Nine Reasons We Love Saratoga Springs
Not all Walt Disney World resorts are created equal. Some come with better amenities, logistics, and overall style.
Today, I’d like to highlight one of them. Here are nine reasons to love Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.
The Campus and Theming
You won’t realize this fact while visiting, but Saratoga Springs resides on the former grounds of the Disney Institute.
Park officials reclaimed this land and turned it into a sprawling resort campus.
Appropriately, Disney chose a Saratoga Springs theme, meaning that it’s chock-full of references to horse racing.
Also, you’ll discover all your favorite Disney horses at various locations throughout the various Saratoga Springs buildings and hotel rooms.
The majestic animals provide a sense of comfort during your visit, as does the old-timey throwback vacation concept of Saratoga Springs.
For those of you unfamiliar with the New York racecourse, Saratoga Springs dates back to 1863, making it one of the oldest and most prestigious in the country.
Saratoga Springs also earned a turn-of-the-20th-century reputation as a fancy vacation destination. So, Saratoga Springs honors that tradition as well.
Make no mistake. You’re staying at a luxury resort when you book here!
The Lobby
I hope you like horses! Disney has stylized the lobby at Saratoga Springs to reflect its horse racing origins.
Much of the artwork on display here celebrates Disney and its horses, albeit with grace and class. It’s a luxurious lobby.
You’ll also find a restaurant and general store only a few feet from the lobby. The convenience of this layout proves a lifesaver during your stay!
By the way, make sure to breathe in when you enter the lobby. The fragrant scent at Saratoga Springs is so beloved that it’s one of the most popular candles.
The Pools
Disney recently announced that the main pool at Saratoga Springs would close for a brief refurbishment in 2023.
I had to laugh while trying to describe the pool, as the resort features so many that you must be specific.
The most popular one resides a few feet away from the hotel lobby, but you’ll find several others on the campus, including a quiet pool that’s a hidden gem.
Since Saratoga Springs includes so many buildings, the pools further from the hotel lobby tend to get ignored.
You can and should use that information to your advantage! Getting an entire pool to yourself here is possible, especially during the off-season.
The Restaurants
You’ll find two excellent restaurants at Saratoga Springs.
I can confirm their popularity, as I write about the Disney Vacation Club for some other sites.
When Walt Disney World reopened, neither of these restaurants was available at first. Guests complained loud and long about their absence.
Thankfully, both have since reopened. You’ll find Artist’s Palette near the hotel lobby. You don’t even need to walk outside to find it.
When you enter the lobby through the front door, simply turn left and walk through two sets of double doors.
The food here covers plenty of territory, as the restaurant resides in the same vicinity as the general store.
So, Artist’s Palette serves both grab-and-go menu items and plenty of delicious entrees.
When you want a nicer meal, you’ll choose the Turf Club Bar & Grill. As the name implies, the menu features plenty of seafood but also some high-quality steaks.
This place is wildly underrated because it’s so close to Disney Springs. People tend to overlook it but shouldn’t!
The Ride to Disney Springs
Four Disney resorts provide boat transportation to and from Disney Springs.
You can set sail from the two Port Orleans properties, Disney’s Old Key West Resort, or Saratoga Springs.
Obviously, the boat ride from Saratoga Springs is a short one, but it’s still quite lovely.
You’ll reach Disney Springs in a matter of minutes. During your trip, you’ll relish the magnificent backdrop of the former Disney Institute campus.
By the way, you can take the reverse approach here as well. When you want a tranquil moment during your trip, board the boat the other way!
Travel to Port Orleans and then back again. You’ll admire the scenic forestry, enjoy a unique perspective of the Treehouse Villas, and much more.
We always love riding the boats at Saratoga Springs!
Shopping at Disney Springs
You should appreciate the naming conventions here.
The entertainment complex changed its identity from Downtown Disney to Disney Springs so that it connected better to the nearby hotel, Saratoga Springs.
That strategy speaks volumes about how significant Disney Springs is to Saratoga Springs hotel guests.
When you plan a stay at this resort, you should anticipate doing most of your dining and shopping at Disney Springs.
Also, you’ll probably spend less time at the parks because you’re having so much fun at Disney Springs, which hosts a plethora of entertainment options!
The Spa
Frequent Walt Disney World guests have uncovered one of the greatest truths about vacations. You always need a spa day!
Yes, when you’re spending a week in Orlando, you should build in some “treat myself” time.
A handful of Disney resorts offer spa services. Saratoga Springs operates arguably the best of them, Senses. Well, they’re all named Senses, but this one’s especially good.
The Treehouse Villas
Okay, here’s an admittedly upscale option, but you should add it to your Disney bucket list.
This resort hosts some Treehouse Villas that are among the finest accommodations at Walt Disney World.
The explanation is right there in the name. Disney has built a bunch of treehouses in the middle of the woods.
They’re private and rustic and breathtaking to behold. When you stay at a Treehouse Villa, it’s like you’re on an entirely different vacation away from the world.
However, you’re also a ten-minute bus ride away from Walt Disney World’s theme parks! It’s an almost hypnotic vacation experience that guests adore.
At a minimum, you should take a boat ride from Saratoga Springs to Old Key West. That will allow you to sail by the Treehouse Villas and appreciate their splendor.
The Walk to Disney Springs
You can obviously take a lovely boat ride to Disney Springs. However, many people like to walk.
Saratoga Springs is the only official Disney resort where it’s practical to leave your hotel room and stroll to Disney Springs.
Depending on your building, the walk will take somewhere between five and 15 minutes. It’s an exquisite amenity that will make you love Saratoga Springs that much!
Seriously, this resort feels plush and comes brimming with the kind of amenities that you desire during a Disney vacation.
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Feature Image: D23