Gym use

[tripletsmama]

Do you have to be staying on points in order to use the gym at another Disney resort? We are paying cash for a few nights at Port Orleans and would like to use the gym at Saratoga Springs. We have done this before when staying at OKW, but we were on points, so our key to the world had the DVC indicator on it.

 

[a742246]

You may want to call saratoga spa on this one.

 

[tripletsmama]

I will try that, or emailing member services.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Removed a bunch of stuff from here that proved to be wrong. Sorry.

You don't mention when your planned trip is occurring. The Spa at SSR is currently closed for rennovation and won't re-open until sometime next summer.

 

[tripletsmama]

Unless someone was just letting us do something we weren't supposed to be doing, when we stayed at OKW for 2 weeks, we used the SSR gym almost everyday. It was so much nicer than the OKW gym. When we checked in, they would keep our room key at the desk, then return it to us when we left.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are not a guest of that resort and not a DVC member on points, you can't use that gym unless you pay to use the gym. Otherwise, local members all over the place would be using the gym at SSR (but isn't it closed right now with the spa renovations anyway?).

So you might be able to pay to use the gym at SSR if you were a guest at a WDW resort, but not a DVC on points.

 

[Brian Noble]

and not a DVC member on points

I thought so too, but looked at the specific wording in Portable Perks, and now I'm not so sure.

For the fitness centers (emphasis mine):

Freebies
Fitness Center: There is no extra charge for Guests at the Walt Disney World Resort hotel at which they are staying and at any Disney Vacation Club Resort. (Fitness facility access does not include spa facilities, such as lockers, saunas, or whirlpool spas.)

Contrast that with the pool wording (emphasis mine):

When staying on your Membership at any Disney Vacation Club Resort at the Walt Disney World Resort or Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, you and any Guests staying with you are permitted to use most of the other Disney Vacation Club and Walt Disney World Resort hotel pools (in addition to the pool at the resort hotel at which you are staying)

Whether this is just an accidental turn of phrase or not, I don't know.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Shame on me for not being thorough. I read the entire Recreation section looking for mention of the gyms, and even searched the document for "gym." I didn't even see that paragraph on the front page under freebies, nor did I search for the phrase "Fitness Center."

It certainly does look like DVC members are entitled to use any DVC fitness center. (It doesn't mention a requirement to be staying on points.)

I learned something new, today.

 

[tripletsmama]

I wonder if the wording of that document and what people are actually told if they show up at one of the "fitness centers" is the same.

 

[Brian Noble]

Well, as you know, you could ask three different CMs a yes/no question, and be likely to hear three different answers. So, your guess is as good as mine...

Also, even if you did have to pay for it, it might be worth it. There is no fitness center at all at POR. You could instead consider staying at CSR; there is a fitness center there, and I hear it is fairly nice.

 

[tripletsmama]

Well, as you know, you could ask three different CMs a yes/no question, and be likely to hear three different answers. So, your guess is as good as mine...

I am going to go ahead and email member services so if they say yes, I'll have it in writing. Other than that, I guess we'll just have to see how it plays out!

And yes, we would be willing to pay. If we pack up the kids and go over there, we're definitely not going to turn around and leave over $24 for the 2 of us. DH works out while I sit at the pool with the kids and then we switch, so it would be fun for them to get to hop to that pool anyway.

 

[a742246]

If you pay you get to use the steam room! As others have said the
spa will be closed until summer. When it reopens it will be under a different management. So if you are going next fall, whatever you find out now, can be different then. PS. if you get a massage, they may let your spouse use the fitness center.

 

[AnnaS]

We just returned Monday - yes, the Spa is closed but the Fitness Center is open if anyone is going any time soon

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think gym use is similar to pool hopping. You must be staying on a DVC reservation to get that perk.

You don't get Portable Perks if you aren't staying on a DVC reservation. And you don't get it if you stay in one of the Disney Collection hotels on DVC points.

Shopping perks, dining perks, anyone can use them any time.

 

[Brian Noble]

I am going to go ahead and email member services so if they say yes, I'll have it in writing. Other than that, I guess we'll just have to see how it plays out!

And yes, we would be willing to pay.

Then I wouldn't even bother asking Member Services. Just go over to SSR and let it play out.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We just returned Monday - yes, the Spa is closed but the Fitness Center is open if anyone is going any time soon

Thank you! I had sent a message to MS asking about this and hadn't heard anything back.

 

[amyy]

Thanks Anna about the mention that the fitness part is still open.

 

[AnnaS]

Thanks Anna about the mention that the fitness part is still open.

Your welcome