2012 Beach and Yacht FAQ ~ March, April and May ~Do Not Post Here-Old Thread

[Sue M]

Hey Everyone! We are at the BC right now! Just a very quick trip but loving every minute. We had some major pixie dust and are staying in a spectacular Club Level room with a view of the gardens, back entrance and partial lagoon. Does anyone have any questions??

Linda

Congrats on the Pixie Dust!! Enjoy the CL! We thought the CL staff were so nice.

 

[TeenaS]

As soon as I got in this morning, I tracked down one of the Recreation Managers. She walked me out to the pool and explained what would be "down" for those two weeks.

Basically, SAB is broken into 3 separate pools. To explain it as best I can without a diagram right here, let's name the section that the slide ends Pool #1, then Pool #2 will be the Lazy River and Pool #3 the kiddy area nearest the YC. According to the Recreation Manager, that whole Pool #1 will be drained completely and all the sand taken out. They need to work on the filter stuff which is under the sand. So that whole Pool #1 will be down for those two weeks. The kiddy slide and play area will be open she said. And Pool #2 and Pool #3. She said they will be running continuous golf carts to and from the Boardwalk to use their slide and of course the three quiet pools (one by the BC, one by the BCV and one by the YC) will be fully functionable.

I know this is a total disappointment to many of you. However, the quiet pools are really nice pools but I know they are not fancy like SAB.

I can't tell anybody what they should do but I can tell you what I'd do. If it were just Bob and me and Jeanne and Princess Lily were visiting, we wouldn't care at all. Bob and I love the lazy river and with a young one, Jeanne would have Lily over at Pool #3 playing all day. If I had older children that love the slide and I was planning on doing nothing but pool all day and not do the parks at all, I'd probably switch my reservation to the Grand Floridian since I love their two pools. However, I heard there is construction going on over there and have no idea if any of it would have anything to do with the two pools. If I had older children and were planning to spend a few hours at SAB each day but mainly was going to WDW for the parks, then I'd keep my reservation at the Y&B.

Please PM me if you have any concerns or questions that you think I can help you with or if you just want advice. I'm working again all day tomorrow but will try to answer as many PMs as I can as quickly as I can. I do not have Dis access at work though.

Good luck with your decisions. I know lots of you are extremely upset but my feeling is that even with SAB one-third closed, with the 3 other quiet pools and the rest of SAB, I still think the Y&B will be a good choice.

As far as Easter activities, in the past (and I'm sorry but I haven't received any information about this year), there is a huge easter egg and candy hunt in the morning at the BC and there have been character sightings there too along with a visit sometimes from the Easter Bunny himself.

 

[kelleigh1]

Teena: You're the best! The SAB renovation doesn't effect me since our trip is long after the planned closure, but I appreciate the fact that you would take the time to find out all this info, post it and even post what you would do.

 

[pixarmom]

We initially thought about doing the Garden Grill instead Biergarten, Do you think that would be better??
Thanks for your input!!

I posted several pages ago regarding Garden Grill in response to your initial question (we're the family with three boys and an arrival night tradition at Garden Grill), so I'll throw in my two cents.

We've been to both Biergarten (a few times) and Garden Grill (many times) and we do prefer Garden Grill! First, the kids love the characters at Garden Grill. Second, service at Garden Grill is family style instead of buffet, which is much more relaxing for us (Biergarten is buffet.) Third, Biergarten is very festive (which also means loud!) so as much fun as it is, we prefer the fun but more quiet atmosphere at Garden Grill. Finally, our kids are not fans of German food, so they prefer the food at Garden Grill. I know I just said "finally," but there's one more: the seating at Biergarten is very, well German Biergarten! So you sit at long, communal tables with other families at Biergarten. Now, we love chatting with others at WDW, but for meals (especially with two pre-teens) we like to sit with just our family. The semi-circle booths at Garden Grill are great for character fun and family conversation.

Now, Biergarten is still a ton of fun and I won't rule it out forever. My 2-year-old niece just experienced WDW for the first time and had a blast dancing there. But for us, Garden Grill is a clear favorite.

Hope that helps!

 

[msdroz]

As soon as I got in this morning, I tracked down one of the Recreation Managers. She walked me out to the pool and explained what would be "down" for those two weeks.

Thank you so much Teena, I've been refreshing the board all afternoon to receive the update. Could you please clarify which two weeks the refurb will happen, and is this all that is planned (any additional closures in the near future)?

 

[MissKaren]

Thank you, Teena for your explanation about stormalong bay. I've been anxiously awaiting your reply. Kind of disappointed but hoping for the best. My girls will love swimming anywhere and I have to remember that. One last question...looking at a map of stormalong bay, I notice an area attached to the lazy river that doesn't look like a part of the circle. Is that a swimming area? How deep is it? Kind of looking for a place for my 8 year olds to swim while the 3 year old plays in the sand area. They like to just dive down to get rings and stuff. Thank you!!!!

 

[pixarmom]

Teena, thanks so much for that detailed report regarding SAB. It's all good for us - just our youngest son and me for our YC stay next month. So we'll be enjoying "Pool #3" and the kiddie slide area near the lake. Honestly, even if my husband and the older boys were with us, we'd stick with YC/BC. We all enjoy the BWI pool and slide and we'd be pretty happy about the pool-hopping opportunity.

If anyone wants photos, I'm can post when I return from our April 10-14 stay at POFQ/YC. I'm not sure how to post photos to the boards from my phone, but I'll coordinate with Dee and see if I can send a few photos to her for posting.

Really excited to be back soon!

 

[pixarmom]

Thank you, Teena for your explanation about stormalong bay. I've been anxiously awaiting your reply. Kind of disappointed but hoping for the best. My girls will love swimming anywhere and I have to remember that. One last question...looking at a map of stormalong bay, I notice an area attached to the lazy river that doesn't look like a part of the circle. Is that a swimming area? How deep is it? Kind of looking for a place for my 8 year olds to swim while the 3 year old plays in the sand area. They like to just dive down to get rings and stuff. Thank you!!!!

Hi MissKaren! The swimming area that's separate from the lazy river loop is four feet deep. Here's an excerpt from the SAB photo thread I posted earlier - just the description and the first photo, which shows the shallow area of that section:

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.

And if your kids like a more shallow area to dive for stuff, this is a great spot in "Pool #3:"

 

[TeenaS]

Thank you so much Teena, I've been refreshing the board all afternoon to receive the update. Could you please clarify which two weeks the refurb will happen, and is this all that is planned (any additional closures in the near future)?

It goes down April 9th. It is hoped to be done in two weeks. However, as you all know with any contractor work you have done at home, the estimate date for completion can change due to many things including bad weather, finding other problems, etc. They hope it will only be down two weeks but many things could change that completion date. I'm very sorry I can't tell you 100% for sure it will be done in two weeks. All I can say is that they are hoping (for sooooo many reasons) that it is done when anticipated.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Teena - thank you so very much for the detailed information about the SAB work. I really, really appreciate it. Having that whole section closed was my worst case scenario "worry" but at least now I know and can plan accordingly. Thank you again.

 

[natebenma]

Thank you, Teena for your explanation about stormalong bay. I've been anxiously awaiting your reply. Kind of disappointed but hoping for the best. My girls will love swimming anywhere and I have to remember that. One last question...looking at a map of stormalong bay, I notice an area attached to the lazy river that doesn't look like a part of the circle. Is that a swimming area? How deep is it? Kind of looking for a place for my 8 year olds to swim while the 3 year old plays in the sand area. They like to just dive down to get rings and stuff. Thank you!!!!

Yes, thank you Teena for taking the time to get the slide info and to post your findings!

IIRC, these two pictures depict the area you are describing.

Others can feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

Thank you so much Teena, I've been refreshing the board all afternoon to receive the update. Could you please clarify which two weeks the refurb will happen, and is this all that is planned (any additional closures in the near future)?

Refurbishment News:
The pool slide and a portion of Stormalong Bay Bool will be closed 4/9/2012- 4/23/2012. Guests may use the pool and slide at the Boardwalk Inn in addition to the part of Stormalong Bay that is not closed.

 

[pixarmom]

I just noticed that Teena categorized the different sections of the pool the same way that I did. So I'm just going to repost that part of the SAB photo thread here:

In response to several questions about Stormalong Bay, I took the following photos. First, skelooch created a wonderful and extremely helpful map of stormalong bay, which appears on the first page of the BC/YC thread (click my signature below.)

Stormalong Bay is divided into several different parts, which are all labeled on skelooch's map:

1) Sinking sands/bubbling bay/whirling waters/slide exit area. Most of this area is 3ft to 4ft deep. The deepest area is 5 ft. It is entirely disconnected from the deeper areas of the lazy river.

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) Three hot tubs. (Sorry, no photos!)

 

[pixarmom]

Dee, I think your second photo is a picture the 4ft deep part of "Pool #2" that leads into the lazy river and is still open during the refurb. Just based on my recollection and my photos, so someone else should correct if I'm wrong!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Teena - thank you so very much for the detailed information about the SAB work. I really, really appreciate it. Having that whole section closed was my worst case scenario "worry" but at least now I know and can plan accordingly. Thank you again.

Ditto what she said!

Thank you so much Teena - having someone "on the inside" has been super helpful & I appreciate your efforts on our behalf!

I had a bad feeling this was going to be the case... but I am still happy with our decision to stay put at BC.

See you in a few weeks!!

 

[TeenaS]

SAB is really three separate pools. They must drain the pool where the slide exits ... that whole section or "pool" will be drained. The other two areas and anything connected to them will be open. The diagram on page one helps explain the separate areas.

 

[shellbelle76]

As soon as I got in this morning, I tracked down one of the Recreation Managers. She walked me out to the pool and explained what would be "down" for those two weeks.

Teena - thank you! What a generous spirit you have - truly going above and beyond the call of duty here in tracking down the person who can answer the questions that have been posed and then reporting back as soon as you could!! It's obvious you have an incredible work ethic AND you are committed to helping others enjoy the best vacation they can. You are a true asset both to Disney and this community.

 

[natebenma]

Does anyone know if there is a bounceback offer in the rooms right now? I would like to hopefully use it for our trip in late october

Yep there is one there today.

OK, I have a BB questions for the experts out there...

If I am staying at an All Star resort as part of a school group, since the reservation is not in my name, would I still be able to book a bounceback to another Disney resort during my stay?

 

[scottmel]

Thanks Teena. I gotta ask though - are there plans for pool 2 or 3 to be down for the rest of spring summer at all? I asked the IPO staff and apparently they weren't even told it was going down in April. They had no knowledge. We are real pool people - and I read your comment about GF pools with interest. We are on a split stay at poly/bc cl in June. Sending a PM to you but in case anyone else was wondering about pool 2 or pool 3 thought I might ask here. That would affect my visit for me personally in June if they were slated to be down at all. Thank you! meliss

 

[TeenaS]

OK, I have a BB questions for the experts out there...

If I am staying at an All Star resort as part of a school group, since the reservation is not in my name, would I still be able to book a bounceback to another Disney resort during my stay?

Good question. I've been told (but that doesn't mean it's true) that as long as you are listed on the reservation (so when a CM at the reservation center pulls up your room and sees your name as staying in that room - even though the reservation is not in your name), you can book a bounceback. Give it a try and report back your findings. I'm curious too!!!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Teena - Is the circled section part of pool #1 & therefore part of the closure? Or is it simply the Sinking Sands & over to the slide? I can't tell if that walkway divides the pools or just goes over... I'm guessing the walkway goes over & that area will be closed.

Thanks!