OKW Fitness Center - Free?

[MickeyRPI]

Ok, my DGF and I are heading down to see the mouse in about a month so we have been boning up on all sorts of info. I came across some info in a book called "Disney on a Dime" that I had to double check here. According to this book, the fitness center at OKW is "free for all WDW Resort guests" (not just those at OKW) . Does anyone have any experience with this? I was under the impression that you could pay a daily or length-of-stay fee at the different fitness centers. If OKW truly is free, this would be a substantial savings for us.

::Hoping the author checked his facts before printing::

 

[A Mickeyfan]

It is not free to everyone.. in fact, I think it is only free to DVC members while staying there..

 

[Wendy1953]

Ok, my DGF and I are heading down to see the mouse in about a month so we have been boning up on all sorts of info. I came across some info in a book called "Disney on a Dime" that I had to double check here. According to this book, the fitness center at OKW is "free for all WDW Resort guests" (not just those at OKW) . Does anyone have any experience with this? I was under the impression that you could pay a daily or length-of-stay fee at the different fitness centers. If OKW truly is free, this would be a substantial savings for us.

::Hoping the author checked his facts before printing::

According to Birnbaums 2006 Walt Disney World book I quote "While some of the fitness centers within WDW hotels are reserved for guests staying at the resort that houses them, several have open door policies and are accessible to all WDW resort guests. Health clubs include the Conteporary Health Club, Sturdy Brances at WL, Zahanati at AKL, La Vida at Coronado Springs, Muscles & Bustles at BW, the Health Club at the Grand Fla, Resort Fitness Center at OKW, Ship Shape at the Y&BC, and the fitness center at the Swan. Registered guests may use their respective resorts facility for free. Guest not registered in a resort with a health club can still use the facilities for a $12 fee." They don't specify which resorts fitness centers have "open door policy", but if you are staying at one of the resorts that have a fitness center, it's yours for use for free! DVC members can use all fitness centers within WDW resorts for free whether they are staying at that resort or not. so my advice upon check in is to ask which fitness centers you can use for free!

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are some really bad guide books out there with tons of misinformation. This could be one of them.

 

[CarolA]

There are some really bad guide books out there with tons of misinformation. This could be one of them.

This IS one of them. I own it. HUGE HUGE waste of money.

The authors truly believe that no one besides them could think of some of thier "money saving ideas" They give you menus for eating in the room.... I mean it would never occur to anyone to make a ham sandwich without thier help.... (Sacasm intended....)

There are several other "inaccuracies" in the book including my personal favorite. The book recommends if you will be arriving a few days after the "rate change" just book the room early starting in value date and then show up a few days late and Disney will give you the room rate.... UH NO!!! If you don't show up, Disney does hold the room for several days waiting on you......

(And while the book does NOT say you can pool hop, it comes AWFULLY close...It claims "no one ever checks" That fact is wrong too!)

I posted a review of the book on Amazon.com. The "author" wrote me and called me nasty names. His response to me claimed that you CAN be sure of a free breakfast with a Priceline room (one of his great moneysaving plans) and that his meal ideas were original....



Sorry the OP wasted his/her money on this thing. If I had purchased it anyplace but the airport it would have been returned! *Update.. glad to hear the OP didn't waste money LOL!

By the way, for anyone thinking about it avoid that E book on Disney budgeting... between here and places like Mousesavers you can find all the info that woman sells for free....

 

[MickeyRPI]

Thanks for the quick responses everyone. I thought it sounded a little too good to be true. Good thing I only borrowed it from the local library. The only one I spent money on was the 2007 Unofficial Guide. I have found that one to be very accurate and extremely helpful.

As a follow-up question, I recall reading that it is possible to buy a length-of-stay fitness pass for around $45. Has anyone heard of this?

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Yes, they do have a length of stay pass for the health clubs but it is only for the resort that you are staying at. The exception to the rule is the Poly and the GF.. since the Poly doesn't have a fitness center, you are allowed to use the GF's for the fee..
This is how they use to be, I think they still run the fitness club the same.
I fee was $45.. I am not sure if the price has gone up...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Yes, they do have a length of stay pass for the health clubs but it is only for the resort that you are staying at. The exception to the rule is the Poly and the GF.. since the Poly doesn't have a fitness center, you are allowed to use the GF's for the fee..
This is how they use to be, I think they still run the fitness club the same.
I fee was $45.. I am not sure if the price has gone up...

Are you saying if you were work out at the Resort you were staying at, you need to pay? Whenever my Mom worked out at the Contemporary health club all she did was sign in, show her KTTW card, write down that say at the Contemporary and that was it. So they never charged her anything and that went to everyone else who worked out at the same time. I do know guests who work out at Resorts they are not staying at are charged a fee and the expection is the Polynesian guests who can work out for free at the Grand Floridian, which is what you mentioned.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I know when I stayed at the Beach Club, Boardwalk, Poly, Contemporary & CS, yes, my DH had to pay to use the health club. The only place we never had to pay was at the Universal hotels since I am a Lowe's member.. but yes, at Disney's .. we paid.



CR Resort Fan 4 Life ......
they may have changed their policy, I do not know... or they may have been charging your mom on her Key Card too.. and you didn't realize it.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

CR Resort Fan 4 Life ......
they may have changed their policy, I do not know... or they may have been charging your mom on her Key Card too.. and you didn't realize it.

My Mom last worked out there in December 2006 and was not charged a thing. Plus there were no charges on our bill because she said her card was never scaned.

I can see WDW charging guests from other Resorts, but to charge guests to use the gym in a Resort they are staying at sounds very weird to me, especially since DVC members can go to any gym for free. The way I see it is if someone is staying at a Resort with a gym it should be free for them and DVC members. So if someone from another Resort wants to go there, then they are the only ones who should be charged to work out there.

 

[CarolA]

I know when I stayed at the Beach Club, Boardwalk, Poly, Contemporary & CS, yes, my DH had to pay to use the health club. The only place we never had to pay was at the Universal hotels since I am a Lowe's member.. but yes, at Disney's .. we paid.



CR Resort Fan 4 Life ......
they may have changed their policy, I do not know... or they may have been charging your mom on her Key Card too.. and you didn't realize it.

They did change the policy. Not sure when you stayed there, but I know that in the past I have had to pay. I remember reading about the policy change, but can't recall when it was.