Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is an interesting sell: sprawling, nestled between a golf course and Disney Springs, themed to the equestrian enthusiasm of upstate New York from yesteryear, with an interesting history to boot. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone (the monorail or Skyliner resorts) at Saratoga Springs and to say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement (I’ve already returned for another stay). And I want to tell you why.

In this review, I will share history about the resort, room photos, dining reviews, information about the amenities, transportation to and from the resort, and whether this Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resort is worth the stay on your next Disney World vacation. Continue reading for the ultimate guide to Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort (SSR) (with tips for parents).

About Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort

Resort History & Theming 🤓

The history of SSR is thrilling for us Disnerds and could fill an article dedicated to the subject, but I’ll be as succinct as possible. The origins of SSR begin with Lake Buena Vista, a 1,200 acre residential community that included a golf course, shops, and various types of homes. By May 1974, some townhomes and Treehouse Villas (discussed below), were completed, but none of the planned single-family homes and apartments, due to concerns over owners of said dwellings getting voting rights to the area. Plans shifted towards a resort called The Village Resort in 1985 (later called The Disney Village Resort in 1989). (The shopping district became what is now Disney Springs.) Fast forward to the Michael Eisner Era, when it was transformed into The Disney Institute, a place where guests could pay to stay and learn the Disney Cast Member ways (Eisner was inspired by a trip he took to Chautauqua; say what you want about the man, but his tenure did bear interesting fruit.) After that experiment failed to turn a profit, the Disney Institute shuttered before being transformed into SSR, Disney’s 7th DVC resort, opening in 2004. Later, in 2009, the already existing Treehouse Villas opened as part of SSR. The resort also shares space with Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course.

Resort Layout

You know what’s next: a bit of mapping! SSR is a sprawling place—I walked the entire resort—bordering Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney Springs (more on getting to Disney Springs later).

Once you enter from Disney Vacation Club Way (my dream address), you’re on Broadway Street (a nod to the Saratoga Streets that inspired SSR), which essentially splits through the resort, leading to The Carriage House and other sections of the resort. Speaking of, SSR is so large it’s divided into a lobby and five named sections, plus the Treehouse Villas. To give you a sense of the resort layout and differing sections, here’s a look at a resort map:

I am going to do things differently in this article and go ahead and explain each section of SSR and what dining, pool, or transportation options and amenities are in each, before elaborating on my thoughts on the resort writ large, below.

The Carriage House

The Carriage House is the lobby, located at the center of the resort near The Springs. The lobby is unexpectedly grand, boasting sweeping spaces and high ceilings, reminiscent of Disney World resorts from yesteryear (contrasting sharply with Disney’s newer resorts, like Island Tower and the Riviera). It’s kind of the Boardwalk meets the Grand Flo, if you ask me.

Recall the horse-racing theme of the resort: the recently refurbished lobby features large portraits of famous horses from Disney films. Extra points for the must-deserved Frou-Frou representation.

This is the heart of the resort, where you find most of the main amenities. Let me break it down:

The Artist’s Palette

The Artist’s Palette is the main quick-service dining option, noticeable by the colorful light fixtures above the seating area. With unique, resort-specific options (try the Saratoga chips), and different menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there is something for everyone here. There’s an also a corner with grab and go options, including refrigerated goods, and sweets. You can also mobile order here. This quickly became one of my favorite quick service spots at Disney World, primarily for the Grilled Chicken and Rice Bowl (pictured immediately below):

Gift Shop

The gift shop does not have a separate name and it is easy to find because it shares space with The Artist’s Palette. It’s quaint, with few resort-specific items and jewelry, which is of note because only few Disney resorts carry jewelry. I love the colorful look of this space but, to me, it could be a little bigger given the sprawl of SSR.

The Turf Club Bar & Grill

The Turf Club Bar & Grill is a bit of a hidden haunt, tucked in a corner of the Carriage House. The table service restaurant and the lounge—called the Turf Club Lounge— feature low lighting, wood paneling, and equestrian memorabilia. There’s a certain gentlemanly, yesteryear vibe here, intentionally so. An outdoor patio offers views of Lake Buena Vista and the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course.

Worth noting: The Turf Club restaurant is not open Mondays and Tuesdays. It is only open for dinner.

High Rock Spring Pool

This the main pool, and it is huge, featuring waterfalls, zero-depth entry, and a 128-foot slide nestled into the rocks. There are also two whirlpool spas. For the kids: there is a Donald Duck splash pad area and a miniature water slide.

On the Rocks Pool Bar

Located at the High Rock Spring Pool, this outdoor bar offers alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, plus food options.

Franklin Square

Toward the eastern edge of The Carriage House is Franklin Square, which is a tranquil plaza surrounded by other amenities. There’s a fountain at its center that’s great for a photo, or just relaxing on your resort day. This is just on the other side of the High Rock Spring Pool, and has internal entrances to the arcade and the Community Hall (each discussed below).

Tips for parents: this is a great place away from roads and the busy playground to let the kids run! This is also where cast members host s’mores, so be sure to check your weekly schedule.

Fitness Center

Also accessible from Franklin Square (and a short walk and connected to The Carriage House) is a truly massive fitness center (much bigger than what I’ve seen when I reviewed the Riviera, Boardwalk, and Island Tower, for example), probably the largest on Disney World property, and I was impressed. Featuring modern equipment and ample availability with a nice view, this is a great place to get in a workout while on vacation. (The older I get, the more I become a person who works out on vacation, often when our youngest naps.)

Win, Loose, or Show Arcade

This is your typical arcade you can find at a Disney resort—-as pictured above is the view from the High Rock Spring Pool; you can enter on the other side, from Franklin Square. Notice the ongoing horse theme? This one is good-sized, and my kids loved it.

Horsing Around Rentals/ Community Hall

Horsing Around Rentals is where you can rent Surrey bikes and bicycles and learn about other resort activities. The Community Hall is filled with activities for kids, some free and others that require a small fee—there’s even a TV playing Disney films and shows, of course.

Tips for Parents: There’s always a ton to do at Community Halls when you’re looking to entertain the kids on resort days, bad weather days, or in between theme park visits. There’s usually a daily schedule posted with all the things to do so you can plan ahead. Visiting the Community Hall is a must on all of our trips, usually on our resort days.

DVC Preview Center

Tucked away on outside of The Carriage House is this tiny quick service deli called Chip N’ Dale’s Cafe, typically open between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM. There’s a quaint seating area, perfect for some quiet time. Note, this is also touted as a place to eat for those golfing at Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course.

Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course Pro Shop

Speaking of the golf course, right next to Chip and Dale’s Cafe, blink and you’ll miss this golf pro shop. Featuring exclusive Disney golf merch, some of which are so comfortable I wear them outside the parks, this is a must-do for the Disney and golf lover in your life.

The Springs

As a reminder, the resort is divided into sections with different names, and the closest to the Carriage House and the High Rock Spring Pool (and thus, considered a preferred location), is The Springs, which sort of bleeds into The Carriage House. We stayed here on our first visit and so-enjoyed the short walk across the street to the pool and amenities. A small lake with a fountain sits behind the bus stop, and leads to a bridge that connects you to The Paddock (discussed below). This is without a doubt the perfect location for us, a family of five, with three little ones. I will get more into our room and my thoughts on the resort generally below, but The Springs works so well because of its central position. Getting to the main amenities at The Carriage House is a breeze, meaning you can walk to grab food, swim, or even get to the boat transportation (also discussed below) quickly.

Also, you can access the other sections of the resort quickly, too, so the pool and dining options at The Grandstand or The Paddock are just a walk away, and the playground and Disney Springs at Congress Park are also within close reach.

Remember, I am a dad, and logistics are always in mind when assessing resorts at Disney World. From The Springs, I could quickly dash to The Artist’s Palette for a quick meal or snacks for the kids; you can’t beat a quick mobile order and go situation when everyone is cranky and hungry. We often drive to Disney, so this only applies to fellow drivers, but one positive is that you can park right outside your villa, which makes it easy to unload and reload all of our things to and our villa—something very important for dad’s back! I know SSR and other similar resorts (think, Port Orleans – Riverside, my review is here) get a lot of heat for looking like apartment complexes; but to me, that’s not a bad thing. With my car parked close by, I walk less from the villa when packing strollers and luggage, and save time making the inevitable race back to the car to retrieve the stuffed animal my kid MUST have to sleep.

Congress Park

Another preferred section at SSR, Congress Park is the closest section to Disney Springs and a short walk — depending on who you ask — over a bridge to The Springs and all of the main amenities mentioned above. It is also just across the street from the southern edge of The Paddock (another section discussed below), so also not too far from the pool and food there, which rivals main pools found at other Disney World resorts.

On our last SSR visit, we stayed here for the first time, and I admittedly did what I always do: I hesitated. I enjoyed my time at The Springs, for all the reasons mentioned above, and I worried about its proximity to Disney Springs—would it be loud? Would we experience a lot of foot traffic? And the walk to The Carriage House was something to consider. I love walking as much as I can and I knew it wouldn’t be a problem for me, but when packing up kids and getting a stroller, it takes time, which is of the essence, to say the least. And what if it rained? I envisioned myself drenched, racing back to the villa with our brown bag filled with our lunch from The Artist Palette. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t that big of a deal, and we actually LOVED staying here.

We stayed at the edge of the villas, and a large courtyard from our patio became our mini-yard to let the kids run. We had excellent views of Disney Springs, which illuminated the water at night, providing a lovely view. We did hear music thumping each evening, especially on weekends, but the noise mostly subsided when we closed the patio door. The kids did not seem to notice the sounds and slept through the night! I will say, our patio door was a little wonky and hard to lock, something we had to flag for maintenance and get fixed.

Here are a few particular things you can find at Congress Park:

Playground

Highly themed, tucked away, and receives high marks from my kids. Need I say more? A great stop when walking to Disney Springs.

Pool

Think of this more as quiet pool. No big slides or kids splash areas, but they do the trick, and are often much calmer.

Walkway to Disney Springs

There is a designated walkway from Congress Park that leads directly to the Marketplace Dock at Disney Springs. I will explain more below, but this is the main hub of the boat transportation that gets you from this dock to the other SSR boat dock at The Carriage House, and also to the the Port Orleans Resorts and Old Key West (note that, from here, they are referred to as the Sassagoula River Boats).

The Paddock

Not to be outdone by Congress Park or The Springs, The Paddock packs a bunch with its own large pool with a slide, pool bar with quick service offerings, and a large kids aquatic area (bigger than the play area at the High Rock Spring Pool). Think of The Paddock as a long strip, like an island, with one end near both The Springs (connected via a long walkway over Willow Lake), and The Carousel (discussed below) AND also Congress Park at its southeastern tip—in a way, its the most connected of the villas, and thus a surprisingly great location.

Here is a quick rundown of the amenities:

Pool

SSR has so many pool options, and The Paddock’s features zero-entry, a large tunnel slide, and a separate adjusting play area perfect for the little ones. My kids demand we visit this pool every time we go to SSR.

The Paddock Grill

Here’s a HUGE tip many don’t know: The Paddock Grill is the only quick service option at SSR that serves French fries! Yes, a pool bar, away from the main quick service dining (The Artist’s Palette), where you can find the must-have for kids (well, at least my kids). This is also the only quick service where you find a burger too—kind of crazy, right? On our first stay we were a bit shocked, and I think it’s something everyone should be aware of, as I consider those items to be standard Disney fare. Keep that in mind when choosing where you stay and when mobile ordering.

The Carousel

Comprised of only two buildings (and thus, the smallest section at SSR), The Carousel is located near the resort entrance, furthest from The Carriage House and Disney Springs. While it has a bus stop (discussed below), there is no separate pool or laundry service. While I haven’t stayed here personally, those who have tell me they have no issues getting to and from the The Carriage House or other amenities. The Carousel does have a gorgeous gazebo and barbecue area, worth exploring if you’re walking around the resort.

The Grandstand

Now, here is the section that most intrigues me, and one that perhaps keeps the most glamour. It is here the resort’s equestrianthesis yore from New York’s yesteryear) is on full, unappreciated display. It was almost empty, water trickling peacefully as if I was the furthest from Disney World. One side of The Grandstand is surprisingly close to The Carriage House, and the other, the Treehouse Villas (more on that below), making this something of a preferred location (though not considered so by Disney) at a standard rate. Its bus stop is also first on the resort loop—more on that in the Transportation section, below. Here’s what you can find at The Grandstand.

Pool

There’s a kids splash area and a decent-sized pool at The Grandstand, both of which are highly themed, giving this area a certain quirk. I really liked the design elements here, which I think prove this resort is much more than initially meets the eye.

Backstretch Pool Bar

This pool bar is also highly themed, serving several favorites, like the Saratoga Turkey Wrap. NOTE: you can also get churros here—prepare accordingly.

Treehouse Villas

You didn’t think this guide was finished, did you? Good, because we need to talk about the elusive, coveted Treehouse Villas. Remember that SSR began as a development called Lake Buena Vista; the Treehouse Villas opened as part of this community in 1975. Then, things took a turn: The Treehouse Villas became part of the Disney Institute before shuttering in 2002, before opening again to house international College Program students in 2005 through January 2008. The treehouses were later remodeled, made part of SSR, and reopened in 2009, to fan delight.

The Treehouse Villas are one of the most unique resort options at Disney World, boasting octagonally-shaped villas with multiple rooms perched on stilts above the Florida glens. Now, they are a bit of a walk to the SSR accommodations, but there is a walking trail. There is a separate entrance by car into the Treehouse Villas. When riding the Sassagoula Steamboats (more on those below, promise), you can see the Treehouse Villas peeking among the forest, like eyes in the night—if you didn’t know it, you’d think these are miles away from famous Disney World attractions.

Transportation

This is perhaps the biggest question I get about SSR—what are the transportation options? The resort is not on the Monorail loop (see my guide here), or the Disney Skyliner (guide here), but it is served by the Disney bus system, as well as boat transportation (here is my guide to Disney World water transportation).

With a resort of this size, it’s crucial to understand the bus loop so you know where the buses stop first on the way to the theme parks. Further, knowing where the boat docks are, and their destinations, is key. Let me break it down for you so you can arrive at SSR like a true Disney pro.

Guide to Buses at Disney’s Saratoga Springs

When heading to the parks, the buses go in this order: The Grandstand, The Carousel, The Paddock, Congress Park, and The Springs. If it is a particularly busy season, you wait by The Grandstand (if not staying there) to secure a seat to the theme park of your choice. Some Pro Tips:

• The Paddock bus stop, because it is connected to the pool area, is the only bus stop with a bathroom—the more you know!
• Parents: reminder that you will need to fold up your strollers when riding the busses.
• If you’re staying far from Disney Springs (say, The Grandstand or The Carousel, you can take the bus around the resort to get to Congress Park and walk there (great for especially hot or rainy days).
• The Treehouse Villas have two bus stops, both of which get you to The Springs at SSR (which you now know is the last stop on the bus loop). If you’re staying there and using the buses, bake in extra time to get to The Springs and then the theme parks.

Guide to Water Transportation at Disney’s Saratoga Springs

There are three water transportation options at SSR—the boats look the same, but they are called different names (at least on signage), and get you to separate places. Look for the flag color showing your destination.

Disney Vacation Club Ferry (The Carriage House)

Located on the ground level just outside The Carriage House (near patio to The Turf Club), is the Disney Vacation Club Ferry (it’s referred to that both here and at Old Key West; other than that, no meaningful difference from the other boats discussed below). From this dock, you can get to (1) the Marketplace Dock at Disney Springs, discussed below, and (2) the Treehouse Villas.

Marketplace Dock

There are four destinations to and from the Marketplace Dock, which, is a short walk from Congress Park, and thus worth discussing here. Boats run from 10:30AM through 11:30PM. Note the signage at the dock says Sassagoula Steamboat Company. Here are the four options and flag colors:

• Purple Flag: Port Orleans – French Quarter.
• Yellow Flag: Port Orleans – Riverside.
• Green Flag: Old Key West.
• Blue Flag: Saratoga Springs (this takes you back to the dock outside The Carriage house—see above.)

Treehouse Villas (also called the Disney Vacation Club Ferry)

For guests staying in Treehouse Villas, a boat launch can be found between Treehouses 7021 and 7022. The water taxis operate between 10AM and 11:30PM, and can be used to get to Disney Vacation Club Ferry dock (at The Carriage House, discussed above), or to Disney Springs (the Marketplace Dock, also discussed above).

Resort Rooms

Interestingly, I don’t have many photos of the rooms, which were updated as part of a large scale refurbishment of SSR initiated in 2019 and now complete. I do have a full walkthrough of a One Bedroom-One Bathroom Villa, which you can watch below:

SSR boasts one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom grand villas. While I didn’t stay here before the refurbishment, previous decor included darker carpets and curtains, and chunky wooden furnishings. The updated rooms are much more functional, including the Murphy bed in the living area that is now common across Disney World deluxe resorts. The style is certainly modern, with muted colors, retaining browns and beiges, but adding pops of color in the horse-themed art, as well as some of the trophies on display. The style isn’t the flashiest or the most themed, but it it also isn’t over the top; a delicate balance, for sure. With each stay, we have enjoyed the spaces and furnishings.

A Note About Dining

The dining options here are varied, with a unique twist worth reiterating: the only quick service restaurant where you can order french fries and a burger is The Paddock Grill—a pool bar far from The Carriage House. The reason? The Artist’s Palette instead serves Saratoga-style potato chips, a nod to the origin of the chips in Saratoga Springs, New York. You can get fries at The Turf Club, but that’s a pricey table service restaurant with limited hours. Is this a dealbreaker? No, but for families with little ones (like me), French fries are sometimes the only thing kiddos will eat. Just thought you should know!

Walkways and Trails

You may have picked up on just how large SSR is. Worth knowing is that its very well connected with trails from Treehouse Villas to SSR, from SSR to Disney Springs, and, a trail between SSR and Disney’s Old Key West Resort (the original DVC resort!). For a resort that’s away from the theme parks, it’s pretty connected to other resorts and shopping, which offers a distinct experience within the Disney Bubble.

Is it Kid-Friendly?

It’s funny how quickly things change for parents, and also, as a Disney fan. If you would have asked me whether such a sprawling resort is “kid-friendly” a few years ago, when I had only one or two kids when they were much smaller, I may have said SSR is not very kid friendly, that it is too big and not close enough to the monorail or the Magic Kingdom and that therefore it is not super easy to get from the resort to the theme parks.

How things have changed! My older kids are still young, and our third, still a baby, yet now I realize the size of the resort is actually great for families. From the moment we stepped foot at SSR, my kids just wanted to run. The wide open spaces and trails and walkways provide abundant play spaces, whether intended play areas or not, where they could just be kids. The outdoor areas at The Carriage House, as well as The Springs, became their playscape: they explored all of the green spaces, trails, and of course, took full advantage of the large chess and Tetris sets. They ran all around Franklin Square and into the arcade and the Community Hall and you would think this was the best part of the trip, without stepping foot in a theme park. Most importantly, they could just be, and as a father, that’s all I want. For them to have fun.

Now, as a Disney writer and historian, I explored the entirety of this resort, and my kids came along with me. In so doing, they were able to race through all the nooks and crannies and it felt like it was as big adventure, finding play areas, picnic tables, the playground, gazebos, and quiet spaces. Because the resort is so big, it often felt as if we had the spaces to ourselves—a far cry from the hectic spaces at say, The Grand Floridian, or Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian (my review of the Polynesian is here; my YouTube guide to Island Tower is here), where crowds of non-resort guests are (understandably) visiting (read: clogging) the restaurants and amenities.

And Disney Springs is close — without the hassle of the parking garages or long bus rides. to me, it’s much easier to enjoy on a slower weekday, and having all of those dining options (hello, Wine Bar George!) within walking distance really adds to the value of SSR, to me. Plus, there’s a carousel and a small train at Disney Springs: mom and dad can enjoy good food while the kids can have fun. Win-win. All of this to say, yes, I think it’s more than kid-friendly; it’s made for kids, so much so that they may not even mind leaving the parks because they are returning to a resort with so much to do.

The Verdict

Look, I am a huge Disney World guy, and I don’t mean to be effusive. And there are some drawbacks to staying at SSR. The lack of theming, to some, is wanting, devoid of any of that certain magic people expect. Some argue the buildings are akin to a grandmother’s condo (I am not judging said grandmothers), that the buildings are dated. (Full disclosure: we did have an issue with our sliding door in Congress Park.) All of that fun history of the resort I described above? Some see it as disjointed, the result of a mismatch of half-developed ideas.

The villas, to me, feel smaller and less thoughtfully designed than newer DVC villas, at say, the Riviera (see my review here) or Island Tower (blog coming soon!). An extra bathroom in a one bedroom, like at Bay Lake or Island Tower could make a world of a difference, but I am nitpicking. The buses are efficient, but such a large resort can result in long wait times and many outright prefer a place as connected, like the BoardWalk (my review here) to EPCOT, or all of the resorts with monorail stations. Finally, though I enjoy the food here, there’s not really a knockout dining experience, nor character dining restaurant—I’ll give detractors that.

These aren’t dealbreakers, to me. In fact, SSR makes up for it in spades, offering another type of connectivity—to Disney Springs and Old Key West (via footpath or boat), and both Port Orleans resorts (don’t sleep on the moderate resorts, people)! There’s a massive golf course. The pools are top-notch. You can enjoy a quieter Disney World vacation, even if only on treasured resort days. And perhaps most exciting, this isn’t a place crawling with guests staying elsewhere, meaning it can feel miles away, a bubble within the Disney Bubble. And of course, the sprawling resort is like a massive playground for my kids, who can’t get enough of the trails, boats, pools, and of course, the mickey waffles. I think it’s a place they can enjoy as they get older. While there are no fireworks views or monorail rides, there’s still enough magic in its quiet charm from yesteryear.

Resort Rating: Four Disney World Dads.

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