Renting DVC Points: Old Key West vs. Saratoga Springs
Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa are among the largest DVC resorts at Walt Disney World. They also have a lot in common. Both are located near Disney Springs, have been newly renovated, and feature sprawling, peaceful resort grounds. They also have good availability and low points charts. If you’re deciding between renting points at Old Key West or Saratoga Springs, which resort is best for you?
Old Key West
As the original DVC resort, Old Key West has larger villas than Saratoga Springs does. For example, Deluxe Studios at Old Key West are 390 square feet whereas those at Saratoga Springs are 355 square feet. On the other end of the spectrum, the Three Bedroom Grand Villa is 2,375 square feet at Old Key West versus 2,113 square feet at Saratoga Springs.
With this extra space, Old Key West’s balconies are more like patios in the One Bedroom Villas and larger units. In fact, there’s enough room for a table and chairs, so you could eat meals outside.
If staying in a Deluxe Studio at Old Key West, one benefit is that there are two real queen beds. At Saratoga Springs (and most other DVC resorts), the second bed is a Murphy queen bed.
Since Old Key West is an older resort, not all of the buildings have elevators due to building codes at the time. The only buildings that have elevators are buildings 62 to 64. If accessibility is a concern for your travel party, Saratoga Springs may be the better option.
Saratoga Springs
Both Old Key West and Saratoga Springs have boats for transportation to Disney Springs. However, Saratoga Springs also offers a walkway to the dining and shopping district. Congress Park is the section of the resort that is closest to this walkway. Since Congress Park is a Preferred section of the resort, you need to book a room in the Preferred category to stay there.
While Old Key West has one feature pool and three leisure pools, Saratoga Springs has two feature pools and three leisure pools. It also has an aquatic play area for little ones, which Old Key West does not have. Saratoga Springs can be a surprisingly great resort for guests who enjoy having pool time during their trips.
Lastly, Saratoga Springs offers a room category that is unique: the Three Bedroom Treehouse Villas. These standalone buildings sleep up to 9 guests. They have three bedrooms, a full kitchen, and living room. Each has its own large deck equipped with a grill.
Book Old Key West or Saratoga Springs for your next Disney World vacation! By renting points through the DVC Rental Store, you can save up to 65% compared to booking directly through Disney.
