Is Disney Vacation Club’s Saratoga Springs worth it? While there are many conflicting reviews about SSR, we absolutely believe that Saratoga Springs Resort is good for families. We’ll discuss the resort’s layout and some of the reasons it’s one of our favorites!
Is Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort (SSR) Good for Autistic Families?
Yes, there are so many amazing things to do. Disney Vacation Club Saratoga Springs Resort (SSR) is divided into several clusters of villas, each with its own amenities: the Grandstand, the Springs, the Carousel, the Paddock, and Congress Park.
Saratoga Springs for Sensory-Sensitive Families
The main action occurs at the Carriage House. Fantastic restaurants, a general store, and the spa and High Rock Spring Pool are located in the Springs. There are four swimming pools total, but each is a different experience.
This resort features bus transportation to all other resort bus stops, Disney Springs, and all Walt Disney World theme parks. Beyond the bus stop, there is also a walking path and boat transportation to Disney Springs.
If you plan to spend less time in the theme parks, access to pools and Disney Springs will be tremendously important. If you take some time off from the theme parks, this is your perfect resort.
Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for any affiliate link that you click. It will not increase your cost, and all reviews are unbiased.
Disney Vacation Club Room Rentals (Savings $)
I highly recommend David’s Disney Vacation Club (DVC) rentals, where you save a ton of money over purchasing a regular room. For example, a Deluxe Studio at Saratoga Springs (which also features a kitchenette and a quiet atmosphere) can often be booked through David’s for roughly $300 per night, while Disney typically charges $600+ plus tax for the exact same room.
By renting points, you get the benefits of a villa (extra square footage, a kitchen, and separate sleeping areas) at a Moderate resort price point. It is the single best ROI move for a neurodivergent family wanting to stay in the Disney bubble without the sensory overwhelm of a standard, cramped hotel room.
| David’s DVC Rentals | Disney Direct Booking | |
| Estimated Price | (Deluxe Studio) $275 – $420 / night | (Deluxe Studio)$650 – $850+ / night |
| Taxes & Fees | Taxes & Fees Included in Price | Taxes & Fees+ 12.5% Resort Tax |
| Resort Parking | Resort Parking Free for DVC Renters | Resort Parking Included |
| Best For… | Best For Families wanting a Safe Haven for 30-50% less | Best For Last-minute bookings requiring flexibility |
What about check-in?
Check-in time is at 4 p.m. You check in at the Carriage House, which contains the lobby and concierge at Saratoga Springs Resort (SSR). You will be dropped off directly at the Carriage House if you are taking the Mears passenger bus. If you drive yourself, follow the signs. Once you arrive at the Carriage House, greeters by the door will direct you.
Are you curious about the Carriage House? I filmed the experience upon arrival.
You can check in online before setting foot on Walt Disney World Resort grounds. Online check-in lets you submit room requests, add a credit card to the room, and even select your arrival date.
Disney texts you when the room is ready. However, I never received a text. At 4 p.m., I went to the Carriage House to pick up our magic bands and asked whether the room was ready. It was- so I caution you to check if you are approaching check-in time and have not received a text yet.
Ideal Sensory Location: The Villas in The Paddock
Luckily, the Paddock Villas is in a decent location. The Paddock features a pool that rivals the main feature pool at Saratoga Springs Resort. The Paddock Grill is also a quick-service restaurant that has extended hours and delicious food nearby. The Paddock is close to the walkway to Disney Springs. The circled area is our room in building 61.
Our son has autism, and eating in our room is heaven-sent. We love the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) because it allows us to eat meals in our room with a full kitchen while staying on property and to travel between places quickly. To us, the kitchen alone makes the Saratoga Springs Resort suitable for autistic families.
A One-Bedroom at Saratoga Springs Resort
We stayed in a one-bedroom with a king-size bed, a full kitchen with all necessary appliances and utensils, and a fold-out sofa. The room offers a lot from a family and sensory standpoint. There is a pack-n-play and an ironing board in the closet. The Saratoga Springs Resort villa features decor inspired by the turn of the century in Saratoga Springs, New York, with a focus on horse racing.
We love using the kitchen so much that we like to maximize our savings and cater to our children’s special diets. I always make sure I subscribe to Amazon Prime before going, so I can send food ahead of time or order groceries within a few hours. If you’re unsure about the commitment, you can usually sign up for a free 30-day trial.
Important: Safety & Elopement
If your family member is at risk for eloping or going on high balconies, please keep that in mind when booking a room or requesting a floor. The sliding doors lead to private balconies, and while they have standard locks, they might not be enough for a determined explorer.
I’d highly recommend bringing your own door alarm and asking the front desk if they have a slider lock. If you’re worried about heights, request a ground-floor unit at check-in to avoid a high balcony. To keep everyone safe inside, I recommend a two-layer approach: a physical barrier they can’t reach and an audible alarm if they try.
Our Recommended Travel Safety Gear:
- The Addalock Portable Door Lock: This physically prevents the door from opening even if the deadbolt is turned from the inside. It takes seconds to install and fits in your pocket.
- Door Guardian (Stick-On Version): For inward-swinging doors, it uses high-strength 3M adhesive, so you don’t have to drill into the door’s surface. It sits at the very top of the frame, completely out of reach.
- GE Personal Security Window/Door Alarms: These 120dB magnetic sensors trigger a loud siren the moment the door or sliding patio glass is opened, even an inch.
- Securityman 2-in-1 Security Bar: You lay it in the track of the sliding patio door, and the door is secure. It cannot slide open from either side until the bar is removed.
The Paddock Pool
The Saratoga Springs Resort pool in the Paddock area features a water-tower-like slide. The Paddock pool slide is 146-feet-long, the tallest drop of all the resorts, sending you into a zero-entry pool. When you’ve had enough fun splashing, relax in a horseshoe-shaped whirlpool spa.
If you have littles, it is sometimes nice to kick back and relax. The children’s play area at the Paddock Pool is for children under 48 inches. It features two slides, water cannons, dumping buckets, and sprinklers. Here’s a video of the entire children’s play area and our little bug with autism:
The Paddock pool at SSR is on our list of the top ten best Disney World pools, and it’s incredible. The pace here is so relaxed, and we enjoy the ability to return to our spacious room for meals and naps.
While this is not the main feature pool at SSR, we still had a blast here. The main pool was too crowded and loud for our little guy’s sensory preferences. Our children declared this pool the best pool of all time.
Sensory Considerations and Food at Disney’s Paddock Pool
The Paddock Pool features a quick-service poolside restaurant, the Paddock Grill, with adult and non-alcoholic beverages, including specialty drinks. The Paddock Grill’s hours are 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. It’s busy during peak pool hours, but it is not nearly as busy as the quick service at Saratoga.
You can snag a breakfast sandwich or quiche and coffee for breakfast at the Paddock Grill. Lunch and dinner offer a salad, shrimp tacos, a chicken sandwich, or a burger. If you have refillable mugs, there is a station at the Paddock Grill for you to fill them up until your heart is content.
While all Disney World restaurants accommodate our gluten-free diet, the Paddock Grill was kind and willing to prepare special dishes for our picky eaters. We were able to get a variety of options. Even on the days that my gluten-free kiddo struggled to find something he wanted to eat, at least there’s always Mickey Bars!
You order at the window and are given a flag to put by your chair. The cast members will bring you food while you wait poolside. We felt utterly spoiled when they delivered our food at Saratoga Springs Resort. It was nice not to drag slippery children and several trays of food to our table to eat.
Can you walk to Disney Springs from the Saratoga Springs Resort?
We took the pathway from Saratoga Springs to the Disney Springs shopping area (formerly known as the Disney Marketplace or Disney Village). I always come prepared with sensory tools to make the walk less stressful, such as fidget toys and a communication tablet.
The resort is an attractive place, with lush landscaping and hidden Mickeys galore. Walt Disney World selects fragrant flowers and foliage that feel like you’re entering a secret garden.
We stopped to see the gorgeous red Mickey Mouse head made from flowers in the lawn by the lake on our way to Disney Springs.
We discussed what to expect with my son and provided a visual schedule with pictures (PECS). Essentially, it went like this: first lunch, then shopping, then a treat, then the pool.
He was pretty excited about the walk after establishing a schedule and expectations. We followed the path and arrived at Disney Springs without any issues.
Disney Springs is fun because it’s more than just shopping and eating. There are a ton of photo opportunities and special memories to be made as you wander around.
The Walt Disney World Resort TV channels
One of our favorite Disney traditions is spending our evenings watching the Disney Parks channel and Mickey Mouse shorts. We pop a bag of popcorn and relax as we wait for fireworks. We always go out to our balcony to see if we can spot any fireworks from the parks. Our children adore watching Duffy Bear story time immediately before falling asleep.
We love to eat Mickey Bars. The children adore this, and it has become a long-standing tradition for our crew. However, you can often order them with your grocery order to save a buck!
Go with the Saratoga Flow
The moral of the story is to go with the flow for your autistic kiddos. Sticking to a rigid schedule would have ruined our trip. There were many things that our son decided he didn’t want to do, so be flexible. Sometimes it’s best to know when to pick your battles- it’s everyone’s special vacation- not just ours!
If you’re interested in staying at Disney Vacation Club Polynesian Resort, we have a full review of that Pago Pago stay too.
Would you rather stay at the spacious and reasonably priced Marriott Vacation Club Grande Vista? We have a full sensory-friendly review.
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