Anyone else get lost at SAB, find it confusing?

[Simba's Mom]

I've stayed at BCV twice now, and I can't figure out how to get around at SAB. One time, I tried to get over to the sand beach I could see, and I think I went the V-E-R-Y long way. Then I could never figure out a short way to get back. And I keep seeing Samantha Brown on some lazy river there, but I can't figure out where it is. But I must admit, at this point, I'm afraid to go looking too much, 'cause I keep running into dead ends. Does this happen to anyone else or do I just have a horrible sense of direction? And does anyone have a map that might help me out?

 

[Tagrel]

Created this a while back for a similar question!

SAB is big, and it took us a couple trips to get it figured out...

 

[crisi]

Tagrel, thanks, that helps alot.

No, Simba's Mom, you aren't the only one. For a while, after hearing about how wonderful SAB was, I was beginning to wonder if we'd made the right home resort choice. I actually thought we'd book our Saturday nights in a regular Y&BC room so we could use SAB for a day before starting our theme park vacation.

Got to use it when the BW slide was closed this fall, and I was so confused! I think it must be a very easy pool to lose your children at. We had dropped our shoes and stuff over by the sandbar, and ended up at the kiddie slide. Took twenty minutes for me to find our shoes - and I'd made a good note of where I'd left them, realizing immediately it would be hard to find. Then again, I'm the DVCer who never rents a car because I've been from WL to Epcot via Tallahassee.

 

[lisareniff]

My children and I love the water, so I assumed that I would also love SAB. It looked so great!! (...and it is) However, after spending 2 days at the pool, I found I didn't enjoy it! All the parts of the pool area were scattered and confusing. I hated that the sand bar area was next to the lazy river. My 7 yo (fairly good swimmer) was frustrated because she wanted to be in a deeper area but we had to be with my little 2yo who wanted to be in the sand. The other areas were too far away to watch her from a distance. Maybe when I feel more comfortable letting her swim on her own I will enjoy it more. (If I ever do!! LOL!!)

 

[SKAR]

I totally agree!!! Traveling solo with two preschoolers and a 9 year old. I found SAB very stressful. The little ones want to be in the shallow sand area. And the big one on the slide or in the lazy river. I hate him to leave the pool area and walk across to the slide entrance. I Simply can not see them all at the same time. I love the pool but hate it when I am alone with the kids. I spend the whole time with a knot in my stomach trying to catch a glimpse of the older one!!!

 

[minster22]

I am glad I am not the only one who does not love SAB. One of the things I really dislike about the logistics is how cramped it feels around all the pool areas. And for any of you folks with little ones I cannot imagine keeping track of them. I agree that it is a very special place but for me I just love the pool at "home" , BWV. I love the openess of the pool area, it just feels nice and bright. And the staff on both the slide and the pool bar are always great!!

 

[gopherit]

On a business trip to Orlando in March, I took a visit over to BCV to check out SAB... they probably thought I was an idiot (all dressed up in a business suit, pacing back and forth around BCV with this "how in the heck" expression on my face!) As I paced I tried to imagine myself and dh trying to keep track of ACTIVE 8,7, and 4 yr olds (and the 4 yr old is wayyyy braver than she is wise!) Plus, factor in another 4 yr old nephew and 8 mos old nephew while you're at it. Yikes.

Water parks are wonderful, but...we are happy to leave those sorts of logistics to TL and BB! We actually do have 2 trips to water parks planned, in fact, for our next visit. When we visit a water park, we expect to face those sorts of challenges. But when we just want to take the kids for a swim after a day at the park, we don't want to have to track 'em down and go here and there through the mazes, bridges, etc! I want all within sight of me or dh. I can keep that watchful eye without much stress at VWL, and I've also done it at BWV, and I've also done the same easily at OKW. Standing there looking at SAB (and especially looking at the map -- thanks, Tagrel!) I just don't think I can do it, not yet anyway. And I don't want to achieve that by going separate ways the whole time we're there (dh goes with boys, I take youngest or vice versa). We do that at the water parks; I just don't feel like doing it at the resort, too.

So...we decided for this next trip to stay at BCV our first night (a Sat nite on cash), then move over to BWV for our longer stay. If we find out we CAN manage it, fine -- we'll try BCV next time. In the meanwhile, hey, the scary clown works for us! And we've got plenty of plusses on our PHPs to use up at TL and BB!

 

[Gigashadow]

Took a tour of BCV's during our Chirstmas OKW vacation to show the kids what SAB and the Villas looked like for the Spring Break trip we reserved there. I was very impressed with SAB, the kids I think were overwhelmed by the size of the pool system and lack of "VWL" type theme for the resort. I figured better to offer them a different choise of accommodation than for them to get a bad taste in the mouth for BCV's. After the 2005 DCL cruise I'll give it another shot as they will be a little older and more inclined to enjoy the resort rather than say "Can't we go back to VWL or OKW!!!!" - Our son went though a transitional time (took 2 trips to VWL to stop asking "WHY AREN'T WE GOING TO THE POLYNESIAN!!!!!" , after we joined DVC and "stopped" going to his first Disney resort love - the Wonderful Polynesian Resort. For myself, I missed the VWL theme myself at BCV's but really want to enjoy the beach area and SAB pool that is a work of art itself.

 

[Laura24]

I always get lost-on my way to Beaches & Cream for the best ice cream sundaes. DH and I always manage to be walking smack dab in the middle of the sunbathers and swimmers looking lost. And I can't figure out how to get back to the sidewalk when leaving without having to make u turns. You know the saying.....
"You can't get there from here"!!!!! I am a true candidate for ONSTAR!

 

[colleen costello]

SAB gets a lot nicer when your kids are a teensy bit older and can "wander" a bit without you worrying as much. My daughter literally loves this pool, but she is 9 now and can swim fairly well. My son still sticks closer to Mom and Dad. We kind of tag-team to keep them safe...

Even the animals get confused. We were swimming one night near closing time and a family of ducks got in the water, Mom and 5 babies. They all got out after a bit of swimming, but one little guy was stuck in the whirlpool section and couldn't get out! Mom came back and he finally hopped out, and off they went to their nest. It's one of my favorite Disney memories! But see -- those ducks live there and even they got overwhelmed!

 

[pnelson]

My son actually did not like SAB-He preferred WL which surprised me. I also found it to be crowded and just okay. I really missed WL when we were at BCV.

 

[MelissathePooh]

Honestly, we didn't find SAB that confusing - once you get the hang of it, it is pretty straightforward, but then we usually go early in the morning to start the day and it isn't at all crowded. We didn't do that on purpose or anything, but maybe that is a good idea, go there early in the morning when it is empty and spend some time wondering around and getting a mental map of it -

DR