What are the pros and cons of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa? Take a look before booking your next trip to Walt Disney World.

When it comes to Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort hotels, your first thought likely goes to the Magic Kingdom- or EPCOT-area resorts. However, did you know there’s a Deluxe hotel located just steps away from Disney Springs? Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is located just across the shores of Lake Buena Vista. The hotel is an equestrian-themed, Victorian-style resort inspired by the famous racetracks of Saratoga, NY. The hotel offers DVC rooms, as well as unique Treehouse Villas that you can stay in. If you’re considering booking a stay at this Victorian-style Disney Vacation Club resort, here are the pros and cons you need to know.

Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Pros 

Let’s start off with the pros of this unique resort! Located within walking distance of Disney Springs, the hotel offers a world of shopping and dining just steps away. We’re sharing a few of our favorite parts of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.

Access to Disney Springs

Hands down, my family’s favorite part of Saratoga Springs is its proximity to Disney Springs—which is one of our favorite places to grab a bite and relax with a margarita and some live music.

Disney Springs is a walk or boat ride away. Photo by Mike Billick

There’s a walking path between Saratoga and Disney Springs or, if you prefer, you can take a water taxi. (As this is my preferred method of transportation, I highly recommend the relaxing boat ride across the lake!) You can also, of course, take a bus or hop in your car and drive over.

Dining Options

There are plenty of dining options to choose from—which has always been ideal for my particularly picky family. Here, you’ll find a steakhouse-style signature dining restaurant (The Turf Club Bar and Grill), my favorite Quick-Service option (The Artist’s Palette), and tons of pool-side choices.

Dining options abound at Saratoga Springs. Photo by Brett Svenson

We’d also be remiss to not share that you have so many dining options close by due to the proximity to Disney Springs! Whether you want to grab a mid-day snack or a late-night dinner, you can easily get over to Disney Springs and have a world of options right in front of you.

Friendly tip: If you stay here, make sure you try the Saratoga House-made Chips. They’re the best, and I always get an order in honor of my late dad who absolutely adored them. 

Entertainment

Not only are you steps away from Disney Springs when you stay at this DVC resort, but you also have access to loads of other recreational options.

Photo by Courtney Reynolds

This includes two large feature pools, three smaller pools, water play areas (my daughter’s favorite!), a Disney-inspired painting class, sunrise yoga, bike rentals, Disney’s Lake Buna Vista Golf Course, Senses – A Disney Spa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, and more.

Great DVC Points Value

If you’re cashing in DVC points to stay here, you’ll be pleased to find that you’ll often need fewer points to stay at Saratoga than other DVC resorts. This—in addition to it being my family’s home resort—is one of the reasons we frequent this particular DVC getaway.

If you aren’t a DVC member, you can also rent points to use at an applicable resort. Our favorite place to do this is David’s DVC Rentals, which allows you to choose your dates and different resort options. You’ll be given a per-point cost for each of your choices, so you will know going in just how much the trip will cost if approved.

Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Cons

Like with any hotel at Disney World, along with pros, there are also cons. These are a few of the features we would recommend you keep in mind while booking to figure out the best Disney World hotel for you and your party.

Not Close to Any Parks

While the location is perfect if you’re planning on spending time at Disney Springs, it isn’t ideal for visiting the parks. While you can access all of them via Disney bus transportation, it may take you longer to get to the theme parks than it would from other more centrally located resorts.

Transportation

Saratoga Springs is a sprawling resort with five distinct areas: The Carousel, Congress Park, The Grandstand, The Paddock, and The Springs.

You won’t be riding in a buggy, but Saratoga’s large size does mean multiple bus stops. Photo by Laurie Sapp

While this means there’s a lot to do (like multiple pools to choose from), it also means it can be a bit of a hike to take advantage of some resort amenities. It also means you have to wait through multiple stops when using Disney bus transportation. (Not my favorite thing after a long day at the parks.)

Theming

As a bona fide horse girl (like the kind who cantered down the halls in middle school and knew the name of every Disney Prince’s noble steed ), I’m a fan of Saratoga’s equestrian theming. If you aren’t enamored with all things horses, though, you might find it a little less enchanting.

The horse-theming at Disney’s Saratoga Springs isn’t for everybody. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

While Saratoga’s recent remodels and updates have added some charm and elegance to the property, it just doesn’t have the wow factor of other resorts like Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. However, I do recommend giving Saratoga’s Treehouse Villas a try, even if you’re not keen on the theming at the rest of the resort.

Should You Stay at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa?

So, is Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa a good choice for your family? Now that you’ve weighed the pros and cons of Saratoga Springs, it’s up to you to decide. If you’re planning on enjoying plenty of time at nearby Disney Springs or you want to hang by your resort, absolutely. Saratoga is a great choice for a relaxing, low-key vacation.

If you’re looking for that special Disney magic and want to be close to the theme parks, you might want to check out an alternative more centrally-located resort—like my personal favorite, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, or DVC’s latest addition, Disney’s Riviera Resort.

Not sure if you’re going? You can just get more information about a potential Disney vacation.