Splendid New Rooms at Saratoga Springs Resort
As part of the 2-Year Overhaul of Saratoga Springs Resort, totally new villas and hotel rooms are debuting. Thus far, only a handful of buildings with the reimagined rooms have debuted, all in the Congress Park section near Disney Springs. Here we’ll share photos and video from inside the new rooms at Walt Disney World’s largest Disney Vacation Club resort.
After seeing the concept art, construction around Saratoga Springs Resort, and touring the model rooms for Disney’s Riviera Resort, we were really eager to see the end result here. Figuring some rooms would be ready late last year, we booked a strategic stay for the beginning of 2020 during “Adventure Season” when the required points would be lowest.
Even then, we knew we were rolling the dice. Only a small percentage of the rooms at Saratoga Springs Resort have been completed, so there was a strong probability we’d get an old room. Worse yet, with our luck there was a chance we’d end up in an old room in the building half under construction. To the contrary, our luck turned out to be very good, and we won the Walt Disney World lottery…twice!
Not only were we put in a newly-reimagined room but we were also upgraded from a Deluxe Studio to a One-Bedroom Villa. This is exceedingly rare when using Disney Vacation Club points (as we were), but has actually happened to us twice in the last few years. I’m guessing it’s because we’re usually doing one-night stays, which makes it easier to shift around our reservation.
Upon seeing it was a 1BR unit, I asked Sarah whether we should request a studio instead. The are you nuts?! look on her face gave me my answer. I thought readers would be more interested in seeing a Deluxe Studio since that’s more in line with a normal hotel room and what we usually feature in posts here–I’ll guess you’ll just have to imagine how this translates to a Deluxe Studio.
Saratoga Springs Resort is actually our home DVC resort, but we haven’t stayed there in a while. In fact, for a while it was far and away our least favorite Disney Vacation Club resort. We cover the dilemma of which home resort to choose, and which we’d pick if we had to do it all over again in our Bay Lake Tower: Best DVC Home Resort? post. Spoiler: the answer is in the title.
In recent years, Saratoga Springs has grown us considerably. Some enhancements around the resort have given it more depth and character, Disney Springs has blossomed into the culinary epicenter of Walt Disney World, and new resorts have debuted (*cough*Riviera*cough*) that make it look better by comparison.
In any case, we were looking forward to a fun resort-centered visit, splitting time between the room and Disney Springs. We had a couple of meals at Disney Springs (4 Rivers Cantina and STK) and saw a couple of movies (Little Women and Ford v. Ferrari) in between time in the chairs on our balcony.
Not that you care, but even beyond the new rooms, it was a great stay at Saratoga Springs that gave us even more appreciation for the resort. We often mention how Animal Kingdom Lodge is the ultimate resort for a “no parks” long weekend getaway, but Disney Springs might give that a serious run for its money if you’re into eating, shopping, and filmgoing.
Moving on to the new rooms…
Before offering my commentary, check out the above video so you can form your own conclusions.
(Also, please enjoy our smooth and seamless teamwork to “magically” transform the main living room, ha!)
These have me a bit torn. Ultimately, I think the room is a clear and unequivocal upgrade from what Saratoga Springs Resort had before–and I actually liked those rooms at one point.
However, I think the plaid patterning and earth tones were starting to look a bit dated, and not in keeping with the light and bright look of the resort as a whole.
The new rooms are definitely lighter, brighter, and contain a variety of fun Disney touches.
The interior design features is generally low-key, but offers subtle sophistication, clever and engaging uses of texture, an abundance of clean lines, and upgraded finishings throughout. From the herringbone plank flooring to the wheel chandelier, the features have been plussed in a variety of ways.
In terms of functionality, there’s no question–these are far superior to what was there before. The pull-down Murphy bed is far more comfortable than the sofa sleeper.
This is identical to the system added at Disney’s Riviera Resort, and similar to the one at Pop Century and the All Stars (we think the mattress is slightly thinner here, but can’t confirm that).
The artwork is fun and gives the room some nice and on-theme Disney touches.
The concept art and paintings that used to be in the rooms were more my speed, but those were also arguably drab. Having more vibrant and lighthearted imagery is more suiting to the resort.
In the shelves in the living room, I really like the custom-made “Best Dad” and “Best Old Horse” trophies.
These are both very on-brand for Saratoga Springs Resort.
However (there’s always a however, isn’t there?!), a lot of the furnishings and stylistic choices strike me as being very on-trend and off-the-shelf.
Although not by choice, I watch a lot of HGTV, and many of the specific stylistic choices here are exactly what you’d find in the dozen-plus indistinguishable shows on that network. I feel like I’d see a lot of the same things here as a condo in Champions Gate, Davenport, or Reunion.
In some places, I also think the rooms look a bit too monochrome.
This art is a good example of both issues. The idea of inserting Disney characters into the on-theme photos is a neat one, but the display feels a bit drab and the lineup of frames looks really trendy.
I’m not sure whether that’s too harsh, though. All of this stuff is on-trend because it plays well with people, and this is like a good marriage of contemporary interior design complemented by Disney touches.
It’s not themed to the hilt like the new rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge, but nor is the exterior of Saratoga Springs Resort.
The new-look rooms are in keeping with Saratoga Springs Resort as a whole, which is arguably a Disneyfied condo community. If this were Wilderness Lodge or BoardWalk Inn, I’d be deriding the design.
But Saratoga Springs is a very different resort than those, and it’s always been more about function and comfort than theme. (And to be fair, these rooms are unquestionably better than the new ones at BoardWalk or Beach Club–and that’s without grading on a curve.)
Within that context, these new rooms at Saratoga Springs Resort are winners. I suspect most DVC members who call SSR their home resort will appreciate the choices and tradeoffs made here. As someone who skews towards the “highly-themed” end of the fan spectrum, Saratoga Springs Resort was never my favorite to begin with. It has definitely grown on me thanks to a variety of improvements in the last decade or so, and now these new rooms join that list.
Finally, we’ve referenced several other room overhauls in this post. If you’re interesting in reading/seeing our other posts concerning these new rooms to judge for yourself how Saratoga Springs Resort stacks here, here’s the full list of our reviews, with the letter grade I’d give to each in parentheses:
- All Star Movies (B)
- Animal Kingdom Lodge (A-)
- Beach Club (D)
- Old Key West (C)
- Pop Century (B)
- Port Orleans Riverside (C)
- Port Orleans French Quarter (C)
- Wilderness Lodge Test Rooms (F)
- Yacht Club (B+)
Note that these leaves off a few resorts (Caribbean Beach, Coronado, BoardWalk Inn) all of which we’ve covered elsewhere, mostly in updated resort reviews. See our updated Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page for those.
If you’re planning a WDW trip, we can help! For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of the new rooms at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa? Do you agree or disagree with our review? Do you prefer the look of the old or new rooms? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
If we really enjoyed the Riviera one bedroom villa, would we be pleased with the one bedroom villa at Saratoga springs? If we’re just doing a weeklong resort stay, we are mainly interested in the swimming pools and proximity to Disney springs. The one bedroom villas at Saratoga looks smaller than the one bedroom villa at Riviera. I think they will be fine. Just wondered If anyone has stayed in the newly refurbished one bedroom or two bedroom villas at Saratoga. Do they ever upgrade? Also wondering about during the pandemic if the entire resort is opened and how busy it is.
We loved the Murphy bed. Couch doesn’t have to have cushions removed. Xab I ask what brand is that? We would like one for our guest bedroom. Mindy m
I was thinking about adding a day or two to our trip to Disney in the spring. I was looking at Saratoga Springs because I thought it would be nice to get a room close to Disney Springs for our last day/s before coming back home. I’m glad I stumbled on this review. Now I know it won’t work, which is a little sad.
Murphy beds may be fine for some, but they aren’t for everyone. We stayed at All Star Movies with a Murphy bed & it was a nightmare. I’m handicapped & can’t pull that bed down & push it back up. I was assured someone would come & help with that, but no one ever did. I had to leave the bed down so the kids could sleep, but it took up too much of the room. At Saratoga Springs, it would be even worse because there’s a sofa in front of it that would have to be moved (to where?). Sad that we’d have to pay deluxe villa prices for a, virtually, value resort room. But better I found out before booking & paying for the room! Thanks!
I think the new style Murphy bed collapses the couch so no need to move it anywhere. But that said, the living area in those units isn’t huge so it still could feel cramped with the bed down all of the time. We stayed in a non refurbished 2br in January and with 5 kids we definitely used the pull-out couch and left it open most of the time for convenience. It felt a little cramped but it was fine for us.
I think the rooms look great with the refurb and we have one booked for January!
I would never have booked the old rooms, as I think they looked abysmal with that weird green paint, and I probabaly would have done away with the plaid drapes in the refurbished bedroom too (they remind me of a 70’s boys bedroom), but who am I? Its funny how decor can be a no go, all a matter of taste!
The Boulder Ridge Villas, the weird red and green colors on the tile…nope. And the red in the old Yacht Club rooms.
So, I booked a preferred 1 bedroom villa after changing my Animal Kingdom Lodge reservation yesterday. (so frustrated, I kept checking and could never apply the southern state magic deal to that reservation) During my request, I put Congress Park for my first choice. Not certain what to put for 2nd as I don’t truly understand what “preferred” means in this situation. Could you share thoughts with me please. And finally, a thank you to you and Sarah for keeping “the magic” alive for those of us needing it during this abnormal time!
Preferred could also put you in The Springs, which is near the feature pool & lobby. It’s the first bus stop entering & leaving the resort, so that’s a plus. It’s close to the ferry that goes to Disney Springs & a short walk to the Community Center.
“Standard Categories are located in The Grandstand, The Carousel and The Paddock.”
“Preferred categories are located in The Springs and Congress Park.”
I found this on DVC’s website.
Thanks Tom and Sarah for the update. Any new information on any of the updates since some of the resorts are now not opening until later? We are now staying here after being moved twice from closed resorts so I want to make sure I either get one of the newly refurbished rooms or an older room over at the Paddock and not an older room at the springs. I am not a fan of the Congress park section and if I have to get an older room I would rather be over in a building near the paddock then an older room at the springs. I know it is 2 different categories so it is definitely a dilemma of the first world order and I am being a nitpicker but I would appreciate any feedback.
hi! a deluxe studio at Disney’s Saratoga springs for people a one-bedroom Villa sleeps five people a two bedroom Villa sleeps nine people and a three bedroom grand villa sleeps 12. hope this helps enjoy your stay!
We are having to move our May 25-June 2 trip due to concerns about COVID-19. We rented DVC points and will likely end up at Saratoga. Any idea if the redone deluxe studio rooms sleep 4 or 5?
Maybe my weekend reading comprehension skills are faltering me, but you don’t list out the letter grade for this SSR renvo along with the other resorts? Where does this fall (or perhaps more appropriately, rise)?
Do these new rooms sleep 5 or 6? We are a family of 6, my husband and I stayed there with friends and liked it and would love to go back!!!
There are no 1BR rooms at DVC resorts that are rated to sleep 6, but 6 will be very comfortable in a 2BR.