SSR spa new policy !!! UPDATE Post # 60 - page 4

[LisaS]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??????? That is not a single person hot tub! OMG!!!

I've never been in the SSR spa but I've been to a couple in other vacation resorts. In those spas, the hot tubs were clothing optional. Based on athenna's post, it sounds like SSR's spa is the same. In the spas I've used, in the women's whirlpools it was about 50/50. My DH tells me it was about the same on the men's side.

 

[CarolA]

This is a really stupid question, but here goes.....I totally bypassed the hot tub in the spa last time (post-massage) because it was empty and I had no clue whether you were supposed to wear a bathing suit or just jump on in in your birthday suit.............So, which is it - bathing suit or birthday suit?

If, like me, you aren't going ANYPLACE neked.... they have disposable swimsuits. They gave me one last time. It was a riot, but did allow me to use the hot tub (I would not wear this paper thing in public!)

There were several other women in there with me, we all had on suits!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Just because people were once allowed to haul the kids & all their gear downstairs to shower & change before their late flight home doesn't mean they should have. I can absolutely understand the mgmt saying enough is enough.

IMO, the spa is an adult environment. Nudity in a locker room is not uncommon. There is a reason why there are age limits on treatment options.

I would have no problem paying a nominal daily or length of stay fee to use the steam room. I hope this is something that Nikki Bryan will consider.

 

[nyjets20032]

Do SSR Owners pay for any maintenance or upkeep of the sauna/steam room/showers/workout facilities at SSR in their annual dues?

well i am a ssr owner and while i am not sure exactly what my dues cover, they told me it covers all that is on the ssr property (which is why it was cheaper then animal kingdom since they have animals as well as property) which i would believe includes the fitness facilities but not the spa itself. I have NOT gotten any notification of change in policy although i have never used any of it...yet. I personally would feel odd using the hot tub and such if i didn't get services but to each their own.

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

Thanks for the update from MS. I have never encountered anyone in their b-day suits but I guess that is a good consideration for not taking my daughter in with me to use that whirlpool. I guess it is back to the outdoor ones unless having a hydrotherapy massage..which are great!!

 

[Doug7856]

Are there shower and changing facilities unrelated to the spa? On our last stay at AKV I noticed the great facilities, but have not seen them at SSR.

 

[Lynn5700]

First of all I will never get a treatment ever again at the Spa there. I had a pedicure..it was great but what I do not like is they add things on to your pedicure without telling you it is an added on service..they just do it so I assumed that it was included. So just a heads up for any women wanting to get a pedicure. I'm a hair stylist so I would never add on a service and not tell my client..I would ask if they want it and explain the extra cost. Ok vent over.

Anyway about the topic...I do think it is fair though that you should only be able to use the spa facilities only if you get a spa service.

 

[rutgers1]

I got a bit duped with the price, but perhaps it was just me being naive. Anyway, I had a sheet that had the price for a massage. It sounded good so I ordered the service. Then I got a call asking what type of massage I wanted. I said, "What type do you have?" After hearing the options, I chose "deep tissue." Bad choice for me, as it was about 2X as expensive, and I didn't find out until I got the bill. Ugh.

 

[patsal]

I was SHOCKED to hear that folks were using the Spa facilities without SPA treatments. Everyplace else I have used the Spa that's been one of the benfits is that you get to use the nice facilities. I would never have even assumed they were for the general public (and that includes those of us on the treadmills).

I really understand the Spa's stand. The "quiet" etc is suppose to be a feature. Having resort guests getting ready to go home etc is not in the deal.

My thoughts as well. I had no idea anyone would think they could/should use the facilities that others have to pay for. If paying customers are using it or not isn't the point. I guess I just do not understand why one would think they could use the sauna, hot tub, locker room, etc. Although I wish everywhere had that little swimsuit water extracter thingy that I get to use when I go to the spa at SSR!

 

[Doug7856]

Are there shower and changing facilities unrelated to the spa? On our last stay at AKV I noticed the great facilities, but have not seen them at SSR.

Does anyone know the answer to this question?

 

[CarolA]

Under the stairs under the spa there is a bathroom that I thought had a shower area. It's been a while since I was in there.

 

[LisaS]

My thoughts as well. I had no idea anyone would think they could/should use the facilities that others have to pay for. If paying customers are using it or not isn't the point. I guess I just do not understand why one would think they could use the sauna, hot tub, locker room, etc. Although I wish everywhere had that little swimsuit water extracter thingy that I get to use when I go to the spa at SSR!

What is confusing is that most (maybe all) of the other resorts that have a fitness center also have a locker room with showers and sometimes also a sauna. SSR appears to have the best fitness center of all of the DVC resorts so I would have just assumed that it was also OK to use the locker room there and the sauna as well just as guests do at the other resorts. I don't like to walk over to the fitness center in my workout gear. I prefer to change in the locker room and then after working out, have a shower and change into street clothes before going back to my room. Given how large SSR is, I can't imagine walking from my room to the fitness center on a cold day in January in my workout shorts and t-shirt and then having to walk back like that after working out. So I'm very concerned about the possibility that even the locker room may be off limits to fitness center users.

 

[LindaBabe]

Even on DCL, you can use the fitness center and the locker room but if you want to use the Sauna,steam room etc in the Rainforest room, you pay $15 a day. If you had a service, the RF room is free for the day. My last cruise I paid $160 for our 15 night cruise to use the Rainforest room. Now SSR facilities are no Rainforest room, but at least it was free.

THere is a sauna (free) in the ladies locker room on DCL. I would assume it was also true for the men. The ladies locker room serves not only those getting spa treatments but also the fitness center.

 

[LIFERBABE]

THere is a sauna (free) in the ladies locker room on DCL. I would assume it was also true for the men. The ladies locker room serves not only those getting spa treatments but also the fitness center.

Yes, you are correct. DCL does have a sauna in their locker room as well as a sauna, steam room, and showers in the Rainforest room so thank you for the clarification.

I do agree with LisaS that SSR has a unique situation in that the locker room and spa area are combined. I would not blame anyone for thinking it is alright to use, just as we use the locker facilities at all resorts, no problems.

The solution may be to add lockers to the area under the stairs to make it a proper locker room.

At BCV and BWV, AKV, VWL there is not a separate area to shower outside of the fitness area, that I know of so you have to use those.

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

My thoughts as well. I had no idea anyone would think they could/should use the facilities that others have to pay for. If paying customers are using it or not isn't the point. I guess I just do not understand why one would think they could use the sauna, hot tub, locker room, etc. Although I wish everywhere had that little swimsuit water extracter thingy that I get to use when I go to the spa at SSR!

Well, I guess I am not as experienced with spa services as others on this board but in April, when I went in to use the inside whirlpool, the cast member asked what I was there for, took my room key and DVC member card and said "have a nice time".

I have also used it when paying for spa services while staying at OKW. It is very easy to assume that the whole area is open, especially when we toured last December after having bought DVC sight unseen in January 2006, the guide told us the facilities were included for use.

I am not saying now that they should be open without booking a service but it is very easy to see how you could make the mistake and shouldn't be as shocking as some think. ...

 

[rtobe]

I agree, the locker room at SSR seems associated with the fitness center as well as the spa and it is easy to make the mistake to use it. I think the men's locker has a door leading directly into the fitness center.

I wonder if one of the concerns is cost of upkeep of the locker facilities and shower facilities if there is significant use by folks who do not pay DVC dues to support the facility (assuming that part of the locker facility is DVC and not the spa) or if the spa needs to pay its employees to keep the locker facility looking nice for the spa guests and the locker is being over used by folks not having spa services. When I book spa services I have often been encouraged to take advantage of the gym especially before a massage.

Maybe there needs to be some remodeling of the locker facilities at SSR as others have suggested.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

I agree that the set up of the facilities makes it easier to assume that the locker facilities are available to those using the fitness centre.

Regarding the comments that people would never think to use the facilities without paying for services....neither would I, but....

The offer to use them was extended very openly by the spa staff initially. At our first stay at SSR we went in to the spa so my dh could see the fitness centre. They gave us a tour and specifically indicated that it was available for general use of the guests. Another trip when we returned with friends for their first stay we took another tour with them and the same offer was made. When using the facilities we were always open as to why we were there and often complemented them on the facilities.

Don't get me wrong, I understand why they are now enforcing the policies. I can see that abuse would probably have occured. I just wish that they didn't have to.

I'm going to try to contact the spa and see if some sort of day use pass is available. Then I can just make the decision if that charge is worth continuing to use a facility I enjoy.

I'll let you know what I find out....

 

[LIFERBABE]

The offer to use them was extended very openly by the spa staff initially. At our first stay at SSR we went in to the spa so my dh could see the fitness centre. They gave us a tour and specifically indicated that it was available for general use of the guests. Another trip when we returned with friends for their first stay we took another tour with them and the same offer was made. When using the facilities we were always open as to why we were there and often complemented them on the facilities.

I agree the offer to use the facilities was extended by SSR Spa Staff. Before they moved the Welcome Home Wednesday to BWV, they held it at SSR Performance Hall. The Spa Manager (Michael) gave a presentation about the spa and invited members to use the facilities specifically. He said we could use the locker area to relax even if we were not having a service. Being a spa vet, I would never assume that on my own, but I appreciated it.

I won the Spa prize package of Mystical Forest products, and have been hooked ever since. On my visits to the spa, I would go to the front desk, give my key and workout and use the locker room. The staff was always friendly helpful and I knew quite a few of them by name. I haven't been there since June 2007 so staff, policies etc could have changed but this was not always the case.

Thank you Goofy Apprentice for following up and I'd be interested in paying for a day pass if available.

 

[Ksp]

I agree the offer to use the facilities was extended by SSR Spa Staff. Before they moved the Welcome Home Wednesday to BWV, they held it at SSR Performance Hall. The Spa Manager (Michael) gave a presentation about the spa and invited members to use the facilities specifically. He said we could use the locker area to relax even if we were not having a service. Being a spa vet, I would never assume that on my own, but I appreciated it.

<snip>.

I remember that, too - that is when I did start coming over to use the sauna...and usually wound up booking a massage, too!

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Just returned from our March break trip. Now access to the change facilities without spa treatment is $12.50 a day. Using the fitness centre doesn't allow you to use the facilities. There is a change room on the ground level, under the stairs to the spa and that is available free of charge.

Sad, but it is their right to charge since they are not run by Disney. I will try again to see if DVC will try to get so reduced fee as part of the perks. Particularly sad as I don't think I ever saw anyone else using the women's facilities when I was there. Even spa guests weren't using them.