Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

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Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Location	Disney Springs Resort Area
Resort type	Disney Vacation Club resort
Opened	May 17, 2004; 17 years ago (May 17, 2004)
Theme	1880s Victorian, upstate New York lakeside retreat
Areas	The Springs, The Carousel, The Paddock, Congress Park, The Grandstand
Rooms	1,320
Suites	Grand Villa, Treehouse Villa
Green lodge	yes

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resort at the Walt Disney World Resort. The resort is the seventh Disney Vacation Club resort and is situated on the former site of the Disney Institute. It first opened May 17, 2004^[1] and was built in three phases. It is now the largest Disney Vacation Club resort. The resort was inspired by the city of Saratoga Springs, New York.^[2] Like all other DVC properties, it is considered a deluxe resort.

The 65-acre (26 ha) resort was designed by Graham Gund Architects of Cambridge, Massachusetts. There are a total of 18 Villa Buildings providing 828 Vacation Home Units (1,260 guest rooms), plus an additional 60 Treehouse Villas.

Available rooms range from single room studios to three bedroom extended family suites on two floors (Grand Villas). Like other Disney Vacation Club resorts, the studios offer kitchenettes, bathrooms, one queen bed, and one sleeper sofa. While the resort has one of the lowest costs for villas on property, the Springs area is now premier status, resulting in increased prices due to the popularity. The popularity of this area is a result of the location, being one of the closest areas to the main lobby including two restaurants, the Artist's Palette and The Turf Club Bar and Grill, and the main pool, High Rock Spring pool.

In October 2007, the resort received designation in the Florida Green Lodging Program.^[3]

A view of Congress Park, the first phase of Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa which opened in May 2004.

History[]

The resort opened in 4 phases:

• Phase 1: 4 Villa Buildings in one section called Congress Park opened with 184 Vacation Home units (280 guest rooms) on May 17, 2004.^[2]
• Phase 2: 8 Villa Buildings in two sections called The Springs and The Paddock started opening in Spring 2005 eventually adding 368 Vacation Home Units (560 guest rooms).
• Phase 3: 6 Villa Buildings in two sections called The Carousel and The Grandstand completed the (then) final phase of this large resort in Summer 2007, adding 276 Vacation Home Units (420 guest rooms).
• Phase 4: Treehouse Villas built in natural forest glens with 60 three-bedroom homes opened on June 1, 2009. These stand-alone structures—elevated 10 feet off the ground on pedestals and beams—are nestled unobtrusively into natural glens alongside the Sassagoula River.^[4]

Reservations[]

Reservations may be made directly through Disney like a normal hotel, and Disney Vacation Club members may book reservations using their vacation club points. Intermediary agencies allow non Disney Vacation Club members to book reservations using Disney Vacation Club Points.

Dining[]

The Turf Club Bar and Grill offers a full-service restaurant and lounge area. The lounge area is known as the "Turf Club Lounge" which offers a full-size pool table and full-service bar.^[2] The Turf Club restaurant serves only dinner.

The Artist's Palette is a market-style counter service eatery that offers both hot and cold meals and food grocery items,^[2] including a bakery and wine selection. The restaurant is themed after an artist's studio. The Artist's Palette also offers a gift shop adjacent to the eatery with Disney merchandise, resort merchandise, sundries, and other convenience items for guests.

On The Rocks pool bar is the main poolside bar located at the High Rock Spring Pool.^[2] The bar offers alcoholic drinks and beverages, soft drinks, light snacks, and a refillable mug station.

The Paddock Grill is a poolside bar at The Paddock Pool. In addition to offering drinks it also has a lengthy counter service food menu. It is open all day, including having many breakfast options.

The Backstretch Pool Bar is a poolside bar at The Grandstand pool. In addition to drinks, this poolside bar offers some light meals and snacks.

Spa and recreation[]

The Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa offers recreational activities. Recreational activities includes the main pool, three additional pools, a spa and fitness center,^[2] bike and surrey rentals, an arcade, a "Community Hall" (arts, crafts, and entertainment center),^[2] and the Lake Buena Vista Golf Club.

Senses - A Disney Spa offers professional spa treatments and packages. The center features relaxing mineral pools and private treatment rooms for spa guests.

Lake Buena Vista Golf Course is a golf course. The golf club entrance is located on the lower level of the Carriage House lobby building and is only accessible behind the Carriage House lobby building below the Turf Club Bar & Grill. The course has been a host to PGA and LPGA events.^{[citation needed]}

High Rock Spring Pool is the original feature pool of the resort located outside the main/clubhouse building. It is designed as a natural spring with rocks, geysers, trees, and other themed touches. It features a zero-depth entry into the pool, a waterslide that starts at the top of the spring with turns and drops into the pool below, two hot tubs outside the pool, a pop jets area for young children (with Donald Duck in a spring),^[2] and an adult bar called "On The Rocks Pool Bar" with pool chairs.

The Paddock Pool is a second feature pool. Added in 2011, it was built due to the increased guest capacity of the Saratoga Springs Resort. Following the addition of this pool, guests who are located in the back of this large themed resort no longer must travel to the original feature pool all the way in front of resort to enjoy a feature pool. This second feature pool is the same size of the original feature pool and is themed to Paddock Village and the Springs area with a zero-depth entry into the pool, a waterslide that starts in a water tower-type structure and goes into the pool, two hot tubs, a restroom/changing room facility, and a quick service restaurant serving American, healthy, children's and Italian foods in a building themed to a Paddock building similar to the main lobby area. This building also includes a fountain drink station which accommodates to guests who purchase the souvenir mugs that get free refills. A seating area for a quick service restaurant, a pool bar adjacent to the restaurant, pool chairs and play area for young children with a spring creek theme are included. The children's play area includes smaller waterslides and a splash bucket that drops every few minutes.

Additional pools are also located in The Grandstand, Congress Park, and at the Treehouse Villas. These 'quiet' pools also include whirlpools, and many include children's play areas.

Transportation[]

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is served by Disney Transport bus and watercraft transportation. For bus service, there are five bus stops located throughout the resort. The bus stops are The Springs (Guest Villa 3101 - 4436 & The Carriage House), Congress Park (Guest Villas 1101 - 2836), The Paddock (Guest Villas 4501 - 6836), The Carousel (Guest Villas 7101 - 7836), and The Grandstand (Guest Villas 8101 - 9836). Buses at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa have direct routes to all theme parks and water parks such as the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. As of August 29, an internal bus route serving all stations will be available. Watercraft service is available to Disney Springs, with connecting service to Disney's Old Key West Resort and Disney's Port Orleans Resort at Disney Springs. Bus transportation to Disney Springs only goes to the Congress Park bus stop as of November 2016 due to access via watercraft and walking. In addition to the water taxi and bus service, there is a walkway that connects the resort to Disney Springs. Transportation to a Walt Disney World Resort Golf Course is also available by taxi, which will be arranged by the Bell Services Desk, located at the Carriage House. Upon return to Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, the Pro Shop at the golf course will arrange a return taxi. This service is free of charge.

There is an easement for monorail expansion, but there are currently no plans for such an expansion.^[5]

As of January 2017, the springs area rooms are now premiere status, resulting in higher costs per night. The popularity of this area has increased in recent years due to the proximity to the main area including Artists palette, high springs pool, and the dining restaurant.

Disney Vacation Club Preview Center[]

The Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa contains the Disney Vacation Club Preview Center, the official open house and sales center for the Disney Vacation Club.^[2] The center includes a preview lobby and several full-scale model villas of the latest Disney Vacation Club resorts.

Walt Disney World Conference Center[]

The Walt Disney World Conference Center was a chalet-style building that was designed for small and medium-sized business meetings. It opened in August 1980 along the banks of Club Lake and was then converted into part of the Disney Institute. It was later demolished when construction began on the Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, which now stands on the grounds of the former Institute.

The conference center had four rooms which could be broken down into several configurations. The largest breakout room, at 6,500 square feet (600 m²), could seat 505 guests with theater-style seating. Each meeting room faced the lake and had automatic lighting that would turn on when external light conditions required them. Meeting planners could have themed entertainment with the Disney characters as well as the ability to arrange for a round of golf or a tennis match. The conference center could not handle large conventions and the large groups were forced to use newly created meeting spaces at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, Walt Disney World Swan, Disney's Contemporary Resort, and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa hotels, which resulted in the closure of the conference center.

References[]

External links[]

• Official website

Coordinates: 28°22′36″N 81°31′13″W / 28.376712°N 81.520194°W / 28.376712; -81.520194