Stormalong Bay Opinion

[ArwenMarie]

We just got back from a stay at Beach Club...We have two kids, elementary-school age.

I was SO not impressed with Stormalong Bay.

First of all, the pirate ship slide, while it looks awesome, is the biggest pain ever. The way you have to walk across the path and all the way over and then come back down. Ugh.

All of the ropes are annoying too. I understand the need to keep the pool for guests, but they need to have more openings. I felt like I had to walk a mile just to get back into the pool area from Hurricane Hanna's.

It was also SO crowded. Enough said there.

The layout is so confusing as well. Maybe I just didn't figure it out enough.

Anyway, SAB was the reason we went with BC, but to us, it's a minus now. I would much prefer a regular pool. I think with older children it might be more fun.

Anyone else not a fan?

 

[Masonmj84]

I too think it's somewhat overrated.

Feel exactly the same way you do about the slide (plus, it's very bumpy).

Also don't like how the lazy river is so deep and that some pool sections are disconnected.

The sand bottom was kind of cool but nothing to really wow over IMO.

That being said, I thought the guy doing the kids' activities was terrific. He really seemed to love his job and truly seemed to care about making things fun and memorable for the kids.

FWIW, we were there in early December, so it wasn't that crowded (one day it was only in the 60's and we practically had the place, including the hot tubs, to ourselves).

To me, the biggest selling point of BC/YC isn't SAB, it's the location.

 

[msjprincess]

We just got back from a stay at Beach Club...We have two kids, elementary-school age.

I was SO not impressed with Stormalong Bay.

First of all, the pirate ship slide, while it looks awesome, is the biggest pain ever. The way you have to walk across the path and all the way over and then come back down. Ugh.

All of the ropes are annoying too. I understand the need to keep the pool for guests, but they need to have more openings. I felt like I had to walk a mile just to get back into the pool area from Hurricane Hanna's.

It was also SO crowded. Enough said there.

The layout is so confusing as well. Maybe I just didn't figure it out enough.

Anyway, SAB was the reason we went with BC, but to us, it's a minus now. I would much prefer a regular pool. I think with older children it might be more fun.

Anyone else not a fan?

When I was there 2 weeks ago there was an opening right next to Hurricane Hannah's.

 

[starousse]

I too, agree with you 100% about all of the points you make. The slide was completely out of the way and a complete pain to get to. I hated walking in a bathing suit away from the hotel across that walkway. The entire pool area seemed like one big maze. You had to walk over bridges and up and down stairs to get from the kiddie pool to the regular pool. I have two kids, 7 and 4, and it was more stressful than relaxing. The only positive was the good poolside waitress service.

 

[ArwenMarie]

When I was there 2 weeks ago there was an opening right next to Hurricane Hannah's.

Really? I saw an opening right there, but it was always roped off when we were there.

 

[jade1]

I can see that. But we (older) like to tread water in the 8 foot section (only spot in WDW we have found) while the rest run all over the place. Then we stay on the beach chairs which is never crowded, and go down the slide from there once in a while.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I too think it's somewhat overrated.

Feel exactly the same way you do about the slide (plus, it's very bumpy).

Also don't like how the lazy river is so deep and that some pool sections are disconnected.

The sand bottom was kind of cool but nothing to really wow over IMO.

That being said, I thought the guy doing the kids' activities was terrific. He really seemed to love his job and truly seemed to care about making things fun and memorable for the kids.

FWIW, we were there in early December, so it wasn't that crowded (one day it was only in the 60's and we practically had the place, including the hot tubs, to ourselves).

To me, the biggest selling point of BC/YC isn't SAB, it's the location.

I agree, the location is amazing. SAB is what sort of tipped us over into wanting to try it.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I too, agree with you 100% about all of the points you make. The slide was completely out of the way and a complete pain to get to. I hated walking in a bathing suit away from the hotel across that walkway. The entire pool area seemed like one big maze. You had to walk over bridges and up and down stairs to get from the kiddie pool to the regular pool. I have two kids, 7 and 4, and it was more stressful than relaxing. The only positive was the good poolside waitress service.

It was very stressful. We went twice and then made excuses for the rest of the trip lol.

 

[sesame_123]

And there is a regular/quiet pool at the villas there too.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I can see that. But we (older) like to tread water in the 8 foot section (only spot in WDW we have found) while the rest run all over the place. Then we stay on the beach chairs which is never crowded, and go down the slide from there once in a while.

I can see with older kids it would be fun and a nice change from the regular pools.

 

[gwynne]

It was very stressful. We went twice and then made excuses for the rest of the trip lol.

Did you get a chance to try the quiet pools? They are very nice.

 

[Mousemommy1]

When we stayed at YC in April, we enjoyed SAB, but had most of the same issues.

The sand actually hurt our feet.

But yes, going to Hurricane Hannah's was a PITA because you had to go over all of God's creation to get there. There was no opening when we were there. Not so much fun when your carrying a bunch of food and drinks....

 

[freckles04]

I always wanted to stay at BC to try SAB but I can't pay rack rate for it and haven't been able to nab a discount for it. But this thread is making me feel a bit better about my choice of POR.

 

[ElizabethB]

We love SAB -- often it's more important to us than the parks. We love the variety of things to do there. It doesn't bother us to walk across the pathway to get to the slide. We can spend hours on a tube enjoying the lazy river. We love the sandy bottom, too.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Did you get a chance to try the quiet pools? They are very nice.

We did, that's where we ended up They were nice (and relatively empty).

 

[ArwenMarie]

I always wanted to stay at BC to try SAB but I can't pay rack rate for it and haven't been able to nab a discount for it. But this thread is making me feel a bit better about my choice of POR.

BC is great for the location, but yeah, don't feel like you are missing out on SAB. For a different water experience, I think the waterparks are the way to go. We had an awesome day at Blizzard Beach.

 

[ParrotBill]

Surprised you did not enjoy it, but to each his/her own.

I love that there is so much pool, and it does not ever seem overcrowded to me... and there are 3 more leisure pools for quieter locations.

The layout may be annoying at first, but if you use the walkway that runs snug against the building you can go around the big pool and river pool at ground level to Hurricane Hannah's with no bridge crossing.

There are 3 entrances normally: One at the ends of the hallways from both Beach and Yacht Clubs, one at Hurricane Hannah's, and around the left as you look toward lake and meant to be a way to get to the pool slide.

Why does crossing the walk bother you so much?

 

[ArwenMarie]

But yes, going to Hurricane Hannah's was a PITA because you had to go over all of God's creation to get there. There was no opening when we were there. Not so much fun when your carrying a bunch of food and drinks....

LOL That was me trying to balance the food and find the darn opening back in.

Why doesn't HH face the pool? It's so odd how it faces the path and you have to walk so far.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Why does crossing the walk bother you so much?

I just think it's a very awkward setup the way you have to cross the path. I would not have designed a pool slide like that!

 

[jade1]

LOL That was me trying to balance the food and find the darn opening back in.

Why doesn't HH face the pool? It's so odd how it faces the path and you have to walk so far.

I think its just an angle to serve the beach side and the pool.

Was this entrance not open below?