Hiya Mouseketeers! Erika here with a special deviation of our regularly scheduled podcast. Susanne and I will be recording Episode 13 this week, and we hope you will tune in to listen. But for now, I wanted to share a real review of the Senses Spa at the Walt Disney World Resort.
If you are wondering what the heck I am talking about, well, Mouseketeers – Disney has more than just theme parks, water parks, boardwalks, mini golf, and Minnie vans, (see what I did there) – there is so much to do, but because there is so much going on when some people go to Disney, the word relaxation does not come to mind. Here is where this blog comes in, light your candles and grab your aromatherapy, because Disney has not one, but two spa’s on property ready to give you the opportunity to, you guessed it – RELAX.
The spa on property is called Senses, and as I mentioned before, there are two locations. You can find one at the Grand Floridian Resort and the other at Saratoga Springs Resort. While planning for our most recent trip to the Happiest Place on Earth, James thought it would be great to have a couples massage to celebrate our anniversary. To be honest, this is supposed to an annual tradition that started the day after our wedding in 2017. I treated James to a fabulous couples massage at the Grand Floridian, but when we had our anniversary last year we didn’t get around to honoring the tradition, so this time when he mentioned it, I jumped right on it and set out to try the spa at Saratoga Springs.
First of all, Saratoga Springs as a resort itself is incredibly beautiful and relaxing. The color scheme of the resort is just so inviting and it’s a popular destination for golfers who take advantage of the nearby course. When you make a reservation at any Senses on property, you are granted access to stay all day at the spa – whatever it takes to relax. That was my plan when I booked our couples massage, so the day of our reservation, I made sure to pack a bathing suit, and a change of clothes.
When I arrived for the reservation, my husband was unfortunately running late, so I was taken back into the spa area and given a tour of the facility. First up was the Relaxation Lounge, this is a co-ed room where you get to hang out while you wait for your scheduled services. The room is dimly lit, but has all the comforts that beg you to sit and chill for a bit. In the room, relaxing music fills the air, comfortable seating allows for you to lounge around, and light snacks such as granola bars, nuts, and pretzels as well as an assortment of herbal teas are available. Spa attendants pop in on what seems like a rotation to take orders of adult beverages that you may want to sip on. Hello champagne, wine and beer.
After the tour of the Relaxation Lounge, I was brought downstairs to the women’s area. Here I could change, leave my belongings in a secured locker, and either enjoy the whirlpool and/or the steam room. I had wanted to do both, but I was already steaming that my husband was late to our anniversary weekend, so I skipped that little luxury and instead I slipped into the very plushy and weighted robe provided by Senses. They also provide spa slippers, but I kept my own flip flops. The great part of this area of the spa is that Disney makes sure you have all the amenities necessary to just relax and not rush. Let’s say you have to go to dinner straight from the spa, there are showers available for you to rinse off, and there was a full beauty station where you could style your hair and do your makeup. Ate too many snacks in the lounge and need to brush your teeth? No worries, there are dental kits in the bathrooms complete with toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash.
Once all of my belongings were secured in a locker that I created the pass code for, I went back up to the Relaxation Lounge and waited patiently for my husband to arrive. I’ll admit, it felt a little funny being in a robe in front of other strangers who were also lounging around waiting for their appointment times, but after a minute, I just let myself sink in to one of the loungers and I played Disney’s emoji Blitz to take my mind off things. By 3:30 PM, my husband had arrived, and he hurriedly changed into his robe and too small slippers in order to get to our 3:30 massage time. Once he was ready, my massage therapist came to get me in the lounge and my husband waited for me in the hall. Let’s fast forward through all the silent stares, and stressed out Erika stories and get to the good part.
Once you enter the massage therapy room there are two massage tables. Your therapist will ask you if you have any areas where you would like them to concentrate on, and you can let them know where you feel tight, sore, or need some extra attention. For me, it was my feet and my ankles. For James it was all over because he just rode 4 hours on a motorcycle to Orlando. As part of the Disney magic, the therapist will offer complimentary aromatherapy. I chose lavender and James chose a citrus scent. The therapists mix all their own essential oils and creams so you will get a unique blend for your massage. You’ll get your direction from the therapist, and they will exit the room so you can disrobe and position yourself on the table. From there it was 50 minutes of bliss.
When the massage is over, your therapist will leave the room. It takes a few minutes to come out of the lull, but once you toss your robe back on, and exit the room, you are greeted with water and a piece of Ghirardelli chocolate. Naturally, I took my husband’s piece (it’s only fair – he stressed me out). You are then invited back to the Relaxation Lounge for a complimentary beverage. James got a Blue Moon beer and I indulged in some champagne. We spent another 30 something minutes soaking in the atmosphere, talking about our pets, checking in on them via the Pet Paradise camera, drinking and snacking, and obviously, I teased James about his teensy spa slippers. Once we realized what time it was, we decided it was best to head to the hotel to prepare for our anniversary dinner.
All in all, Senses Spa was a lovely break from the hustle and bustle of park hopping, and a fantastic way to kick off our anniversary weekend. For those who want the ultimate relaxation option, there are many more services available, and maybe next time I will schedule a whole day of pampering.
I will caution that Disney brings the magic, but magic comes at a cost. Our couples massage was 50 minutes long and ran us $275.50 with gratuity included and an additional discount for me being an annual passholder. It’s definitely not a luxury for every trip we take to the House of Mouse, but it’s a nice anniversary splurge otherwise.
So Mouseketeers, have you ever visited Senses on property, and if so, what did you do and what did you think? Let us know, and be on the lookout for Episode 13, coming soon.
Until next time!
-Erika