SSR Spa Questions

[weathernlu]

Is the DVC discount really down to 10%? WOW, that stinks.

Does anyone know if they will custom make a package, in other words does anyone know how much flexibility they have?

My daughter is 8 now and is really into the manicures and pedicures now. I saw the 4-12 year old thing for $185, but that's crazy money and I don't have it right now to do that and for my wife to do something.

Has anyone ever gone there to the spa when they get and speak to someone about doing something for maybe less than the going rate if they have empty times? Seems to me like especially right now they might be willing to work with people since the extra money people used to have has dried up.

I'd like them to maybe come up with something where my wife and daughter get a short massage and then a manicure/pedicure.

Thanks for the help, I am trying to do something for them to have some time together but I am not an expert on the spa at ALL.

 

[hellerjw]

We were at SSR last month and if I remember correctly the menu for all the spa offerings was bascially broken into 2 sections. One was for packages, like the spa day for children and the other section was all the a la carte stuff. So you should be able to just pick and choose which services you really want and only get those. I believe there was a small savings going with a pre-bundled package but you shouldn't be tied to any one thing. We didn't use the spa service so I'm not sure how willing they would be to discount anything.

 

[weathernlu]

Anyone else have any input? I am trying to figure this out before we leave in a week. Thanks in advance.

 

[CraftyMouse]

I doubt that they will do a massage on an 8yo. Manis/pedis yes, but a massage...probably not. Even if they would, massages are far more expensive than manis/pedis. DD16 and I are doing a joint massage in January and it is $270 before the DVC discount...but again, I doubt they'd ever do one on an 8yo.

Personally, I'd never go into a spa and try to negotiate a price, but that's just me. If I can't pay the going rate then I just don't go. If you really want to see if they will negotiate with you I'd call them, rather than doing it in person.

As an alternative, why not have your wife/dd find another mom/daughter activity if the spa is too expensive. They could have a nice lunch together and do some shopping at Downtown Disney. They could buy some of the facial products and at Basin and then spend time in your villa giving each other a spa day. If you have a 1BR unit or larger you'll have the nice whirlpool tub, but even without it they could have a great time. DD loves to do that!

Have a great trip.

 

[weathernlu]

I doubt that they will do a massage on an 8yo. Manis/pedis yes, but a massage...probably not. Even if they would, massages are far more expensive than manis/pedis. DD16 and I are doing a joint massage in January and it is $270 before the DVC discount...but again, I doubt they'd ever do one on an 8yo.

Personally, I'd never go into a spa and try to negotiate a price, but that's just me. If I can't pay the going rate then I just don't go. If you really want to see if they will negotiate with you I'd call them, rather than doing it in person.

As an alternative, why not have your wife/dd find another mom/daughter activity if the spa is too expensive. They could have a nice lunch together and do some shopping at Downtown Disney. They could buy some of the facial products and at Basin and then spend time in your villa giving each other a spa day. If you have a 1BR unit or larger you'll have the nice whirlpool tub, but even without it they could have a great time. DD loves to do that!

Have a great trip.

Oh no, they do it. It's right there in the brochure, they have the Mother/Daughter Day which includes a massage and they have special things for kids 4-12 including a 25 minute massage. They even show a picture with two kids in their robes at the spa, and they look like they are 6 or 7.

I negotiate everything. I am not going to be embarrassed going in there and telling them what I want and what I can pay for it and see if they bite. I'd neogotiate a cheeseburger at McDonald's if I thought it would work!

We do have a 1BR, but I will be hogging the whirlpool tub as much as possible!

 

[Claire L]

From the Relaxed Yet website for SSR -

For Our Youngest Guests

Designed exclusively for our youngest guests, 12 years of age and younger, to experience fun and educational primers for a lifetime of healthy living. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult while in the spa and an adult must be present during all massage, body or water treatments.

My First Facial 25 minutes $70
My First Manicure 25 minutes $35
My First Pedicure 25 minutes $40
My First Massage 25 minutes $70


Claire

 

[Coach81]

You are much more bold than I would ever be I don't think I could ever go into a spa and start negotiating the treatments.

Hope you and your family have a great time!

 

[weathernlu]

You are much more bold than I would ever be I don't think I could ever go into a spa and start negotiating the treatments.

Hope you and your family have a great time!

Well you just do it the right way. I will go in there and tell them what I am trying to do and see if they have any "specials" where they might have an opening and would rather make some money over none. You'd be quite surprised what you can get when you ask. Everything is overpriced and has wiggle room.

Thanks, whatever happens we will have a good time!

 

[Dean]

Is the DVC discount really down to 10%? WOW, that stinks.

Does anyone know if they will custom make a package, in other words does anyone know how much flexibility they have?

My daughter is 8 now and is really into the manicures and pedicures now. I saw the 4-12 year old thing for $185, but that's crazy money and I don't have it right now to do that and for my wife to do something.

Has anyone ever gone there to the spa when they get and speak to someone about doing something for maybe less than the going rate if they have empty times? Seems to me like especially right now they might be willing to work with people since the extra money people used to have has dried up.

I'd like them to maybe come up with something where my wife and daughter get a short massage and then a manicure/pedicure.

Thanks for the help, I am trying to do something for them to have some time together but I am not an expert on the spa at ALL.

For SSR it's 10% off selected items, not everything. I think it's 10% across the board at the GF Spa.

 

[weathernlu]

For SSR it's 10% off selected items, not everything. I think it's 10% across the board at the GF Spa.

Jeez, double yuck. You'd think as a SSR owners we could get like 20% off or so, huh? Pitiful.

 

[CarolA]

The person working the front desk at the spa is a basic hourly employee. SHe/he is NOT going to have the power to negoiate. The manager MIGHT but this is owned by a large company. IT's not a mom/pop operation open to "negoiations" LOL!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The person working the front desk at the spa is a basic hourly employee. SHe/he is NOT going to have the power to negoiate. The manager MIGHT but this is owned by a large company. IT's not a mom/pop operation open to "negoiations" LOL!

I find that our hourly employees are much more likely to just give things away than our management (small restaurant). They just don't want to deal with the real problem and take the easy way out. People aren't always looking just to get free or reduced.....sometimes they just want something corrected. BUT, our hourly employees are empowered, as many are, and you never know until you ask.

 

[CraftyMouse]

I find that our hourly employees are much more likely to just give things away than our management (small restaurant). They just don't want to deal with the real problem and take the easy way out. People aren't always looking just to get free or reduced.....sometimes they just want something corrected. BUT, our hourly employees are empowered, as many are, and you never know until you ask.

I think that is true for small things (free dessert, etc.), but I doubt the front-desk person at the SSR spa could knock a significant amount off of the price of a treatment without getting in trouble with management.

I still think it is terribly tacky to walk into a professional establishment and attempt to negotiate the price. It makes the workers feel uncomfortable and certainly doesn't lend itself to the calm, relaxed environment other patrons are there to partake of.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I think that is true for small things (free dessert, etc.), but I doubt the front-desk person at the SSR spa could knock a significant amount off of the price of a treatment without getting in trouble with management.

I still think it is terribly tacky to walk into a professional establishment and attempt to negotiate the price. It makes the workers feel uncomfortable and certainly doesn't lend itself to the calm, relaxed environment other patrons are there to partake of.

Sorry CraftyMouse but I don't consider the ability to give out a free dessert empowerment. Some hourly employees are given true empowerment - not just a token like that.

With the spa it's hard to say but as was stated above at least there are the ala carte items for the manicure or pedicure. Considering I get lots of emails with discounts for spas there may be a likelyhood of getting something if it's a slow period. I have a DH that will try and negotiate everything. You'd be surprised what he gets and I've never felt the employees he is asking are embarrased...only me!

 

[Dean]

Jeez, double yuck. You'd think as a SSR owners we could get like 20% off or so, huh? Pitiful.

Spas as a rule are overpriced. Those at places like Disney or on a cruise are about 50% more than many of the rest. Sometimes they have specials that may work to your advantage such as on specific days for timeshare locations or the first day or 2 or on port days on a cruise.