This episode of the My DVC Points Podcast is sponsored by DVC Resale Market, Vacation Club Loans and by community members in My DVC Points VIP Producer Club.

In Episode 052, we meet Mary Anne Tracey, owner at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort since 2017. Mary Anne Tracy the My DVC Points podcast to help us kick off a 6 episode series on Saratoga Springs Resort. Some may consider her a super fan, while others see her as one of Saratoga's most vocal advocates. She's always speaking up and sharing her love for her home resort, Saratoga Springs Resort, and Spa.

Mary Anne confesses in the show; she's such a fan of SSR, that once she canceled a Friday and Saturday night at the Beach Club Villas to return to their home resort. Her entire family loves the resort. To their family, SSR is truely their home resort. The love how the Paddock and High Rock Pools are rarely ever busy. They love the big comfortable sofa in the community hall. Disney Springs is a short walk away, is a huge plus as the family likes to have a casual meal over at Chicken Guy or see a movie on vacation at AMC. Her family loves the “fun-team,” more commonly known as the recreation team at Saratoga Springs.

Tickets and Touring Plan

According to her husband, they tour the park like a military incursion. Mary Anne has a plan that ensures they are one of the first families in the park and get full advantage of rope dropping multiple attractions. Mary Anne and the youngest typically have annual passes, while her husband and older two children like spending time at the “other park” across town. However, Mary Anne usually buys the park hoppers for the family members, not using an annual pass. Their family also loves the hard ticketed limited-access parties. Disney After Dark, Villians, Mickey's Not So Scary, etc.

“B1 Baby” – a Tracy Family Tradition

Mary Anne explains soaring is one of their family's favorite rides. When they approach the loading zone at Soarin', her daughter approaches the cast member smiling with an energetic “B1 Baby!” seating request. The cast member chuckles at her energy and originality in making a seating request and has them step aside so that they can get the best seats in the house for the Soarin' attraction. Section B – Row 1 or as Chad calls it, top row center. When you're in the top row, you don't see other people's feet dangling down and ruining the immersion of the attraction. When you're in the center, the Eiffel Tower stays straight. However, when viewed from off-center, the optics of projecting an image on the dome-shaped screen will bend the tower.

Mary Anne's Disney History & DVC Purchase

The Tracy family joined DVC in the fall of 2017. Before joining DVC, they paid cash for rooms. According to Mary Anne, they were spending way too much on Disney resort accommodations. However, there's more to the story here. When Mary Anne was growing up, her father would only go places where they had relatives in the area so that they could save money and see their family at the same time. After a few trips to Disneyland, Mary Anne vowed that when she grew up, she was taking her family to Disney and staying on property. Shortly after her father passed, Mary Anne's mother decided to take the family to Disney World, but Mary Anne insisted they stay on property. They ended up staying at Port Orleans French Quarter. Seven years later, her mom wanted to go back and spend time at WDW after a cruise. Her mom first suggested staying at the All-Stars resorts. After more thought, mom took some pointers from ladies in her bridge club, and they ended up at the Polynesian. Mom was paying for the trip; however, they ended up paying full rack rate at the Polynesian during the peak Christmas holiday season.

Mary Anne is quick to point out that she's married to one of the most frugal men on the planet. On the third family trip to Disne