Nora S.
Yelp
This spa sucks! Ok, so admittedly I'm a total spa snob, and while you might not give a rat's butt about the some of the stuff that bothered me, I still maintain that this spa is sub par for anyone.
I hated the atmosphere. The previous reviewer who remarked that it was like a doctor's office was dead on. Though I disagree that such is to be expected in a resort spa. My first spa experience was at the N Spa at the Marriott Delray Beach, FL, which was absolutely stunning. So much so that it has spoiled all subsequent spa experiences. They say you never forget your first.
But I digress.
As well as the fact that I don't expect a more clinical environment just because a spa is in a resort, I REALLY don't expect such an environment at Disney, where every detail is attended to in the maintenance of theme. Of course I've never been to Saratoga Springs, NY. Maybe it's just really sterile.
Another bothersome aspect about the atmosphere was the massage room itself. I was there for a couple's massage, which obviously took place in the Couple's Suite. The door to the room was windowed and, while there was a shade over the windows, it didn't block out the light from the hallway. I could also hear people milling around and talking throughout the massage.
It wasn't JUST the atmosphere that ground my gears, though. The amenities were lacking too.
First, the lockers/changing area: WAY too small. I'm pretty emaciated and there was hardly enough room between the benches and the lockers to change. There were two curtained changing rooms, but unless you're self conscious, that sort of defeats the purpose of a locker room.
Second, and definitely my biggest complaint: the steam room was atrocious! I got there early to use it before the massage and couldn't stay in it for more than 20 seconds. Yes, SECONDS! My eyes and face started to burn so badly that I had a hard time making the three steps from where I was sitting to the door. When our masseuses were leading us to the massage room, I told them about the problem. One of their responses: "Is the steam too strong or is the eucalyptus too strong?" Well, I'm not a steam room technician, so how the hell should I know? When I opined that it could be one, the other, or both, she said that the eucalyptus is sometimes so strong when it's replenished that they can smell it on the upper floor (the women's locker room is downstairs), but that she doesn't smell it now. Um, ok. Me: "Well, I've been in many eucalyptus steam rooms, so whatever it is, there's definitely something wrong with it." Her: "I'll let someone know." Yeah, either she didn't let anyone know or they just didn't fix it because when I returned 70 minutes (no, not 80, which I'll get to in a sec) later, it was even worse than before.
Third, other than the obligatory shampoo, conditioner and lotion, there were no products. There was a sign that they had curling irons available upon request, but since I didn't see an attendant once while I was there, I don't know who you'd ask.
An attendant might have also been helpful in telling all the Chatty McChattersons in the hot tub area to shut the hell up. I'm here to relax, not listen to teenage girls yammer on about their friend's boyfriend or the other woman who kept asking me strange questions in an attempt to strike up a conversation. And while I understand that isn't the spa's fault, it doesn't make it any less irritating. Actually, now that I think about it, it IS the spa's fault for not letting women who would rather be ogled than have their ears talked off (i.e. me) use the men's locker room.
Again, I digress.
And yes, I said 70 minutes, not 80, even though we booked an 80 minute massage. I didn't have a watch or phone on me in the massage room, and I didn't think much of the fact that it felt awfully quick because massages often do. It wasn't until we left the spa that my guy pointed out that it only lasted 70 minutes. Apparently, Disney thinks the minute it takes to pick a scented oil counts for ten minutes.
Other than all of that, the massage was fine. I've had better and worse.