Beach and Yacht Club - SAB Pool Closing Easter Week

[kjkelley]

For those staying at Beach Club, Yacht Club or Beach Club Villas Easter week have you received your letter about SAB closing for repairs?

 

[OKW Lover]

Just so people don't panic, its only a small portion of SAB that is going to be down. Not the entire pool area.

 

[Wee Annie]

Actually, it's about 50% of SAB, give or take.

Got my letter (finally) about two days ago.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Our letter came on Friday (even though we'd since changed resorts). I'm really glad that I am here on the Dis and got details about it on the BC/YC FAQ thread because the letter really wasn't specific about how much is going to be closed.

 

[mericletwins]

Nope. No letter.

 

[pixarmom]

We received our letter last week, and the BC/YC thread contains information (with map!) regarding the specific areas of SAB that are scheduled for rehab. (Click the link in my signature - much of the information begins around page 38 or so.)

Still open for use: the lazy river and shallow end (4ft) of the lazy river, the zero depth entry, sand-bottom kiddie area, the kiddie pool with slide at the base of the pirate ship, the wading pool, the hot tub near the zero depth entry area, the hot tubs at the quiet pools, the quiet pools and the Luna Park pool at BWI.

Here are all the areas of SAB that will still be open:

2) The lazy river area. This area is as shallow as 4 ft in some areas and reaches up to 8 ft in one part. Again, this area is entirely disconnected from the more shallow areas of the pool, and the deepest area is roped off. Signs on the overhead bridges warn guests that the water is deeper in that area.

3) The sandy, zero depth entry shallow area. This area is wonderful for little kids. Most of this area is 2 ft deep all the way across. There is just a pocket in the corner where the depth reaches three feet. Again, it is entirely disconnected from the deeper sections of the pool.

This walkway separates the zero depth area from the deeper section of the pool:

This is the deepest area of the sandy zero depth entry area, at only 3 ft deep:

4) Kiddie slide/pool at the base of the pirate ship. This pool overlooks the lake and is 2.8 feet deep.

5) The small, circular wading pool. BC replaced the playground with additional chairs.

6) One Hot Tub (sorry - no photo)

 

[amzking]

During Easter week? Isn't that a prime time? Why not January?

I wonder if this is an unexpected problem, hence the timing.

EDITED - just read the other thread - indeed a major unexpected problem that cannot wait till the next refurb. Hope it doesn't get worse before the 9th. I feel sorry for the CMs there. But, since the guests there are paying peak pricing I would think a partial per-night refund or room credit good toward resort restaurants/gift shops would be very fair. Or no-charge upgrade to another resort.

The remaining areas of the pool will be CROWDED, and there will be a lot of unhappy guests. The part they are closing is almost, if not completely, half of SAB. Only one of the three-pool complex, but by far the biggest one.

At least the lazy river is still open. We don't fly so we are flexible, and if they closed that for our trip we would cancel. We have done several SAB-only-no-park weekends, we love that pool so much. So losing it for our vacation would be a deal breaker. I would probably book WL or one of the mods instead.

 

[justplaingoofy]

We booked Yacht Club but just switched because of the pool. This trip is more of a laid back trip to enjoy the pool which is why we booked YC, but we switched to BW now. For me its not so much that half the pool is closed it was that they will probably have those big white walls up & wondering what the chair situation will be like.

 

[joenan88]

During Easter week? Isn't that a prime time? Why not January?

I wonder if this is an unexpected problem, hence the timing.

EDITED - just read the other thread - indeed a major unexpected problem that cannot wait till the next refurb. Hope it doesn't get worse before the 9th. I feel sorry for the CMs there. But, since the guests there are paying peak pricing I would think a partial per-night refund or room credit good toward resort restaurants/gift shops would be very fair. Or no-charge upgrade to another resort.

The remaining areas of the pool will be CROWDED, and there will be a lot of unhappy guests. The part they are closing is almost, if not completely, half of SAB. Only one of the three-pool complex, but by far the biggest one.

At least the lazy river is still open. We don't fly so we are flexible, and if they closed that for our trip we would cancel. We have done several SAB-only-no-park weekends, we love that pool so much. So losing it for our vacation would be a deal breaker. I would probably book WL or one of the mods instead.

I agree..BUT that is not what happened...got my letter freaked out...called Disney and they said, "Oh Well sorry but you can go to BW and use their slide and pool that's all we can do" I was so upset..that alternative SUCKS...so all the people from the BC/YC and BW are going to use one slide over spring break????? rediculous!!! So I asked to be moved to Poly in the same room GV club level....they said fine and then hit me with a bill for the difference in cost! I flipped... tried to talk to several people BUT I fell on deaf ears. They said it was considered an upgrade! REALLY..I don't..not my first choice..been there before..all my ADR's were made in the YC area..this is an inconvenience to me and 2 weeks before my trip 4/10....I know things happen BUT Disney really did a piss poor job on this one!

 

[PirateFrank]

The red shaded area above is what will be under repair. Like already mentioned, more than 50% of the pool area (not a "small portion of SAB"), including the Flying Jib slide.

Anyone going during this repair time has to be absolutely irate. I know I was, when I heard the news (Im going 4/10-4/15). You don't pay easter week rates to get slammed with this kinda news and not feel absolutely betrayed.

 

[joenan88]

Frank...did you switch resorts? we are traveling 4/10-16 and moved to Poly...I am very upset about what happened....they handled it so UNLIKE Disney...

 

[PirateFrank]

Frank...did you switch resorts? we are traveling 4/10-16 and moved to Poly...I am very upset about what happened....they handled it so UNLIKE Disney...

No, I didn't. It's a little more complicated for me. I'm staying at BCV on DVC points. Believe me, I tried looking for a suitable alternative. The only alternative DVC resorts available for 4/10-4/15 was Saratoga Springs and Old Key West....and one of the reasons that we picked BCV was for convenient access to Epcot. If there was availability at BW or my home resort, Bay Lake, I would have switched in a heartbeat. But not for SSR or OKW.

Had my reservation been in cash and not DVC, I would have switched to one of the MK Deluxe resorts very quickly...any of them. WL, Contemp, GF, Poly, etc.

I did call DVC member services and complain. They can do very little. They would have waived the 30 day lockdown of points, but their view is that SSR and OKW are comparable alternatives. I think not.

I will speak to the manager when we arrive at the BC on the 10th, but only to voice my strong opinion that they should have offered us enough advance notice in order to make comparable alternative plans. I understand that they discovered a problem with the pool that needs to get fixed asap...but it still stings that they are bringing this down during the 2nd half of one of the most expensive periods on property.

 

[jujube]

Thank goodness for the DIS! I had booked 2 bd at BWV but asked to be wait listed for BCV. Once I read here that so much of SAB would close, I called and cancelled my wait list.

 

[joenan88]

No, I didn't. It's a little more complicated for me. I'm staying at BCV on DVC points. Believe me, I tried looking for a suitable alternative. The only alternative DVC resorts available for 4/10-4/15 was Saratoga Springs and Old Key West....and one of the reasons that we picked BCV was for convenient access to Epcot. If there was availability at BW or my home resort, Bay Lake, I would have switched in a heartbeat. But not for SSR or OKW.

Had my reservation been in cash and not DVC, I would have switched to one of the MK Deluxe resorts very quickly...any of them. WL, Contemp, GF, Poly, etc.

I did call DVC member services and complain. They can do very little. They would have waived the 30 day lockdown of points, but their view is that SSR and OKW are comparable alternatives. I think not.

I will speak to the manager when we arrive at the BC on the 10th, but only to voice my strong opinion that they should have offered us enough advance notice in order to make comparable alternative plans. I understand that they discovered a problem with the pool that needs to get fixed asap...but it still stings that they are bringing this down during the 2nd half of one of the most expensive periods on property.

I agree Frank...I am coming from Long Island, as well...it is our spring break...peak season..I paid alot of money and find this alternative to be a hassle not an upgrade....I hope you have a great vacation!! let's meet for a beer..lol....

 

[mlittig]

If I was paying those premium rates and couldn't use one of the main perks of that resort, I would be very upset

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

For those staying at Beach Club, Yacht Club or Beach Club Villas Easter week have you received your letter about SAB closing for repairs?

What is the start date for the repairs? I thought last week I had read April 9th. Now I'm starting to panic a little bit, if there is some kind of emergency situation is the pool safe to use this week??

 

[natebenma]

As far as I know, start date is still April 9. The way I have heard it explained is that a problem was detected that couldn't wait until the normal winter rehab next year to repair. Not a safety issue, but something that had to be corrected as soon as possible (something mechanical?). Most likely, parts and/or contractors couldn't be lined up/guaranteed until around 4/9, so that's when the work is scheduled to start.

Discussion of the closure starts around page 38 or so of the BC/YC FAQ thread.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I understand why the repair can't wait but I don't understand why its safe to use it this week? I guess I'll find out tomorrow when we get there!

 

[mericletwins]

I think someone had mentioned a problem with a pipe underground. If that is accurate, (and who knows if it is), then it wouldn't really be a safety issue, but is something that can't wait 8 months or so.