Which Section of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort is Right for You?

Disney’s Saratoga Springs resort sprawls over 65 acres and contains 18 guests room buildings, segmented into five (or possibly six, depending on what you count) areas.

Outwardly, there may appear to be little to distinguish among the regions of the resort, with their common architectural style and room decor. But there are some appreciable differences that impact the quality of your stay, depending on your location and your needs.

Here’s what you need to know about the different sections of Saratoga Springs.

The Grandstand

 

PROS

• Many rooms face the golf course. This means they are quiet, particularly at night, with a pastoral view.
• There is a dedicated pool for this area of the resort.
• There is a snack bar by the pool.
• Buildings 15 and 16 are an easy walk to the Carriage House main building restaurants, pool, and other services.
• Buses returning to the resort from the parks stop first at The Grandstand. You will be back in your room quickly.
• Buses on the way to the parks stop at The Grandstand first. You’ll be almost certain to get on a bus and get a seat on the bus.
• Non-preferred (lower priced) rooms.

CONS

• The snack bar is “open seasonally,” which is rarely.
• On the way to the parks, you’ll spend a lot of time on the bus, stopping at other resort areas before proceeding to the parks.
• The walk to Disney Springs is substantial.

The Carousel

 

PROS

• Some guest rooms have pleasant views of the lake.
• Location near a resort entrance gate means that, if you have a car, there is less time spent driving through the expansive resort.
• Non-preferred (lower priced) rooms.

CONS

• This is the only area without its own pool.
• This is the most distant area from Disney Springs.
• This is the most distant area from the Carriage House main building.
• The carousel is enticing to children, but is unsatisfying because it is wholly decorative.
• Some rooms face one of the resort entrance gates. Bus/car noise may be heard.
• Rooms facing the parking areas and exterior of the resort may see non-Disney hotels, breaking the “Disney bubble.”

The Paddock

 

PROS

• Good pool facility.
• Snack bar is open during breakfast, making it a convenient place to grab coffee in the morning.
• Some rooms have pleasant water views.
• Rooms in the Southernmost building are an easy walk to Disney Springs.
• Non-preferred (lower priced) rooms.
• Bridge to the Springs area makes it easy for central Paddock rooms to reach the Carriage House main building.

CONS

• Rooms facing the parking areas and exterior of the resort may see non-Disney hotels, breaking the “Disney bubble.”
• Rooms facing the parking areas and exterior of the resort may hear occasional noise from the nearby fire station.
• Some guests may find pool noise distracting during the day.

The Springs

 

PROS

• Easy walk to the Carriage House main building and services, including the gym, spa, and recreation.
• Food court is nearby.
• Quick walk to the main feature pool.
• Good pool snack bar.
• Last bus stop in the resort before buses head out to the parks; you’ll be spending less time riding around the resort.

CONS

• Preferred room pricing (more expensive).
• Most views are unremarkable.
• Buses may be full by the time they pick up at the Springs stop.

Congress Park

 

PROS

• Easy walk to Disney Springs.
• There is a dedicated pool area for this section of the resort.
• Only area of the resort with a playground.
• Views of Disney Springs are lovely in the evening.

CONS

• Preferred (more expensive) room pricing.
• Some guests may find noise from Disney Springs to be distracting.
• Some guests may find the proximity to Disney Springs to be problematic from a budgeting standpoint (the many nearby shops are tempting).

The Treehouses

 

While the Treehouses are technically part of Saratoga Springs, they are separate enough to be their own entity. If you have a car, enjoy privacy, and don’t need easy access to a fancy pool, then a Treehouse could be a good option. If you don’t have access to a car, then transportation is problematic enough that I’d avoid staying there.

If you want to take a deeper dive into the nuances of Saratoga Springs, you can use our tool to see the view from every room at the resort. You can also ask TouringPlans to make requests for specific room locations.

What aspects of Saratoga Springs do you most enjoy? What’s your favorite area? Let us know in the comments!

First published April 14, 2021. Updated October 24, 2021.