Old Key West vs. Saratoga Springs Resort
Old Key West and Saratoga Springs are two of Walt Disney World’s largest resorts. Both are considered Deluxe Villas, with sprawling footprints and ardent fan-followings among the many DVC members who own at both resorts. In this, we’ll compare and contrast the accommodations, crowning a champion in categories including theme, rooms, dining, transportation, pools & cost. (Updated March 24, 2024.)
If you’re a long-time Disney Vacation Club Member, you’ve probably been faced with this dilemma at some point–whether to book Old Key West (OKW) or Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (SSR). Both are on the low end of the demand and point chart spectrum, which makes them great for last minute reservations or saving money by renting DVC points.
We know there are bound to be fans of each of these resorts; fans who call each of these resorts “home” or their favorites. That’s totally fine. We love a lot of things at Walt Disney World that are unpopular (Country Bear Jamboree, Carousel of Progress, and Impressions de France, just to name a few…). That does not change the fact that a lot of (most?) people debating between these resorts are doing so due to a lack of other options.
Aside from Old Key West and Saratoga Springs having low demand in common, there are a few other commonalities between them. Both are massive resorts. They’re both located in the same general area, adjacent to Disney Springs. Both have similar slates of amenities. Both they also built with the main purpose of being prototypical timeshare resorts, as opposed to hotels with a DVC presence tacked-on.
(Note that although they’re DVC resorts, you can book both directly via Walt Disney World, pay cash rates, and not be subjected to any slimy timeshare sales pitches. That’s not really Disney Vacation Club’s “thing” anyway. DVC pretty much sells itself–no nefarious tactics necessary.)
As with our other comparison, we use 6 elements of these two Walt Disney World villa hotels to determine which is “the best.” With that preface, it’s time to compare and contrast…
Theme: Old Key West – Despite the two being very similar in style, this is no contest. Old Key West captures the feeling of a bygone-era community in the Florida Keys that Disney has dubbed “Conch Flats,” with a mix of Victorian and Gingerbread architecture. The lush grounds and other thematic details go the extra mile in reinforcing the sense of community.
The way it is romanticized sufficiently distinguishes it from the (nearby-ish) real thing, and the overall ambiance has a relaxed, Jimmy Buffett-esque vibe that works really well for vacationing. If anything, Old Key West is underrated on the thematic front.
I’d argue that Saratoga Springs is the worst-themed resort at Walt Disney World. I know there’s bound to be some backlash to that, particularly from upstate New Yorkers who contend that it’s “just like how actual Saratoga Springs looks!” The threshold question, for me, is whether a theme is interesting, not whether it’s authentic. This is the same trap people fall into with Dino-Rama. Sure, it’s authentic as a tacky roadside carnival sorta thing.
Likewise, Saratoga Springs is authentic as a cookie-cutter condo development in a slightly upscale area of New York. That doesn’t make either interesting concepts that Walt Disney World should have replicated. In its defense, SSR has received several plussings over the years that have actually improved its themed design. But it’s still not on par with Old Key West or, honestly, any other resort at Walt Disney World.
Thematically, I’d take any one of the All-Stars over Saratoga Springs. No joke. I couldn’t drive 5 minutes and see an oversized Mighty Ducks helmet; I could see about 5 condo developments. Maybe not this nice, but the point still stands. (If we’re speaking strictly about atmosphere, it’s fair to say Saratoga Springs has a good vibe. But it’s not an exemplar of themed design.)
Rooms: Push – This is incredibly tricky. Saratoga Springs does a decent job with theme inside of the guest rooms, while also maintaining a certain level of quality. It still feels like a high-end condo unit, but not so much a cookie-cutter one. This is especially true after the most recent reimagining–see Splendid New Rooms at Saratoga Springs Resort.
Sure, they’re not my favorite resort rooms at Walt Disney World, but they nicely balance style with substance and are a big improvement over the old rooms at Saratoga Springs from a usability perspective. Lots of really nice ‘quality of life’ features that will improve your stay and make better use of the space.
Then there’s Old Key West. This resort also completed a room refurbishment not too long ago, but it happened about one year before SSR, which was prior to the “cut off” for good redesigns at Walt Disney World. The end result of that was toning down the “grandma’s cottage” look significantly, but without the same functional improvements and more scattershot themed design. Ironically, the new rooms are exactly like your grandma’s cottage in Florida would look if she bought sometime in the last decade–the old rooms had a Golden Girls look to them that was quite nice, and is going to come back into style (if it hasn’t already).
However, the rooms at Old Key West are much more spacious, even if they don’t utilize the floor plans as well. That’s really what makes this a push. If you want larger rooms, go with OKW. If you want newer and nicer ones, pick SSR. I can’t say I feel all too strongly about the rooms in either resort, and Saratoga winning on quality and Old Key West winning on size is enough for me to consider this a push.
Dining: Saratoga Springs – If you did a survey of Disney fans and asked them to name a restaurant at either of these resorts from memory, we’re guessing many would come up empty. Of those who could name one, it’d probably be Olivia’s. It’s about the only option between the two that has any sort of following.
Despite this, our pick goes to Saratoga Springs for having a more well-rounded slate of options. On more than one occasion, we’ve been pleasantly surprised by the menu depth of The Artist’s Palette at SSR, and Good’s Food to Go at OKW is weak by comparison. Gurgling Suitcase at OKW is arguably underrated as a bar, though.
Saratoga Springs also has a second quick service restaurant (Paddock Grill) offering added convenience. We feel quality of quick options when you’re on the run is the ultimate criterion here, as those wanting an excellent table service meal are better-suited heading over to Disney Springs.
With that said, it is difficult to pick a winner on the basis of table service restaurants. Again, Olivia’s has a following. It’s basically the DVC family kitchen (we love all the member photos). The fried chicken is amazing, and several breakfast options are likewise delicious. However, we think that Turf Club Bar & Grill is criminally underrated, and arguably deserves the same fan following as Olivia’s.
Transportation/Location: Saratoga Springs – Both of these resorts have the same kind of multi-stop bus transportation. Whether you view this as more or less convenient is a matter of personal preference. Anecdotal experiences to the contrary aside, neither is better or worse. (We’d recommend these as good places to have a car.)
Both also have boat service to Disney Springs, which is convenient. The reason Saratoga Springs wins here is because its walking path (and they both have them) to Disney Springs is more convenient, and makes it quite easy to drop into Disney Springs for a quick meal.
Pools: Saratoga Springs – Neither of these has a single pool that is going to blow anyone’s mind. However, Saratoga Springs offers a more formidable slate of pool options, and its secondary/quiet pools generally bring more to the table.
I prefer the theme and atmosphere of the Sandcastle Pool at Old Key West, which I would consider the single-best pool at either of these two resorts. Still, it’s not that special, and certainly not enough to overcome the supporting cast of pools at SSR, each of which brings something unique to the table.
Cost: Old Key West – Room rates are identical almost every night of the year and discounts are going to be comparable at each (both offer some of the deepest discounts at Walt Disney World). In our estimation, these two resorts are tied for dead-last in terms of value for money if you’re paying out of pocket.
Still, Old Key West claims a decisive victory here for one, simple reason: DVC point charts. We are guessing (and hoping) most people trying to decide between these two resorts are not paying out of pocket, but instead are scrambling to find last-minute DVC availability and are left with these two choices–and these two choices only.
Whether you’re a non-member looking to rent or an owner trying to book on “too little” notice, both OKW and SSR can be excellent options. In fact, that’s why this comparison exists in the first place–because these are both great options for those wanting value for money when booking relatively last-minute!
Regardless, the bottom line is that the point charts at Old Key West are typically more favorable, and it wins as a result.
Verdict: Old Key West – Theme ultimately carries the day here, as Old Key West brings much more to the table in that regard. It’s difficult to articulate, but OKW also has a certain x-factor (actually, let’s call it the “Buffett-Factor”) that just makes it so much more pleasant of a place. If we’re looking past that at amenities and convenience, it’s hard not to give a victory to SSR. So…like almost all of these comparisons…it’s going to come down to how you weigh each variable, along with individual preference.
Personally, I like Old Key West a lot more. Sarah prefers Saratoga Springs. With that said, neither of us would consider either resort our favorite, or in our top 5…or even in our top 10. In fact, they’re both towards the bottom of our Rankings of ALL Walt Disney World Hotels from Worst to Best.
We would never consider paying out of pocket for either as the prices are astronomical for what you get. In fact, even when we book one of them with DVC points, we always make a waitlist for something else. While we don’t mind staying at either, and can find the silver linings in each, there is always a better use of those points. As you can probably see, we’re not all that passionate about this showdown.
(There is one exception to that, which isn’t covered here at all since they’re basically their own thing: the Treehouse Villas at SSR. I am incredibly passionate about these accommodations, but they’re more like an extension of Wilderness Lodge that just happens to be located near SSR. See our Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs Resort Review for why they’re so special.)
With all of that said, we’re guessing some of you are passionate about SSR or OKW! As the original Disney Vacation Club resort, a lot of long-time members and Disney fans harbor nostalgia for it. On the other hand, Saratoga Springs is undoubtedly the home resort for a lot of newer fans, and its ‘freshness’ will score it points with many. Both of them are large, which means more members own here than, say, Beach Club or Grand Floridian. In addition to reading the comments before making your own decision, we suggest supplementing this with our full review of Disney’s Old Key West Resort and our Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Review.
If you’re thinking about joining DVC, be sure to read our Ultimate Guide to Disney Vacation Club. This covers the pros & cons, resale v. direct, how much money you’ll save, and other important things to know before taking the plunge. If you still can’t decide whether membership is right for you, “try before you buy” with the recommendations in How to Save BIG on Deluxe Disney Accommodations Renting DVC Points.
Your Thoughts
Which do you prefer, OKW or SSR? Is money or points the deciding factor for you? What about the room size or quality, dining, or anything else about Saratoga Springs or Old Key West? Is there another variable you can think of to make one or the other the better pick? Are we missing a key variable that could, potentially tilt the scales in the Saratoga’s favor? Do you agree or disagree with our picks? 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!
We’re staying at Saratoga Springs when we visit in December this year. We always like to stay at a different resort each time we visit. And after the disastrous stay we had at Coronado Springs last year, it was time to move up to a deluxe villa.
We chose Saratoga Springs over Old Key West because SS offers preferred rooms and OKW doesn’t. I can’t do that much walking, especially after a day of walking in the parks, so this is a must. We also liked how close it is to Disney Springs. We spend a lot of time at DS (granddaughter lives for Amorette’s Patisserie’s chocolate-covered strawberries lol), so it’s nice to be so close. We like to eat at DS instead of at most of the parks, so it’ll be nice to ride a bus from the park to DS, then just hop on a boat and sail “home.”
We may try OKC after the gondola is built, up, and running.
I was excited about these resorts because we could get 2 bedrooms and full kitchen and could all star as a family (multi- genration) but now I am really concerned. What would you recommend then? Thank you.
At first glance, I would say too close to call. Then I remember the gym that Saratoga has and think…I’m gonna go with Sarah on this. They are both fabulous. I wish they were close like AoA/pop close. I would love to be able to just bridge from to the other in a hop,skip, and a jump. Congress Park has my piece of my heart. But that happens if you stay long enough, doesn’t it?
My family (with adult children) prefers Saratoga Springs — unlike Old Key West, it has golf and a spa.
Would you be able to make a list of the top resorts that you pay out of pocket for, including one bedrooms. Thanks
I actually like Saratoga Springs for its “lack” of theme. I prefer it over a resort that looks like Mickey Mouse vomited everywhere. *cough* (Art of Animation) *cough*
As a mother I have to say Saratoga has the edge, simply because it’s really all about the pools when your from Montana and on vacation in Florida. The options are better in that department at Saratoga Springs.
While I completely agree with all of the individual comparisons, I don’t agree with the overall winner. Theme is important, but with these two examples, the theme is very subtle. We aren’t comparing them to The Poly, or CBR, or GF or PO. We are comparing a Florida themed resort (located in Florida!) to a Victorian Era / Horse Racing themed resort. Neither is going to blow you away with total immersion. But to give OKW the nod (based on theme?!?!) after SSR wins three of the five individual comparisons? That’s where you lose me. That’s like saying even though the Falcons beat the Patriots in the Superbowl (please God, for all that is good and holy!!!), the NFL gives the championship to the Pats because Brady is a better quarterback.
Obviously Tom feels “theme” is a significantly more important category in this battle.
If the Patriots get more yards, turnovers, and first downs than the Falcons, but are outscored………they lose.
They lost the most important category…….Points.
You wouldn’t rank them in the top 10? If money was a non-factor you would put moderates ahead of these two? And if basing it weighing cost heavily then you might have to move these two up above some of the priciest deluxes.
While I can see putting them near the bottom of the deluxe or DVC resorts, I can’t see putting them below any of the moderates. Both resorts have superior locations, rooms, dining and pools to any of the moderates.
For me, value for money is always a factor. 🙂
If we’re assuming, arguendo, that money is no issue, I would put OKW at the tail end of the Deluxe and Deluxe Villa rankings, and Saratoga Springs behind Port Orleans (both), Caribbean Beach, and Fort Wilderness Cabins. Theme matters a lot to me, and I feel SSR fails to deliver.
We have a large family group of 10 heading to Disney in early March that wanted to all stay together and while we were planning this particular vacation I found the options to accommodate the entire group in one suite to be limited to some degree which does point you back to these two resorts for large groups. We chose Old Key West this time around based on the size of the rooms and the overall theme. We had previously stayed at Saratoga Springs in 2011 as a large group and it was fine overall, the buses and the resorts large spread out size and layout was a bit of a challenge at times but overall we had no complaints. Old Key West claims to have some of the largest size suites anywhere in the Disney area and this allows us to all enjoy staying together! My wife and son and I stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge last year and had a great time and we would recommend that resort to anyone based on our experience, but this vacation this time around was more about room size and convenience than worrying too much about the age of the resort or the overall ranking pitted against newer options. We found AKL to be quite the haul to almost everything by bus which was one of the only strikes against that resort, so Old Key West will be nice to have the quick boat trip option to Disney Springs each night. I think like many resorts on the Disney property, each one has it’s pros and cons and it’s articles like these that really give travelers a chance to research what fits best for their vacation and their needs.
“this vacation this time around was more about room size”
Then you are likely to be very satisfied with Old Key West. The rooms are definitely among the largest in all of Walt Disney World.
Saratoga wins the food spot, but no word of the turf club?
We stayed at Saratoga spring in the autumn of 2015. There were 11 of us, travelling together from the UK. The suites here were big enough to accommodate us all (we didn’t go for a treehouse as we felt that didn’t quite offer enough space for all of us and we had a baby requiring a pram, so the steps would have been problematic, but I would LOVE to book one for a future trip).
We thought it was really nice, but our only basis for comparison was an All Star resort from two years earlier. The easy walk to Disney Springs was great, especially with young kids and my mother in law who was just weeks post-hip replacement.
The only significant issue we had was the buses, which were just awful for most of the two week stay. There were days we waited upwards of half an hour for a bus to the park we were heading to and often they were so packed they couldn’t stop at our stop to let more folks on. One day we had a character breakfast booked at one of the parks and nearly missed our spot because of the poor bus service. We complained but the staff weren’t able to do anything except apologise.
We got a good price by booking 14 months in advance too, plus free dining. So we felt it was good value for a deluxe resort. We were pleased with the dining options too and had two really good table service meals at the Turf Club, both walk-ins without booking.
I probably wouldn’t stay there again, simply because there are so many resorts to try out and we can only realistically visit Florida once every few years due to cost and distance. But overall we were pleased with the resort.
I’m a Dvc member home resort Saratoga. Even though it has its down points it great for large families that travel together. We do like the boardwalk and try each time to transfer over. But if not we deal with it. After all its just a room to bathe and sleep we spend all our waking hours in the lands.
I expected to like OKW more after readomg about them online, but I found that I much preferred SSR. We stayed at both (2 BR villas) last September. SSR was very clean, had elevators, lush beautiful grounds, and two really awesome pools. SSR also had a very nice and clean suite. The buildings at OKW were full of cobwebs and our bathroom was dingy. I also wasn’t impressed with the quick service dining options. Having said that, OKW was still very charming and we had a delightful time, I just liked SSR a lot better.
We are DVC members with our home resort being Boardwalk, which we love. We generally go to WDW twice a year. One time will be at BWV and the other will be at SSR. Our first experience at SSR was due to a last minute trip and we needed to get into a resort that had availability. We think this is one of the best features of the resort. There needs to be at least one resort where you can get into with a short lead time. That being said, we also love SSR with it’s proximity to Disney Springs. We rarely go to the Springs when we stay at BWV due to the pain of the new parking situation (wheelchair situation). We pretty much go every night when at SSR since it’s just a short walk. The other great thing about SSR, and OKW for that matter, is you can park right next to you room.
We (2 close to being senior citizens) stayed at Saratoga Sprjngs back in ’10 in Nov.
I hated it. It reminded me of cheap condos. Our room had pulls in the carpet & the veneer was chipped off the furniture. The sofa felt dirty.
I saw no theming except a horse statue.
I did like the balcony, but the view was just so so. Just grass.
The bus service was ok, the boat to (now) Disney Springs was ok. Restaurants were not good. The table service one was so overcrowded. The other one was very confusing.
The staff wasn’t friendly.
I would not go back. So disappointed. Thst being said, it was fine with my hubby. LOL.
There is a completely different point that tips the scales in favor of Saratoga Springs for me–the likelihood of getting a quiet room. Though both resorts are similarly spread out, Saratoga has some isolated (for all but the busiest times) areas where I can get some sleep without hearing stomping and screaming children running down the halls. We always ask to be put in the Grandstand area in the least convenient section of the resort. Because most people would prefer to be close to elevators, bus stops, and other amenities, many of the less convenient sections are sparsely populated. We have not found this to be the case at OKW (maybe it is the layout or thinner walls?). I love the theming at Old Key West, but for us quiet is a higher priority. Cast members are often surprised to be asked for something a little less convenient (because they correctly assume that most people would love a room by the pool or bus stop), but they are usually able to oblige.
I know it’s only a small percentage of the rooms, but if you have a larger family then the Treehouses at Saratoga Springs are a big win. They are well-themed and have 3 bedrooms for the “price” of a two-bedroom preferred villa.
The only downside is the distance to the main building; not a bad walk if the weather cooperates, but we were there in August.
We haven’t had a chance to stay in the Treehouse Villas yet (seems like slight overkill for the 2 of us!), but they do look great. Almost like the Fort Wilderness Cabins on steroids.
Old Key West has one other huge plus in my opinion … double QUEEN BEDS in the Studios instead of a Queen / sleeper sofa combo. Planning a huge trip for extended family (17 of us!), this was the solidifying factor in choosing OKW over SSR. When putting four adults in a room, two actual beds is far more comfortable.
I’ve had my first stay at SSR this January and stayed at OKW 2 years ago, both booked during the marathon week end, a very high demand period for DVC when there are very few options. And both suprised me, I really liked both and won’t mind staying there again.
There is one thing you’ve missed on the room side: OKW is the only DVC with 2 queen beds. I booked it because I was traveling with a friend and I wanted a real beds for both of us.
Otherwise, I’d say I prefer SSR. The walking path to SSR is really convenient, I used it a lot during my stay. I find the new Disney Springs very exciting on the restaurant front. Thanks to that walking path, SSR is also convenient to go to another resort: to go back just hop on a DS bus and then walk 10 minutes to your room.
That’s a good point on the 2 beds in the OKW studios. For a party of 4, that definitely tilts the scale in favor of OKW. On the other hand, *not* having 2 beds tilts the scale in favor of SSR for a party of 2. (Well, assuming those 2 are going to share the bed.)
I have to agree with you on that Tom. When it’s just me and my husband so we’re going to be sharing a bed anyway (and when we aren’t splurging for a 1 bedroom), I much prefer the couch over the second bed, even if I prefer the theming of OKW over SSR. While neither are my favorite resort, I like them both, and have even come to enjoy the fact they always feel a little more relaxing to me.