The first time I stayed at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort was the summer of 2019. We were in a non-renovated room in the first Carousel building.  It was fine.  We had a great trip, but the best part of the resort was that it was on property and we could stay within “the Disney bubble.”

Fast forward to February of 2021.  2020 did what 2020 did — Mardi Gras in New Orleans was essentially cancelled, and our family knew we needed to head to Disney for Mickey Gras (the mass migration of many New Orleanians to Orlando for Mardi Gras break).  I was able to book a One-Bedroom Villa at Saratoga Springs for my family for very few points.  I wasn’t super excited about the Saratoga stay but I was going to Disney, so I really didn’t care.

When our room assignment populated in My Disney Experience, I started to get a little bit more excited.  We were assigned Building 5 of The Paddock, right next to the Paddock Pool.  Even better, we got a renovated room! 

The renovations at Saratoga Springs are BEAUTIFUL! The rooms are modern and clean with hardwood floors in the kitchen, living, and dining room.  The biggest change is the addition of the twin-sized trundle bed under the television.  This, in addition to the queen-sized sleeper sofa in the living room and the king sized bed in the bedroom means that a family of five can sleep comfortably in this room.  Our travel party included me and my husband (in the king-sized bed), my mother (on the queen-sized sleeper sofa), my son (on the twin-sized trundle bed), and my daughter (in a porta-crib).  We all slept comfortably and had plenty of room.

The bathroom layout also worked really well for our family.  It is a split layout with a big tub and vanity in one section, a shower and second vanity in the other, and a water closet with a toilet in another.  This provided the perfect amount of privacy and space for our group to all get ready at the same time.

This room was perfect for our trip.  In addition to the sleeping and bathroom arrangements, some other benefits of Saratoga for our family included:

• A full kitchen (perfect for making meals, washing bottles, making coffee, etc.)
• Washer and dryer in the unit.  I know there are plenty of people who don’t want to do laundry on vacation, but I LOVE returning home with everything clean instead of suitcases full of dirty laundry.
• Multiple pools, splash pads, and play areas for kids (and kids at heart) of all ages.
• Beautiful views along the running paths and a well-equipped gym on site.
• Community Hall has sports equipment, arts and crafts, and other fun activities to do.  They have even more offerings during normal operations.
• You can walk to Disney Springs! Especially during this stay when parks are closing earlier and there are fewer dining options in park, we went to Disney Springs almost every day of our trip.
• If you are a Disney Vacation Club owner, these rooms are often the fewest points.
• These rooms are often available on RCI, so if you own another timeshare, you can often exchange points and stay here!

Now that I have told you all of the reasons I now love Saratoga Springs Resort, here are a few caveats:

You really need a car to stay here.  The resort is huge and while there is an internal bus system, I am just too impatient to wait for that.  Our room was right next to the Paddock Pool which was great, but if we needed to go to The Artist Palette for some Mickey Waffles, the Turf Club Bar and Grill for a night cap, or the Community Hall to paint a ceramic mug, we hopped in our car and drove.  Also, there are multiple bus stops in the resort so you need to be prepared for that if you are taking a bus to or from a Walt Disney World park.

This resort is not perfect for everyone.  It is great for families and multi-generational groups.  It is not the most romantic resort and is probably not the best option for a honeymoon.  If your bachelorette party plans to go to Disney Springs, this may be a good fit — but if you are only Drinking around the World, a stay at a resort along Crescent Lake is probably a better fit.

Want to stay at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort or any other Walt Disney World Resort property? 2022 Walt Disney World vacation packages are now open for booking! Contact one of our agents to start planning your trip today!

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