Tell me about Sarasota Springs

[dfamasb]

Our next potential trip will include my parents, myself, DH, DS & DD (both 4), and DS 2. There is a 2 bedroom villa available at Saratoga Springs for our potential dates in December. I've checked out the info page here and the Saratoga Springs website on the disney site. What can you tell me about it?? Will we be comfortable there or will we be crowded? Any comments are appreciated!!

[goingbacktodisney]

SSR is a very big resort. It is more like condo style than hotel. Make sure you request near the main pool if you plan on using it. Otherwise, you will most likely have to drive and park your car nearby. IMHO it is a very boring resort. Once you go back to the room there is virtually nothing to do. I have stayed there once, and will not stay again. I personally would opt of going if that was the only place to stay. I have stayed at several other locations on property and this is the only one that I can say this about. Then again, it is only my opinion and from one experiece.

[whistlewhileyouwork]

Its called Saratoga Springs:mickey: Not Sarasota:mickey:

[Sean Riley Taylor's Mom]

Saratoga Springs is our Home resort. We love everything about the resort.
Yes, it is large but, no where near as big as some of the reviews you will read online. My 4 year old daughter walked around the resort for 10 days in September without a stroller. The resort is beautiful. The Villas are immaculate and nicely furnished. The High Rock Springs pool was a lot of fun for my kids. My 10 and 8 year olds loved the slide. The kiddie slide was perfect for my DD. We were in The Grandstand section and it was the perfect location for us. First bus stop to be dropped off and picked up and a very quick walk to the Main pool and Artists Palette. The themed pool in that section was a big hit with us too.
The walk to DTD was pleasant and quick.
We will be back at Saratoga this December for a Xmas trip and we are really looking forward to it!!:cloud9:

[KineGirl]

I think you will be comfortable enough room wise..

SSR is a very big resort. It is more like condo style than hotel. Make sure you request near the main pool if you plan on using it. Otherwise, you will most likely have to drive and park your car nearby. IMHO it is a very boring resort. Once you go back to the room there is virtually nothing to do. I have stayed there once, and will not stay again. I personally would opt of going if that was the only place to stay. I have stayed at several other locations on property and this is the only one that I can say this about. Then again, it is only my opinion and from one experiece.

:ditto: make that 2 opinions. I dont find anything terribly wrong with the resort.. just that out of all the resorts I find this one rather Bleh. Even the room themeing I find boring. Maybe its because it kind of looks like my own home. Others love it though... :shrug: I would recommend trying to get an OKW villa - nicer resort IMO and the biggest villas on property as far as I know. We usually stay in the 2br when we stay and love it!

Its called Saratoga Springs:mickey: Not Sarasota:mickey:

LOL I do that all the time and have to ask my hubby who is from upstate NY which one it is :blush:

If its the only place available I certainly wouldnt not go to the World because of it. Afterall, in the end its just a place to rest your heads.

[Here we go again...]

Saratoga Springs is my home resort too and I love it. I do not find it boring... I find it relaxing after a long day at the parks.

My DH just sat outside of the room on the patio for hours reading his book. He loved the fact that we had such a great view of the golf course.

I also like the fact that SS is right next door and within walking distance to DTD.

So, IMO.... relaxing, not boring.

[beachezncream]

Then again, it is only my opinion and from one experiece.


Yeah Ive only been to SSR once but I really enjoyed it although its a bit inconvenient to get to the parks, but you can access DTD easliy :cool:

[epceddie]

My wife and I had a 1BR villa in Congress Park on our honeymoon in October. It had a great view across the water to Dowtown Disney and we loved it. It was a wonderful room to come back to after a long day in the parks.
The resort is very big, but we had a rental car and never had any problems getting around.
Didn't really like the main pool (the water is only three or four feet deep), but there was a great quiet pool right on the water down the road from Congress Park and we loved that one.
I will not have any problem booking SSR in the future.
We just bought a DVC resale at OKW and that's also a fantastic resort.
Give SSR a chance and see what you think.
It's very close to Downtown Disney. You can take a boat there from SSR. There's also a boat that goes from SSR to OKW.
Hope this helps!

[bruin1344]

Never stayed there but been there on a 2 DVC tours, its nice resort, dont like the location since its far from all the parks

[kmo84]

I stayed at SSR last summer and really enjoyed it. We loved the spacious room. We spent a lot of time at the High Rocks Spring pool, but usually went down to the quiet pool closer to our room each night for an hour of swimming as well.

It was great to have breakfast in the room each morning. And we ate lunch there once as well. We saved big on meals that trip.

I understand that some might not find it as exciting as the resorts closer to the parks. But we really enjoyed it and will be going back again soon! I think that for the size of your party, you will appreciate the additional space the 2BR will offer you there.

[dfamasb]

Thanks for all the comments guys!! It's always nice to hear opinions from those that have actually been there! :thanks:

[Mousemates]

dittos on the above comment....one of the things I enjoy about Intercot is the varied opinion on a particular area/resort/ride. What one person calls boring another calls relaxing. It just shows what a good job disney does in catering to the widely varying tastes of its visitors...there truly is something for everyone at both Disney and here on the board.

[Queen Stephanie]

I have enjoyed reading this thread. We are going to be staying at SSR this summer, and although we have visited SSR, we have not stayed there and we are just wondering what to expect. Sounds like we need to request a room in Congress Park with a DTD view. Thanks for all the comments about SSR.

[Fryguy]

We have stayed there twice so far and have enjoyed it every time. What we like about it is that you can either walk to DTD or take the boat over there. That is a great advantage when you want to go shopping or out to eat.

It is a big resort compared to to the other DVC locations, but it is still Disney.