Booking a Disney Vacation Club stay, and trying to figure out the answer to the age-old Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs debate? Today, we will have the ultimate showdown!
As we embark on the ultimate face-off between these two DVC Resorts, we will unveil the nuances, perks, and charms that define each, to answer the complex question: Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs – which is better?!
So, grab some popcorn and observe as we delve into the intricacies of Disney’s Old Key West and Saratoga Springs, discovering which resort claims the throne in this ultimate clash of DVC Resorts. 🏰✨
This post is all about the Ultimate DVC Showdown: Disney’s Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs Resort.
Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Old Key West Resort opened in 1991 – and became the first Disney Vacation Club Property – making it arguably the most iconic DVC Resort of all time. (And I’m not just saying that because Old Key West is my Home Resort!).
Disney World is themed after the allure of Key West in Florida. As you walk around Old Key West, you see a lot of subtle, pastel colours – that make you feel like you’re on vacation in a seaside town.
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa opened 13 years later – in 2004 – and became the 5th DVC Resort to open at Walt Disney World.
As the name suggests, this DVC Resort was based on Saratoga Springs, New York, during the late 19th Century.
Beyond its architectural inspiration, Saratoga Springs is loved by many for its association with thoroughbred horse racing.
Saratoga Springs may not be my Home Resort, but I stayed there recently, for 5 nights in November 2023, so I think I’m at least semi-qualified to compare these two DVC Resorts. 😂
So now, let the Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs showdown commence!
Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs Price & Accommodation Options
For many guests, price is a deciding factor in which Disney World Resort they choose to stay at.
Here is the difference in price between these two Disney Vacation Club Resorts (based on 2024 points charts for Old Key West and Saratoga Springs and 2024 room rates for Old Key West and Saratoga Springs).
It’s important to note that Old Key West accommodations (that are near the hospitality house) do not cost more points than those that aren’t. On the other hand, at Saratoga Springs, this “privilege” costs additional points.
Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs – Studios
Old Key West Studios
- Sleeps 4 guests – 2 Queen Beds
- Points per night (based on 2024 points): 9-26 points per night
- Price per night if renting points (assuming $21 per point): $189/night – $546/night
- Prices per night if booking directly through Disney: $474/night – $809/night
Saratoga Springs – Standard Studios
- Sleeps 4 guests – 1 Queen Bed, 1 Murphy Bed
- Points per night (based on 2024 points): 9-25 points
- Price per night if renting points (assuming $21 per point): $189/night – $525/night
- Prices per night if booking directly through Disney: $475/night – $804/night
Saratoga Springs – Preferred Studios
- Sleeps 4 guests – 1 Queen Bed, 1 Murphy Bed
- Points per night (based on 2024 points): 11-28 points
- Price per night if renting points (assuming $21 per point): $231/night – $588/night
- Prices per night if booking directly through Disney: $549/night – $921/night
RELATED POST: Unlocking Deluxe Disney Resorts on a Budget: Your Complete Guide to Renting Disney Vacation Club Points
Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs – One-Bedroom Villas
Old Key West – One-Bedroom Villas
- Sleeps up to 5 guests – 1 King Bed, 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa & 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair
- Points per night (based on 2024 points): 20-50 points/night
- Price per night if renting points (assuming $21 per point): $420/night – $1,050/night
- Prices per night if booking directly through Disney: $645/night – $1,150/night
Saratoga Springs – Standard One-Bedroom Villas
- Sleeps up to 5 guests – 1 King Bed, 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa & 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair
- Points per night (based on 2024 points): 21-47 points/night
- Price per night if renting points (assuming $21 per point): $441/night – $987/night
- Prices per night if booking directly through Disney: $644/night – $1,137/night
Saratoga Springs – Preferred One-Bedroom Villas
- Sleeps up to 5 guests – 1 King Bed, 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa & 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair
- Points per night (based on 2024 points): 24-53 points
- Price per night if renting points (assuming $21 per point): $504/night – $1,113/night
- Prices per night if booking directly through Disney: $737/night – $1,282/night
Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs – Two-Bedroom Villas
Old Key West – Two Bedroom Villas
- Sleeps up to 9 guests (1 King Bed, 2 Queen Beds, 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa & 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair)
- Points per night (based on 2024 points): 27-65 points/night
- Price per night if renting points (assuming $21 per point): $567/night – $1,365/night
- Prices per night if booking directly through Disney: $922/night – $1,798/night
Saratoga Springs – Standard Two-Bedroom Villas
- Sleeps up to 9 guests (1 King Bed, 2 Queen Beds, 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa & 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair)
- Points per night (based on 2024 points): 27-63 points/night
- Price per night if renting points (assuming $21 per point): $567/night – $1,323/night
- Prices per night if booking directly through Disney: $921/night – $1,791/night
Saratoga Springs – Preferred Two-Bedroom Villas
- Sleeps up to 9 guests (1 King Bed, 2 Queen Beds, 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa & 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair)
- Points per night (based on 2024 points): 35-75 points/night
- Price per night if renting points (assuming $21 per point): $735/night – $1,575/night
- Prices per night if booking directly through Disney: $1,113/night – $2,097/night
Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs – Three-Bedroom Grand Villas
Old Key West – Three Bedroom Grand Villas
- Sleeps up to 12 guests (1 King Bed, 2 Queen Beds, 2 Double Beds, 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa & 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair)
- Points per night (based on 2024 points): 46-106 points/night
- Price per night if renting points (assuming $21 per point): $966/night – $2,226/night
- Prices per night if booking directly through Disney: $1,973/night – $3,221/night
Saratoga Springs – Standard Three-Bedroom Grand Villas
- Sleeps up to 12 guests (1 King Bed, 4 Queen Beds & 1 Queen-Size Pull Down Bed)
- Points per night (based on 2024 points): 63-127 points/night
- Price per night if renting points (assuming $21 per point): $1,323/night – $2,667/night
- Prices per night if booking directly through Disney: $1,973/night – $3,213/night
Saratoga Springs – Preferred Three-Bedroom Grand Villas
- Sleeps up to 12 guests (1 King Bed, 4 Queen Beds & 1 Queen-Size Pull Down Bed)
- Points per night (based on 2024 points): 74-139 points/night
- Price per night if renting points (assuming $21 per point): $1,554/night – $2,919/night
- Prices per night if booking directly through Disney: $2,282/night – $3,635/night
Saratoga Springs – Preferred Three-Bedroom Grand Villas
- Sleeps up to 9 guests (2 Queen Beds, 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa, 1 Bunk Bed & 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair)
- Points per night (based on 2024 points): 38-76 points/night
- Price per night if renting points (assuming $21 per point): $798/night – $1,596/night
- Prices per night if booking directly through Disney: $1,152/night – $2,231/night
Old Key West and Saratoga Springs have very similarly priced accommodations. Overall, Old Key West usually works out slightly cheaper, but it’s worth checking points charts, as this isn’t always the case.
However, when it comes to accommodation options, Saratoga Springs wins! I mean, Old Key West doesn’t have treehouses (which are surprisingly good value, considering the amount of space for the number of points).
Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs: Cost of Disney Vacation Club Contracts
Are you thinking about making Old Key West or Saratoga Springs your Home Resort?
Once again, as Old Key West is my Home Resort, I will try to be as unbiased as possible in this section!
RELATED POST: Is Disney Vacation Club Worth It?: 8 Things To Consider Before Becoming a DVC Member
Old Key West: Cost of Disney Vacation Club Contracts
Direct Contracts:
$205 per point – 100-point minimum purchase for a contract with a 2057 expiry date.
Resale Contracts:
Smaller Contracts (25-140 points) – $95-$105 per point (I got these statistics from The Timeshare Store Inc., whom I purchased my contract through. I purchased my Old Key West 100-point Resale Contract for $95 per point – so I can attest to this).
Larger Contracts (150+ points) – $80-$90 per point (for contracts with 2042 expiration dates) and $100-$110 per point (for contracts with 2057 expiration dates).
Please keep in mind that Old Key West resale contracts with a 2057 expiration date are quite rare.
Saratoga Springs: Cost of Disney Vacation Club Contracts
Direct Contracts:
$205 per point – 100-point minimum purchase for a contract with a 2054 expiry date.
Resale Contracts:
Smaller Contracts (25-140 points) – $105-$115 per point
Larger Contracts (150+ points) – $100-$110 per point
Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs Annual Dues:
Old Key West Annual Dues:
2024: $9.8666 per point
In 2023, annual dues were $9.3570 per point, meaning they have increased by 5.45% (which, honestly, is more than I would like as a member, but isn’t as outrageous as it could be).
Old Key West still has the highest annual dues of all the DVC Resorts located at Walt Disney World. Yay.
Saratoga Springs Annual Dues:
2024: $8.1388 per point
In 2023, the annual dues were $7.8622 per point – meaning they have increased by 3.52% (a slightly less daunting percentage)
Overall, Old Key West usually has a lower upfront cost (assuming you’re purchasing resale), but when you take into consideration the expiration dates, Saratoga Springs is often more affordable over the life of the contract.
Annual dues are higher at Old Key West, but for most people, this difference in the price of annual dues won’t be a deciding factor.
Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs: Locations of Resorts
Disney’s Old Key West Resort is located in the Disney Springs area, making it perfect for shopping.
Similarly, Saratoga Springs is also located in the Disney Springs area (as the name suggests!).
But Saratoga Springs is located slightly closer, so Saratoga Springs wins this round!
Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs: Transportation
Old Key West and Saratoga Springs both offer bus transportation to:
- Magic Kingdom
- Epcot
- Hollywood Studios
- Animal Kingdom
- Disney Springs
- Water Parks – Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach (a transfer may be required via Disney Springs/Animal Kingdom)
Guests staying at Old Key West and Saratoga Springs can both catch the Sassagoula River Cruise – a leisurely boat ride to Disney Springs.
But Saratoga Springs wins this round, because it is a short walk away from Disney Springs.
You can walk to Disney Springs from Old Key West, but it is a couple miles away (and takes about 35 minutes) – so it probably isn’t worth it for most guests.
Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs: Dining
Old Key West and Saratoga Springs are both well-known for being some of the cheapest DVC properties to stay at and for being in the Disney Springs Resort Area.
However, neither of these Disney Vacation Club Resorts is well-known for their dining.
And the main reason for that is that it’s just not all that exciting.
That being said, here are the dining options at these resorts:
Old Key West Dining Locations:
- Good’s Food to Go – Outdoor Quick Service Location (with THE BEST mac ‘n’ cheese and fries on Disney World property – a bold but deserved statement)
- Gurgling Suitcase – Pool Bar
- Olivia’s Cafe – Indoor Table Service Location
- Turtle Shack Poolside Snacks – Pool Bar
Saratoga Springs Dining Locations:
- The Artist’s Palette – Indoor Quick Service Location (with the most disgusting chips EVER – known as ‘Saratoga House-made Chips’)
- Backstretch Pool Bar – Pool Bar (as the name literally states) that operates seasonally
- Chip’ n’ Dale’s Café – Outdoor Quick Service Snack Stand at Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course
- On The Rocks Pool Bar – Once again, a Pool Bar!
- The Paddock Grill – Quick Service Kiosk
- The Turf Club Bar and Grill – Casual Table Service
- The Turf Club Lounge – Bar/Lounge
For this round, there isn’t a clear winner (but keep in mind that I’ve only eaten at Quick Service Locations at these resorts).
Saratoga Springs has more dining options, but personally, I’ve had a better experience at Old Key West.
That being said, Old Key West needs an indoor Quick Service Location. It’s not exactly a small resort – surely, they had room to build one!
RELATED POST: 8 Reasons Why Disney World Quick Service Dining Is Better Than Table Service
Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs: Size of Resort
Old Key West and Saratoga Springs are both HUGE Resorts – but Saratoga is larger. If you love spread-out Resorts (hey, there are people – me – that quite like that), Saratoga Springs is the winner here.
But, for a slightly more manageable-sized resort (though it’s still large), Old Key West is better.
Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs: Target Markets/Demographics
Not to sound like the ex-Business student I am, but this may be important for you. After all, there’s a reason families with younger kids don’t tend to stay at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
Back to Old Key West and Saratoga Springs …
If you’ve visited either of these Resorts, you’ve probably noticed that the age of a lot of guests is a little older than those at some of Disney’s more kid-friendly resorts (e.g. Value Resorts).
It appears that they’re more focused on catering to adults – with the golf course and by being a little away from the theme parks, and closer to Disney Springs.
RELATED POST: Discovering the Best Disney Resort for Adults: The Top 7 Best Resorts at Walt Disney World
That being said, these resorts have activities and games (especially in their Community Halls) that are perfect for kids.
But if you’re looking for over-the-top, larger-than-life Disney theming, you won’t find it at either of these resorts.
The theming of these resorts is noticeable but very subtle. If you’re going to Disney but don’t care too much for characters, these are some of the best DVC resorts you could stay at.
There’s no winner for this round, because there’s nothing wrong with any demographics that Disney is catering to with either of these resorts. Disney World is for all ages!
Ta Ta For Now
The moral of this DVC Story is that Old Key West and Saratoga Springs are very similar resorts in many ways. Whether you choose to stay/own at one or the other, you probably won’t be disappointed.
Although Old Key West is my Home Resort, after staying at Saratoga Springs a few weeks ago, I certainly see its appeal too.
Which Disney Vacation Club Resort do you prefer: Old Key West or Saratoga Springs?
This post was all about the Ultimate DVC Showdown: Disney’s Old Key West VS Saratoga Springs Resort.
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