Why Do DVC Members Stay at Saratoga Springs

Every Disney Vacation Club resort offers a plethora of world-class amenities. For this reason, deciding where to book a reservation can cause analysis paralysis. You’ll want to visit so many different resorts that you cannot decide which one to pick. Fortunately, we’re here to help. Here’s why DVC members stay at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.

The Availability

You’ll love staying at Saratoga Springs for any number of reasons. The theming here is exquisite, as Disney has designed an entire hotel based on a classic family vacation concept. The real Saratoga Springs features many natural mineral springs that tourists love. Disney’s hotel mimics the concept, and it also features an appropriate horse racing theme as well. Saratoga Springs is famous for both these things.

Still, I didn’t include the theming, as DVC members value a few features more at this hotel. One of them is, without a doubt, the ample availability. This resort is often the last one at Walt Disney World to have rooms available to book on any given day. The other option is Disney’s Old Key West Resort, but Saratoga Springs typically has inventory even later in the game. You will always be grateful for this hotel when you’re desperate to book a room at Disney World. 

Saratoga Springs 1 Bedroom Villa

The Disney Springs Access 

Then, we have the other big reason why DVC members adore Saratoga Springs. For all this property’s other advantages, inarguably the biggest one is Disney Springs access.

When the Disney Institute closed in its prior form, Disney reclaimed the space for this hotel. At the time, Downtown Disney was already a popular destination for Disney fans. However, Disney elevated the entertainment experiences a few years after the resort opened.

In September 2015, Disney Springs replaced Downtown Disney as a better themed, more expansive entertainment district. At that time, DVC members couldn’t believe our good fortune. We could stay at a resort walking distance from the new hangout area. 

Around this time, several high-profile chefs like Art Smith, Wolfgang Puck, José Andrés, and Masaharu Morimoto added restaurants here. Disney Springs converted into a go-to destination almost overnight. It was a remarkable transformation after the infamous and heartbreaking 2008 closure of Pleasure Island. 

Disney learned from its past mistakes in building a forward-thinking activity area for adults, with plenty of child-friendly options to boot. The reboot of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs added to the value of a Disney Springs stay. For people who claim Saratoga Springs as their Home Resort, it’s that much better. 

The Golf

About 15 years ago, my wife and I made our way to Saratoga Springs for the first time. We were heading to the DVC Preview Center for an appointment, but got lost. All we made was one wrong turn. That was enough for us to wander onto the fairway of the nearby golf course.

Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course bumps into the Saratoga Springs campus at multiple points. In fact, Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Café is technically a Saratoga Springs restaurant. However, Disney lists it as part of the golf course as well. You can grab deli-style sandwiches here when you need to refuel between holes/rounds.

You can book tee times at GolfWDW.com, and this recreational activity is a bit of an anomaly. A round of golf here is affordable by both golf AND Disney standards. That’s remarkable since the National Golf Course Owners Association just named Walt Disney World Golf as the 2026 Resort Golf Course of the Year. So, you’re getting tremendous value when you golf at Saratoga Springs. 

Lake Buena Vista Golf Course (Photo Credit: WDW News Today)

The Spa

Disney didn’t name Saratoga Springs randomly. Management always intended this resort to mimic the iconic vacations of yesteryear at Saratoga Springs. As part of those classic tourist trips, people always luxuriated at the iconic mineral springs and spas of upstate New York. 

So, there’s a specific reason why this reason has “& Spa…” in its name. Disney wants you to prepare for a spa day the moment you book the reservation. Now, don’t get me wrong. You don’t have to do it. Many people have stayed at Saratoga Springs several times and never once visited Senses Spa.

However, that’s a bit of a waste, kind of like going to Paris but skipping the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower. When Disney puts “spa” in the title, you should pay attention to that. Disney is telling you that this is one of the best amenities you’ll find onsite. 

If you doubt that, please glance at the spa services available at Senses. They include:

• “Massage therapies
• Facial treatments
• Body therapies and wraps
• Wet relaxation space with a whirlpool, heated loungers and a steam room
• A relaxation room”

Don’t those treatments sound like a lovely way to spend part of your Disney vacation? That’s the genius of Saratoga Springs. You’re likely to be able to book a room here. In the process, you can spend plenty of time at Disney Springs and even throw in a spa day for good measure.

The Treehouse Villas 

Finally, we have the precise reason why some DVC members choose Saratoga Springs. They want a specific Room Type at the resort, one with all sorts of hidden bonuses.

The Treehouse Villas here provide a rare level of seclusion at Walt Disney World. Disney built Three-Bedroom Villas on stilts in the middle of the forest. So, you’re surrounded by lush foliage while staying here. The isolation provides a glamping vibe even though you’re a short boat ride from Disney Springs.

With each Treehouse Villa, you’ll find ample room to sleep up to nine guests, although most people hover in the range of five to seven. DVC members want to stretch out and savor the experience. It’s a decidedly rustic cabin that happens to include a full kitchen and living room area. 

The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort are basically the smaller knockoff version of the Treehouse Villas. If you don’t believe me, please watch this DVC Fan video displaying all the highlights of these homey suites:

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