Just Back From SSR. Our Thoughts.

[tmoret]

My Wife and I just got back from a quick 4 day trip to the World where we stayed at Saratoga Springs in the Springs Section. Now to start of I like to say that I work in the hotel industry so I can be a little more picky then others.
The resort grounds are very beautiful and well maintained. They were clean and you can tell the grounds keeping staff take pride in their work. The check-in staff and bell staff were very nice and welcoming and were able to answer all our questions. They even loaded our bags up and took us in a golf cart to the building we were staying in.
Once again we stayed in the Springs area and boy was this a mistake(more on this later)! While the room was clean it was showing wear and is getting to the point of needing a renovation soon. The size of the room was good for a studio. Everything in there worked fine just the case goods were showing signs of being beat up a bit. Biggest thing I did not like about the room was that one side of the bed did not have a night stand. Both my wife and I love having a night stand to put our things on. They also need to update the room with USB ports and easier wall plugins to get to.
Ok here is where it went down hill fast.... if you are planning to use the Disney Buses to get to the parks DO NOT STAY IN THE SPRINGS! Every day we had to wait over a hour! Many times there were buses that went by full and didn't even stop. Now I have heard about this and can say yes it is true. For this reason I would not stay at SSR every again unless we had to.
All in all we were at Disney and that is never a bad thing. These are just my thoughts on things. I hope everyone has a Magical Day!

 

[erionm]

While the room was clean it was showing wear and is getting to the point of needing a renovation soon.

From the 2017 Annual Condo Meeting recap posted at DVCNews.com:

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort is the next property in line for guest room renovations. The process starts with an "inspiration room" to be developed in 2018 followed by a full-scale "model room", again with feedback sought from both execs and owners. If all goes according to plan, the full-scale refurbishment will begin in 2019.

The current renovation schedule for all resorts calls for a modest "refresh" every 7 years with a full "refurbishment" every 14 years. This timeline nearly doubles the refurb frequencies from Disney's original plans which featured a refresh at about 12 years and refurb 25 years after a resort first opened.

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program/owning-dvc/news-22659/3991-2017-condo-meeting-recap

 

[quandrea]

I’ve been hearing about the run down quality of SSR for a bit now. We last stayed there in Dec 2015. I would avoid it at this point. The bus situation concerns me too.

 

[SL6827]

My Wife and I just got back from a quick 4 day trip to the World where we stayed at Saratoga Springs in the Springs Section. Now to start of I like to say that I work in the hotel industry so I can be a little more picky then others.
The resort grounds are very beautiful and well maintained. They were clean and you can tell the grounds keeping staff take pride in their work. The check-in staff and bell staff were very nice and welcoming and were able to answer all our questions. They even loaded our bags up and took us in a golf cart to the building we were staying in.
Once again we stayed in the Springs area and boy was this a mistake(more on this later)! While the room was clean it was showing wear and is getting to the point of needing a renovation soon. The size of the room was good for a studio. Everything in there worked fine just the case goods were showing signs of being beat up a bit. Biggest thing I did not like about the room was that one side of the bed did not have a night stand. Both my wife and I love having a night stand to put our things on. They also need to update the room with USB ports and easier wall plugins to get to.
Ok here is where it went down hill fast.... if you are planning to use the Disney Buses to get to the parks DO NOT STAY IN THE SPRINGS! Every day we had to wait over a hour! Many times there were buses that went by full and didn't even stop. Now I have heard about this and can say yes it is true. For this reason I would not stay at SSR every again unless we had to.
All in all we were at Disney and that is never a bad thing. These are just my thoughts on things. I hope everyone has a Magical Day!

If you were going to do a resort only/Disney Springs trip, would you recommend the Springs section?

 

[erionm]

If you were going to do a resort only/Disney Springs trip, would you recommend the Springs section?

If you want to walk to Disney Springs, Congress Park.

 

[tmoret]

If you were going to do a resort only/Disney Springs trip, would you recommend the Springs section?

If you are doing a resort only then yes this is the area I would pick as it is the nearest to everything.

 

[SL6827]

If you want to walk to Disney Springs, Congress Park.

We can boat over to the Springs. My luck would probably run as to book a preferred room and get Congress Park. But from what I take, Congress Park seems to be asked for more than the Springs section?

 

[SL6827]

We can boat over to the Springs. My luck would probably run as to book a preferred room and get Congress Park. But from what I take, Congress Park seems to be asked for more than the Springs section?

But one thing I would like to do is bike around the resort, even over to OKW as well.

 

[gparr]

I have stayed at SSR quite a few times...the last being in July. Although my room was in good shape I wholeheartedly agree with the need for 2 night stands!

 

[bobbiwoz]

The sofa bed in our 1 bedroom was horrible to sit on. We were in Paddock the last weekend in January.

 

[DenLo]

You can walk to the Paddock bus stop very easily from the Springs bus stop. It is just across the bridge and beyond the Paddock pool. Same is true for the Grandstand bus stop. You might want to consider that next trip.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

OP - you got the heaviest booked category room in a very popular section; I am sorry the room did not meet your expectations. However, I can say that I stayed in a 1BR at Christmas and did not notice any extensive wear. I believe you suffered the most popular experience.
As for buses, they can be challenging. We did not have your experience but I have no reason to doubt you. Buses are typically no more than 20 minutes apart but getting on during the morning rush or evening dinner hour from the Springs can be challenging. DenLo’s strategy is worth consideration for future stays.
The cast members and grounds at SSR are top notch. We love our Disney home.

 

[bbn1122]

We stayed at SSR in 2016 in the Congress Park section. We were in a two bedroom on the ground floor. We liked the location because it was steps from Disney springs but we are right by the back entrance and staircase so really no view.

From what I remember the Villa was nice. The big draw for us was being able to walk into Disney springs or take the boat to the other side. We did go to the parks on this trip and the buses were OK.

I thought the resort was really pretty, especially grounds but it’s so big. It was August it was hot, so I really didn’t venture too far away from our section. We had a quiet pool near us and that was very nice. We did go to DS about 3 times for dinner, plus bowling and the movies.

We are heading to Disney this August and we almost were going to stay in the Treehouse Villas, but they just looked too far from everything. I decided to jump in with both feet and book at the Villas at a Grand Floridan.

I definitely would go back to SSR, especially if I wasn’t doing the parks, to be close to Disney springs.

 

[SL6827]

I have read terrible things about the comfort level of the sofa beds. I could buy a mattress topper and bring down with us, or do they have them there for guest to use if they are requested?

 

[disneynutz]

Contact wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com and dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com about the bus wait.

Bill

 

[chalee94]

Hard to know if this is the cause of the bus problem, but I do wish they would screen riders to make sure cheapskates aren't parking for free at DS and walking to SSR for the buses.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

Hard to know if this is the cause of the bus problem, but I do wish they would screen riders to make sure cheapskates aren't parking for free at DS and walking to SSR for the buses.

Our experience in Dec was crowding, and therefore delays, were attributable to scooter on/off loading and the corresponding loss of seats. I have a hard time with scooters being on buses; I think there should be separate runs. My bias is based on my experience with acquaintances using them because they were too out of shape/lazy to walk. This is not true of all but it makes me view riders with a jaundiced eye.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

For what it’s worth we always stay in the Paddock section, near the Carousel bus stop and have never had any issues with busses. OP I’m sorry you had bus issues, I’m sure that put a damper on your trip.

We’ve actually had terrible bus experiences going back to BWV from the parks. In fact, last stay at BWV we never even took a BWV bus back. We kept getting sick of waiting and would hop on a Swan and Dolphin or Yatcht and Beach Club bus and just walk from there.

 

[GranJan1]

Our experience in Dec was crowding, and therefore delays, were attributable to scooter on/off loading and the corresponding loss of seats. I have a hard time with scooters being on buses; I think there should be separate runs. My bias is based on my experience with acquaintances using them because they were too out of shape/lazy to walk. This is not true of all but it makes me view riders with a jaundiced eye.

Comments like yours may not be directed at those who use scooters who really need them but your words will make them feel that everyone sees them as a nuisance & inconvenience who should just stay home & out of the way of those who are more deserving. Having mobility limitations puts lots of restrictions on what kind of travel a person can do. Disney is one of few places disabled people can go where they can count on things being accessible. I use a power wheelchair now but have used a scooter several times at WDW. The last time I walked at WDW was 2001. I couldn’t do it anymore due to a progressive neuromuscular disease so we didn’t go back for several years. We finally gave it another try at the insistence of my adult daughter who convinced me that I could rent a wheelchair. I hated being pushed so next trip we bought a scooter. It was the first time I felt independent in years. It was still difficult to take the scooter into restrooms so I just recently switched to a power chair which is easier in small spaces. Having a disability makes it very difficult to stay positive & find enough things to enjoy about life that makes all the struggles worth it. Trips to WDW may be what keeps someone going. Surely those who are fortunate enough to be normal could put up with a little inconvenience of those who aren’t so lucky. People don’t need to be made to feel like they’re a useless waste of space by words like yours even if your words aren’t meant for them.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our experience in Dec was crowding, and therefore delays, were attributable to scooter on/off loading and the corresponding loss of seats. I have a hard time with scooters being on buses; I think there should be separate runs. My bias is based on my experience with acquaintances using them because they were too out of shape/lazy to walk. This is not true of all but it makes me view riders with a jaundiced eye.

My aunt needed a scooter this past December while staying at SSR. Her experience with other guests and CMSs was nothing but positive! It was great seeing my 80 year old aunt enjoy herself so much. I am glad we did not run into you.

I did not use a scooter except in a park because I knew it could be difficult to get a bus with two scooters. Only once did it happen that our group had to wait for the next bus.

Bobbi