Saratoga Springs, Walt Disney World
LOCATION
Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, across from Disney Springs. It is located about 10-15 minutes from the main theme parks: Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.
AMENITIES & UNIQUE FEATURES
The resort is home to over 800 units and 100 acres of land and is located right on the lake. Saratoga Springs has a quality combination of activities for all ages, a restaurant and bar in the main house, and has its own fitness center and spa.
Stand-out Features at the Resort:
3 leisure pools
Video Game & Arcade Room
Tennis & basketball Courts
Golf course on the property
Campfire & movie night under the stars
Buses to & from all Disney parks & properties
*Ferry that will take you to Disney Springs within 10 minutes*
MUST-DO’S
Check out each pool as each one has its own unique features!
Take the ferry over to Disney Springs for the afternoon or evening
Participate in one of the staff-led activities
REVIEW
As I mention in the other Disney-related posts in the past few weeks, this was not our first time down in Disney. However, it was the first time we stayed at Saratoga Springs. The last time we went to Disney in 2013, we stayed at Old Key West which is also connected to the lake and ferry system, but is at the beginning of the river. To arrive at Disney Springs, you had to pass by the Treehouse Villas & Saratoga Springs. Looking back, I would say the ferry ride took about 30 minutes, depending on the wait time and if you had to stop at the other resorts to pick up more passengers. At Saratoga Springs, you could see Disney Springs from the resort and the ferry ride was less than 10 minutes. This was so convenient! We practically went every day this trip, and I recall sometimes going during the day, returning back to the resort, and then hopping on the ferry at night. And it made it easier for parts or individuals in our group to head over there when they wanted to, while the others could meet up with them when they were ready. Definitely the best part of staying at this resort because Disney Springs has been built up over the years to have everything you could need – from restaurants to bars, to a movie theater and bowling alley to shopping to virtual reality gaming to character Meet-N-Greet. If you missed the ferry or did not want to wait, you were able to walk over to Disney Spring in a matter of 15-20 minutes.
Outside the convenience of the location, I really liked the entire layout of the resort. I see a lot of the resorts in Disney have more of a high-rise hotel-like structure. One thing we always make sure when we travel to Disney is to stay at those resorts that are set up more like villas and spread throughout the property. From our villa, it was a two-minute walk to the pool on our side of the resort and a five-minute walk to the main pool, the Front Desk, the convenient store, and the spa & fitness center. The resort itself was very walkable and nothing was ever too far away from us that we needed a car. The main pool had a lot of space, a water slide, and two jacuzzis. The tennis and basketball courts were well-managed. The fitness center (for those like me who desire to workout on vacation) was kept very well and had a good variety of cardio equipment, weight machines, and free weights; as a personal trainer, I was able to get sufficient workouts in without feeling like there was something missing. And everywhere I or anyone in my party went, we felt like the staff was phenomenal. We have been to some of the Disney properties where we have not commended the staff. But honestly here, you could tell it was an important part that made their resort special – their attitude, energy, and willingness to help. If I returned to Disney for another trip, Saratoga Springs would be one of the top on my list!