Should You runDisney From Saratoga Springs Resort?

Hello and welcome to my 2026 Princess Half Marathon Weekend coverage! Today we’ll be discussing our stay at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. Read all the posts in this report here. Onward!

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort flies somewhat under the radar. I might go so far as to say that it has the least buzz around it of any Walt Disney World resort.

Admittedly Saratoga Springs is not the most excitingly themed accommodation. Its muted elegance (at least by WDW standards) might take some time to grow on you. But it does have two things that should appeal to the runDisney subsection of Disney enthusiasts, and those are a) plenty of multi-room villa availability and b) it’s quiet.

So let’s explore the question: should you runDisney from Saratoga Springs?

THE SARATOGA SPRINGS TWO BEDROOM VILLA EXPERIENCE

Curiously enough, we didn’t rent DVC points to obtain our two bedroom villa but rather found a deeply discounted rack rate. I don’t know how regularly those come around. As I understand it, though, two bedroom villas are among the last to go among DVC accommodations. If you’re interested in this room type but leery of points rental you may still be able to pick one up at a reasonable price.

I’m not going to do a 1000% comprehensive, totally granular review of the rooms at the Saratoga Springs. (I bet Disney In Your Day will so make sure you give her a follow!) In order to make the re: running portion make sense, I do feel like a top level overview will provide necessary context. Here’s a quick-run through.

COMMON AREAS IN A SARATOGA SPRINGS TWO BEDROOM VILLA

A two bedroom villa is comprised, more or less, of three rooms. The main area is a combined kitchen-living room. The living area is quite roomy, even with the Murphy and twin beds folded down.

The kitchen has everything your kitchen at home probably has, including an oven, microwave, and full sized refrigerator. The table is a bit small for the number of people the villa can sleep, having only a banquette and two chairs.

I’ll also stick the patio/balcony (left, below) in this section, since it’s right off the main room. This is the one area where I think Saratoga Springs cheaped out a bit. It’s a perfectly nice area… until you remember that at Old Key West the patio/balcony (right, below) is so big it comes with an additional table and chairs. Hardly a dealbreaker, but a mild disappointment by comparison.

BUT WHERE DO YOU SLEEP?

A Saratoga Springs two bedroom sleeps up to nine people. Three can be accommodated in the main area as alluded to above: two in the Murphy bed and one in the pulldown twin. People staying in those beds can store their stuff in the shelves and drawers built into the Murphy bed as well as the coat closet off the entrance.

As for the two bedrooms, one is a master bedroom with a single king bed and the other has two queen beds. Both have a dresser and flatscreen television.

HOW ABOUT THE BATHROOMS?

We had five people in our traveling party, a number technically small enough to fit in a one bedroom villa. We upgraded to a two bedroom for one primary reason: a two bedroom villa also has two bathrooms.

In fact, and in the inexplicable tradition of many of the villas we’ve stayed in, it kinda has three… it’s just that one bathroom doesn’t have a toilet, only a bathtub. Boo.

Of the two bathrooms, the master bathroom has a walk-in shower and is connected to the Bath Room with the tub. The secondary bathroom is a shower-tub combo.

The bathrooms are also home to your closets. You’ll find a walk-in closet off the Bath Room and a standard closet in the secondary bathroom.

TRANSPORTATION

There is a duality to transportation at Saratoga Springs. Some of it is exemplary; the rest of it is middling at best.

Where Saratoga Springs shines is in its proximity to Disney Springs. (So many Springs!). it’s the closest of all Disney resorts to WDW’s shopping and dining district. As with Old Key West, you can take a boat to Disney Springs; I’d estimate the trip is under ten minutes.

Or if you prefer your own two feet, there’s a walking trail available. Technically there is from OKW as well, but it’s going to be multiple miles. From Saratoga Springs you’re looking at a much more reasonable distance, although just how reasonable will depend on where on the sprawling grounds you are personally located.

I love a boat ride and I love to walk, so that’s all fab to me. Where SS falters a bit is when you’re trying to go… anywhere else. Your only Disney transportation option in that case becomes bus service, and since Saratoga Springs is enormous, the buses make multiple stops around the resort before they actually head anywhere. It’s hardly the end of the world, but neither is it efficient. Make sure you build in plenty of time for travel to the parks.

AMENITIES

Saratoga Springs is a deluxe DVC resort, and has everything you would expect from such. There’s a community hall, fitness center, and bike rental place. There’s also an on-site golf course if that’s something you’re into.

For food, you have a table service restaurant in Turf Club Grill, a decent quick service restaurant in the Artist’s Palette, and multiple pool bars serving food (including breakfast!). Oh, and multiple pools, more of one of which has a water slide. I think they also have a sauna a la Old Key West? But I didn’t run across it myself.

SARATOGA SPRINGS FOR runDISNEY RACE WEEKENDS: THE PROS

Now you have the shape and feel of Saratoga Springs – but how, specifically, does it function as a runDisney race weekend home base?

Let’s start with arguably the biggest runDisney-specific perk: Saratoga Springs goes ALL OUT for runners. Every morning there was a table of coffee and bagels for the runners waiting by the bus line, gratis. I’ve never seen that at any other resort. I’ve seen pins and photo ops, but refreshments is a new one!

Another major Saratoga Springs perk is all that space. The two bathrooms, beds for everyone, lots of mirrors and counters for race prep. Our two bedroom villa was more than big enough for the five of us, and cost us around the same as a deluxe studio at Beach Club. Some may prefer Beach Club’s location, but for a runDisney trip in particular I prefer the comfort of a larger villa.

Disney Springs proximity is always a boon. There’s plenty of real-world shopping and dining in the Springs! Need a last minute item or a restaurant reservation that doesn’t require a park ticket? Boat on over from Saratoga Springs, or even walk if you feel like it.

If you’re looking to eat at your resort, the Artist’s Palette quick service is infinitely better than at Old Key West.

Alternatively, with a full kitchen, you can cook anything you like for yourself. And if you want, you can readily wash and reuse any race gear with the in-room washer and dryer. Keep in mind that only suites have the latter; studios don’t. Even if you don’t need to reuse anything, it’s always nicer to be able to pack your clothes clean!

IS SARATOGA SPRINGS DISNEY’S QUIETEST RESORT?

Ever successfully fallen asleep at a very early runDisney hour, only to be rudely awaken shortly after by some form of nearby fireworks? Unfortunately there’s nowhere on WDW property that is truly safe from fireworks noise pollution – but in my estimation Saratoga Springs is about as close as you’re gonna get. The explosion sounds are so muffled that you might not even notice them. I heard the fireworks the night before the 10K, but they missed me entirely the night before the half.

In fact, I don’t remember much noise pollution generally. Minimal giggling in the halls and such. I guess Saratoga Springs being so large and having fewer people to square footage keeps the noise levels down.

THE CONS

runDisney race bus service was fine – plenty of busses that took off fairly promptly when full. However, Saratoga Springs does share busses with Old Key West for the expo and after the race, and is the last stop. Not the end of the world, but it does add a bit of time.

As for regular park bus service, it is admittedly a bit of a slog thanks to all those internal bus stops. In addition to adding some time to the trip, it can make finding room on a bus tough during busy periods like early morning. I only visited a park on one day, so it wasn’t a huge deal, but it might be something to consider if you’re planning a park-heavy trip.

Also similar to Old Key West, Saratoga Springs needs those internal bus stops because it’s so darn big. Race weekend participants are already racking up tons of steps during their events. They may or may not have much enthusiasm for additional cross-resort treks to get to the race busses from their room and, perhaps more so, back.

WOULD I STAY AT SARATOGA SPRINGS FOR A runDISNEY RACE AGAIN?

I would absolutely stay at Saratoga Springs for a runDisney race weekend again. For a race trip, many of Saratoga Springs’ perceived weaknesses are in fact strengths. It’s quiet, secluded, understated, and perfect for between-races rest. Add to that the space, kitchen, washer/dryer, and Disney Springs proximity and you have a winner… as long as you’re not planning a ton of time in the parks.

Many of the characteristics I describe are shared by Old Key West. I’m honestly sure which I like better at this point. Maybe I should stay at each three or four more times to figure it out?

Don’t forget, you can follow FRoA on Threads @fairestrunofall and on Instagram @fairestrunofall. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment or email fairestrunofall@gmail.com. See ya real soon!