SARATOGA SPRINGS RESORT & SPA At Walt Disney World
Written: Dec 15 '04 (Updated Dec 16 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Location! Villa Sized Apartments! Amenities! Staff! Food/Dining Onsite!
Cons: Having To Leave...
The Bottom Line: An Upscale Resort With Luxury Abound. Location Is Superior. A Real Disney Experience Of Pampering.
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| benicia's Full Review: Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa - Walt Disney World |
I was recently gifted with a stay/vacation at Disney's newest resort complex, SARATOGA SPRINGS RESORT & SPA located in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. This newest of luxury resorts partially opened in May 2004 but continues on with construction on a series of units not yet completed (as of January 2005, only 60% of the project will have been completed).
SARATOGA SPRINGS RESORT & SPA faces what is called 'Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island/MarketPlace'. On the other side of a large lake, views are exceptional from the villa you'll reside in at SARATOGA SPRINGS RESORT & SPA. You can walk to 'Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island/MarketPlace' via a footbridge (over part of the lake) or via a street called Buena Vista Drive. At best, it's a 10-15 minute walk and the area is abound in restaurants, shops, movie theaters and entertainment. What a fantastic location SARATOGA SPRINGS is!
This Disney resort is part of what Disney refers to as a 'Home Away From Home' accommodation. Villas come in studios, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom units as well as several suites. Washer & dryers come in the larger units (1 bedrm on up) as does your own spa/tub. Fully equipped kitchens include everything you'd hope for in your own kitchen. Studio units have 1 queen bed and a sleeper sofa in the same room and do not have the washer & dryer or the spa/tub but still check-in at nearly 400 square feet and will accommodate a family of four with ease and comfort.
'Home Away From Homes' do not come with daily maid service but a maid will come in every four (4) days to change out towels and sheets and take away trash. Add $60.00 if you want a maid to come in sooner for one clean and change of linens. The resort has a series of free washer/dryer units for those in studio units who want to do laundry outside of their unit (remember, studios don't have washer/dryers).
While the location of SARATOGA SPRINGS RESORT & SPA is near perfection, the units are spread out into multiple buildings. This means that not all locations will be on the main lake with views of 'Downtown Disney'. Therefore, because you are here reading EPINIONS you will now be advised in advance that units with superior views are as follows: 2501-2836, 2101-2436, 1501-1836 and 1101-1436. It pays to read EPINIONS! Still though, every unit faces a body of water/small lake and all come with a balcony for that view or ground floor units come with a patio instead. Two chairs and a table are provided for the patio or balcony. Buildings are four (4) stories in height (another clue is to request floors 2 or 3 for safety and security and better views).
SARATOGA SPRINGS RESORT & SPA has multiple pools and spas with the major one being called 'High Rock Springs Pool'. 'HIGH ROCK' has water slides, several spas, a great bar (On The Rocks Pool Bar) an video arcade and poolside food service. It it a busy but very large pool and was ideal for kids and adults alike (more kids though). The pools depth is a mere 3-4 feet with a slow entry for kids just learning pool safety. Lifeguards are everywhere and keep the peace at this very busy pool.
Another pool area with one spa and a much smaller but deeper pool has no name but is located near a building/area called 'Congress Park'. Adults were far more evident with fewer kids here but the atmosphere of this pool was non-resort in feeling or appearance and the HIGH ROCK pool was loaded with eye-candy for people watching and the sounds of kids being kids at a Disney resort. I really liked and enjoyed HIGH ROCK for poolside fun and we went to Walt Disney World with no kids but just as two adults who often behave like kids...
SARATOGA SPRINGS RESORT & SPA is a self-contained resort. You'll find dining there at their own onsite restaurant called 'The Artist's Palette' which has both inside and outdoor dining or takeout you can bring back to your villa with ease. Hours at 'The Artist's Palette' start at 7:30am and continue all the way until 11:00pm which make this casual dining venue very accommodating. Prices were very good at dinner with most entree's never exceeding $10.00 and unlike the food you find in Disney's amusement parks (yuk), the quality of food here was very good! So was the ultra-friendly staff. Attached to 'The Artist's Palette' was a general store that had everything a small store would have in terms of food, wines, beer and snacks. Kudos to Disney for this venue of food, shopping and dining!
As I also mentioned before, SARATOGA SPRINGS has location, location and location. You can walk to many restaurants, shops and movie theatres with ease. McDonald's is 10 minutes walking and several other places you can dine at are 'Earl's' which is a deli/sandwich shop ever so popular, 'Bongo's' (a Cuban Cafe), and of course the very popular 'Rainforest Cafe'. One restaurant to avoid is the pricey and sub-standard restaurant called 'Wolfgang Pucks'. Multiple complaints by other SARATOGA SPRINGS guests were common. While I confess I still tried 'Wolfgang Pucks' anyhow, I would never return again as I should have listened to guest comments. It's so close but so inferior.
One restaurant worth high marks and at another Disney resort is called 'Olivia's'. It's located in another of my favorite Disney resorts called 'Old Key West'. 'Old Key West' is just down from SARATOGA SPRINGS on a street called 'Disney Vacation Club Way' (by car approx; 5 minutes) and worth your time and effort. Casual dining is indoors and also outside on a patio facing the boat dock. This 'secret' is mentioned in all too many travel books as a great find. I think so too!
What about getting around all 47 square miles of Walt Disney World? Well you'll probably have a car (parking is free at SARATOGA SPRINGS and as a guest there, parking is also free at ALL Disney amusement parks) and often leaving your car at SARATOGA SPRINGS is best. Disney buses serve SARATOGA SPRINGS from the property to all Disney amusement parks (bus is free). Also, the Disney Bus Transportation Pad/Center is just a 5 minute walk and from that center, you can connect to all Walt Disney World parks and resorts! Too simple... Plus, SARATOGA SPRINGS has complimentary ferry boat service as well to 'Downtown Disney' and 'Old Key West Resort'.
Other great benefits while staying at SARATOGA SPRINGS are BBQ's for your use throughout the complex. Basketball & Shuffleboard Courts. A community hall, golf (tons of golf courses that are minutes from this resort), bike rentals onsite, tennis courts and a kids playground. Now add a ATM, express check-out, check cashing, high-speed internet (every room) heath club/spa, free laundry, safes (every room)DVD rentals and you have it all.
I loved SARATOGA SPRINGS! Fantastic and while my favorite Disney Resort still is the older and less expensive 'Old Key West' (Walt Disney inspired), this is a great resort you will appreciate and never want to check-out of. Our 6 day stay felt like 2-3 days at best.
Disney 'resorts' come in multiple variations. Economy, Moderate, Luxury and Home Away From Home resorts. I've stayed in them all. I've been going to Walt Disney World for decades now staying offsite and onsite and there is nothing more important than staying at a true and real Walt Disney World property. If ones budget is an issue, stay at a Economy version because you will get so much more from the true Disney experience. Still though, if you can afford a resort such as SARATOGA SPRINGS, do it! Shop deals, packages and the internet.
Using SARATOGA SPRINGS and a rating scale of TEN (10), this resort scores a solid EIGHT (8) in luxury, staff, location and amenities.
RESERVATIONS: WWW.WALTDISNEYWORLD.COM
407 827-4400
Walt Disney World
Location: Buena Vista Drive at
Disney Vacation Club Way
Orlando/Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
benicia
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 - Top 500 |
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Location: San Francisco, CA
Reviews written: 66
Trusted by: 3 members
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