Cypress Harbor or Disney's Saratoga Springs

[Bill4728]

I have to choose between Cypress Harbor or Disney's Saratoga Springs for early March

We'll only go to DW for a day or two so being really close to DW isn't a big deal.

Any Ideas?

 

[michielbm]

Saratoga Springs by far! Such a lovely resort.

 

[bnoble]

Assuming you are comparing 2BRs and need the space:

CH doesn't have the $190 nuisance fee, and the units are better equipped. For example, there is a dining table that seats more than four. CH has a little more going on in the resort itself. SSR has good proximity to Disney Springs and its dining space. The second bedroom in SSR has reasonable space; it would be tight in the CH 2nd bedroom if you needed the pullout.

 

[Janann]

At Saratoga Springs, you might enjoy being able to walk to Disney Springs for a huge selection of restaurants and shopping.

Golf and a driving range are available at Saratoga.

The freeway access from Saratoga to wherever else you are going is pretty easy.

 

[Dean]

I have to choose between Cypress Harbor or Disney's Saratoga Springs for early March

We'll only go to DW for a day or two so being really close to DW isn't a big deal.

Any Ideas?

All else equal (price, size) SSR by far. Even if a 1 BR at SSR but you only need 1BR, same answer. Even if an exchange fee and the added Disney junk fee, I'd still chose SSR and I do feel it worth the roughly $400 extra though this may vary from person to person. This is true even for NO park days.

 

[rickandcindy23]

We love Cypress Harbour. The beds are a bit hard for us. But it's comfortable and as bnoble stated, it's much better equipped. Saratoga Springs has a tiny kitchen and no BBQ grills. We use BBQ grills a lot on vacation.

The $190 fee for Disney properties is not something I would pay to use Extra Magic Hours for one day at the park. That's an expensive single day.

 

[Dean]

We love Cypress Harbour. The beds are a bit hard for us. But it's comfortable and as bnoble stated, it's much better equipped. Saratoga Springs has a tiny kitchen and no BBQ grills. We use BBQ grills a lot on vacation.

The $190 fee for Disney properties is not something I would pay to use Extra Magic Hours for one day at the park. That's an expensive single day.

Being on property is worth the difference for us even if not going to the parks.

 

[noreenkate]

I have to choose between Cypress Harbor or Disney's Saratoga Springs for early March

We'll only go to DW for a day or two so being really close to DW isn't a big deal.

Any Ideas?

Even with a day or two depending on which parks you want to do those deluxe evening hours can make a tremendous difference.

 

[dioxide45]

Assuming you are comparing 2BRs and need the space:

CH doesn't have the $190 nuisance fee, and the units are better equipped. For example, there is a dining table that seats more than four. CH has a little more going on in the resort itself. SSR has good proximity to Disney Springs and its dining space. The second bedroom in SSR has reasonable space; it would be tight in the CH 2nd bedroom if you needed the pullout.

The costs may be more if the OP is working with an enrolled Marriott week. To exchange into DVC is it $190+$229 exchange fee. Enrolled Marriott to Cypress Harbour would be $0 extra cost. Is the DVC resort worth $400+ is the question.

 

[rickandcindy23]

If you are going to visit Disney Springs once or twice during your trip, the boat access is a good reason to stay at Disney over Marriott. Still, Cypress Harbour is beautiful. We used to stay there a lot. I think we stayed at CH a total of 8 weeks over fall and winter once. Couldn't get Disney at all with RCI after a while.

 

[Big Matt]

Another thing with DS is that you have access to the Disney transportation system. Lots to do at Disney that doesn't involve the theme parks. We always enjoy going to the Boardwalk, Animal Kingdom and Wilderness Lodges, and Disney Springs. If you are staying at the timeshare most of the time, CH is far less busy and very relaxing.

 

[jbman]

Would anyone's opinion change if you were going to Universal?

We went ahead and got tickets for Epic Universe first week of June. We're not pass holders, so had to buy a package, which was fine as we want to go to USF/IOA anyway. We were going to buy the 3-day package, but it was only $10 more for 5 days, so we went for that. (Regardless of what package you buy at this point, you only get 1 day at Epic, the other 4 days are split between USF and IOA).

I first thought I would try and get Lakeshore Reserve if available, and if not then one of the other Marriott's, but was wondering in the back of my mind if SSR or OKW came up for that week whether we should grab it.

 

[bnoble]

Would anyone's opinion change if you were going to Universal?

Cypress. You can take Turkey Leg road, there's usually not much traffic--every once in a while you have to wait a cycle to get across Dr. Phillips, but that's it.

 

[noreenkate]

Would anyone's opinion change if you were going to Universal?

We went ahead and got tickets for Epic Universe first week of June. We're not pass holders, so had to buy a package, which was fine as we want to go to USF/IOA anyway. We were going to buy the 3-day package, but it was only $10 more for 5 days, so we went for that. (Regardless of what package you buy at this point, you only get 1 day at Epic, the other 4 days are split between USF and IOA).

I first thought I would try and get Lakeshore Reserve if available, and if not then one of the other Marriott's, but was wondering in the back of my mind if SSR or OKW came up for that week whether we should grab it.

Our back up plan if we could not get Grand Helios for epic was Club Wyndham International - 3 miles to Epic…

 

[jbman]

Our back up plan if we could not get Grand Helios for epic was Club Wyndham International - 3 miles to Epic…

Congrats on getting a Grand Helios reservation, I understand they went quickly.

 

[dioxide45]

Cypress. You can take Turkey Leg road, there's usually not much traffic--every once in a while you have to wait a cycle to get across Dr. Phillips, but that's it.

Sadly Turkey LAKE road isn't the nice quiet backroad shortcut it used to be. It gets real bad at Sand Lake Road. Still better than the highway. The Walmart on Turkey Lake is truly hell on earth.

 

[noreenkate]

Congrats on getting a Grand Helios reservation, I understand they went quickly.

Thanks- we are really looking forward to it…great job snagging tickets. Don't know about you but between hotels, tickets, & the separate day for AP holders I spent a lot of time in theme park purgatory than I should have.

 

[jmhpsu93]

Sadly Turkey LAKE road isn't the nice quiet backroad shortcut it used to be. It gets real bad at Sand Lake Road. Still better than the highway. The Walmart on Turkey Lake is truly hell on earth.

And that monstrosity of an interchange at Dr. Phillips and I-4 didn't do traffic in that area any favors.

To the OP: we've stayed extensively at Cypress and it's an easy commute to Universal - we've add annual passes so we would get there early, but usually no more than a little traffic on I-4.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Sadly Turkey LAKE road isn't the nice quiet backroad shortcut it used to be. It gets real bad at Sand Lake Road. Still better than the highway. The Walmart on Turkey Lake is truly hell on earth.

Truly, that Walmart is horrible. I try to avoid it, but sometimes Rick just chooses that one over the one on John Young and Sand Lake, which is further but better for a short shopping trip. Still, we both prefer the one by Smokey Bones, and we just make a trip after eating BBQ.

 

[bnoble]

Autocorrect! Sigh. And yes I was thinking of Sand Lake as the intersection that can be tough to cross.

 

[dioxide45]

And that monstrosity of an interchange at Dr. Phillips and I-4 didn't do traffic in that area any favors.

I think you mean the 1-4 and Sand Lake Road interchange? That seems to be a new style of intersection they are building. They did one like that at San Pablo and JTB in Jacksonville. They claim it has benefits, but I am not seeing it.

 

[jbman]

Thanks- we are really looking forward to it…great job snagging tickets. Don't know about you but between hotels, tickets, & the separate day for AP holders I spent a lot of time in theme park purgatory than I should have.

The multi-day tickets were easy to get, I think it was just the one-day AP tickets and Helios that were tough.

Originally, when we found out Helios doesn't include express pass, didn't think we would even try to get one, but the more I think about it, with only one day, early entry might be crucial to getting to do everything, Helios is sold out for all our dates, but could get a night at Stella Nova or one of the Endless Summer resorts, would be expensive just to get early entry, but cheaper than coming back for a second day at Epic I guess.

 

[jmhpsu93]

I think you mean the 1-4 and Sand Lake Road interchange? That seems to be a new style of intersection they are building. They did one like that at San Pablo and JTB in Jacksonville. They claim it has benefits, but I am not seeing it.

Yes, the Sand Lake interchange. My mistake.

 

[noreenkate]

The multi-day tickets were easy to get, I think it was just the one-day AP tickets and Helios that were tough.

Originally, when we found out Helios doesn't include express pass, didn't think we would even try to get one, but the more I think about it, with only one day, early entry might be crucial to getting to do everything, Helios is sold out for all our dates, but could get a night at Stella Nova or one of the Endless Summer resorts, would be expensive just to get early entry, but cheaper than coming back for a second day at Epic I guess.

We are booked for Stella Nova on its opening day also and Terra Luna in August For us UO is normally an add on to Disney, but after seeing Nintendo World in Hollywood we are super excited and now have small 3 trips planned for 2025.

Complete role reversal.

 

[Monykalyn]

Would anyone's opinion change if you were going to Universal?

We went ahead and got tickets for Epic Universe first week of June. We're not pass holders, so had to buy a package, which was fine as we want to go to USF/IOA anyway. We were going to buy the 3-day package, but it was only $10 more for 5 days, so we went for that. (Regardless of what package you buy at this point, you only get 1 day at Epic, the other 4 days are split between USF and IOA).

I first thought I would try and get Lakeshore Reserve if available, and if not then one of the other Marriott's, but was wondering in the back of my mind if SSR or OKW came up for that week whether we should grab it.

100% Cypress Harbour. Stayed in 1 bed SSR in March and that kitchen is AWFUL if wanting to cook-ordered Hello Fresh meals so not even much need for prep etc. CH also has the full size washer/dryer. Just stayed at Grande Vista 3 bed for a week to go to Universal for Halloween Horror Nights. Not a bad commute at all and if have the toll tag just jump into the HOV/express lane-makes dealing with I4 much less stressful LOL.

Hoping for soft opening spot for Epic for passholders!