HOSPITALITY, HEALTH, HISTORY AND HORSES (Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (Lake Buena Vista, Florida))

Member Name: Newfloridian

Product:	Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (Lake Buena Vista, Florida)
Date:	30/08/06 (353 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's On Property, It's DVC, It's Downtown

Disadvantages: How does it compare with OKW?

No visitor to Downtown Disney in Walt DisneyWorld (WDW), Florida over the last couple of years could have failed to notice the major new resort complex which has been taking shape on the opposite bank of the lake. I have been a frequent visitor to Walt DisneyWorld (WDW) and Florida for 25 years and the family was amongst the first members of the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). We have always stayed 'on property' and this year we chose this newly opened member of the DVC family - Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.

HISTORY SPOT 1 - SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK

Disney planners and architects have always loved a "theme" and this extends particularly to the appearance and ambiance of their hotels and resorts (at WDW you will find the Coronado Springs Resort - reminiscent of San Diego; the Boardwalk - North Atlantic Sea Board; the Grand Floridian). There are now eighteen major hotel complexes 'on property' and when the latest one was announced in 2004 it was to be modelled on the style and elegance of the Victorian era of upstate New York.

Prior to the arrival of the colonists in North America the Iroquios Indians had settled around the Sarachtogue river. The area was rich in mineral springs which they used as medicines and the quality of the furs they trapped and traded was also attributed to the animals drinking this water. During the revolution in 1777 American forces defeated a much larger British army at the Battle of Saratoga. After the war the area was settled, became prosperous on the timber and tanning industries and became incorporated as Saratoga County in 1791.

By the middle of the nineteenth century the springs were the attraction of the fashionable society of the day and the Saratoga Springs Spa appeared. Grand hotels sprang up and parks and open spaces were devoted to idle pursuits. As a pastime of the rich, horse racing followed. By 1900 Saratoga Racetrack was internationally famous and is now the oldest in America. Congress Park today is home to Canfield Casino, the history museum and the mineral water springs.

HISTORY SPOT 2 - DOWNTOWN DISNEY

Walt Disney was a visionary and a dreamer. Part of his plans for the development in central Florida was for a residential area which would attract a retirement community, permanent residents and holiday makers. In the early 1970s the first stage featuring 133 villas and town homes, a shopping centre and recreation facilities (Golf, Tennis, Boating and Equestrian) opened and was called Lake Buena Vista Village. The houses were designed to be energy efficient and were built around courtyards to conserve green spaces. Unfortunately taxation and representational issues stopped anyone actually being able to live on Disney property until the separate township of Celebration was started in 1994.

The town homes renamed firstly to the Village Resort in 1985 and then Disney Village Resort in 1989. There were five different styles of accommodation to choose from: Vacation Villas, Fairway Villas, Treehouse Villas, Club Suites and Grand Vista Suites. A further development in 1996, saw the Villas assimilated into the Disney Institute. The concept was to provide a series of up to 80 programs (including graphic design and animation, flower arrangement, cooking skills, exercise regimes and golf ) that guests could study as part of their vacation. It soon became apparent that tourists did not want an "educational" vacation and in a further development the Disney Institute was converted into a training school for professionals to learn about customer service and business culture.

In 2002, Disney announced that the Disney Institute would be developed into a new DVC property. It became the Saratoga Springs Resort in the spring of 2004. In many respects the Disney slant on the Timeshare concept and the purchase of a reality interest in the property is as close as is practical to Walt's original ideas.

THE RESORT AND SPA

Disney's Saratoga Springs and Resort shares an entrance with the Lake Buena Vista Golf Club from Disney Vacation Club Way. At the time of writing there is further building in evidence on both sides of the main road (on the left is the final stage of phase 1; on the right, stretching away into the distance, the new blocks which will make up phase 2) which runs along one of the fairways of the golf course. The building sites are however well screened from public areas and there is no noise or dirt.

The nucleus of the complex is the Carriage House. Within its rotunda there were six registers and a separate Concierge desk. To the side an alcove houses a small 'theatre' consisting of three rows of tiny chairs on which sat fully engrossed tots watching a large television showing a perpetual cartoons while their parents checked in. Leading away from this area is a long corridor which provides a cool shady sitting and reading room and access to the two restaurants, provisions store and gift shop.

Outside again, evidence of the horse racing influence is all around. There is a full sized bronze statue of a race horse - with DVC livery - and, no, I was told, it is not modelled on any one nag as everyone's a winner that comes here! There is also a carriage parked under the awning which is available for hire for buggy rides around the grounds. Directly opposite the Carriage House is the main pool area which comprises the High Rock Spring Pool (life guards on duty!). Facilities here include a water slide, jaccuzzi tub, sun loungers and the 'On The Rocks' pool bar. Adjacent, and built around a sheltered court, is 'Horsing Around Rentals' (bicycle, tandem and sports equipment rentals), a slots arcade, a fully equipped fitness centre and a spa treatment room.

This area also houses the Lake Buena Vista Golf Club clubhouse and a range of tennis courts. Next door is the DVC Preview Centre. Behind the Carriage House is the dock for the ferry to Downtown Disney.

The accommodation buildings are built around a series of large lakes each of which is furnished with a central fountain. Currently there are three distinct blocks (The Paddock, The Springs and Congress Park), each building rising to four storeys and each graced by decorative New England chimney stacks. External light fittings have horses galloping across the frame and individual door number plates are coloured like jockey's silks. There is ample car parking space. Each of these areas in served by a bus stop for the Disney Transportation System with routes directly to the theme parks, the water parks and Downtown. There are two subsidiary swimming pools. As can be expected from Disney, everything is finely landscaped. The lawns are closely manicured, the trees and shrubbery are neatly trimmed. There are a number of walkways and jogging paths which are paced by furlong marker posts.

OUR STAY

We know our way around WDW by car as well as by Disney transport. We came in from the West along the I4 at the Celebration / DisneyWorld exit (there were already jams on the I4 past SeaWorld) and had no difficulty reaching the resort and then the Carriage House, arriving at 2:30pm. The check in area was empty of guests. Our Check-in clerk took some time to collect together our details and several attempts to enter it into the system, at times requiring help from a colleague (It soon became clear that she was "earning her ears" - Disney's way of describing a trainee!). We were then given our welcome pack which included a WDW parks guide and a guide to the activities around the resort. Our room key was of the credit card type and also served as our theme park admission passes and a charge card for purchases and dining around the park.

We were shown a map of the grounds and asked whether we had any preference where we stayed. Our only stipulation was to be near a bus stop but this does give an opportunity to clarify any special needs of the party (ground floor, disabled access, very young children). We were allocated room 1225, which was on the first floor of block 16. This was in the Congress Park area and had ample parking spaces directly outside. The bus stop was a three minute walk away.

We were a party of three (including a teenage daughter) and we chose a one bedroom apartment. Use of the lift made unloading the luggage a breeze but there are bell services to help if required. Entry into the room from the landing was by a heavy self-closing door. Inside was a small foyer which led into the kitchenette / parlour and also to a second door which could have opened up as a two bedroom apartment. The immediate focal point was the French window which opened out onto a small balcony overlooking the grassed courtyard and then over the lake to Downtown Disney and Fulton's Crab House Restaurant.

The kitchen contained a large refrigerator and small freezer, a stove with ceramic hob, eye level microwave (with popcorn programme!), dark grey marble work surfaces, dish washer and sink. It was equipped with coffee maker (but no kettle), crockery, cutlery and pans enough for eight people. The parlour was equipped with a fold down queen sized sofa bed, table and chairs, an easy chair and a television and DVD player (region 1 remember!) located in an armoire. There was also a free standing storage chest.

The bedroom contained a king sized bed with deep mattress and adequate pillows and coverings. On either side were two side tables (night stands), one equipped with a telephone and high speed internet access point (Disney used an Ethernet system rather than WiFi), the other with an alarm clock. There was a single arm chair and a single desk chair. Each room had an overhead fan and a very efficient air conditioning unit. The décor was a pleasant cream and pastel green colour. Curtains and soft furnishings were of a gold and orange floral design.

'Facilities and ablutions' consisted of four interconnecting rooms. Adjacent to the bedroom was the master bathroom which contained a spa bath and wash basin. A rather curious feature was a large opening into the bedroom above the bath which could be closed off with hinged louvered doors. Two further doors led from the bathroom - one to the closet which housed a hanging rail, ironing board and iron, spare linen and a foldaway crib; the other to the shower room. This housed a glass enclosed power shower with multiple spray settings, and a second wash basin. Two further doors led from the shower room: the first into the toilet, the second back into the parlour. The partition walls around this centre area were built on a diagonal. It took a little getting used to opening and locking doors to preserve a modicum of decorum and privacy. Beyond this door was an industrial sized stacked washing machine and dryer hidden behind its own doors.

The rooms were clean and well maintained when we arrived. Beds were made and towels were changed daily regardless of the time we left the apartment. Our cups, crockery and glasses were gathered together and the dishwasher activated. There was a constant supply of soap.

Check out could not have been simpler. On the day of departure an envelope was hung on the handle of your front door containing your detailed portfolio. If you agreed it, you just drove away. There was no need to go back to the Carriage House as your credit card was automatically debited. At the moment, there is no on-screen facility to check your running account balance during your stay.

OUR EXPERIENCE OF THE RESORT

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa has two eating places: the Turf Club (a full service restaurant which actually opened its doors on July 2nd this year) and the Artist's Palette.

The Turf Club provided both inside and outside seating with tables looking out over the lake. At the moment they do not require reservations. The outline of the Cirque du Soleil building was a prominent landmark over the water. As well as the usual beers and wines they offered a range of signature cocktails with names such as Belmont Stakes Martini, Preakness Cosmo and The Winner's Circle. Appetisers included Crab cake bites with three salsas ($10.49) and Steamed mussels in garlic wine ($10.99). My top sirloin steak ($19.99), cooked 'rarish' was the best I've tasted in WDW and could be served plain or topped with either lump crab meat or sliced Portabello mushroom and a blue cheese sauce. As an alternative they served barbeque ribs for $17.99. Their chocolate lava cake (another dish which is enormously popular over there at the moment) was a triumph. They import Saratoga Lager from upstate New York $4.25 a bottle. Tastes very like Sam Adams.

The Artist's Palette is a fast food canteen with Formica-covered tables and lino tiles. The menu consisted of flat breads (a rather hard fibrous pizza type of effort currently popular in the States) with toppings such as spiced pork or prawn and pineapple, hot pie and vegetables and hot dogs. After one try we gave this place a miss - not our style I'm afraid.

The small store contained some basic foodstuffs, drinks and household supplies but these were generally expensive. There is a Publix supermarket quite close on the road behind the Prime Outlet Mall on I4. The souvenir shop stocked the expected trinkets and postcards. This was nothing special and with Downtown Disney just around the corner that is where we bought our souvenirs. We were disappointed that both places had been out of stock of the Saratoga Springs pin badge for about four weeks.

We did not try out the Spa although for our discerning readers I did bring back a price list. You could try an 80 minute In Room Swedish massage for $210; a Motherhood Massage (Second and Third Trimester Only) $130; a 50 Minute Gentleman's Facial for $125 or a 50 Minute Shiatsu (??) for $ 130.

The resort provides a full activity programme every day for kids and their parents and this is itemised on the weekly 'Saratoga Tips Sheet'. Fun includes Goofy Bingo, Scavenger Hunt, Pin Trading, Souvenir plate decorating and Ice Cream making.

DVC members have their own weekly meeting every Wednesday at 4pm in the Saratoga Performance Hall.

COMMENTS AND COMPARISONS

At this point I do have to compare Disney's Saratoga Springs Spa and Resort with Disney's Old Key West Resort (OKW), which was the first DVC complex and which was my home resort during the years of my membership. This is the second of a pair of articles posted to these pages; you should be able to find the review of OKW dated about five days ago.

If you have booked your current vacation at Saratoga Springs and it is your first experience of being 'on property' or staying at DVC, then I recommend that you go and enjoy your trip. You will be delighted by the quality of the accommodation and marvel at the overall level of amenities and the attention to detail. I would not want to cast shadows over your enjoyment and so you should perhaps pass over the next few paragraphs and move instead to the 'Bookings and Costs' section.

As I noted above the room and facilities were generally well maintained, as should be expected from somewhere so relatively new. There was a broken hinge on one of the storage cupboards and one of the chairs on the balcony had a cracked leg.

Both are 100% DVC resorts (others around WDW such as the Yacht and Beach Club are a mixture of hotel and DVC). When finished Saratoga Springs will be considerably bigger than OKW - 840 rooms compared with 560. This becomes obvious when you realise that the buildings range along the edge of the lake, along Buena Vista drive and Disney Vacation Club Way. The spacing between the buildings is also vast, so much so that you will probably need to drive or take the bus to move from one side of the resort to the other. As it is now, it was a fifteen minute walk from our room to the Carriage House. In time it is likely that there will only be a narrow strip of undeveloped land - which still contains the Treehouse Villas - between the two sites. OKW runs with a generally high occupancy level and at times feels quite busy and crowded especially around Olivia's and the main pool. Apart from the common areas around the pool or in the food court, Saratoga Springs feels distinctly empty. I would be concerned about the feel of the place and its bus services though when it is completed.

It is however pleasant to be able to walk easily (at least from our room) around the lake straight into Downtown Disney - it took about 10 minutes. One of the disadvantages of OKW is that it does need transport to go anywhere outside of the resort. Saratoga Springs and OKW share a ferry to Downtown Disney. The buses to any of the parks were never busy during our stay and it is probably a reflection of the state of development that there were times when Saratoga residents were picked up from the parks by an OKW bus at closing time.

OKW was DVCs first project and is now fifteen years old. The size of accommodation is generous. A one bedroom apartment has a floor area of 942 square feet and fixtures and fittings are proportionately generous. With the new property the architects have obviously attempted to increase occupancy of the blocks by going up to four floors (OKW are two and three storey buildings). Coming and going is helped by the provision of lifts at strategic points - OKW has none. However rooms have been quite dramatically downsized. The similar one bedroom apartment is barely 700 square feet and this economising is rapidly apparent. The kitchenette is too small for more than one person at a time. The bed settee has to be put away before the lounge can be used as a sitting area. There is no one space for four people to sit and eat together. There is also very little storage, hanging or drawer space. All members of the family living here for more than a few days will need to be particularly tidy. Bear in mind too that this would become the living and kitchen area if the adjacent room is opened up to make a two bedroom apartment. Sound proofing is perhaps more efficient and the 2am 'loo flush' is not so audible. The balcony or patio at OKW is big enough for two easy chairs and a full sized table. Here it is a mere 'step-out'.

Of the restaurants, we preferred the Turf Club's menu and style to Olivia's although a family with young children would probably feel more comfortable in the latter. Like for like there is little to choose between the other services provided by the two resorts.

Acid test: Which would I choose for our next visit? No contest, it has to be Old Key West. Scored out of 100, I would award OKW 95; Saratoga Springs 84

BOOKING AND COSTS

My strongest piece of advice to anyone who is contemplating a vacation at DisneyWorld is to choose their hotel 'on property'. Lake Buena Vista is about 20 miles out of Orlando.

All Disney owned properties at WDW now have the name "Disney's " in their title (eg Disney's Contemporary Resort) They are rated as Deluxe, Moderate, Value and Vacation Club. Although the DVC hotels are aimed primarily at their membership each can be booked through conventional agencies. The Vacation Club offers a 'Home Away From Home' experience with more spacious accommodation, kitchens equipped for self catering and laundry facilities. Four styles of accommodation are offered: the Studio apartment, which is a conventional hotel style room sleeping up to four in twin beds; the 1-bed (sleeps four); 2-bed apartment (sleeps eight) and the Grand Villa (sleeps twelve). How the timeshare element for members works is explained my previous review.

We made this year's booking (July 2006) on line with www.Disney.co.uk. The current advertised rates are the same at Disney's Saratoga Springs as at OKW and are from £168 for the Studio; £226 for the 1-Bed and £316 for the 2-Bed apartment. These prices are PER ROOM per night.

For a party of three (one 17 year old) a ten day stay in a one bedroom apartment came to £2260. Disney UK also had an offer of a 14 day park admission pass for the price of a 7 day pass. Add this option and the total became £2785.

A party of six (with 12 and 10 year old children) staying for ten days in a two bedroom apartment would pay £3160 (£4560 including 14 day passes)

Booking was confirmed with a deposit of 10% by credit card: the full balance was taken about 30 days prior to departure. Accommodation and ticket vouchers were sent by mail along with an introductory guide to WDW.

Summary: The second and larger completely DVC resort at Walt DisneyWorld