am i the only one who is bothered that the rainforest is co-ed? - post 20 update

[disneyholic family]

i was listening to Kevin's Disney Fantasy spa review and it reminded me about my recent discovery about the rainforest.

on our past cruises, we never went to the rainforest/spa - never even considered it (as we were busy with the kids).

But this time i'm taking my mom and sister on the Disney Dream, so i've been researching the different things we could do together.
The spa is something i thought my sister would adore!!!
so i thought the rainforest might be nice for all 3 of us....
that is, until i realized that it's co-ed.

Am i the only one who is bothered by the rainforest being co-ed?

..

 

[Becx N Gav]

It's not as if you are naked in there, I don't see the difference between that and the co-ed pools or hottubs

 

[indychristine]

I have not used the Rain Forest as of yet. We will be on the Fantasy in May and we are considering a day pass or 2.
I never really thought anything about it being Co-ed. Maybe that is because I am thinking of it kind of like the PP is....or maybe it is because my DH will be with me?
IDK.....but it does not bother me.

 

[Fastpaks]

I wasn't sure what to expect about it. Being a male not used to anything spa ish at all, once I got in the locker room and noticed everyone just trying to relax, I quickly forgot anything else other than it being a place to REALLY relax. I think you will too.

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

I guess I would be more surprised if it wasn't co-ed. Why wouldn't it be?


Sarah

 

[ccgirl]

i was listening to Kevin's Disney Fantasy spa review and it reminded me about my recent discovery about the rainforest.

on our past cruises, we never went to the rainforest/spa - never even considered it (as we were busy with the kids).

But this time i'm taking my mom and sister on the Disney Dream, so i've been researching the different things we could do together.
The spa is something i thought my sister would adore!!!
so i thought the rainforest might be nice for all 3 of us....
that is, until i realized that it's co-ed.

Am i the only one who is bothered by the rainforest being co-ed?

..

All spas I go to are co-ed. They do not discriminate on the basis of gender. It's not like the men will be in the room with you as you get a massage.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I can understand what Beth is saying.

While spas are usually co-ed....steam rooms, saunas and showers are usually reserved for one gender or the other.

The Rainforest Room also has hot tubs and great, heated chaise lounges.

I'm certainly not offended by this being co-ed....and I wasn't offended by the public exfoliation....but I have to say, it did surprise me.

Think about being in a steam room with 10 people from your neighborhood, office, PTA etc...and they are all in bathing attire.

Now think about watching them smear and rub sugar scrub over all of their exposed skin.

And then......think about those same people rinsing sugar scrub off in large showers (while still in bathing attire) open to the rest of the Rainforest Room.

Maybe it's me....but I thought it was weird.

It's like shaving or shaving your legs with an audience.

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with it.....but it's weird for it to be a communal co-ed activity.

 

[shawy1269]

I was wondering the same thing. It does sound strange. Then again, I have a hard time picturing how big the space is.

 

[stenogoddess]

I can understand what Beth is saying.

While spas are usually co-ed....steam rooms, saunas and showers are usually reserved for one gender or the other.

The Rainforest Room also has hot tubs and great, heated chaise lounges.

I'm certainly not offended by this being co-ed....and I wasn't offended by the public exfoliation....but I have to say, it did surprise me.

Think about being in a steam room with 10 people from your neighborhood, office, PTA etc...and they are all in bathing attire.

Now think about watching them smear and rub sugar scrub over all of their exposed skin.

And then......think about those same people rinsing sugar scrub off in large showers (while still in bathing attire) open to the rest of the Rainforest Room.

Maybe it's me....but I thought it was weird.

It's like shaving or shaving your legs with an audience.

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with it.....but it's weird for it to be a communal co-ed activity.

I was good with it until you put it like that. Now I'm all

 

[DisneyKevin]

I was wondering the same thing. It does sound strange. Then again, I have a hard time picturing how big the space is.

Think 10 feet wide by 20 feet long with marble benches all around the perimeter.

Also....know that I'm really bad at estimating room size.

 

[SamSam]

I was good with it until you put it like that. Now I'm all

I'm with you! I think I would find it hard to relax getting a scrub in a coed room.

 

[Gigi22]

Ever since I found a co-worker changing her clothing in the ladies' washroom at work, it's much harder to offend me. The same co-worker also flossed her teeth over the sink in the washroom. If there's something that should be private, it's flossing!

 

[tjevans]

The saunas I've been to provide rather skimpy towels, and sitting like a man tends to, with legs not together, all of your business is exposed.

So, yes, it surprised me when I heard it was co-ed.

 

[Quicklabs]

Nah--we lived in Germany for five years. First time to a spa, it was we who were getting strange looks because we had on our bathing suits. We were told in no uncertain terms by the Frau in charge that it wasn't allowed. The military community in which we lived was within walking distance to a gorgeous spa. We all went there regularly--it was just too nice to pass up. So, it got to be where we would run into our friends, neighbors and co-workers who were bathing "au natural". I laugh when I think of how hard we all tried to keep our eyes straight ahead as if we were walking in a formal military parade.

 

[mytripsandraces]

Nah--we lived in Germany for five years. First time to a spa, it was we who were getting strange looks because we had on our bathing suits. We were told in no uncertain terms by the Frau in charge that it wasn't allowed. The military community in which we lived was within walking distance to a gorgeous spa. We all went there regularly--it was just too nice to pass up. So, it got to be where we would run into our friends, neighbors and co-workers who were bathing "au natural". I laugh when I think of how hard we all tried to keep our eyes straight ahead as if we were walking in a formal military parade.

Very OT, but I lived in Germany in/near the military community, too. Where were you? We lived in Mainz-Kostheim and used the Wiesbaden base for school, shopping, etc.

 

[Euphscott]

I'd be more upset if it wasn't co-ed. It's a nice opportunity for couples to have the opportunity to share some relaxation time.

And we in America (as noted above) are really quite closed minded in comparison to the rest of the world's idea of spas and treatments. Japanese and other Asian cultures co-ed (and clothesless) spas are the norm.

The scrubbing aspect may be a little out there, but the rest of the relaxation stations are wonderful attractions for a couple looking to get away for a bit.

 

[disneyholic family]

I can understand what Beth is saying.

While spas are usually co-ed....steam rooms, saunas and showers are usually reserved for one gender or the other.

The Rainforest Room also has hot tubs and great, heated chaise lounges.

I'm certainly not offended by this being co-ed....and I wasn't offended by the public exfoliation....but I have to say, it did surprise me.

Think about being in a steam room with 10 people from your neighborhood, office, PTA etc...and they are all in bathing attire.

Now think about watching them smear and rub sugar scrub over all of their exposed skin.

And then......think about those same people rinsing sugar scrub off in large showers (while still in bathing attire) open to the rest of the Rainforest Room.

Maybe it's me....but I thought it was weird.

It's like shaving or shaving your legs with an audience.

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with it.....but it's weird for it to be a communal co-ed activity.

Thanks for clarifying what i meant!

the rainforest seems so much like the sauna/whirlpool area, which at the spas i've been to has always been single sex (separate but equal - beautiful expansive areas for men and women - but separate, not co-ed)...

and to be honest, it took me a long time to feel comfortable in that setting even in a single sex environment (i guess i'm a throwback )...

your description had me guffawing by the way...

And we in America (as noted above) are really quite closed minded in comparison to the rest of the world's idea of spas and treatments. *Japanese and other Asian cultures co-ed (and clothesless) spas are the norm.

as for germany, and the rest of the world, as i don't live in america, i'm aware of the differences. but does different necessarily mean they're right and america is wrong or vice versa?
All i can say is, when i first heard the rainforest was co-ed it made me uncomfortable.

but it's good to read all the different points of view - perhaps by the time the cruise comes around, i'll be more comfortable with the idea.

 

[BriarRosie]

as for germany, and the rest of the world, as i don't live in america, i'm aware of the differences. but does different necessarily mean they're right and america is wrong or vice versa?
All i can say is, when i first heard the rainforest was co-ed it made me uncomfortable.

but it's good to read all the different points of view - perhaps by the time the cruise comes around, i'll be more comfortable with the idea.

I said this on the cruise board, and I'll say it here. I found it as comfortable as being co-ed at the pool. To me, there was no difference, as we all wear bathing suits in the Rainforest Room.

 

[mytripsandraces]

I don't mind that the Rainforest Room is co-ed, but I'm a bit skeeved out that people are scrubbing in the public area. I don't want to sit around in anyone's sloughed-off dead skin and used scrub, especially in a warm, moist environment. How often is the area sanitized?

 

[disneyholic family]

time to update my thread after actually having experienced the rainforest on the Dream during our 4 day cruise in October...

and the verdict is? I really enjoyed it...

my favorite part was the hot tub....i would have been happy to stay in there all day and night!!!
my sister and mom loved the ceramic loungers....
for the price, it was an amazing bargain....

as for the co-ed thing?
well it helped that i have the ultimate in modest swimsuits thanks to lands end, so i didn't think twice about it..
also there were barely any men there when we were, so that probably helped....

i will definitely do it again - and more than likely next time i'll buy the pass for the entire cruise!!