty. As mentioned before, The Grandstand has Backstretch Pool Bar, which offers up a counter-service style feel with quick bites, alcoholic beverages, and snacks. Each section has a similar situation like Chip ‘n Dale’s Cafe at the golf course, On the Rocks at the High Rock Springs Pool, and The Paddock Grill at the Paddock Pool.
For diners who aren’t looking for that poolside club sandwich or cannonball-covered bag of chips, head into the main building, next to the lobby, for The Artist’s Palette or The Turf Club Bar and Grille.
The morning we checked out, we mobile ordered breakfast from The Artist’s Palette (you can also order at the counter), and split the Country Breakfast Wrap ($7.99) which we gave an 8/10. It was pretty darn good!
Hungry guests looking for sit-down service can book a dinner reservation for The Turf Club Bar and Grille. This underrated gem is past The Artist’s Palette and serves up entrees like Prime Rib ($36) or Crispy Boneless Chicken ($25). Of course, there are appetizers, a drink menu, desserts, and a pretty robust kid’s menu for the little diners. Can’t get a reservation? Consider visiting its first-come, first-served lounge with a light food menu and plenty of drinks.
Let’s talk money. If you made it this far, I love you. For one night, with a 20% discount, we paid $367.56 in total. This amount includes the room, a Florida State Accommodations Tax, the Orange County Tourist Development Tax, Orange County Sales Tax, and parking fee. Now, before you let that number scare you, we visited in August. If you try to book in the fall, we’ve seen prices as low as the $270s for the same room. And, compared to our $1,000+ stay at the Grand Floridian in a 50-year-old room, this Deluxe Villa resort is a no-brainer. Is this our new fave? Seems so… We will be back!
Happy Reading! - Kate
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