Spin class no longer free?

[JW9DVC]

If you have to ask, I'm going to assume you've never been to a spin class.

For one, you can't use the real actual spin bikes when not doing a class - you can only use the sort of wacky electronic stationary bikes (they are not created equal). Two, taking a spin class isn't the same as just phoning it on an exercise bike. A good instructor will really push you and have a good varied workout plan with hill climbs, sprints and more. Working out in a group environment is a completely different animal.

At my gym. We are able to go and use those bikes as we please. A group of us go and make our own "class". So, you can create equal whatever you want. Thanks though for trying.

 

[Chirple]

At my gym. We are able to go and use those bikes as we please. A group of us go and make our own "class". So, you can create equal whatever you want. Thanks though for trying.

Not every gym is created equal. At mine there is a notice outside the cycle room that states that equipment is to be used only during class with an instructor. There is a sign in the Magic's Fitness Center that states those cycles are to be used only during class.

 

[anricat]

At my gym. We are able to go and use those bikes as we please. A group of us go and make our own "class". So, you can create equal whatever you want. Thanks though for trying.

First of all, we aren't talking about your gym. On the Disney cruise ships one isn't able to use the spin bikes. Full stop.

Second, I don't have a "group of us" to make a class with. I'm cruising with my family and I'm not making a class with them.

Third, I used to be a spin instructor so I'm very comfortable with creating my own workout. However, I actually enjoy attending other instructors classes. They push me further than I might otherwise push myself. I learn new ideas for workouts and have new experiences. On the Wonder, the wonderful instructor there was from south Africa. She took us through a little guided visualization of her homeland as we cycled through. It was a lot of fun and made the workout really great. I wouldn't have gotten that on my own.

Finally, I'm not really sure what I did to warrant your tone. It feels a little snarky. "Thanks though for trying." Really? I don't feel like that was necessary. We're just explaining why the loss of the free spin class is sort of a bummer for those of us who like it.

 

[kiford]

Are the instructors that good? Not all spin classes (or yoga or fill in your class or choice) are created equal.

I imagine it depends both on the individual instructor and how fit the person is. I watched a spin class when I was working out in the gym once and I thought they were going to have to drag the bodies out at the end of the class. He was tough. I was exhausted watching him.

 

[kiford]

On the Disney cruise ships one isn't able to use the spin bikes.

That's my recollection too - on the Magic, we saw the bikes get packed up (I think they folded up) and stored away. They aren't even left out. They were pulled out and set up a few minutes before the class.

 

[wjs3]

The fact you can't use the spin bikes outside of the classes makes me NUTS. If biking/spinning is your favorite exercise, you might get an opportunity for 3 or 4 classes on a 7 day cruise. You'll likely not be able to make many of those due to other activities. Or they'll put the sign up sheet out during your dinner or something silly like that and you get shut out. So you want to spin? Not likely. Maybe once.

I fought this no use policy stringently with the Senses manager on the Wonder a few years ago. She told me it was a safety issue--that people can get hurt on those bikes unsupervised--I find that silly too. People can get hurt on ANY piece of equipment in that gym, but other equipment isn't restricted. You could drop a free weight on your head. Smash a finger in a nautilus machine. Trip on a treadmill.

Yet the spin bikes are the only equipment that gets taken away/restricted to supervised use under the guise of "you could get hurt." Please...stupid policy. Don't give me that BS. Put up a disclaimer like any other piece of equipment in the gym. Or let me take a 5 minute check out with one of the trainers and show that I can hit the red button and stop the bike. But don't feed me some BS about how this piece of equipment, uniquely, can hurt me.

This said, I'm hopeful that the cost for the class at least gets people to show up when they sign up. That's always been a problem in classes I've taken, especially later in cruises. People get shut out at sign in, but the people who did sign up end up no showing, leaving open spots that could have been used.

Sorry for the minor hijacking. Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[anricat]

The fact you can't use the spin bikes outside of the classes makes me NUTS. If biking/spinning is your favorite exercise, you might get an opportunity for 3 or 4 classes on a 7 day cruise. You'll likely not be able to make many of those due to other activities. Or they'll put the sign up sheet out during your dinner or something silly like that and you get shut out. So you want to spin? Not likely. Maybe once.

I fought this no use policy stringently with the Senses manager on the Wonder a few years ago. She told me it was a safety issue--that people can get hurt on those bikes unsupervised--I find that silly too. People can get hurt on ANY piece of equipment in that gym, but other equipment isn't restricted. You could drop a free weight on your head. Smash a finger in a nautilus machine. Trip on a treadmill.

Yet the spin bikes are the only equipment that gets taken away/restricted to supervised use under the guise of "you could get hurt." Please...stupid policy. Don't give me that BS. Put up a disclaimer like any other piece of equipment in the gym. Or let me take a 5 minute check out with one of the trainers and show that I can hit the red button and stop the bike. But don't feed me some BS about how this piece of equipment, uniquely, can hurt me.

This said, I'm hopeful that the cost for the class at least gets people to show up when they sign up. That's always been a problem in classes I've taken, especially later in cruises. People get shut out at sign in, but the people who did sign up end up no showing, leaving open spots that could have been used.

Sorry for the minor hijacking. Thanks for letting me vent.

It does seem odd. At the gym I was a spin instructor at, we had no issues with people using the spin bikes, as long as they were respectful of the class schedule. Some people, who wanted a little longer workout would come in 20-30 minutes before class and warm up a bit before I started teaching. Some would stay after for a longer workout. It's not like they're hard to operate. They are pretty speedy. I wonder if that has anything to do with it? If they break, they pretty much have limited bikes for spin class. There was a broken one on the Wonder when I was on board last year.

 

[anricat]

That's my recollection too - on the Magic, we saw the bikes get packed up (I think they folded up) and stored away. They aren't even left out. They were pulled out and set up a few minutes before the class.

They are left out, but they are all bunched up in a little group and had a little rope around them. It was a pretty clear "keep off" message.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

First of all, we aren't talking about your gym. On the Disney cruise ships one isn't able to use the spin bikes. Full stop.

Second, I don't have a "group of us" to make a class with. I'm cruising with my family and I'm not making a class with them.

Third, I used to be a spin instructor so I'm very comfortable with creating my own workout. However, I actually enjoy attending other instructors classes. They push me further than I might otherwise push myself. I learn new ideas for workouts and have new experiences. On the Wonder, the wonderful instructor there was from south Africa. She took us through a little guided visualization of her homeland as we cycled through. It was a lot of fun and made the workout really great. I wouldn't have gotten that on my own.

Finally, I'm not really sure what I did to warrant your tone. It feels a little snarky. "Thanks though for trying." Really? I don't feel like that was necessary. We're just explaining why the loss of the free spin class is sort of a bummer for those of us who like it.

Just so you know, you kind of started the snarkiness with this

If you have to ask, I'm going to assume you've never been to a spin class.

For one, you can't use the real actual spin bikes when not doing a class - you can only use the sort of wacky electronic stationary bikes (they are not created equal). Two, taking a spin class isn't the same as just phoning it on an exercise bike. A good instructor will really push you and have a good varied workout plan with hill climbs, sprints and more. Working out in a group environment is a completely different animal.

 

[anricat]

Just so you know, you kind of started the snarkiness with this

If I did, it wasn't my intention. I'm not sure how I was snarky? I apologize if I offended.

 

[over50visits]

I fought this no use policy stringently with the Senses manager on the Wonder a few years ago. She told me it was a safety issue--that people can get hurt on those bikes unsupervised--I find that silly too. People can get hurt on ANY piece of equipment in that gym, but other equipment isn't restricted. You could drop a free weight on your head. Smash a finger in a nautilus machine. Trip on a treadmill.

Agreed. I am sorry they have chosen to add another profit center by charging for these bikes; I am VERY sorry that they choose to misrepresent the reason.

 

[wjs3]

Agreed. I am sorry they have chosen to add another profit center by charging for these bikes; I am VERY sorry that they choose to misrepresent the reason.

The thing is that they had this policy even BEFORE they started charging for it. So it's not like they said "aha, we'll say it's unsafe and keep people off it so we can charge for it!"--they just kept people off of it for-????--because you could hurt yourself???? even if they didn't make money. So they misrepresented for no reason, at least until now!

 

[dvcdream4fld]

I attended every spin class during my last two seven-day cruises on the Fantasy. I tried to sign up in the morning for every class, but about half the time, the class sign up sheet was full. However, I showed up for the class about 10 minutes early and was able to get bike when someone didn't show up or someone showed up late.

My thought is that a $12 fee will prevent some no-shows. Also, it is my hope that the fee will be used to improve the the equipment, classes and instructors. I would bet that if Disney discovers that this class is popular (makes $) then they will offer more classes, better equipment and better instructors.

For me, fitness is a part of my day and I thoroughly enjoy fitness activities while vacationing. I think Disney would be surprised about how many people would be interested in more healthy options.

 

[wjs3]

I attended every spin class during my last two seven-day cruises on the Fantasy. I tried to sign up in the morning for every class, but about half the time, the class sign up sheet was full. However, I showed up for the class about 10 minutes early and was able to get bike when someone didn't show up or someone showed up late.

My thought is that a $12 fee will prevent some no-shows. Also, it is my hope that the fee will be used to improve the the equipment, classes and instructors. I would bet that if Disney discovers that this class is popular (makes $) then they will offer more classes, better equipment and better instructors.

For me, fitness is a part of my day and I thoroughly enjoy fitness activities while vacationing. I think Disney would be surprised about how many people would be interested in more healthy options.

Very impressive. I've never been able to make them all work with activities I've had, or not followed through as you did by popping in and seeing if there were no shows for times I could make.

I too hope this means that they offer more classes, and agree it will cut down on no shows...but...my point and my frustration still stand. You can walk into that gym at any time and use any other piece of equipment without restriction. You don't have to attend a class, check out on it, anything (let alone pay extra for a class to do so now!). Should be the same for those of us who, like you, enjoy fitness and spin bikes, but perhaps can't make the classes or just want to ride!

(Sorry, as you guys might tell, I've gotten really wound up about this on previous cruises!)

 

[GeneMachine]

I'm not sure if you are on the Magic or the newer ships, but the classes were free on our recent European cruise. We did have to sign up, and the sign up sheet went up at 5pm the night before. The instructor was okay. It wasn't the best class I have ever taken, but it did the job.

It does annoy me that we can't use those bikes outside of class. There are only two bikes on the Magic, and one of them is recumbent (I don't love this). There was a lot of listing and rocking on this cruise, so it would have been nice to be able to use the bikes. People were white-knuckling the treadmills! LOL

 

[JW9DVC]

First of all, we aren't talking about your gym. On the Disney cruise ships one isn't able to use the spin bikes. Full stop.

Second, I don't have a "group of us" to make a class with. I'm cruising with my family and I'm not making a class with them.

Third, I used to be a spin instructor so I'm very comfortable with creating my own workout. However, I actually enjoy attending other instructors classes. They push me further than I might otherwise push myself. I learn new ideas for workouts and have new experiences. On the Wonder, the wonderful instructor there was from south Africa. She took us through a little guided visualization of her homeland as we cycled through. It was a lot of fun and made the workout really great. I wouldn't have gotten that on my own.

Finally, I'm not really sure what I did to warrant your tone. It feels a little snarky. "Thanks though for trying." Really? I don't feel like that was necessary. We're just explaining why the loss of the free spin class is sort of a bummer for those of us who like it.

No worries. Appreciate your insight to mine.
If you feel it was a tone, sorry

 

[Happy2BMommy0812]

I attended every spin class during my last two seven-day cruises on the Fantasy. I tried to sign up in the morning for every class, but about half the time, the class sign up sheet was full. However, I showed up for the class about 10 minutes early and was able to get bike when someone didn't show up or someone showed up late.

My thought is that a $12 fee will prevent some no-shows. Also, it is my hope that the fee will be used to improve the the equipment, classes and instructors. I would bet that if Disney discovers that this class is popular (makes $) then they will offer more classes, better equipment and better instructors.

For me, fitness is a part of my day and I thoroughly enjoy fitness activities while vacationing. I think Disney would be surprised about how many people would be interested in more healthy options.

How do you sign up?

 

[anricat]

How do you sign up?

Well, it varies, which is frustrating. On the Wonder when I was onboard, the sign up sheet was put up 24 hours prior to each class. So the first day I went and got the class schedule and then went to sign up at the 24 hour mark (so if the class was, say, Friday at 8 AM, I signed up Thursday at 8 AM). On the Magic, when I went the first day to get the schedule, she said, "Do you want to sign up?" Then proceeded to hand me all the sign up sheets for the entire voyage! So, you'll want to go and ask.

 

[wjs3]

Well, it varies, which is frustrating. On the Wonder when I was onboard, the sign up sheet was put up 24 hours prior to each class. So the first day I went and got the class schedule and then went to sign up at the 24 hour mark (so if the class was, say, Friday at 8 AM, I signed up Thursday at 8 AM). On the Magic, when I went the first day to get the schedule, she said, "Do you want to sign up?" Then proceeded to hand me all the sign up sheets for the entire voyage! So, you'll want to go and ask.

And on other cruises they've had a "sign up sheets go out at 6 PM the night before. At least at the start of the cruise. I pointed out to them that for those of us in the early dinner seating (5:45), we would either have to step out of or be very late for dinner. They changed to 5 PM.

So...yes, ASK!

 

[hanscarlet]

I've read that the classes fill up super quickly, I have been on the treadmill when they are going on and they seem full, they don't have very many bikes so I am going to Port Adventures on day 1 to sign up. They should start adding an exercise bucket to the online booking tool.