Saratoga Springs vs. Old Key West: Which Home Resort Is Right for You?

Both Saratoga Springs and Old Key West are sprawling, peaceful DVC resorts with convenient locations near Disney Springs. Which of these two resorts could be a great home resort for you? Let’s see how they compare.

Rooms

As the oldest and original DVC Resort, Old Key West has some of the largest rooms among all the DVC Resorts. These spacious rooms are perfect for spending time with friends and family. The balconies in the One Bedroom Villas and larger units are extra large and more similar to patios with tables and chairs for al fresco dining. While the rooms underwent a full refurbishment in 2019, another round of “semi-hard goods” refurbishment is expected in 2026.

Old Key West One Bedroom Villa

Saratoga Springs recently had a full refurbishment. In addition to a more modern look, its rooms have popular features such as Murphy beds (which have not yet been added to Old Key West) and more outlets for charging devices. Saratoga Springs is also home to a unique room type that doesn’t exist at any other DVC Resort: the Treehouse Villas. These elevated, standalone villas have three bedrooms, a full kitchen, a living room, and a large deck. 

Saratoga Springs Treehouse Villa

Buildings

One important distinction between the buildings at Saratoga Springs and Old Key West is elevator access. Having opened in 1991 before building codes were updated, Old Key West lacks elevators in most buildings. The only ones that do have elevators are Buildings 62, 63, and 64. Note that none of these are the Near Hospital House buildings. If you have a wheelchair or ECV, you’ll need to request a ground-level room if you are not in one of those buildings at Old Key West. At Saratoga Springs, all buildings have elevators.  

Resort Expiration Date

Saratoga Springs has an expiration date of 2054. Old Key West is a little less straightforward. Most Old Key West contracts end in 2042, the original deed expiration date. However, some were extended to 2057. When you browse the listings, extended Old Key West contracts are clearly marked. They are harder to find and tend to go for a slightly higher price per point than a regular Old Key West contract.  

Average Price Per Point

When someone is looking for a home resort with a low entry point, Saratoga Springs and Old Key West are common recommendations. Currently, Saratoga Springs resale contracts go for an average of $103 per point. Old Key West resale contracts go for an average of $89 per point or $105 per point for an extended one.

Transportation Options

The transportation options are identical at the two resorts. Bus transportation is available for all four theme parks and Disney Springs. When taking the bus, it helps to give yourself extra time since the buses make stops at each of the resort sections before heading to the parks.

Alternatively, you can take a boat from either resort to the Marketplace side of Disney Springs. When staying at Saratoga Springs, you can take a walking path from the Congress Park section to Disney Springs. The path is behind the Congress Park bus stop.  

Ferry at Old Key West (Photo Credit: WDW News Today)

Resort Amenities:

Dining

Old Key West is best known for Olivia’s Cafe, which is a fan favorite for comfort foods like buttermilk chicken, banana bread French toast, and shrimp and grits. For quick service, the Good’s Food to Go kiosk is a little limited with basics like Mickey waffles, hot dogs, chicken strips, and cheeseburgers.

If you and your family tend to rely on quick-service dining, Saratoga Springs is much more convenient with The Artist’s Palette.  It offers a wider variety of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as indoor seating compared to Good’s Food to Go.  For table service dining, Saratoga Springs is also home to The Turf Club Bar and Grill, which serves American classics for dinner, such as slow-roasted prime rib, char-grill New York strip steak, and grilled pork chop.

The Artist’s Palette

Pools

Old Key West has one feature pool and three leisure pools, while Saratoga Springs has two feature pools and three leisure pools plus a splash pad. Saratoga Springs can be a surprising hit for those who love pool time.  

High Rock Springs Pool at Saratoga Springs

Bottom Line

Saratoga Springs may be the home resort for you if you want to guarantee that you’re in a building with elevator access, you prefer rooms with Murphy beds, and you need a quick-service location with more variety.

Old Key West may be the winner if you prioritize larger rooms, a lower price per point (for a contract ending in 2042), or a longer deed length if you’re able to find an extended contract.

Overall, you can’t go wrong with Saratoga Springs or Old Key West if you’re looking for a great price per point, low points charts, a quieter DVC resort with plenty of room availability, and the convenience of being close to the dining and shopping of Disney Springs.  

Access all available Disney Vacation Club resale listings, or learn more about buying and selling with DVC Resale Market.

If you’d like to make an offer or request a free consultation about buying or adding to your DVC contract, the DVC Resale Market team is here to help!