Saratoga Springs Owners Threads

New owner since August 2025! We did a quick 2 night trip in December, but our first full week stay here is coming up on a few weeks. We love the peaceful vibes. Any tips from owners with more "wisdom" is always much appreciated!

Turf Club is great if you have a larger group because the food is good but for the most part fairly basic so there should be something on the menu for even the fussiest eaters.

Love the SSR vibe and relaxing grounds! Also, bell services here is tops! Walk to Disney Springs? Yes, please!

We've stayed a couple times over the years at SSR. We like the location to Disney Springs and how chill and relaxing the resort is. It isn't usually our first choice, we like to stay at different resorts each trip. Anytime we have stayed I get a renewed appreciation for the resort.

We love the quiet and calm of Saratoga. We also love Artist’s Palette, and how easy it is to enjoy the restaurants at Disney Springs. Hoping they will someday bring the drones back — they were something fun and different to watch when not at the parks.

We bought resale at SSR in January 2025. Yet to stay there but very much looking forward to our first stay after reading all these posts. Excited these forums exist.

New owner at SSR as of last week. Excited to get our first stay as members booked.

Same! SSR was our first contract and we love Congress Park and the short walk to Disney Springs. Have many good memories there, so it will always be special! The horse theming is also a plus!

Our direct contract was AKV way back when but we bought before it opened, so we got SSR developer points for our first stay. Eventually bought 200 SSR resale points and while we tend to stay closer to MK these days, I still think SSR is a great resort. The ability to walk over to Disney springs is great and when you’re doing a trip with some driving involved or buying your own groceries, it’s great to be able to park right up next to your building!

At first glance, Saratoga doesn't look like anything to write home about. Sorta that whole "just a Florida condo complex" that some people accuse it to be. However, we really enjoy staying here. It is one of our home resorts. It just FEELS homey, and nice, and quiet - but nearby all the things that you came for.

Yes! We stayed in Building 5500 in the Paddock section in March. We loved the location! We just purchased out first resale DVC contract for Saratoga Springs! I can't wait to go back!

I stayed in the 5500 building last month. The Paddock area feels like a resort within a resort. The 5500 building is close to the second feature pool, which also has food. Our room had a view of the pool and splash pad area and yet it was quiet. The bus stop was really close by. Parking was never an issue for us. It's close to the bridge that takes you to the main building and ferry dock.

I also recommend the Paddock area. I just stayed there last month and loved the location. It's across the pond from the main building, has it's own feature pool and splash pad. I really liked the 5500 building. It was close to everything.

While the Paddock is great, we like the Grandstand just because of the bus situation! First bus stop to pick up, first to get dropped off! Other than that it's probably the least desirable location, but that trumps everything else for us!

We have done the Purple Martin walk. It was very informative and would recommend it. I was all psyched to get a purple Martin feeder till we got home and our local garden center told us Purple Martins don’t come to Colorado! But I did get a stuffed one at SSR gift store!

I’m with you 100% the Grandstand is our absolute favorite. Love being the first stop, it’s super close to the main building and it has its own pool, pool bar and hot tub . I request it every single stay and we’ve gotten it 99% of the time

We've been SSR owners since 2008, so grandfathered into the direct perks while purchasing resale....ah, the good ole days. We've taken 40 trips to WDW since then, and we've only stayed at SSR twice. I do like the resort, but we originally purchased for the cheap price and low maintenance fees. Now that our youngest child is graduating high school, I can see us spending more time there and less time in the parks. We've stayed at Old Key West the most (9 times) with Poly and Boardwalk tied for 2nd at 7 times each. Love DVC!

Proud SSR resale owners since August 2025. Family first stayed there in December 2024 and fell in love with the place. In previous trips to Disney we would look across the water from Disney Springs and wonder how great it would be to stay there. Some of the best features about this resort are the proximity to DS, the peacefulness and expanse of the property itself, building and room designs and the overall vibe this place produces. Love staying there...actually, love staying anywhere DVC!

We purchased SSR resale back in the summer of 2025. Our goal was to maxmize deed year and price per point, this was the most logical so far. We haven't stayed at SSR yet but look forward to it in the future.

So far we've been lucky enough to stay at the Grand Floridian (Studio), Polynesian Island Tower (DLX Studio Theme Park View) and the Beach Club (1 bedroom). We cannot thank the DVC show and Derek enough for their insight into what to buy and why. Looking forward to many more adventures!

Stay in the 8500 Building in the Grandstand. It's right outside the pool and it's a closer walk to the main building than some buildings in the Springs (which cost more points) and it's not a bad walk to the Springs bus stop if you want to get on at the last stop so you don't have to do the internal loop (don't do this during peak bus riding times).

We bought our first DVC contract at SSR back in 2011 at $99/point. However, it would be 12 years (2023) before we booked a stay at the resort. Since then when booking our next stay, we always forego the hassle of trying to find available room at other resorts inside the 7-month window and have just booked our stays at SSR. We find the rooms spacious and in a quiet setting. A nice quick-service restaurant with great food selections and ample seating tops my list of “must haves”.

We stayed in SSR cash before we bought into DVC. It has so many happy memories for us as a family. Obviously when we decided to buy it had to be SSR. We love Congress Park and the easy walk to Disney Springs. The rooms are beautiful and love the laid back atmosphere. It definitely is our home from home. Also love the pools and honestly the buses have improved so much over the years.

New DVC owner. Does anyone have pics of the hallways at SSR? Are they interior or outside? I was just curious and tried to find videos on YouTube but really couldn’t find anything. Thanks!

They are exterior hallways. However, they are more covered than Old Key West. I think I’ve ever really taken a photo since they aren’t too exciting.

Bought our first resale contract here sight unseen just to get our foot in the DVC door. Been a member since February of 2021. Our upcoming September trip will be our first time staying here.

SSR Pro Tips:

Even if you aren't a golfer, here are two reasons to go downstairs to the Lake Buena Vista Gold Course area (behind and under the check-in foyer):

(1) Nice selection of Fab 5 embroidered men's polo/golf shirts in the Pro Shop. They usually have designs I don't see in regular Disney retail outlets.
(2) For best and cheapest counter service breakfast or lunch at SSR, try Chip 'n' Dales Cafe, beside the Pro Shop. Never a line. Very nice sandwiches.

I've owned at SSR since 2006, and only recently discovered these jewels.

And unlike other quick service restaurants, Chip and Dale’s actually has a 10% DVC discount.

I did not know that! Thanks for the info!

Awwww! Little itty bitty baby Paul ❤️❤️

We also love the peace and serenity of Saratoga Springs. Disney took the best aspects of Port Orleans Riverside and made it DVC. Great landscaping, water views and beautiful trails. This picture is dated, but a great memory when our boys were young (they're 18 and 25 now!) waiting for the bus.

Thank you Amy! I’m learning slowly.

I remember being in Downtown Disney in 2013 looking over at SSR thinking I could never afford to stay there and didn’t know about DVC. Back at Disney in 2018 with a deluxe studio reservation at SSR and getting “pixie dusted” at check-in to a 2-bedroom preferred view villa. That’s when I learned about DVC. 2019 I was the proud owner of a direct SSR contract. My greatest memory is celebrating an early Christmas with the family in 2022 in a 3-bedroom villa and the look on my grandkids face when they walked in for the first time and knew this was HOME for the next 6 days! I love the tranquility of the resort and the villas are beautiful!

When thinking about buying in 2016, I knew they had their own resale direct because they weren't actively selling SSR. What drove me to SSR was the point cost and dues. Bought 120 points direct in 2016 and absolutely love SSR. Easy walk to the Springs which as a Disney adult is huge for me. If I have a car, I like being able to park at building I'm in. Since 2016 I have added 2 resale contracts. I am just sad that I can only use direct for a stay at the Cabins so I can bring my dogs which you can never get a weeks stay anyway. They still need to do something with the Turf Club

Proud SSR owner checking in to this thread!

Saratoga Springs is the hidden gem for relaxation. This resort is peaceful, quiet, and the landscape continues to get better and better. The beautiful walk around the resort and to Disney Springs is special that no other DVC resort can claim. The rooms are excellent and have the warm comfort of home.

Awe, I love this! We bought at SSR for our first contract because it fit our life, and then decided we should check it out since we were trying to own it! lol and I fell in love with the grounds, the location, and the resort itself. The art in the lobby is gorgeous and unique (glad stitch never rode a horse) and the cast was wonderful! I had a conversation with a DVC cast member who told me buying DVC merch was manifesting - not jinxing it, and we survived ROFR the next day. I have the spirit jersey to prove it! I can't wait to stay there this fall during rundisney and actually experience everything it has to offer. Might have to take up golfing!! lol

LOL at glad stitch never rode a horse @Becky1223 and you are so right:)

shh,,its a hidden spot,,,,even the prices are cheaper than upstairs.

Been a member since 2011, go here every trip. No other resort allows you to wake up and hit the links,,,love it.

You have to like golf logos but it’s the only place I’ve seen Disney branded Peter Millar stuff.

As far as the snack bar goes, it’s a snack bar. Not sure I’d go out of my way to eat here but it’s fine.

My parents bought OKW direct almost 30 years ago, and I finally added SSR resale for my new family in Jan 2026. My first-ever SSR stay will be next summer, and I'm looking forward to all of the pools, splash pads, and playgrounds for my almost 3 year-old.

Gotta admit, I originally chose SSR for the economics of it, but a few years ago I was at a work conference at one of the Hiltons across the street and wound up borrowing some SSR bus transportation. Just walking through the resort, the proximity and views of Disney Springs, really made me appreciate it in a new way, and I'm excited to call it home!

It's a great place, you'll enjoy it.

The rooms are absolutely beautiful, it's quiet, and being able to walk to DS is elite!!

Just wanted to share that SSR is our home resort for the last 18 years. ❤️❤️❤️ We tried many other WDW resorts and we always go back to our favorite…SSR! We love hanging out at the resort and relaxing at the pools.

You're in good company! We love SSR, my very first DVC Home 😍

Not an owner, but SSR is in my top five DVC WDW resorts. I have always had a special place in my heart for it. It was the first DVC resort we ever stayed. I always find it beautiful, serene, and love all the space. I enjoy going for quiet, nature/tree filled walks on paved surfaces (lol) outdoors and SSR offers plenty of that. Plus, Disney Springs is so accessible and if you're looking for a change of scenery, you can also walk to OKW. The point charts make it feasible to stay in the large accommodations. It's truly an underrated resort.

I love this resort and agree the layout and landscaping make it so peaceful and beautiful. However, I don’t like having to walk around at night. You have to walk by so many ponds and I get freaked out that there’s a gator I’m not seeing that’s closer to the path than I would want them to be!