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Grand Floridian Resort spa to reopen soon as 'Senses - A Disney Spa' as Disney retake operations
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
Empress Room
Active Member
I am not sure if this is old or recent news, but my masseuse at the Spa at Saratoga Springs told me a few weeks ago that it would be closing for a complete multi-million dollar renovation around the end of December (when the Grand Floridian spa reopened) and would also be a Disney-operated spa upon the completion of the renovation (sometime in May or June of 2013).
menamechris
Well-Known Member
I bet this will be one of the big announcements we are supposed to gasp at on December 7th.....
Goofnut1980
Well-Known Member
They get a bigger cut if they own it... it's just like a few years back when they took back control of the Disney Stores from The Childrens Place... Makes better sense.
kane47
Well-Known Member
Niki Bryan Spas - They seam to have had a presence at many Deluxe resorts to go along with the full service spas at Saratoga Springs and Grand Floridian.
http://www.relaxedyet.com/gf_treatments.asp
http://www.relaxedyet.com/gf_treatments.asp
StageFrenzy
Well-Known Member
Senses is also the name of the spas on the Dream and Fantasy. Very nice facilities hopefully they will be run to the standard of the ships.
kane47
Well-Known Member
Haven't seen it posted yet but Senses opened today. It is officially up on Disney Parks Blog.
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...for-holiday-season/?CMP=SOC-WDWFY12Q2FBDM0437
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...for-holiday-season/?CMP=SOC-WDWFY12Q2FBDM0437
sweetpee_1993
Well-Known Member
Yep. Same name as the ships. However, worst pedi of my life was in Senses on the Dream. Chick drew blood & I had lovely time with an open wound in salt water. The pedi was then followed by the worst massage of my life. I dunno. Maybe this isn't the news people want to hear. LOL!
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
Both interesting points. I am surprised they decided to take this in-house, given their history of wanting to outsource as much as possfible -- not exactly sure what the motivation was. My one suspicion is that they are going to trying to make the spa more "approachable" for families (with tween or teen girls) and sort of promote it as the next step up from the Bibbidi Bobbidi boutique concept. I'm basing this off of "Underlining the new Disney operational control is the inclusion of special packages for young guests, including Magical Manicures and Princess Pedicures." Maybe Disney thinks they can somehow make more $$ by doing this in house. I will say, having visited the GF spa, there was already quite a premium paid there, vs. other spas at other resorts I have been to in various places.
Second, I like the "branding" (yuck) coming after the name. It sounds much more classy and sophisticated than "Disney's Senses Spa" or, per Iger's grammatically incorrect corporate branding decree "Disney Senses Spa".
stlbobby
Well-Known Member
I think Disney taking control of the spas is a good thing. From my experience the Niki Bryan company did not provide the Disney level of service, and they nickled and dimed guests. At SSR they started charging guests $14 to use the locker room if they weren't getting a treatment. $14 dollars to take a shower after using the gym is ridiculous. I spoke with the resort manager when they started this practice and she agreed, but said that the terms of the lease gave Niki Bryan control of the space and WDW had no say in the matter.
The separation also made it difficult to include spa treatments in any WDW packages. I think you will see spa packages included in more promotions now that Disney is in control.
Additionally their treatments were hit of miss. I only had one extremely poor massage at SSR, but my wife who goes to a spa on every trip we take started using the spa at the S&D exclusively because the SSR and GF spas just weren't worth it.
The separation also made it difficult to include spa treatments in any WDW packages. I think you will see spa packages included in more promotions now that Disney is in control.
Additionally their treatments were hit of miss. I only had one extremely poor massage at SSR, but my wife who goes to a spa on every trip we take started using the spa at the S&D exclusively because the SSR and GF spas just weren't worth it.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
The facility looks nice, and seems to be up to the standard of a small-ish spa facility in a good hotel for this decade.
I didn't see anything that makes you go "Wow!", but they appear to have furnished and planned this appropriately for the market they are aiming at. (The Montage hotel here in SoCal in Laguna Beach still ranks as my personal benchmark for what deluxe hotel spas should look and act like to make you go Wow! This Senses spa fails to meet that benchmark, but it is nice looking.)
But, as we all know, you can have a stylish and luxurious facility but it comes down to the staff to deliver what is truly a hands-on experience. If they don't have top notch staff performing excellent services graciously, the whole thing falls apart quickly. I wish Disney luck with this one, since they have a spotty record with CM training and service levels.
StageFrenzy
Well-Known Member
Senses Spa - Disney Fantasy
I think this one has the better view
Btw the first door isn't on the dream, probably good since the showers are a bit echo-y
I didn't see this anywhere but guests can get cute Disney nails at the Grand Floridian Senses Spa and all the other resort salons, too.
Disney Nail Designs by Jamberry Options Debut at Walt Disney World Resort
https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ry-options-debut-at-walt-disney-world-resort/
Guests can now add a touch of Disney magic to their manicures with new Disney Nail Designs by Jamberry, which are now available at locations across Walt Disney World Resort.
There are more than 50 Disney character design to choose from, including Belle, Cinderella and Pocahontas, as well as designs inspired by films like “Frozen” and “The Lion King.”
Disney Nail Designs by Jamberry can be added as an enhancement to any nail service at Senses Spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, as well as at Walt Disney World salons for $2.50 per nail.
Disney Nail Designs by Jamberry Options Debut at Walt Disney World Resort
https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ry-options-debut-at-walt-disney-world-resort/
Guests can now add a touch of Disney magic to their manicures with new Disney Nail Designs by Jamberry, which are now available at locations across Walt Disney World Resort.
There are more than 50 Disney character design to choose from, including Belle, Cinderella and Pocahontas, as well as designs inspired by films like “Frozen” and “The Lion King.”
Disney Nail Designs by Jamberry can be added as an enhancement to any nail service at Senses Spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, as well as at Walt Disney World salons for $2.50 per nail.