A Visit to the Carriage House Lobby of Disney’s Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Springs is by far one of the most traditional resorts at Disney World. It exudes a small-town feel with charming sidewalks, trees, and fountains in the center of its many lakes. At a whopping 65 acres, the resort is also the size of a small town. But what about its theming?

As you probably know, Disney World’s Resorts are known for their impeccable theming. Saratoga Springs is no exception. The resort was designed after New York’s historic town of Saratoga Springs in the late 1800s. Think horse-racing, spas, and a touch of the Victorian Era.

However, we are talking Disney World, so you can also expect a touch of magic in the mix. Thanks to the resort’s last refurbishment, a few years ago, an extra dose of Disney was added. One of the big standouts was the Carriage House lobby, which is at the heart of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa. If you’re visiting the resort and are a fan of Disney horses, it’s worth taking a moment to see. So on our last visit, I took a few photos of the entire lobby area.

If you’re interested in visiting Saratoga Springs as part of a resort-hop, you will most likely want to take a bus to the resort and exit at The Springs. It will be the last stop if you’re taking a bus from a theme park. However, if you take a bus from Disney Springs, it will be the first stop. The resort has five bus stops, so you’ll want to remember to exit at The Springs.

You can also walk to the resort from Disney Springs or take a boat from the Marketplace at Disney Springs directly to The Springs boat dock. See the two ways to walk between Disney Springs and Saratoga Springs for the quickest walking route.

An iron statue of a jockey riding a horse sits in an area called the Winner’s Circle outside the lobby entrance. This area is often blooming with pretty red Begonias.

An old-fashioned carriage sits to the left of the main entrance.

Inside, you’ll see a large lobby with a few seating areas in the center. Several individual counters are available at the back of the space for guests who might need assistance. Of course, online check-in eliminates some of the crowds at the resort around check-in time.

Don’t forget to look up and see the stunning hexagon-shaped dome ceiling.

A couple of horse murals watch over the central lobby area.

Here we have Angus from Disney Pixar’s animated film Brave.

Near the children’s nook, we see Maximus from Tangled.

Philippe from Beauty and the Beast is a familiar face.

Then, we have Destiny from Enchanted. I’ll admit it took me a while to figure out the identity of this animated horse, which was a surprise considering how much I love the film’s feature song So Close.

Lastly, we have Pegasus, the baby version, from Hercules.

Toward the front corner of the lobby, you’ll find an additional seating area with a few paintings.

One in particular is worth noting. It’s reminiscent of the merry-go-round at Griffith Park in Hollywood Hills where Walt Disney took his children. It’s also where he dreamed up the idea to create Disneyland. You may remember we touched on the story in our tour of the Carolwood Pacific Railway Room at Boulder Ridge Villas.

An extension of the lobby continues down a long hallway toward the Artist’s Palette, the resort’s combined quick service and gift shop. Here are a few photos.

An ATM and Fuel Rod portable charger station sit in a small nook off the lobby.

You might also find this pressed penny machine.

These designs were available when we visited.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we always enjoy our visits to Disney’s Saratoga Springs. For more highlights among the Disney Resorts, you might enjoy the following:

• Seeing the Tangled Mural at Disney’s Riviera Resort
• A Visit to Old Port Royale at Disney’s Caribbean Beach
• The Lobby of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Photo Gallery
• Fire Rock Geyser (A Must-See at the Wilderness Lodge)

You might also like our entire guide to Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.

More Planning

Resorts Gal specializes in Disney World Resorts, Characters, and Dining. Explore our resources, including our Disney World Resorts Guide. It provides an overview of everything you need to know about the Disney Resort Hotels. For dining, our Disney World Dining Guide is an excellent place to start. Our Disney World Transportation Guide is a wonderful resource for planning your routes. It’s one of our most popular resources. If you plan to meet characters in the parks, we have an updated list of Disney World Characters. It includes every available character meet-and-greet in the parks and where to find rare characters throughout the year. Lastly, our Disney Parks Guide provides a complete overview of all four theme parks and water parks.