SSR FAQs
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort is the largest DVC resort with a lot to offer. The resort's size and large array of services and amenities lead to many questions for members and guests who are planning their first visit. Some of the same questions come up frequently, and the intent of this FAQ is to put answers to those questions in one convenient post.
1. Where can I find a map of SSR?
2. What's the Carriage House?
3a. What is transportation like at SSR?
3b. I understand the Tree House Villas have to change buses to get to the theme parks. How does this work?
4. The resort is so large and spread out. What section would be best for my family?
5a. What are the dining and bar options at SSR?
5b. Where can I fill my refillable mug?
6. SSR has 5 different pools. What does each offer?
7a. What buildings are the Grand Villas in?
7b. What's the layout of each building?
8. Can I walk to Downtown Disney?
9. Will I like the Tree House Villas?
10. Where are the BBQ Grills?
11. Where can I find a gallery of photographs from SSR?
12. Are there booking categories at SSR?
1. Where can I find a map of SSR?
Disney's map of the resort:
A version created by BirdsOfPreyDave:
2. What's the Carriage House?
The Carriage House is at the center of the resort, and is the location of the front desk, Resort Airline Check-In, Disney's Magical Express bus stop, Artist's Palette Quick-Service Restaurant and Grocery Store, the Turf Club sit-down restaurant and lounge, and the Spa. The first floor of the Carriage House is also home to the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course locker rooms and Pro Shop.
The High Rock Spring Pool, the resort's main themed pool, is immediately adjacent to the Carriage House. Located nearby are the arcade, Community Hall, laundry facility, and the fire pit where marshmallows are roasted every night.
3a. What is transportation like at SSR?
SSR has a bad reputation with some because of a perception that transportation is an issue. In reality, though, transportation really isn't bad at SSR. It's true that the resort is not within walking distance of a major theme park like some DVC properties, and it doesn't have the benefit of being on the monorail loop. But that doesn't necessarily mean that transportation is an issue.
Bus Transportation
SSR does not share buses with other resorts. Buses to/from SSR will stop only at Saratoga Springs. There are five internal stops on the theme park bus route, corresponding with the five sections of the main resort.
All theme park buses follow the same route. Theme Park -> Grandstand -> Carousel -> Paddock -> Congress Park -> Springs -> Theme Park
The Downtown Disney bus does not follow this same route. It starts at the Springs, then stops at the other four internal bus stops before departing the resort to head to Downtown Disney. This allows you to use the Downtown Disney bus as transportation back to your villa if you're at the High Rock Spring Pool or Carriage House and are staying in one of the sections that's not close to this area of the resort. The Downtown Disney bus route is DTD -> Springs -> Grandstand -> Carousel -> Paddock -> Congress Park -> DTD.
Also see FAQ 3b, which discusses bus transportation for the Tree House Villas.
Boat Transportation
SSR has two boat docks. One is on the SSR side of the resort, the other is in the Tree House Villa section. The boats connect these two main sections of the resort, and also provide transportation to Downtown Disney.
Saratoga Springs is served by the Blue Flag boats. Look for a blue pennant on the bow of the boat to distinguish a boat going to Saratoga Springs and the Tree House Villas.
The boat route is Downtown Disney -> SSR Carriage House -> SSR Tree Houses -> SSR Carriage House -> Downtown Disney. Because the boat stops at the Carriage House on both the inbound and outbound leg of its journey, it allows guests in the THV to travel to and from the main resort without needing to go via Downtown Disney.
Saratoga Springs boats only stop at one dock at Downtown Disney, which is the West Side dock near Cirque du Soleil. (Note: This is a relatively new change. The SSR boats used to dock near Paradisio 37.) If you want, you can change boats to a Water Taxi (red flag) to get to the Marketplace or Pleasure Island docks.
(If you're looking to transfer to another resort via the boats, Port Orleans boats (yellow flag) board at the Marketplace dock. Boats to Old Key West (green flag) board at the West Side dock.)
Walking
Walking to Downtown Disney
SSR has a walking path that leads directly to the Downtown Disney Marketplace. The closest section to this path is Congress Park. Buildings at the Southern part of the Paddock are also relatively close to this path.
If you are in the THV or Grandstand sections of the resort, there are also paths you can take to get to the Downtown Disney West Side. These paths connect to the Downtown Disney parking lot near the Cirque du Soleil building. You can also get to this same path from the Carriage House by crossing the golf cart bridge. Note, though, that sections of this route aren't official walking paths. They're cart paths used by cast members and golfers. They are not lighted at night, and you may encounter signs that read "cast members only" on some bridges.
Walking to the Carriage House
There are paths and sidewalks connecting each section of the resort to the Carriage House and High Rock Springs pool. For sections like Carousel and Congress Park, this can be quite a hike.
Driving
SSR is a dream if you have a car. The resort is laid out similar to the campus of a large condominium complex instead of like a traditional hotel. Rather than a single parking lot and building entrance and villas off a long hallway, there are multiple buildings, each with their own parking lot. These lots are spacious, and finding a space is seldom an issue. You'll be able to park very close to your villa.
3b. I understand the Tree House Villas have to change buses to get to the theme parks. How does this work?
The Tree House Villas section has a dedicated bus that loops between two stops in the THV section, and the main resort. There is not direct bus service from the THV to any park or to Downtown Disney. It is necessary to transfer to a second bus on the SSR side of the resort.
The streets within the THV section are very narrow, and Disney probably made the decision not to provide direct bus service to the 4 theme park destinations plus Downtown Disney to limit the amount of bus traffic in this area. Transportation is one of the most frequent complaints you'll hear about the THV. If you have strollers or wheelchairs in your party, this need to change buses can be particularly frustrating.
In the early morning when parks are just opening, the THV bus will only stop at the two THV stops and the Springs. Later in the day -- around mid-morning -- the bus will also stop at the Grandstand.
An alternative to changing buses is to walk from the THV to the Grandstand, and catch a bus there. There is a path that connects the South Loop of the THV directly to the Grandstand. The walk to the bus stop takes 10-15 minutes, and is just under 1/2 mile. Walking to the Grandstand is a good strategy in the early morning. First, it avoids the need to wait for two buses. Second, it puts you at the first bus stop in the resort instead of the last. (This can be a determining factor in whether you'll be seated or standing on the bus to your theme park if you're travelling during a "rush hour" near a park opening.)
Another alternative to the bus is the boat. The boat can be taken to and from the Carriage House, as well as to Downtown Disney.
4. The resort is so large and spread out. What section would be best for my family?
The main part of the resort consists of five sections: The Springs, The Carousel, The Paddock, The Grandstand, and Congress Park. Each one of these sections is unique, and has it owns pros and cons. The section that best suits any particular family is purely subjective. However, the following list of pros and cons for each section is provided as a tool in choosing. Remember, there are no dedicated booking categories for the different sections of SSR, so a request to be in a particular section is not guaranteed.
(The Tree House Villas area is a separate section of the resort that contains all the Tree Houses. As a Tree House is a specific booking category, that section of the resort is not included in this comparison.)
The Springs
- Relatively small section of the resort with 3 buildings
- Pro:Closest section to the Carriage House
- Artist's Palette
- Quick Service Restaurant for meals and snacks
- Store for groceries, snacks, and souvenirs
- Drink refill station with sodas and hot beverages
- Open late
- Turf Club Restaurant and Lounge
- Front Desk
- Pro:Closest section to High Rock Spring pool
- Main pool / Lifeguard protected
- Daily pool activities
- Large water slide and smaller kiddie water slide
- Location of Arcade and Community Hall
- Full service bar and drink refill station (sodas only)
- Fire pit for nightly marshmallow roasting
- Close to tennis and shuffleboard courts
- Laundry facility
- Con: No quiet pool for this section.
- Pro: Closest section to golf course and Pro Shop
- Transportation:
- Bus
- Pro: Two buildings are very close to bus stop, one is pretty close.
- Con: Bus stop used as transfer point for Tree House Villa guests and is also the stop for those heading to/from the Carriage House and High Rock Spring pool. This means there's higher-than-normal traffic at this stop.
- Con: Last stop on theme park route. During crowded times of year, buses may be standing-room-only or completely full when they arrive at this stop. (This usually only happens during peak transportation hours near park openings.)
- Boat
- Pro: Very close to the boat dock, which is behind the Carriage House
- Con: This section was the second to be refurbished. The rooms were refurbished in late 2012, so rooms in other sections have been refurbished more recently.
- Views:
The Grandstand
- Fairly large section with 4 buildings
- Buildings are clustered around a cul-de-sac, so the section is not too spread out
- Pro: Not too far of a walk to the carriage house
- Pro: Not too far of a walk to the High Rock Spring Pool
- Pro: Not too far from Golf Course and Pro Shop
- Pro:Quiet pool
- Pro: Kid's splash area
- Pro: Full-service bar at the pool
- Pro: Drink refill station (Sodas only)
- Pro: Community BBQ Area with grills and tables
- Pro: Laundry facility
- Transportation:
- Bus
- Pro:First stop on the theme park route
- First ones onto the empty buses during morning "rush hour"
- First ones off the bus at night when you're tired and want to get back to your room and go to bed
- Pro or Con: The bus stop is very close to 1 building, pretty close to another, and moderately close to the other 2. (You need to cross the parking lot to get to the bus stop from the two farthest buildings.)
- Boat
- Pro: Not too far of a walk to the boat dock. (Walk behind the Carriage House instead of through it.)
- Driving
- Con: If driving, making the left turn out of the resort's main entrance can sometimes be challenging.
- Pro: Last section to be refurbished, so rooms are the most-recently refurbished at the resort. (Performed in mid-to-late 2013)
- Views:
- Golf Course
- Wooded Areas
- Quiet Pool
- Small lake w/ fountain
Carousel
- Smallest section of the resort with only two buildings
- Con: Some say it feels remote and separated from the rest of the resort
- Pro: Very quiet
- Con: Long walk to Carriage House
- Con: Long walk to High Rock Spring Pool
- Con: No quiet pool
- Con: No laundry facility
- Pro: Community BBQ Area with Grills and Tables
- Transportation:
- Bus
- Con: Bus stop is actually across the street in the Paddock Section. Getting to it requires crossing a street.
- Con: Moderately far from both buildings
- Driving
- Pro: Closest section to the resort's main entrance for easy in and out if you have a car
- Pro: Rooms refurbished in mid-2013.
- Views:
The Paddock
- Largest section of the resort. The Paddock's 5 buildings are laid out in a line, and stretch practically from one side of the resort to the other.
- Con: Be careful with requests because of the Paddock's size. When requesting to be in the Paddock thinking you'll be close to the Paddock Pool, you may find yourself closer to Carousel or Congress Park
- Pro or Con: Potentially Long walk to Carriage House. (Two Paddock buildings are very close to the bridge, and the Carriage House is not a long walk. Other buildings are farther from the bridge and involve a longer walk.)
- Pro or Con: Potentially Long walk to High Rock Spring Pool (for buildings not close to the bridge)
- Pro:Paddock Pool
- Pro: Lifeguard protected
- Pro: Daily activities
- Pro: Water Slide
- Pro: Kid's splash zone with small water slides
- Pro:Paddock Pool Grill
- Quick service restaurant
- Hot and Cold drink refill station
- Limited bottled alcohol
- Pro:Laundry facility
- Transportation:
- Bus
- Paddock buildings are actually served by three different bus stops
- Paddock
- Carousel
- Congress Park
- Pro: Each building is very close to fairly close to one of these stops
- Con: Getting to the Congress Park bus stop from the Southern-most Paddock building(s) requires crossing a street
- Driving
- The Northern buildings in the Paddock are very close to the main gate for quick in and out.
- Southern buildings are close to the back gate.
- Con: Rooms refurbished in late 2012/early 2013. Several other sections have been refurbished more recently.
- Con: The Reedy Creek Fire Department has a fire house directly across from the Paddock. You will occassionally hear sirens as the emergency vehicles depart.
- Views:
Congress Park
- Fairly large section of the resort with 4 buildings
- Buildings are clustered pretty tightly, so the section isn't too spread out
- Con: Long walk to Carriage House
- Con: Long walk to High Rock Spring Pool
- Pro:Quiet pool
- Pro: Playground
- Pro: Community BBQ Area with grills and tables
- Pro: Laundry facility
- Pro: Short walk to Downtown Disney Marketplace
- Transportation:
- Bus
- Pro: All four buildings are fairly close to the bus stop
- Driving
- Very close to the back gate
- Con: First section to be refurbished (mid 2012), which means rooms in all other sections have been refurbished more recently.
- Views:
- Downtown Disney
- Quiet Pool
- Wooded Area
5a. What are the dining and bar options at SSR?
In the Carriage House
Artist's Palette (Quick Service Restaurant and Grocery Store)
The Turf Club (Sit-Down Restaurant)
The Turf Club Bar
At the High Rock Spring Pool
On the Rocks Pool Bar
At the Paddock Pool
Paddock Grill (Quick-Service Restaurant)
At the Grandstand Pool
The Backstretch Pool Bar
Note: SSR has the advantage of being right next to Downtown Disney. The abundance of restaurants and clubs at Downtown Disney is a short walk, boat ride, or bus trip away.
5b. Where can I fill my refillable mug?
There are drink refill stations in the following locations:
- The Artist's Palette
- Soft drinks
- Iced Tea
- Coffee
- Hot tea
- Hot chocolate
- On the Rocks Pool Bar at the High Rock Spring Pool
- The Paddock Grill at the Paddock Pool
- Soft drinks
- Iced Tea
- Coffee
- Hot tea
- Hot chocolate
- The Backstretch Pool Bar at the Grandstand Pool
High Rock Spring Pool
Located at the Carriage House, and closest to the Springs Section
- Lifeguard protected
- Pool parties, games, and other activities throughout the day
- Water slide
- Kiddie slide
- Two hot tubs
- Small water play area for kids. (Has a statue of Donald Duck with a few sprinklers around it. Also a waterfall you can stand under.)
- Zero entry pool
- Hydraulic Lift
- Full-service bar with drink refill station at pool
- Artist's Palette QS Restaurant nearby, which also has a drink refill station
- Laundry Room
- Arcade
- Community Hall
- Fire Pit nearby (Marshmallow roasting in the evening)
Paddock Pool
Located in the Paddock Section
- Lifeguard protected
- Pool parties, games, and other activities throughout the day
- Water slide
- One hot tub
- Water play area for kids that includes several small water slides. (Parents like the fact that this kid's area is fenced in. It makes it easier to keep eyes on children while they're playing.)
- Zero entry pool
- Hydraulic Lift
- QS restaurant with drink refill station at pool (not a full service bar, but they do have some bottled alcoholic drinks available)
- Laundry Room
Grandstand Pool
Located in the Grandstand Section
- No Lifeguards - swim at your own risk
- One hot tub
- Water play area for kids themed on a race track. (Includes a "starting gate" that sprays water and several horse heads that can be used like water cannons.)
- Full service bar at the pool with drink refill station. (Limited pre-made food offerings like sandwiches and salads.)
- Laundry Room
- Community BBQ area
Congress Park Pool
Located in the Congress Park Section
- No Lifeguards - swim at your own risk
- One hot tub
- Playground
- Laundry Room
- Community BBQ area
THV Pool
Located in the South loop of the Tree House Villa Section
- No Lifeguards - swim at your own risk
- One hot tub
Every building is identical at SSR. There are Grand Villas in each.
7b. What's the layout of each building?
Every building is identical at SSR and uses the layout, as shown below. (Floor diagrams courtsey of DISboards user DMUNSIL)
Each building has 24 studios, 24 one-bedrooms, 20 dedicated two-bedrooms, and 2 grand villas. (All studios and one-bedrooms at SSR are lock-offs, and capable of being combined into a two-bedroom lock-off.)
Buildings at SSR are 4 floors and are numbered in pairs. (For example, two side-by-side buildings* will both start with the same first digit for their 4-digit room number.) The first building in the pair will have 1-4 as the second digit of the room number, representing floors 1-4. In the second building of the pair, floor numbers 1-4 are represented by the second digit 5-8 in the room number.
Odd-numbered rooms will face the front of the building (usually the side of the building with the best view), whereas even-numbered rooms will face one of the two sides of the building. Even-numbered rooms may, therefore, have a view that could include the parking lot off to one side. (The exact orientation of the building has an effect on this, and it is not necessarily the case that every single even numbered room can see the parking lot from the balcony.) There are no rooms that face the back of the building, so no balconies directly face the parking lot.
*Of course there has to be an exception to every rule, right? The pair of buildings starting with the number 4 is split. One building is in the Springs, the other is in the Paddock.
8. Can I walk to Downtown Disney?
SSR has a walking path that leads directly to the Downtown Disney Marketplace. The closest section to this path is Congress Park. Buildings at the Southern part of the Paddock are also relatively close to this path.
If you are in the THV or Grandstand sections of the resort, there are also paths you can take to get to the Downtown Disney West Side. These paths connect to the Downtown Disney parking lot near the Cirque du Soleil building. Note, though, that sections of this route aren't official walking paths. They're cart paths used by cast members and golfers. They are not lighted at night.
9. Will I like the Tree House Villas?
The Tree House Villas at SSR sleep 9 people. This is, for most families, equatable to the two-bedroom capacity of 8 people. So which is the better fit for your family, the THV or the two-bedroom?
This is a very subjective question. Here are some pros and cons, though, to assist in making the choice:
2-bedroom villa
Pro: King sized bed in master bedroom
Pro: 2 queen-sized beds in 2nd bedroom of dedicated units
Pro: Larger rooms
Pro: Bus stops have direct service to theme parks
Pro: No steps/ramps
Pro: If you're in the Springs or Grandstand section, you'll be closer to the Carriage House and access to shops, restaurants, bars, and the front desk. You're also closest to the High Rock Spring Pool.
Pro: If you're in the Paddock, you'll be close to the QS restaurant and Paddock Pool.
Pro: If you're in the Congress Park section, you're really close to the Downtown Disney Marketplace
Con: Cooking out requires use of a community BBQ/Picnic enclosure at either the Congress Park or Grandstand pool or the "Carousel" in the Carousel section (utensils must be checked out from the community hall)
Con: Very small balcony when compared to the deck on the THV
Pro: Access to both bathrooms directly from the living room. (THV master bathroom can only be accessed by walking through the master bedroom.)
Pro: If in a lock-off, extra dining table, chairs and efficiency kitchen in the 2nd bedroom.
Con: No closet in the 2nd bedroom of dedicated units.
Con: There are no luggage carts for self service use at the buildings. Although you can use an elevator to get to your floor, you still need to carry luggage and groceries in from the parking lot individually unless you want to tip bell services to do it for you. (This is particularly fun when you have a 400 lb Owners Locker.)
Pro: A two-bedroom unit will be less points than a THV.
THV
Pro: Unique concept
Pro: Very relaxing / peaceful atmosphere
Pro: Great for BBQing. Your own grill and a giant deck. Each THV also has a set of BBQ utensils.
Con: There is no canopy over the deck, nor is there an umbrella on the table. In the hot sun of July and August, the deck is practically unusable.
Con: Master bedroom has a queen sized bed.
Con: There's a set of steps (or a long wheelchair ramp) that all luggage and groceries need to be carried up and down. You can call bell services to do this for you if youre willing to tip them.
Con: Bus to a bus. There's no direct service from the THV to theme parks. You need to either walk, bus, or boat to another section of the SSR resort to catch theme park buses
Con: Villas are secluded in a wooded wetland. What might be considered as relaxing and peaceful to some, may be considered spooky and isolated to others
Con: Wooded wetlands have bugs and critters. (This was never an issue for us, but others have commented that bugs were an issue. Frankly, I've encountered bugs in all sections of the resort. It's on the water. There are going to be bugs.)
Pro: There are more bedrooms. If you are traveling with a group that isn't all part of the same immediate family, there are more options for splitting up families.
Con: The THV is only slightly larger than a 2-bedroom (1074 sq ft versus 1070 sq ft), but the square footage is divided up into more rooms. Each room, therefore, is much smaller. There's not a lot of room in the bedrooms to set up the playpen/crib. If you've got long enough arms you can pretty much reach all four walls of the 2nd and 3rd bedrooms from the bed if you tried.
Con: One of the bedrooms has a bunk bed. If this bedroom is to be used by adults (especially a couple), they're not going to be comfortable. The member web site indicates the bunk beds are for individuals 5' 10" and under, and 300 lbs or less.
Pro: One of the bedrooms has a bunk bed. Kids think this is the coolest thing ever!
Pro: Living room has a sleeper chair. THV can officially sleep one more person than a 2-bedroom.
Pro: If you're in the south loop, you're reasonably close for walking to Downtown Disney West End (although not as close as Congress Park is to the Marketplace)
Con: The THV pool is very small, and theming was an afterthought.
Pro: I've never seen the THV pool crowded, and have often been the only one there.
Pro: The THV pool is under a canopy of trees. In the sweltering heat of July and August when other pools feel like a hot bath tub, the THV pool is a little cooler.
Pro: One extra TV in the THV. Each of the three bedrooms has one.
Pro: More bureau and closet space for putting away clothes in bedrooms. (All 3 bedrooms have a bureau, and the 2nd bedroom has a closet.)
Pro: Cathedral ceilings throughout.
Con: Because of the cathedral ceiling, the ceiling fan in the master bedroom is so high up you can't reach it. There's no way to change the speed, and they're set so slow they barely even move the air.
Con: If you have more than one vehicle, youre only supposed to park one of them in the THV section. Additional vehicles are to be parked in the Grandstand section.
Con: The streets through the THV section of the resort are narrow. Disney uses full-sized buses for the shuttle to the main section of the resort. If you have a very large vehicle, you wont want to park it at the THV. (We didnt have any problem with our mini-van, but Ive seen some of those monster vehicles yall have!)
Con: There are sidewalks leading to the doors of the individual THV, but there are not sidewalks along the main street. Because of the narrow streets (and especially because of the buses), you need to be mindful of traffic when youre walking to/from the bus stop, boat dock, or pool.
Pro: Some of the THV have rooms that literally look out directly at the water. You can lie in your bed and watch the boats. (Note: The 3 bedrooms face in three different directions, so each bedroom has a completely different view.)
Con: A THV will use more points than a two-bedroom.
Pro: It's more cool! Come on, admit it. You've always wanted to stay in one of Disney's tree houses. 
10. Where are the BBQ Grills?
Community BBQ grills and picnic tables are located in the Grandstand and Congress Park sections of the resort, near the pools in those sections. The "Carousel" gazebo in the Carousel section is also a BBQ area with grills and tables.
BBQ areas are first-come/first-serve. They cannot be reserved.
Grilling utensils can be checked out at the Community Hall.
Each Tree House Villa also has its own BBQ grill. These are also charcoal. Note that they are at the bottom of the steps and there is not a lot of light near them. If you plan to BBQ after dark while staying in a THV, you may want to consider packing a flashlight. There is not enough light around the grills to see if meats are done.
Match-Lite Charcoal can be purchased at Artist's Palette. Don't forget to pack your matches or lighter, though. They're tough to find on property.
11. Where can I find a gallery of photographs from SSR?
Check out this thread, here on the DISboards:
The Beauty of Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
12. Are there Booking Categories at SSR?
Some DVC resorts have booking categories such as "standard view," "preferred garden/water view," or "theme park view." Through 2016, there are no booking categories for SSR. Any location preferences are treated strictly as requests, and are not guaranteed. However, beginning in 2017, this will change and the resort will be split into "Standard" and "Preferred" booking categories. Villas in the preferred category require a higher number of points than those in the standard category.
Preferred
- All Villas in Congress Park
- All Villas in the Springs
Standard
- All Villas in the Grandstand
- All Villas in the Paddock
- All Villas in Carousel
- All Tree House Villas
