Working Out at Saratoga Springs at Walt Disney World: Part 2

One cool thing about Saratoga Springs Resort - the excess of recreational activity. From working out at the fitness center, to doing laps around the resort on a rented bike, there is not a shortage of ways to work out.

I discussed the fitness center in great detail in a separate article. There are really two reasons why I stuck to working out at the gym. First (and this is a crazy one but you might relate), I tend to not think that I worked out unless gym equipment was involved. Second, I was vacationing on my own, so some activities were simply not an option.

At the Horsing Around Recreation Rentals, which is an extension of the Community Hall and is located by the High Rock Springs pool, you can rent single and double-seating bikes. The single bikes are available for kids and adults, and go for about $8 per hour (or a bit under $20 for the whole day's worth of biking). The bikes can be rented from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and you can cruise all over Saratoga (minus the pool and front desk sidewalks) or make your way to Downtown Disney via the walkway. Helpful hint: single bikes don't have baskets for your stuff, so use a backpack to store all your loose items.

At the same rental area, you can get equipment for basketball, tennis and shuffleboard. The courts are located down the street from the rental office; just pass the DVC preview building. Courts are available from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. - the rental folks will keep your room card to reserve the court for you. There is no charge for using the courts (just for the equipment you rent). Everything is, as you suspected, on first come, first served basis. So if you want to play some friendly basketball or tennis, make sure you to keep your schedule flexible. A helpful hint: I drove the rented bike around these courts several times, and have never seen anyone using them (and no, they were not closed).

This may be too obvious, as far as getting a workout, but go for a walk. This resort is huge, covering over 60 acres of land. The path will lead you around and around the resort, and you are sure to get a great work out this way. I, however, did not attempt this, as it was constantly over 100 degrees during my visit.

What I did do instead was swim. A lot. I would wake up early, and hit the pool by the Paddock villas. This pool, although smaller than the main pool, went as far as 5 ft. deep and it was significantly less crowded. It also didn't have any fancy fountains in the middle of it, so it was perfectly suited for swimming laps. After your pool workout, you can step into the hot tub and relax for a while. A helpful hint: swimming is also a great way to keep cool. Oh, and each pool provides towels, so you don't have to worry about bringing your own.

Now that you have options, get out there and kick some fitness butt. And don't forget to enjoy your vacation.

For additional details on visiting Walt Disney World, please check out my "Walt Disney World Travel Series" articles.