The Dancel YMCA staff is professional, friendly, helpful and based on my experience, always on the ball. My husband and I love swimming there and having the choice of the warm or regular lap lane pool. They follow all the covid precautions so we always feel safe. Highly recommended!

Friendly, welcoming and helpful staff.

Even though most people are apprehensive when going to the gym due to COVID-19, the experience is great. The staff are helpful and keep the place super clean. The gym has taken the necessary steps in order to keep everyone safe with signage all of the gym.

I am addicted with workout. The Dancel Y at Ellicitt City is where I find myself at a good place. The team is professional and friendly, the gym is always clean specially during the pandemic. It has all what I need in terms of building muscles and for fitness as well.

Wonderful place for vigorous exercise.

A good place to workout. Easy access in the city!!

The facility is clean, social distancing is practiced & I feel safe while exercising with the great selection of gym equipment.

They charged us twice during the lockdown even though they were closed! Then tried to say it counted as a donation! They refunded me but it was a hassle. Should allow cancellations on website. Super shady

(Nelsons Wife) Currently, I am working with a personal trainer at the Dancel Y. She is very patient and willing to help me in my continuing rehab post spinal fusion & knee replacement. I have also used the warm water pool for stretching & strengthening exercises. The water isnt as warm as the pool in the Columbia Athletic facility but still tolerable. I check online to determine how busy the facility is before I make the 25 minute trip. I need a parking spot near the building, so I wish there were more disability parking spots.

Thank you to the Y team for assisting me to set up my membership. I am super excited to gain a peace of mind within the new year and start focusing on my fitness again and staying healthy!

Great place to get my sweat on!

I’ve been a member for over a year now and I must say that I am very pleased with the Dancel YMCA. The aqua aerobic classes (morning and evening) have changed my life! I am stronger, more fit and more flexible than I’ve ever been. Aqua Yoga, Aqua Zumba and Water Fitness are my favorite classes! They’re fun, invigorating and the participants are very friendly! Thank you Kelly and Geniveve! You two are amazing instructors!I must also compliment the custodial team. The bathrooms, fitness center and welcome area are ALWAYS clean. With the amount of foot traffic that comes through the doors, it takes a dedicated staff to keep it up! Thank you! We members appreciate you!I also remain impressed by the variety of fitness equipment provided. The machines are kept up very well; I’ve honestly never encountered a broken (or out of order) machine.My only suggestion is to add an after school program. You’re summer camps for kids are great, and I think adding an after school program would be a very good enhancement.One year down! Many more to go!

The childcare offered at the YMCA is wonderful. Finally, I get to devote some much needed attention to my own well-being while being assured my child is well cared for. As a bonus, I absolutely love the monthly Parents Night Out offerings! My 4 year-old is also enjoys coming here and feels very confident in the water after swim lessons. All this for a reasonable monthly fee makes me love it here!

Great people (staff and clients). Welcoming environment. Nice equipment.

Take whatever you think about a typical YMCA experience and leave it out the door. When entering Dancel YMCA, prepare to be wowed! Unlike other YMCA facilities, Dancel is modern, clean, has a tremendous variety of activities, classes, a rock wall, excellent childcare... I could go on and on. We also send our children to the YMCA summer camps and they absolutely love it. We are proud to be members of the Dancel Y.

Constant change of rules. Never same teachers for swim and apparently not trained on how to deal with children when instructing. Management says that they understand and are listening but nothing is ever done about the problems that arise. These are potentially scarring problems such as pushing a child off of you and letting them go under the water and talking harshly to them. Lifeguards are rude and must not be real lifeguards since they spend a bulk of their time flirting and joking with each other rather than doing their job. Some instructors are really good but the rest make a person not want to come to this ymca.

Just starting swimming laps at the pools at this YMCA. The staff are very helpful and friendly and the pool schedule is very accommodating for all.

It really has everything that I need: a gym, classes, childcare, summer camps and an app that helps me with my workout since I cant afford a personal trainer. The facility is always clean, the machines are in great condition, if I have any questions someone is always there to help. Overall the Y has been a great experience for me and I look forward to many more years of membership.

Best value for fitness in this area: a wide variety of classes, great workout equipment (my favorite are the Expresso bikes) and a pool! Friendly people and good energy. I always feel better for having visited, whether for a class or a general workout. And isnt that what fitness is about?

We have such mixed feelings for the Ellicott City YMCA. We love the childcare at the stay and play and most of the staff is great. We utilize the adult classes and the weight room. The pee-wee karate was great. However, much of their kids program seems poorly managed. The pee-wee soccer was essentially run in a way that is only accessible to kids who knew how to play soccer. All 3 staff running it did not know how to handle 3 year olds and mostly ignored kids who didnt immediately do what was asked of them. Keep in mind, pee wee is ages 3-5, so most of these kids will need reminders. Y-camp was a terrible experience for our kindergartener. Most of this was due to mismanagement. We would be told one thing and then itd turn out to be different. If you just want childcare, its fine, but we expected something more from a camp. There just seems to be too many councilors that dont actually care about the kids. You can also send your kids to just a week of camp, however, there seems to be no consideration to the fact that your child may be new later in the summer.

I tried the Dancel YMCA, but their prices (and pay for an extra month after the date you intend to stop policy) left a bad taste in my mouth.I sent a few emails asking if they would work with me on pricing, and - when that got no response - maybe not charge me for an extra full month they knew I wouldnt be using, and all I got by way of reply was additional invoices, and boilerplate threats of Late Fees and collection efforts.My household cant blow $50 and not miss it. If the prices are already a problem, I dont see how being bullied for into paying for an ADDITIONAL month I wont even use, shows any concern or care for families in the community.It felt very malicious, even though perhaps it wasnt intended to come across that way. At no time did I feel like the staff actually cared about anything but getting my money by any means possible.My experience was definitely not how their brochures and website came across.

Good & friendly place to work out and fun activities for the kids.

Clean, great setup and all inclusive for all levels of training and age

Love the Y in Ellicott City. There is always something to do there. The equipment is very well maintained. The staff is very helpful.

Two kids had gone 3-5Yrs LV1 swimming acclimation for the first time at this summer.Unfortunately,we met an irresponsible female teacher.Because of two kids’ shyness,The female teacher basically did not exist as two children. Except for the greetings that just started class.She only interested in three kids, because of other three kids all shyness.Total eight times, the fourth time my kids met a male teacher. The male teacher interacted very good with my children .My children enjoyed at learning swimming only this 30min.That’s very bad experience at the Dancel Y In Ellicott city.

I always have had a good experience with all the staff and I am very pleased with facility and the app for my workouts.

The instructor is very patient with my daughter who is afraid to take swim lessons. Even though my daughter is reluctant to leave the steps, the instructor modifies the lesson to accommodate her during the one on one times.

The staff are awesome! The programs offered are excellent! The standards exhibited are of quality and the environment is so very family friendly.... Thank You!

Well equipped gym,lots of family activities and events, clean facility, friendly staffs

I wish the aerobic rooms had no windows so you can privately workout without people staring. Staff is not kind and the membership is too expensive!

Convenient location, convenient hours, friendly staff, and clean up-to-date facilities and equipment.

I’ve belonged to this Y for 5 years and it is the best place to work out. Be it a relaxing dip in the pool or a vigorous workout, you will find what you need.

The kids enjoyed their night off from us! They had a great time and want to do it again. We will definitely be doing this again. This is such a lovely benefit for families.

1. A center of EXCELLENCE for:+Variety of classes and exercise options available+Instructors+Admin Staff2. Reasonable Cost3. Family Atmosphere4. Community Resource

I love that a variety classes are offered with variety of times and days as part of the membership, along with all of the exercise equipment and facilities like the pool and sauna. In addition, having fitquest and access to personal trainers is amazing.

Of all the gyms Ive been to, the YMCA has the best one. The entire facility is kept clean, theres plenty of workout equipment, and the staff is always friendly and helpful. I recommend this place to anyone in the Columbia/Severn/Laurel area!

I like this place in general. The place is clean and well maintained. BUT EVERY TIME I COME HERE THERE IS ALWAYS SWIM TEAM OR BASKETBALL PRACTICE. THEY ALWAYS SAY THAT THEY WILL REVIEW THEIR RENTALS BUT NO, THEY ARE JUST GREEDY PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT YOUR MONEY. They dont give a damn thing about their guests but they care about rentals more just to make money. In the end, they will be losing money. People will start leaving YMCA and going to somewhere else.

First class operation..clean and efficient!!!

YMCA in Ellicott City is a great place to work out: the employees are very friendly and helpful, the exercise programs it provides are plenty and serves different needs, and the fellow Y members are fun to be with.

Super solid YMCA. Ive been to a lot of Ys, and while this one doesnt have all the bells and whistles some do, its a great facility and the staff are always very kind. Ive been going to Dancel as my primary gym since I was taking swim lessons as a wee babe. Lucky to have grown up here :)

Great place to take the kiddos for a swim also people are great and friendly.

My family and I love the YMCA, we moved to the neighborhood because they were close, it is like a second house for us .People is always friendly and keeps our community healthy in all senses

The phones are rarely answered. The water exercise schedule is never available online. The womens locker room is disgusting with the waded up hair all over the floors. Just disgusting! I cant ever let my feet or clothes or even gym bag touch the ground! if I could give 0 stars. I would!

Has everything you will need and the weights are typically where they belong.

Great environment for the entire family.

This is a crowded place, few stuff members are too rude, they don’t know how to behave .One member did Miss behave with me & I complained about her, no one follow up & no action against her .They have two pool, both of them too rushy . Worst thing family time is 8:30 pm . How kids can enjoy this time .Totally disappointed, looking for some good place with well management if you know please suggest

Its nice enough for what it is, but the facilities are inadequate for the population it serves. Its extremely crowded during the day and at night. Its very likely you simply will not be able to use the gym or the pool or the equipment you came to use.

Excellent fitness center and classes

I love the Y, the membership cost is very fair, There is child care as I exercise and the group exercises are awesome with several ones to choose from. I will always go to the Y!!

I have been a member of the Y since last month. I like the environment and the instructors, specially Ms Linda! She is the best instructor I’ve ever had!

Worked out here for 3 months in the summer.Equipment Type 9/10 A lot of free weights, barbells, and ez bars. Good selection of machines. Even a squat rack.Equipment Placement 6/10 Super crowded. Sometimes dangerous with all the dumbbells.Rock Climbing Wall 10/10 Really helpful staff to teach you the ropes!Pool 9/10 Big and cleanLocker Rooms 9/10 Never too crowded. Sauna experience included

Great environment and workout options. For the entire family!!

I visited the YMCA Dancel location on Sunday January 27th with 7 friends and relatives. I was impressed with the facilitys cleanliness and presentation. We called before we arrived asking the locations rules for guest passes. We were told we pay $10 per person and present proper identification which we were prepared to do. We arrived and the front desk rep stated it would be a while before we could get checked in which was fine. She then went and asked I presume a Manager or Superviser whose name I will spare and she looked over at our group and shook her head and I was able to read her lips but all I wanted to do was experience the facility so I didnt push the issue. The rep returned and stressed how long it would take checking everyones id and that they were too busy and made us wait for about 30 minutes until literally the front was cleared of guests. She totally wanted us to just leave. Obviously, I feel a certain way and I would have immediately asked for higher management once I am pretty sure I got the vibe of what was going on. However, my experience changed completely when I met Sheida. Her service was incredible and I do not believe she knew of the events leading up before she assisted me. But she made me feel at home, checked my brother and I in and actually gave us free entry for the day. She is an excellent asset to the Y and totally saved her pompass Manager from getting reported. Thank you for saving my day Sheida. Bless you! Discrimination hurts...Love everyone!

Routinely circle the parking lot for 10+ minutes. Kids who play basketball are very rude and play while classes are going on. Cant hear anything going on your side of the gym over the bouncing and screaming and music. They also never warn the crowd when one of their basketballs gets loose and nearly hits a spectator. Instructors randomly replaced and new ones never introduced themselves to us.Overall this place is very disorganized and a disappointment. Was going to look into membership but not here.

Perfect place. Great family environment!

Very satisfied, friendly staff, clean every places

You can come early or come late I’ve never had much of a problem getting on one of them dozens of machine or free weights. And you’ll meet like minds if you take a class.

Clean facility, weight room almost always in good working order, great classes, friendly staff.

Clean, well-maintained facility. Two basketball courts, fitness area, dance studio. Parking is limited, but plenty of parking in neighboring elementary school when school not in session.

Posted originally under Howard County Family YMCA in Google in late July:Came in a month prior to set up one week of day camp for our child. Returned to complete the registration when they asked us to but customer service did not know how to do the camp sign up. We asked to at least get a one-month membership so that we can then later go online to do the camp registration but were told by customer service that they couldnt do that either. We were asked to return this morning only to find out that the camp just filled up (front desk saw one opening was available but the camp director got upset since she said there werent any openings). Basically made to feel that it was our fault even though we listened and followed through with their instructions. No apology other than its another Y departments fault. When people walk through their doors, they are Y customers, not customers of just one department. They have our contact information for an apology and that could affect our current decision not to become members at any level.Follow up: The director reached out to us via email asking to discuss this over the phone but he never called. On top of this they charged us for one month of membership even though we asked them not to.

The YMCA mostly great. The staff is decent and so are the locker rooms. But the fact that they are selfish with their basketball courts ruins this place. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30PM-10:00 PM they have Ravens practice. It does not make sense. If we paid our money to have the courts, pool, and lockers, should we get the basketball court(s) to play in. The Ravens take BOTH courts and 99% of the time during practice they only use half! When I ask to use the other half the coaches are plain rude and say NO! This makes me want to quit my membership.

The dance class was adorable, fun, and affordable. My kids loved it and Mary was an excellent instructor.

Early am bball workout and I had the whole court to myself. Although, some one on one would have been nice. Maybe next time. I had a great time pushing myself to get back in bball shape.

Worst experience with Membership and refund. We have to follow up like anything. These are just to grab money. Never recommend this to anyone. Worst “Customer Service” and “ Courtesy” . Really Really didnt like it. YMCA had its stomach full so it does not need to care anyone and anything.

Do not send your children to summer camp at the Y. We had a horrible experience. Our 6 year old suffered heat exhaustion on Tuesday because they were outside for too long in 90+ weather & extreme humidity. No one checked if she was drinking water. She had one 8oz bottle all day. Also, trying to pick up your child is a cluster of confusion and inadequacy. They need better training for counselors. Communication was horrible.

We are in the military and move around a lot and this is the first area I have ever been in where childcare closes in the middle of the day, but that seems to be standard for all the gyms around here so I wont deduct points from the Y for doing the same thing. I homeschool 4 kids so when I go to the gym, they all come with me. The childcare here is much better than the other gyms around as they have more than one or two people simply keeping an eye on the kids. Theres a whole staff that interacts with the kids and does guided activities with them (that they can choose not to do but its nice that they at least try to engage the kids!) I have done the spin classes and the weight machines and have enjoyed both (though prime time in the morning is a bit on the crowded side). All in all, I would say that this gym (my first experience with the Y ever) is definitely more family friendly than those around and Im glad I found them!

Enrollment is very high. Facilities are small for the number of people, unless you attend at really off hours, it os hard to fine the euqipment needed and space to work out.

I came as a guest with my friend to check the place out before i sign up. I like the facility, very nice and clean but the staff is rude. The older lady working there was very very rude and in a rush somewhere. and the lady next to her, Valerie, was rude as well. The boy sitting at the podium was nice though. Probably won’t sign up at this location.

We love our YMCA, super friendly staff and members. The climbing wall is a great addition!

Beautiful facility with childcare, which really helps my wife and I with being able to really workout.

Gym is fine and clean, but gets ridiculously crowded on the weekends. No point in even trying to use the stay and play (childcare while you workout) on the weekends unless you show up right at 9am or at noon (must pickup by 1). 3 of the past 5 weekends had over an hour waitlist - I mean, its not like I wanted to workout with my spouse or anything, right? Pools are small and often reserved for meets. If youre going to market yourself as family-oriented, at least have the staff and capacity for families when families are typically together, i.e. THE WEEKEND. Thinking about getting my monies worth and switching to other area gyms and county rec centers that have nicer pools and/or more available childcare.

The facility is clean, open, comfortable. There are a variety of programs.

Took my daughter for her swim class and she loved it. The Y is great for young families!

The classes are great. Tje facility is clean but parking can be challenging..

Not a good first impression. Bad attitude from guy upfront, no free trial, no tour, and small weight room.

They have wonderful drop-in water aerobics...deep end, shallow end, and warm water yoga and aerobics.

THE COURT RENTALS ARE GARBAGE. DO NOT BOTHER TO GO TO THE YMCA ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY. FROM 7PM-10PM IT IS ALL FULL OF GAMES. NOT TO MENTION THAT THEY HAVE 2 BASKETBALL COURTS AND CHOOSE TO RENT IT OUT TO GAMES.

I feel very comfortable exercising and the staff are very friendly and helpful.

Youre better off paying a few dollars extra and going elsewhere. This facility is overcrowded. My husband and I mainly joined for the purpose of swimming as our a cardio workout, and to lift. We always checked the pool schedule before going to make sure there were multiple lanes available for lap swim due to the many water aerobics classes that usually take up both pools. More times than one we would show up to find swim team, or lessons that were not on the schedule taking the remaining laps, leaving the many lap swimmers to fend for themselves in one lane. Also, add about an hour onto youre normal lifting session because you will be waiting for just about every piece of equipment that youd like to use.The administration is not helpful either. I was told when I signed up that if we would like to quit, we would finish out the month we were on and that would be it. We quit the Y at the beginning of July due to our dissatisfaction, and were charged through the end of August.

Just comfortable. No show offs and they have everything you need.

Swimming pools are clean. Signup for membership was pretty quick.

Very clean! Great staff. Very friendly and helpful too!!

Excellent facility, recently replaced equipment and great staff. Best value around.

I just tried to cancel membership with the YMCA and was told that I have to go there in person fill out a form so I did 3weeks ago. I figured I was done with this process the next thing I know I am getting hit with an additional charge for another 30 days. I was told thats 30 days notice was needed but not a written form. Then because I didnt make it before the last billing cycle I have to wait for the next one. So instead of 30days I am 45 plus days. Something is rotten here... Very bad customer care...

A great place for recreation or just some weight lifting

The staff was very friendly and the facilities appear well maintained.

Excellent, caring class instructors!

BEWARE OF BULLIES!I witnessed bullying and the staffs handled the situation very poorly.The class is always crowded, and the lady who got bullied introduced herself to me that it was her first time. Her English wasnt good, and I guess she didnt know about the sign-up. I saw this lady waiting before many others coming in, but she had to leave because she didnt know she had to sign up.One member volunteered to give the lady her spot, but that didnt stop the bullies from humiliating the lady in front of the class. The bullies told the lady to leave and gotta learn her lesson.When I spoke to them with the director, one of them never apologized for being rude. Instead, the director let them go because I was wasting their valuable time.

Very good facility. Glad to be associated with it.

A matter of hygiene and cleanliness. The sauna in the mens room is supposed to be used by those who have:ShoweredAre clothed in trunks/towelI have stopped using it, after repeatedly witnessing men come in and strip off all their clothes and sit on the benches, exercise while in the sauna or walk in wearing their sweaty workout gear and lay all over the benches inside.I left a note in the suggestion box and spoke with an attendant on another occasion, but nothing has changed.On another note, the policy of the gym is to allow others to work in on the pieces of equipment. Almost all members seem to be on board with that and there is rarely an issue. However there is one particular staff personal trainer who will give you a very unfriendly look and response if you even hint at working in. Im using that. Not too friendly and I probably wouldnt consider ever hiring that person for training help. I would expect employees to honor the same policy members are held to.

Great facilities and nice helpful staff. It can get crowded.

The swimming class there was fine, but the staff who answered my call was very impatient and pissed when I tried to explain the situation. I recommend LA fitness over this one if you are just working out instead of joining swimming classes.

Zaz GVC. Hhhz, are you

Good value for the monthly membetship cost.

Im disappointed about the Y it said it has two gym but none of it is open and the staffs attitude are harsh. The gym are use for games but they did not tell us any of this.

Very nice facility.

The people were helpful and friendly.

Worst YMCA I have ever seen in my life

Great facility, good people

Take a class. Group workouts really get you to push yourself!