The Work, Womenz, Weunion, and Welaxation Trip Report!!

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

then maybe you should get over this snow white obsession it will give you more time to rest :rofl2:

I think Nicki wins that one!!!! :rofl3:

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

OK, I have left the restaurant.

It's a beautiful Chamber of Commerce weather.

I was going back home tomorrow, so I was gonna enjoy the no plans thing.

Snapping away, I'm just wandering

Then I see this sign!! I know where I'm going for the moment

Looking back across the lake

This picture shows the bus stops I spoke of on my chat with the bus driver. I do remember the Disney busses stopping there for a couple of years

Still strolling

Back over my shoulder again

The path appears that it has good lighting at night

The rarely used WestSide lot

As a matter of fact, one year when the WestSide bus stops were still in use, I remember parking in that lot, shopping my way towards MarketPlace, then taking the first bus that arrived at the Marketplace stop back to my car.

Here is the boat dock for Saratoga Springs

At first I thought I might walk to the boat dock and boat back to MarketPlace, then take a bus back to the Fort, but thats not where my wandering would take me.

The path goes past and through the golf course

Glancing back toward DTD

Boats heading to POFQ, Old Key West, and PO Riverside

Photo limit!

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

We're getting closer to the boat dock

Now I've entered their main shopping/dining complex

Their Counter Service is called Animator's Palate

Look for kids, they have drawing paper and crayons

I like this magnet

Samples of food available at the CS

They have a special of the day

Typical cold food case

Dining Area details

Now I'm wandering through the halls towards the Turf Club Bar & Grill

When the resort first opened, the only food available at the entire place was bar food at the Turf Club. Artist's Pallette opened a few months later, then a year or so later Turf Club Bar expanded into a full service restaurant.

All of the details at Saratoga Springs are about the horse racing culture from Saratoga Springs, New York

Dining area in the Turf Club

Outside seating area

Now, I'm looking over the lake at from one of the outside terraces

A fully stocked bar

More racing decor

Now I'm wandering through the Main Pool at SSR

Resort map

Kids's splash area

The main pool

Kid's slide

This is a zero entry pool

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

I love your wanderings. Funny thing.. Today I am wearing a shirt that says "Not all who wander are lost".

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

Your photos from Saratoga Springs are great. I love to see what the other resorts look like! Thanks :)

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Loving the Saratoga Springs photos! We've never visited there.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

I love your wanderings. Funny thing.. Today I am wearing a shirt that says "Not all who wander are lost".

Ooooh, I need a shirt like that!!

Your photos from Saratoga Springs are great. I love to see what the other resorts look like! Thanks :)

Thanks, I do too. It's fun to just wander and see where it takes you!! More SS and wandering pics coming up!!

Loving the Saratoga Springs photos! We've never visited there.

Thanks! Well you should, it's got some great pathways to wander!!

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

Ooooh, I need a shirt like that!!

Thanks, I do too. It's fun to just wander and see where it takes you!! More SS and wandering pics coming up!!

Thanks! Well you should, it's got some great pathways to wander!!

we found them at Camping World but they are one of the "Life Is Good" shirts.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

We're still wandering Saratoga Springs....

Here is the hot tub

Another pool view

The pool bar

Ping Pong anyone?

Lots of bikes to rent

Resort building

Lake View

Now here, I was at the bus stop. I had initially thought I would take a bus to MK, then ride monorails to Epcot, as I had not been on a monorail yet this trip, and then bus back to the Fort.

However, my mind was changed again.

A bus to the Treehouse Villas showed up. I had not been even near those since 1997, and I knew that they were recently redone. So I hopped on.

When I got off the bus, I noticed the first of many wetland signs

The treehouse villas were closed for a very long time, cause they needed repair and refurbishment, but wetland concerns prevented the rehab. However, they finally found a solution with the modular units that are there now, and they are bragging that they preserved the wetlands.

Another SSR map

Here is the grill at one of the villas

Villa

A villa hidden in the brush

This looks like it is an accessible villa

Another villa

Some of them had parking right at the villa, some did not. There seemed to be mini parking lots, then the villa was down a path

Direction sign

It appears that in addition to buses to/from SSR, there is also a boat to SSR.

More wetlands information signs

One of 2 bus stops

Now we're approaching the pool

On the pool deck they have a foozball table

Restrooms and vending

The pool

The hot tub

More wetland signs

A nice water feature at the pool

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

If you want a villa near the pool, then ask for villa 7035 - 7037

Now, instead of taking a bus back to Saratoga Springs, I decided to walk it.

Another villa

Now I'm on the path to Saratoga Springs

This path also takes you near the golf course

Now, I either took a wrong turn, OR it is a loooong walk from the THVillas to the closest Saratoga bus stop

And I have come to a stopping point, and dinner is ready, so I will continue later.

Coming up, one of the most creative pools I have seen.

[dblr....Rennie 224]

You did not take a wrong turn it is a long walk from the Tree Houses to the main lodge at Saratoga Springs. We hope to book one for New Years in 2 years, we are DVC members at this resort so we can reserve at 11 months. This Oct. we are at Kidanni Village with a savanah view for our 25 wedding anniversary!!!!!!!!

[dblr....Rennie 224]

You took some wonderful pictures, it gives us some great things to look for on upcoming trips!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lou... 3,118]

The only time I used the West Side bus stops was when they redid the PI bus stops a few years ago.

What the bus driver told you is true about the outside buses using it now, but it never made sense to have three stops at DTD. It doesn't make sense to have two. It should only be PI.

Lorna, Richie, Jen, Gail, and myself were at the Turf Club just this past weekend for dinner. It's nice and quiet and the food was good..

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

I now remember why I took this picture. See the Mickey in the window. If I'm not mistaken, that is not just decoration, that is an indicator to firefighters to let them know that window is made of a special kind of glass that can be broken without injuring anyone. Most buidlings put a firefighters helment on the rescue window, but DISNEY does it their way!!

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

You did not take a wrong turn it is a long walk from the Tree Houses to the main lodge at Saratoga Springs. We hope to book one for New Years in 2 years, we are DVC members at this resort so we can reserve at 11 months. This Oct. we are at Kidanni Village with a savanah view for our 25 wedding anniversary!!!!!!!!

Wow, so walking from the THVillas is not something folks would normally do on a daily basis just to get to the parks, cause that is a LONG walk.

You took some wonderful pictures, it gives us some great things to look for on upcoming trips!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks!!

The only time I used the West Side bus stops was when they redid the PI bus stops a few years ago.

What the bus driver told is true about the outside buses using it now, but it never made sense to have three stops at DTD. It doesn't make sense to have two. It should only be PI.

Lorna, Richie, Jen, Gail, and myself were at the Turf Club just this past weekend for dinner. It's nice and quiet and the food was good..

And coincidence I was at the World when they redid the PI bus stops and got to use the WestSide stop once again. I'm pretty sure it was Labor Day weekend 2008!

Glad you enjoyed the dinner. I have eaten there also, but it's been awhile. Also had a good evening there with friends when SSR first opened and it was only the Bar. The nachos were yummy!!!

Thanks for reading all!

Another update to come!!

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

When we last left off I was strolling through Saratoga Springs again after leaving the THVillas in search of a bus stop to get me to my next destination.

I wander upon this

I am approaching one of the "quiet" pools at Saratoga Springs. This was AMAZING for a quiet pool

Once again, the racing theme is well executed

A wonderful kids splash area

The main pool

Pool Bar

Restroom facilities off of this breezeway

Guest Laundry

The Hot Tub

Looking at the Kids Play Area again

A nice picnic area under the pavilion

Now, I got the feeling that this pool complex was already there when this area was the Disney Institute/Villas/Townhomes, etc,etc. and was simply rethemed for Saratoga Springs. Does anyone know?

Whew, now I'm finally seeing a bus stop

This is the Grandstand Area of Saratoga Springs

A nice place to play horseshoes

Now, I was back to my original quest of bussing to Magic Kingdom, then monorailing to Epcot. Did I do that? Coming up in the next post!

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Carol-

I fell behind in my TR reading, but now I'm caught up.

First, you see the one room in the Contemporary Tower that has its lights on, all the way over to the right? :

I think that was our room that night! Did you see me out on the balcony waving?

Great job on the SSR/Treehouse photos- that was pretty amazing that you did all that walking after walking all over the MK the night before.

TCD

[dblr....Rennie 224]

I belive the pool was built when they expanded Saratoga Springs it was not refurbished.

[Roller ... aka Ed 351]

I love your wanderings. Funny thing.. Today I am wearing a shirt that says "Not all who wander are lost".

All that is gold does not glitter ...

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

All that is gold does not glitter ...

don't tell Doodle that! She might get upset!

[Roller ... aka Ed 351]

Just to put this in it's proper context, it is a poem that appears twice in J.R.R. Tolkein's Lord of the Rings.

All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

Just to put this in it's proper context, it is a poem that appears twice in J.R.R. Tolkein's Lord of the Rings.

All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.

Thanks ED! I could 't remember where I'd read it from....

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Carol-

I fell behind in my TR reading, but now I'm caught up.

First, you see the one room in the Contemporary Tower that has its lights on, all the way over to the right? :

I think that was our room that night! Did you see me out on the balcony waving?

Great job on the SSR/Treehouse photos- that was pretty amazing that you did all that walking after walking all over the MK the night before.

TCD

I DO see it. That's pretty cool!! However, I know I didn't see it at the time, or see you wave. :)

I belive the pool was built when they expanded Saratoga Springs it was not refurbished.

Cool.

All that is gold does not glitter ...

don't tell Doodle that! She might get upset!

Just to put this in it's proper context, it is a poem that appears twice in J.R.R. Tolkein's Lord of the Rings.

All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.

Thanks ED! I could 't remember where I'd read it from....

Very interesting. It's been YEARS since I've read LotR, so had not clue where the reference was from!!

Thanks for reading all! Another update coming soon. (If FF cooperates)

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

When we left off, I had boarded a bus from SSR to Magic Kingdom.

A few pictures from the bus ride

We're passing the Fort

Here is the now defunct WDW runway!!

Now I'm strolling toward the Monorail Platform

The Ferry boats passing each other

Sunset past Seven Seas Lagoon

Picture limit!

[Gots2pitt.. Jeff 64]

Glad Lou doesn't read TR's

He would be telling us how great monorails are, his love for monorails, how unique they are, _____ ( <-fill in something good about monorails here) how unreliable and expensive they are and that buses are better. Did Lou get turned down from being a monorail driver? ;D