Guest Blogger - Mindy Walbesser: A Trip to the Senses Spa

HELLO everyone! I am here! January was a ZOO of a month, moving to Fort Myers and all, but February WILL be better. I am getting ready to go to Disney World and on a Disney Cruise with some other Mouse World Travel agents, so stay tuned for all that fun info!

In the meantime, reader (and my MWT colleague) Mindy Walbesser was kind enough to write about her recent experience at one of the spas at Walt Disney World. Thank you SO MUCH for your writing, Mindy - take it away!

As many times as I’ve been to the Walt Disney World Resort, and stayed at so many different resorts on the Disney World property, I had never taken the time to experience any of the spas that Disney has to offer, even after buying a DVC membership, with Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa as our home resort in 2007.  But that all changed this month.

My sister is a runner, and when she found out that the full Disney marathon would fall on her 50^th Birthday, she just knew that is what she wanted to do to celebrate her birthday.  We invited a friend of ours whom we have known since toddlerhood to join us as her 50^th birthday fell less than a week alter.  I booked a studio villa at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, bought tickets and made some dining reservations…we were all set…or so we thought (as Dame Judy Dench says on Space Ship Earth about the loss of the great books of the world).  I was looking for a special experience that would be perfect for our celebration.

I decided that a spa experience would be ideal.  I viewed the spa website, and looked over their offerings, and prices.  As a DVC member, I get a discount on various spa services.  I decided that after running 26.2 miles, a pedicure would be the perfect choice.  I chose the Renew-Pedicure Ritual:  Renew your spirit with this evocative Jasmine aroma, known to soothe the nerves, produce a feeling of optimism and euphoria, and reduce stress.  The time allotted is 1 hour.  It sounded perfect!  I called in November 12^th for an appointment on January 10^th.  I was disappointed to find out that Saratoga Spring’s Spa appointments for Renewal Pedicures that day so I agreed to take an appointment at the Grand Floridian Spa.  Now, The Grand Floridians is not settling in any way, and would be most people’s first choice, but the convenience of walking a short distance to our appointment would have been a big time saver.  Traveling that far across Disney property on Disney transportation is not a quick proposition. 

I had been reading online about parking restrictions at busy times at the Magic Kingdom resorts, and was hesitant to drive to the Grand Floridian to find out I couldn’t park there.  I also didn’t feel like driving.  So after the race, we took the race bus back to Saratoga to get ready for our spa experience which was scheduled for 3:30pm.  They had told us to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to our appointment time, but we were welcome to arrive even earlier.  We would have full access to the spa’s amenities for the entire day!  I was told that I could bring my swimsuit if I wanted to enjoy the hot tub, and they also have a fitness center.  There was a lot of figuring out the logistics of the day, as we had an 8:25pm reservation for dinner with the Princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway, EPCOT.  We also had afternoon fastpasses at Hollywood Studios.  The weather was cooler than we had hoped for, and it was cloudy and drizzly through most of the day. 

We took the bus from Saratoga to Magic Kingdom, and then took the monorail over to the Grand Floridian.  I wore my exercise black capris, yellow top and matching fitness jacket to go over to the race finish line and to the spa.  I find it nice to wear fitness wear around Disney when it is rainy, as they dry quickly and you avoid the horror of wet jeans.  The big question was what to bring with us to the spa.  We debated bringing the dresses that we’d be wearing to dinner and getting changed into them after the spa, but then for me, that would involve bringing all my hair and make-up products, and I’d have to figure out then and there what I needed to have with me that evening at EPCOT, so I decided I would bring my swim suit, a beach towel, flip flops, and my cotton embroidered Mexican dress to throw on to wear back to the resort, where I’d then shower, do my hair and makeup so we could head to EPCOT.  At this point, fastpasses and Hollywood Studios were out the window. 

In order to get to the spa once you arrive at the Grand Floridian, you walk through the building and outside, and head toward the Villas building, you can walk around or through the villas building to get to the spa building, which is now separate from the main buildings. 

When we arrived at the spa, we were about an hour before our appointment.  When I checked in, I was given the opportunity to pay for our services either before or after our treatment.  I decided to pay right away so I could relax and not worry about it.  I was paying for all of us.  The renewing pedi was $80 before the 20% gratuity that they automatically add on.  With my DVC discount, I ended up paying $85 per person total with tax and tip.  We were taken back into the changing room by a spa castmember.  We were each given a locker, and shown how to work it.  We were asked for our shoe size for a pair of comfy spa slippers.  These were plastic, but not the hard jellies plastic.  Then we were given spa bathrobes to wear.  They only come in sizes XL, 3XL and 5XL. My sister and I had to go with the XL which was huge..but I’m 5’4”…my sister is 4’ 11”, so it was even bigger on her.  They are comfy, terry on the inside, cloth on the outside, but they do not have pockets for your phone.  Phone goes into locker (hence my lack of photos).  Once we were changed into our swimsuits and robes, and our clothes and supplies into the locker, we went into the hot tub room where my friend and I relaxed in the hot tub for about 15 minutes.  I then changed out of my swimsuit and put on just underpants under the thick robe.  Then we went back into the lounge room where we found my sister relaxing in a lounger.  In this lounge room, there are complimentary beverage and snacks.  The beverages were citrus water, cucumber water and iced tea.  I believe they also had hot tea.  The snacks were different kinds of trail mix and party type mixes with yogurt covered raisins, pretzel bits and such.  We thought this was very nice.   

When our names were called, the Pedicurist came out to greet us and take us into the treatment room.  First we were shown a display on the wall that was filled with nail polish of all different colors, and we were told to select the one we wanted.  We were then seated in very comfortable massage chairs.  They showed us how to operate the remote control for the chairs.  There were 3 chair set-ups on each side of the room facing each other.  I would have been seated next to my friend and my sister, but the 3^rd chair on that side was not operating properly they said, so I was on the other side facing my sister.  There were also a row of manicure stations on the other side of the room, but the whole time we were there, there was just one guest receiving a manicure at that time. 

The Pedicurist was very sweet and pleasant.  We were treated to a soak in some kind of magical solution that made our feet relaxed and very soft.    Let me tell you that the knead setting on the massage chair was heavenly.  My back felt so happy!!  Our feet and legs were treated to such wonderful pampering.  At the end, they presented us with two little bags, one was the nail polish that we’d selected, with the buffer and emery that they’d used on us.  The other bag, they said, had a special treat because we were celebrating.  It contained a little box of 4 specialty spa chocolates, two other squares of spa branded chocolates in interested flavors like dark chocolate lavender, a little tube of spa hand salve and a sample of SPARITUAL brand body butter and body lotion.  I am not sure what they give you if you are not celebrating, but I think maybe the box of the 4 chocolates would be the special extra, and the other chocolates and samples would be included for everyone. 

When we were finished, I decided to go ahead and shower and wash my hair there, to save time.  That way, when I got back to Saratoga, I’d just have to put my make-up on and throw on my dress and shoes.  I had planned to wear flip flops, because who wants to have a pedicure and then have to hide it in shoes, but the temperatures were dropping quickly, and I didn’t want to be stuck in EPCOT all night with my feet cold, so I ended up putting on my peep toe espadrilles and throwing my flip flops in my Vera Bradley tote that was my park bag for the evening, just in case my espadrilles didn’t work out.  I’ve never walked a theme park in them. 

Important details noted for future…and there will be future…trips to the spa.  The spa provides you with the robe and the towels, so really, the only thing I did with my towel was roll my wet swimsuit up into it after I was done.  They do not have any kind of swimsuit centrifuge to dry your swimsuit like they do at the town swimming pool in my town.  I suggested that and they seemed to think this was a good idea and would submit it. 

The spa also provided amazing bath products such as body wash, shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, spray antiperspirant-deodorant, and hair spray.  They also have jars of safety razors, cotton balls, Q tips, and free hair brushes and hair scrunchies.  I was very impressed with the spa products.  My hair felt so soft afterwards.  That is no easy feat with my thick curly, frizzy hair.  All of the spa products except the hair gel seem to be available for sale at the front of the spa.  All the products were in pumps bottles with the Senses spa logo on them.  In the locker/dressing area, there was even a vanity with make-up mirror and hair dryers to use.  This is where the hairspray, hair gel and spray deodorant were kept. The razors, cotton balls, Q tips and hairbrushes were over on a counter where towels were kept in cubbies rolled up and ready for you to use.  There was also a return bin for the wet towels and for the slippers.  The only thing not provided was facial moisturizer and make-up. 

Our day at the spa was so relaxing and enjoyable that I definitely want to do this again in the future.  I noticed that the health club/exercise room was connected to the spa by a door, so you could easily visit the exercise room, work out, then visit the spa.  Just allow more time.  You are encouraged to spend as much time there as you like.  Oh, there are also men’s services at the spa, so you may pass men in the hallway, on the way from the woman’s locker room and lounge and spa areas to the health club or the main desk.  

Thank you so much, Mindy! What a great experience you and your sister had, a memorable addition to your vacation!

Have a magical day!