Hotel Review: A Magical Stay at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort

Review of our Magical Stay at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort at Disney World

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is a deluxe resort located in the Disney Springs area at Walt Disney World Resort. The resort is themed to the historic Saratoga Springs region in upstate New York and features Victorian-style architecture and decor.

We spent a week at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa in a 1-bedroom villa that offered amazing amenities for our family of four including a full kitchen, washer/dryer, separate bedroom, trundle bed, murphy in-wall bed and magical Disney touches throughout.

We selected this Deluxe Villa Resort since it offered lots of room for our family of four, a full kitchen (to help save on food costs), proximity to Disney Springs and since it fit well within our budget for this trip.  

A few other reasons why we chose to stay at a Disney World Resort include:

• Convenience
• Staying at a Disney World hotel puts you closer to the parks, which means less time traveling and more time having fun.  Most Disney World hotels offer transportation to and from the parks via bus or skyliner gondola, so you don't have to worry about driving or paying for parking.
• Early Entry Hours
• Guests of Disney World hotels can take advantage of Early Entry, which allows you to enter certain parks 30 minutes before park opening. This can be a great way to experience popular attractions with shorter wait times.
• Theming
• Disney World hotels are known for their immersive theming and allows you to fully immerse yourself in the magic of Disney.

Hotel Overview

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is inspired by historic Saratoga Springs, a late-1800s’ New York retreat famous for its spas and horse racing.  The resort facade is charming and features a Victorian-style in colorful themes.  The resort hotel is nestled between rolling golf course greens and the shimmering Lake Buena Vista. 

The location of Saratoga Springs Resort is a little far removed from the four Disney World Theme Parks, but has convenient (walkable) access to the Disney Springs, which is home to over 150 venues that include restaurants, shops and more.  You could walk over to Disney Springs (some rooms are much closer to the footbridge), but it can be much easier to take a Disney water taxi, Disney bus or a ride-share via Uber or Lyft:

• Disney Bus Transportation
• Most areas throughout Walt Disney World Resort are accessible by complimentary bus transportation. There are bus stops located throughout Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, including one near High Rock Spring Pool.  An internal bus also travels between High Rock Spring Pool and the Treehouse Villas.
• Disney Water Transportation
• Cruise to Disney Springs on a complimentary water taxi. One water launch is located at the Treehouse Villas, while a second is a short walk from The Turf Club Bar and Grill.

• Minnie Van Service
• Dash about in Disney style with Minnie Van service by Lyft for travel within Walt Disney World Resort.

If you decide to bring a rental car like we did for our Orlando trip, overnight self-parking is complimentary when staying at Disney Resort hotels at Walt Disney World Resort and valet parking would run you $33 per night

What Makes This Resort Hotel Unique

• A Home Base with Extra Space
• Stay in a Disney Deluxe Villa with just-like-home amenities like a kitchen, washer, dryer and separate bedrooms. These outstanding accommodations go beyond the traditional hotel room. Designed with comfort in mind, Disney Deluxe Villas are ideal for families and larger parties.
• Choose from 1- and 2-Bedroom Villas—as well as 3-Bedroom Treehouse Villas—with the following features:
• A full kitchen, so you can prepare meals and snacks from the comfort of your villa
• Spacious living and dining areas where your family can share quality time together
• Separate bedrooms that offer space, privacy and tranquility - so it’s easy to rest, relax and recharge your spirit after each exhilarating vacation day
• A washer and dryer, so you can pack lightly

• And if a villa is more space than you need, consider booking a Deluxe Studio, which includes a kitchenette and sleeper sofa, which is a great option for smaller travel parties and shorter stays.

• Pools with Waterslides: Discover 2 exciting feature pools plus waterslides, whirlpool spas, aqua-play areas and more:
• At The Paddock Pool, breeze down a 146-foot-long waterslide, relax in a horseshoe-shaped whirlpool spa and wade into the pool via a gently sloping, zero-depth entry point. There’s even 2 miniature waterslides built just for kids.
• At High Rock Spring Pool, delight in cascading waterfalls, a zero-depth entry point and a waterslide built into the rocks. Children can splash through bubbling geysers at the Donald Duck play area and glide down the pint-sized waterslide.
• You can also explore 3 additional, all-ages leisure pools, each with a whirlpool spa.

• Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course
• Hone your skills at an award-winning, country-club style course that’s also a lush wildlife sanctuary.

• 24-hour self-service laundry rooms (if you don't have a villa with washer/dryer in the unit)
• Available near High Rock Spring Pool, Congress Park Pool, The Grandstand Pool and The Paddock Pool.

Accommodations

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort offers a variety of accommodations, including studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom villas. 

For our stay here, we were in a one-bedroom villa that can accommodate up to five guests and featured a private bedroom with a king-size bed, a queen-size sleeper sofa in the living area, trundle bed under the TV, a fully equipped kitchen and washer/dryer in the unit.

Dining

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa offers a variety of dining options amid an equestrian-themed, Victorian-style setting.

• The Turf Club Bar and Grill (dinner)
• Bet on succulent steaks and seasonal dishes in an intimate setting reminiscent of the horse-racing clubs of yesteryear.
• The Artist’s Palette (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
• Get creative with your choices—pick up market groceries, grab a to-go snack or sit down for a made-to-order meal.
• The Paddock Grill (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Bar Service)
• Refuel with a satisfying selection of sandwiches, salads and burgers after a dip in Paddock Pool. 
• The Turf Club Lounge (Bar Service)
• Stop by for a signature cocktail or a frothy cold beer before dinner in the restaurant of the same name.
• Chip 'n Dale's Cafe (Snacks)
• Grab a quick bite after golfing. This sandwich stand offers all sorts of savory snacks. Light breakfasts available too.

Overall Impression

The week long stay we had at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa in a 1-bedroom villa was amazing and offered great amenities for our family of four including a full kitchen, washer/dryer, separate bedroom, trundle bed, murphy in-wall bed and magical Disney touches throughout.  

Saratoga Springs was a great home-base for us to visit each of the theme parks of Disney World that included Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Epcot.  It was also close enough for a visit to Universal Orlando and offered convenient access to Disney Springs, where we enjoyed dining at Morimoto Asia, The Boathouse and shopping at the stores there.

We selected this Deluxe Villa Resort since it offered lots of room for our family of four, a full kitchen (to help save on food costs), proximity to Disney Springs and since it fit well within our budget for this trip.