WDW Fitness Centers

[Animaniac93-98]

I've been meaning to make this thread for some time now, but couldn't really organize all my thoughts on the subject. So I just decided to list them point form here instead. Here's my general observations and thoughts on WDW's fitness centers:

- I think all the moderate resorts should have them at this point. Coronado Springs already has one and I think it would add a lot to the value of Port Orleans and Caribbean Beach to have them too. Cabana Bay has an excellent fitness room that's included in the cost of your room and is better than any of the Deluxe UNI hotels. I think this will help to set a new standard for amenities in more economical hotels that I think Disney should follow

- Despite all the changes coming to Poly, there doesn't appear to be a fitness center in the additions (if there is one coming, I'm sorry for missing that point). It's the only WDW deluxe hotel not to have one, and I think it's a big mistake when they also want to attract more DVC guests and those who wish to stay longer.

- Up until recently Disney used to have a policy where for $16/day one-site guests could use a fitness centre at another resort. This was helpful if you wanted to work out, but were staying at a hotel that didn't have one. Now that policy is gone, and it's also why I think more should be built. I guess it's to encourage deluxe resort stays, but I don't feel like paying an extra $150/night just to have that benefit.

- The newer fitness centres like the one at AKL villas look good (and it has the best name "Survival of the Fittest"), but older ones like Boardwalk are starting to look their age. As with any equipment, ones made for gyms don't last forever and they should be replaced before the joints look too rusty and the seat cushions look chewed up. Hopefully they will be upgraded soon.

- A central, extra large fitness centre for WDW hotel guests at WWoS might be a interesting idea. It would encourage people to go there (and therefore, spend money on food and such) and could be tied into the general ESPN brand (or themed to something else? Marvel? Hercules? It's not like they don't have relevant propeties). Only issue would be capacity. A single gym, even a big one, can't hold all the WDW guests who would want to use it. Especially the thousands of people at the Value resorts.

Anyway, those are my main points for now. I know people joke about everyone in WDW being fat scooter riders, but I saw plenty of fit looking people on my most recent trip. I'm sure many of them would use the hotel fitness centres if there were more of them. Though some may not mind skipping work outs for a few days, longer term guests may like to have them. Even if you're just a runner or someone who bikes, it's always nice to have a place that's cool and dry to excerise in.

Thoughts?

 

[RayTheFirefly]

I agree. My last stay at Caribbean Beach, I wished there had been a fitness center. The lagoon was nice to jog around, though.

 

[monothingie]

The CR and BLT share a common one in the main tower of the CR. It is small, dated and crammed next to the catering office on the 4th floor. Not very magical. I wound up splitting my time there and running the jogging course around the complex.

The Poly and GF share a fitness center if I recall which has just been redone. Im going in December, but if anyone has been it would be nice to hear about it. If not, the jogging trail there is much more interesting.

Also I have never been asked once to provide resort ID to enter the fitness center. Unless I wanted to use it after hours (11PM-6AM).

 

[dreamfinder]

Also I have never been asked once to provide resort ID to enter the fitness center. Unless I wanted to use it after hours (11PM-6AM).

I know that at AKL to use a locker you have to provide ID to get the special locking key thingy. In terms of showing it just to get in, I'd say the person at the desk has asked for one about 50% of the time.

 

[KCheatle]

Good topic! And, I'd love to be able to add input, but while I always have high aspirations to work out while at WDW, I never actually do. For years I've told myself that I'm going to get up and run the trail between WL and FW in the morning before people wake up and it gets hot outside so that I can experience that moment. But what I end up doing is sleeping in after a late night with achy feet from walking the day before. Maybe one day I'll have the energy and motivation to work out while at WDW!

 

[JIMINYCR]

I'm one who doesnt care if theres a fitness center in my resort. I sometimes take a walk around the resort in the mornings and thats the extent of my morning exercise. I do enough walking while in the parks, am there to relax and enjoy the attractions, so working out while on vacation isnt a category that appears in my WDW day planner . Once I return home I know I'll return to my exercise routine and make up for the snacks, meals and down time I've enjoyed.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

My WDW vacation usually are 6 days and I don't think I could find time to work out at the resort. As it is I never seem to have enough time to see and do the things on my to-do-list. Most of the time we spend the day at the Arnold Palmer Golf tournament walking the course and folloing golfers and at night we hit the parks. I know it's well over 15 miles a day of walking so I'll wait till I get home to get back to working out.

 

[worldfanatic]

I work out all the time at home, but never at Disney World. My wife however loves working out at Disney World and considers the workout facilities a key part of the resorts.
On our recent sty at the Grand Floridian, she was very pleased with the new workout room.

 

[PhilharMagician]

We don't tend to have much time left to visit many of the fitness centers, but I liked the quiet pool @ CSR Castitas 3 since it the only lap pool in WDW. I love to swim and would hit it every morning. It is surprising that more resort do not have at least one lined pool for laps.



Wilderness Lodge Villas
Contemporary Resort
Saratoga Springs Resort
Coronado Springs Resort
Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House
Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani
Grand Floridian
Beach Club / Yacht Club
Boardwalk Villas
Old Key West

Did the Poly ever have one? The GF is not that far away, but it just seems inconvenient when you pay how much per night? I wonder if the DVC addition will include a fitness center.

 

[DisneyDaver]

I would love to see fitness centers at each of the WDW resorts, but I don't think WDW will add them as I suspect the demand is very limited. My last few stays at the GF, I was at the fitness center almost every day and there were very few other guests there (usually none).

 

[Animaniac93-98]

It is surprising that more resort do not have at least one lined pool for laps.

I don't remember exactly, but I thought Swan had a pool that was good for laps? Or was it just a longer than usual pool?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I would love to see fitness centers at each of the WDW resorts, but I don't think WDW will add them as I suspect the demand is very limited. My last few stays at the GF, I was at the fitness center almost every day and there were very few other guests there (usually none).

That was my experience with Boardwalk, but I hope the resorts keep them and don't turn them into more shops.

 

[todd23]

Part of the reason my wife and I always stay at CSR is the fitness center. We would like to branch out and try other moderates (especially Port Orleans), but they don't have fitness centers and I enjoy running on a treadmill too much.

 

[Tigger 68]

I workout every time I visit Disney. I usually go first thing in the morning or when my family takes a mid afternoon nap. My only complaint is all the locations only have dumb bells that go up to 50lb, but that is typical of most hotel weight rooms. When I stayed at the Boardwalk in the summer of 2013 I thought the weight room had just received new equipment.

The only fitness center that I have used that was sub par was the one at the Contemporary. It was very outdated and had a low ceiling. I am 6'5" and I thought if I ran on the treadmill I would hit my head. I ended up going outside and running the stairs of the Contemporary for some cardio.

I stayed at the Grand Floridan DVC last December and the fitness center was brand new. Sadly they only had enough plates for the Smith Machine to max out at 215. Actually leaving for a trip on Thursday for the Grand Floridian again. Hoping for more plates this time.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I workout every time I visit Disney. I usually go first thing in the morning or when my family takes a mid afternoon nap. My only complaint is all the locations only have dumb bells that go up to 50lb, but that is typical of most hotel weight rooms. When I stayed at the Boardwalk in the summer of 2013 I thought the weight room had just received new equipment.

The only fitness center that I have used that was sub par was the one at the Contemporary. It was very outdated and had a low ceiling. I am 6'5" and I thought if I ran on the treadmill I would hit my head. I ended up going outside and running the stairs of the Contemporary for some cardio.

I stayed at the Grand Floridan DVC last December and the fitness center was brand new. Sadly they only had enough plates for the Smith Machine to max out at 215. Actually leaving for a trip on Thursday for the Grand Floridian again. Hoping for more plates this time.

As a fellow tall person the low ceilings throughout Contemporary also bother me, but I agree it is even more troubling at the gym. It's part of being an older hotel, but I wonder if there's anything on the floor above that would prevent raising the gym's ceiling?

I was at Boardwalk in Feb of 2013 so they may have replaced the equipment between my last visit and yours.

 

[Tigger 68]

As a fellow tall person the low ceilings throughout Contemporary also bother me, but I agree it is even more troubling at the gym. It's part of being an older hotel, but I wonder if there's anything on the floor above that would prevent raising the gym's ceiling?

I was at Boardwalk in Feb of 2013 so they may have replaced the equipment between my last visit and yours.

The guy working the front desk in the Contemporary fitness center told me there was a kitchen above the weight room. He had mentioned it because the kitchen had flooded recently and did some damage to the weight room.

 

[DisneyDaver]

I workout every time I visit Disney. I usually go first thing in the morning or when my family takes a mid afternoon nap. My only complaint is all the locations only have dumb bells that go up to 50lb, but that is typical of most hotel weight rooms. When I stayed at the Boardwalk in the summer of 2013 I thought the weight room had just received new equipment.

The only fitness center that I have used that was sub par was the one at the Contemporary. It was very outdated and had a low ceiling. I am 6'5" and I thought if I ran on the treadmill I would hit my head. I ended up going outside and running the stairs of the Contemporary for some cardio.

I stayed at the Grand Floridan DVC last December and the fitness center was brand new. Sadly they only had enough plates for the Smith Machine to max out at 215. Actually leaving for a trip on Thursday for the Grand Floridian again. Hoping for more plates this time.

Interesting about the lack of heavier weights. I wonder if they are worried about potential liability issues. My workouts are low weight/high rep so I never noticed that the weights stopped that low.

 

[dreamfinder]

Interesting about the lack of heavier weights. I wonder if they are worried about potential liability issues. My workouts are low weight/high rep so I never noticed that the weights stopped that low.

I'd wager it has something to do with that, and also having to do with their target audience. There are certainly people that wouldn't want to skimp out on their workout at all, but most people don't mind taking it easy on vacation. And looking at how few people I see at the gym use weights that get up that high, Disney probably saved a few bucks by getting the slimmed down weight set.

 

[awilliams4]

I work out multiple times each trip. About 3 or so times per week. Hilton Head's is the worst. It is like a closet.
OKW was a bit small too. Beach Club's is nice. Contemporary is OK, the ceiling is very low but there is enough stuff there to get a decent workout. Vero Beach has a nice one too. Looking forward to trying out the Wilderness Lodge in June.