Feature Article: Saratoga Springs - Resort Review - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
When you think of Saratoga Springs, you may think of a quiet sleepy town in upstate New York, nestled between beautiful mountains and lush meadows. You think of the mineral springs that made Saratoga Springs famous. If you are a history buff, you may even know that the Battle of Saratoga is considered a pivotal turning point in the War for Independence! And, of course, you think of how the town comes alive every August with the elegance of horse racing! Disney Vacation Club (DVC) has recaptured this amazing slice of American culture right in Orlando. Of course, there are no mountains, no race track, and no battles, but there are plenty of touches of that famous New York town!
When you first arrive at Saratoga Springs Resort (SSR), you are greeted at the Carriage House check in, which is representative of classic Victorian architecture. The lobby soars above you in beautiful muted pastels surrounding an intricate carousel horse centerpiece. The check in process for us has been quick and easy each time we have stayed there.
The theme continues as you make your way toward your Saratoga Springs Resort room. You will pass statues of horses, beautiful fountains, and places like "Horsing Around Rentals" and the "Win, Place and Show" arcade.
Saratoga Springs is divided into five sections. The Grandstand is the newest, and close to the Carriage House and amenities. It has a quiet pool, and overlooks the golf course. Congress Park is closest to the resort entrance. The Paddock (our personal favorite), flanks Saratoga Lake and also has a quiet pool. The view from your balcony is magnificent! Congress Park overlooks Village Lake and has views of Downtown Disney. It also has a quiet pool. And the Springs are closest to the Carriage House and the main themed pool. You can drive to your villa and park right outside. If you don't have a vehicle, bell services will be happy to assist you.
One complaint that some guests had is that the doors to all villas are outside, only accessed from exterior walkways. We did not find this to be a problem at all, but others felt it gave the resort a "cold" feeling. However, when you enter your villa that feeling will instantly evaporate, thanks to the beautiful decor. Decorated in more pastels, you get a sense of richness as soon as you enter. Your accommodations include a flat-screen TV, DVD player, laptop-sized safe, and starting this year, free Internet. A studio unit has a small refrigerator, microwave, sink, and coffeemaker, while the 1 and two-bedroom villas have a full kitchen, whirlpool tub, and a washer and dryer. If you are lucky, you may find a horse-shaped towel animal when you arrive! Once you have settled in, it's time to go exploring! If you are hungry, Saratoga Springs Resort offers several options. The Turf Club offers full service dining as well as cocktails. For a quick bite, The Artist's Palette serves meals cafeteria-style, as well as a variety of snacks and bakery/breakfast items. This is where you would purchase your refillable mug. If you are thirsty, in addition to the above options, there are two pool bars, "The Rocks" and "The Backstretch." You can rent surrey bikes, play tennis or shuffleboard, and of course, play golf at the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course. Sadly, Disney did away with the horse-drawn carriage rides around the resort.
If you'd rather relax than play, head for the Saratoga Springs Spa. While you might not be able to "take the waters" like in days of old, you can work out, get a manicure, or go for a full line of spa treatments from a facial to a massage. If you are more of an outside type, Saratoga Springs Resort offers a nice jogging/walking path. And if you would like to swim, might I suggest the High Rock Springs pool? I am not a water slide person, but my husband is, and he spent a good part of our swim time heading down the rock slide. He said it was a really great slide! I relaxed with a Blue Mai Tai from the pool bar, and then we both went in the hot tub. We also tried the quiet pool and the hot tub near the Paddock, and both were very nice.
And if you are ready to party, it is just a short walk or ferry ride to Downtown Disney. If you head out behind the Paddock and Congress Park, you will find the footpath to Downtown Disney. It's a short and relaxing walk to Disney's answer to fun and nightlife. We took this walk back from Downtown Disney, and it was a beautiful late night stroll. The Disney Vacation Club ferry also runs between Old Key West, Saratoga Springs Resort and Downtown Disney. You can board right behind the Carriage House for a relaxing trip. The ferries run about every 20 minutes or so up until 11 PM. The Downtown Disney ferry drops you off at the boat dock near Captain Jack's, and the Old Key West ferry drops you off at the Hospitality House (the main building at Old Key West).
Our only complaint about Saratoga Springs Resort is that we feel the signs are a bit confusing. The resort is large and spread out (Disney Vacation Club's largest resort yet!) and the signage could be a little more concise. After Day Two, we were comfortable enough getting around, but before that, more than once we ended up in a loop around the golf course entrance.
Bus service has not been a problem. The bus makes several internal stops, as is normal with a resort of this size, and then heads straight out to your destination. The bus stops are well laid out, and just a short walk from most villas.
I love staying at Saratoga Springs Resort. It brings back memories of a peaceful easier time, and gives you that relaxed feeling as soon as you walk in. I am very happy that we took the plunge and added points at this resort!
What do you think? Please add your own comments, experiences, or news related to this article in this thread! Reader feedback is welcome and encouraged.
We have booked this resort for overflow family when we could not get accommodations within our same resort. Wow....I'm sorry, family...I really am.
We made plans LATE for the Food and Wine Festival and were stuck, if we wanted to use our annual passes before they expired in March 2015 AND we wanted to get the F&W events we had to stay at SSR.
My list is too long but let me say:
It's too large and spread out
It has no sit down restaurant open for Breakfast or Lunch
The pools are horrible shallow - can't kick and swim without my toes dragging the concrete.
Exhaust Fan goes off when you walk into the tub/vanity area and runs loudly for about 20-30 minutes.... BUT there is no EXHAUST fan in the toilet area. Stupid, huh???
__________________
OKW Mom
DVC Member since 1996
Old Key West/Hilton Head Island
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
can't kick and swim without my toes dragging the concrete.
BUT there is no EXHAUST fan in the toilet area. Stupid, huh???
Linear Mode
