Got back Tuesday from a nice 5-day trip, staying at Saratoga for the first time since September 2021 (Stayed at OKW in Mar 2020, followed by Saratoga in July 2021, Wilderness Lodge in Sep 2021, then 5 times at Boardwalk from Dec 2021 to Dec 2022. Parks were crowded - Spring Break definitely had an impact - though I head to Disney every 3 months or so, which makes me much more relaxed if lines are long for a ride - i'll just skip it this trip and try again next time.
I had requested specific room numbers in building 1 Congress Park - 2nd through 4th floor lake views with boxed balconies - they weren't able to get the exact room request this time, but still got me in building 1, lake view - first floor, left side of the building (closest to Disney Springs walkway)...perfect location for me. The room was renovated to the new murphy-bed arrangement - and honestly looked and even smelled like it hadn't been stayed in yet - it still smelled like resin and wood and everything was in perfect order and condition - not a mark on a wall or floor, all appliances looking untouched, every lightbulb working, pots and pans not scratched or worn, etc. Very surprised - I'm never one to complain about some wear and tear, but I still expect to see it, even on newly renovated rooms after a few months of guests.
Housekeeping/inspection was invisible - despite my unusual schedule of sleeping in late, hanging around the villa until noon or later, they never knocked on the door or asked me when I'd be leaving - I'd just come back at the end of the day or night and they had done their inspection and trash emptying. On my last day there, after all sunshine (and HEAT!), a front came through and it was nearly all-day rain - off and on...I stayed even later than usual in the room and it was towel-change day - at around 1pm I opened my door to find housekeeping doing the room next door - I asked them if they could hit my villa next and I'd vacate for a while, as I'd probably be back in the room for much of the afternoon - the rain was due to stop around 4-5pm, so I was going to head out around 3:30pm to 4pm. I grabbed a book and sat in the stairwell by the entrance to stay out of the rain and read - I headed back over 40 minutes later to check, and they had completed the inspection and towel changes and were already gone.
As always, I love the convenience of having Disney Springs just a quick walk away - I headed over for dinner after check in, and most nights after the parks to pick a bar for a drink, listen to bands, etc, before walking back to my room. I used the Springs bus stop to get to Magic Kingdom and Epcot rather than the Saratoga busses - I hopped the Wilderness Lodge bus and took the peaceful boat ride to MK, and monorailed to Contemporary for dinner then took the DS bus and walked back to Saratoga...and I hopped the Beach Club bus as I prefer to walk in the International Gateway entrance, and on the way out walked back to Beach and took the Springs bus home for the walk back to Saratoga again...both more peaceful than the bus rides to each park to and from Saratoga direct.
