Last week, Beyond Imagination Vacations agents from across the country convened at Walt Disney World Resort for the company’s inaugural conference. We had an amazing time together, meeting and getting to know each other, experiencing new things and sharing best practices during learning sessions. The majority of attendees stayed in the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, which marked the first time our agents stepped foot, let alone slept, in one of the most unique accommodations on Walt Disney World Resort property. We’re sharing our experience with you today on the blog, including whether a stay at Saratoga Springs would be right for you.
Overview of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Located in the Disney Springs area of Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is inspired by the late 1800’s New York retreat famous for horse racing and natural mineral springs. In the Deluxe Villa category, the hotel features beautiful, lush grounds and colorful buildings with a Victorian flare.
The Grandstand section of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Amenities include five outdoor pools - two main pool areas with waterslides, splash pad for little kids and zero-depth entry. The Community Hall offers complimentary ping-pong, foosball, arts and crafts, video games, DVDs and board games and is also the site where guests can check out complimentary basketballs, as well as tennis and shuffleboard equipment for use at the sport courts. Other free activities include Sunrise Yoga offered bi-weekly (limited to the first 20 Saratoga Springs registered guests), Movies Under the Stars screenings and jogging trails.
The Grandstand Pool at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa - to the left of the pool (not pictured) is a cute splash pad area for little ones
For an additional fee, golf aficionados will appreciate the easy access to the 18-hole Lake Buena Vista Golf Course which has hosted the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour and USGA events. Nature enthusiasts and active vacationeers can take advantage of bike rentals and guided bass-fishing excursions. Those looking for a more relaxing vacation can visit Senses - A Disney Spa located on Saratoga Springs property for a number of therapies including facials, massages, body treatments and more.
In terms of on-site restaurants, Saratoga Springs has five dining establishments ranging from quick-service spots to grab a quick bite to a dinner-only table-service eatery with an equestrian theme serving American classics.
Saratoga Springs Resort is expansive - to say it’s a huge property is an understatement. As such, its bus transportation to the parks has five stops, meaning if you get on at the first stop, The Grandstand, you have to make four more stops to get to the parks. And if you’re at Treehouse Villas, you have to take a bus to get to one of the other five bus stops. More on that later.
My Disney Experience indicates an estimated arrival time for the various bus stops at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. There are also digital screens located at the bus stops. The tracking feature is not available at the internal bus stops for the Treehouse Villas.
Despite the bus situation, Saratoga Springs offers roundtrip, direct water taxi service to Disney Springs!
The Treehouse Villas
Saratoga Springs offers a wide range of accommodations to fit the style and quantity of travel parties. Groups of four can fit in the studios and one-bedroom villas; two-bedroom villas can sleep eight, while three-bedroom villas can sleep a whopping 12 guests.
As mentioned earlier, we stayed in the Treehouse Villas which sleep up to nine people. Elevated 10 feet off the ground, the Treehouse Villas are unlike any other room category in Walt Disney World. Staying at Treehouse Villas feels as if you’re completely removed from the hustle and bustle of the parks. You’re surrounded by trees, nature, maybe a few lizards, and if you’re lucky as we were, the idyllic Sassagoula River.
The decor is lovely, highlighted by rustic yet elegant furnishings and upholstery. Despite the dark beams and wooden furniture, the floor to ceiling windows create a breezy, airy vibe. Although it seems as if you’re camping in the woods, the various rooms offer plenty of charging outlets for mobile phones and other electronics. The bathrooms are outfitted with ample counter space, shower/tub combos and modern materials.
Each Treehouse Villa features three bedrooms - two with queen beds and the third with twin-size bunk beds, one queen sleeper sofa and one twin sleeper chair. Each bedroom has its own flat-screen, Smart TV - perfect for catching up on daily news or sports, or listening to Disney tunes on the resort channel as you get ready in the morning. There are also two bathrooms - one attached to the master bedroom and the second shared between the other two bedrooms. The villa also has a kitchen equipped with full-size appliances, utensils, drinkware, serving ware, coffee pot (but remember to bring your own filters), outdoor grill, and washer and dryer. There are very few villas that are handicap accessible and feature a ramp to enter the front door, rather than stairs.
Master bedroom at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa - Treehouse Villa
Second bedroom at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa - Treehouse Villa
Third bedroom at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa - Treehouse Villa
Sitting area outside of the master bedroom at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa - Treehouse Villa
Dining area at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa - Treehouse Villa
In addition, the entrance to each Treehouse Villa features a lovely patio perfect for enjoying a hot cup of joe to kickstart your day, or to savor a nightcap after a long day at the parks.
We think a hot tub would be an awesome addition to the patio outside our Treehouse Villa. Wouldn’t you agree?
Is a Stay at Saratoga Springs for You?
A stay at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa - particularly in a Treehouse Villa - isn’t for everyone. We wouldn’t recommend it for a first visit to Walt Disney World Resort as you want to focus on and be in closer proximity to the parks for your inaugural experience. Furthermore, there isn’t much, if any, Disney theming throughout the resort; as a result, children may not be enthusiastic about the Springs. We tried unsuccessfully to find “Hidden Mickeys” on curtains, carpets and elsewhere in our villa. There were two obvious Mickey ear stickers on the windows of the Treehouse Villas - that’s about it for Disney theming, folks. Furthermore, the Treehouse Villas are secluded from the rest of Saratoga Springs, and your children may not be keen on waiting for buses to get to the main pools or dining options.
Nevertheless, if you’ve been to Walt Disney World many times and are looking for a change of scenery, the Springs could be for you.
A stay at the hotel would be perfect for an extended stay (no less than seven nights) when you’re combining park days with relaxing days to take advantage of the many amenities of the resort. It would also work for a girls’ trip or adults’ only trip with a focus on chilling at the pool by day and conducting a culinary and cocktail tour at adjacent Disney Springs by night. And if you’re a bit impatient waiting for buses, the walk was only about 10 minutes to the main lobby and featured amenities. The Treehouse Villas be a great option for a family reunion too, especially considering the ample space and separate bedrooms, as well as the full kitchen for eating in and the outdoor grill for cooking out.
Would you consider a stay at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa?
