There’s a discussion thread on DISBoards right now that hits a nerve for a lot of longtime Disney World visitors. The title says it all: “Why hasn’t Disney brought back the spa at Saratoga Springs, or the haircuts and salon services at other DVC resorts?”
It’s a fair question.
Saratoga Springs still carries the full name – Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa – but the spa part hasn’t existed in years. One poster summed up the frustration bluntly: “They shut everything down in 2020, never to bring them back.” That may be oversimplified, but it reflects how it feels to many repeat guests.
Another user pointed out that the resort website still promotes “whirlpool spas.” Technically accurate. But it misses the point. People aren’t talking about hot tubs. They’re talking about getting a massage, a facial, or getting their hair styled. The kinds of services that helped make a long Disney trip feel more relaxed, rather than nonstop.
One comment stood out to me: “I just want to hang by the pool, get a haircut, and a facial. But it’s all gone now.” That’s not entitlement. That’s someone describing the vacation rhythm they used to have.
And this isn’t isolated to Saratoga.
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique inside Magic Kingdom reopened. But the locations at Disney Springs and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa have not.
That leaves one boutique for all of Walt Disney World.
Anyone who has tried to book it knows the drill. Be online at 6 a.m. exactly 60 days out. Refresh. Refresh again. Hope something sticks. Posters in the thread describe it as “nearly impossible,” and that’s not dramatic. It’s reality.
For families staying at the Grand Floridian, it feels especially strange. The boutique space still sits in a prominent spot on the second floor of the main building. It’s just not operating. Meanwhile, the Grand Floridian Spa is open and offering massages, body treatments, manicures, the works. Adult indulgence is back. The princess makeovers are not.
So what’s going on?
Some forum members suggest it’s purely business. One poster mentioned that Saratoga’s spa space is commercial and would require the right operator and profit model to return. Another shared that at a 2024 Saratoga owners meeting, members were told there are no current plans to reopen it.
That’s telling. It suggests this isn’t temporary. It’s strategic.
And that’s where the conversation shifts from “when will it come back?” to “is this just the new version of Disney World?”
For years, Disney sold the idea that you could check into your resort and never leave the property for dining, entertainment, recreation, and pampering. Now, more of that experience is concentrated within theme parks, where capacity and demand are easier to control and monetize.
Guests notice when amenities disappear. Especially when prices and dues don’t.
The DISBoards thread isn’t angry. It’s reflective. People are comparing notes and wondering what quietly changed. And whether those quieter, slower vacation options are gone for good.
That’s a bigger story than a closed spa.
