BC pool: too big w/ 3 kids and only 1 parent?

[JJsmama]

I have ressies for BC this summer. I have been torn between BC and BWI and my boys have never stayed on the Epcot side. However, in reading old posts about Stormalong Bay, I am concerned that pool days might be more stressful than relaxing...? I can't really get a feel for how big SAB actually is from the photos and I don't remember from my pre-kids stay there.

My older boys will want to run off and do everything, but i don't want to spend the whole day with them looking for me and youngest and vice versa. Is it too spread out to enjoy the day without another adult? I am wondering if I should change to BWI and they can enjoy that slide while we can all still see each other?

 

[*Fantasia*]

I've also read somewhere that it is huge and there are many deep areas. This is probably one of the reasons why BC/YC is not for me. I can't swim and I want to be able to see my kids in front of me or at least in my sight.

 

[Sammie]

It is 3 acres and yes unless your kids are really good swimmers or young enough to stay with you in the shallow area, it is very hard to do this. The so called lazy river is 8 feet and I have rescued a few kids that did not know this and just step right off to get swept away.

The main slide is across the walkway on the beach, so if they use that slide you will not be able to get them in view until they come out the end of the slide.

Here is an aerial of the pool. http://pix.aerog.com/Disney/disney-world-aerials/13341186_vPqkfc#!i=838955920&k=vLNN26R&lb=1&s=X2

 

[cgattis]

You don't mention your kids' ages or abilities, but the SAB pool area is pretty broken up, so it's really hard to see from one area to another. (Sand-bottom area, lazy river area, big end where slide comes out and activitues are held, and ship area with kiddie slides). And the way the big water slide is set up, with only one person, you won't be able to see them getting on AND off--just one end or the other. One suggestion might be to set up shop in one section of the pool each time you visit, and just tell all 3 they have to stay in that part, then do another section another time. One other note--because the lazy river is so narrow, it's 8 feet deep, so make sure your kids can swim if they're in a float alone, or even better--borrow a free life jacket! Same if you worry about them landing from the big slide--can't catch them at the end. Don't let it scare you off--it's a great pool!

 

[bnk1120]

I would never do SAB with 3 kids and one adult. Way too big. I am a bit type A though...

 

[casselsshopper]

I bought my daughter a waterproof watch. She tells me where she is going. I give her a time and a place to check-in with me. Works great!

 

[JJsmama]

Thanks for the advice. I thought I might be a 'nervous nelly', but it sounds like my concerns are valid. Maybe we will do the BWI instead. I don't thnk any of them are scared of clowns. . That slide looks pretty fun and it would be easier to spot each other.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Thanks for the advice. I thought I might be a 'nervous nelly', but it sounds like my concerns are valid. Maybe we will do the BWI instead. I don't thnk any of them are scared of clowns. . That slide looks pretty fun and it would be easier to spot each other.

It looks like, from your signature, that your two oldest sons are age 14 and 12. That is a perfect age for them to be able to use all the features of the SAB pool, including the slide, and still be able to locate you and your younger son. Of course, as other people said, you won't be able to keep an eye on them at all times.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I wouldn't worry with a 14 year old and a 12 year old. Now if they they were 8 and 6 it would be a different story.

My kids are 15, 14 and 12 and for the last two years we felt comfortable with them navigating the pool and coming back to check in with us at our "chaise lounge camp". Of course we spend time in the pool with them too. Don't worry they'll always come back to find you - because they'll want something to eat or drink!

 

[pixarmom]

Funny you should ask! Our boys are ages 5, 12 and 13 and I often take them to SAB on my own while my husband takes a break. It really depends on the variety of factors others have mentioned. I love it, and I don't find it either dangerous or overwhelming. But here's why:

1) I have no problem walking around with them and getting in the pool. But I do that at most pools.

2) Our boys are all strong swimmers. They are all on swim team in the summer and our youngest is a year-round swimmer.

3) I don't expect that it will be entirely relaxing. Yes, it's easier to sit in one place and watch your kids at other resort pools. I was able to do that easily at CR, for example. With kids, we've stayed and swam at Poly, WL, CR, BWI, AKL, BC, YC, Dolphin, CBR, CSR and POFQ. But it's a trade-off - the more fun pools require more monitoring.

4) There are a few places where I can sit down and relax. Our boys all enjoy spending some time in the shallow sandy area of SAB. When they all decide to locate there, I grab my Sunken Treasure and sit by the side of the pool. Same when they decide to swim over by the small slide / kiddie pool area at the base of the pirate ship near the lake. But most of the time I'm in the water or at the side of the pool taking photos anyway.

5) Occasionally, our older boys go to another area and then meet us at a designated spot. At ages 12 and 13, with strong swimming skills, I'm very comfortable with that. But they usually choose to stick together and we move to different areas of the pool together.

I know you've already seen lots of photos, but here's my SAB photo thread, in case it's helpful: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2790323

We have APs so we've been at WDW 2-4 times per year recently, and we usually stay at BC/YC for at least part of our trip. For our upcoming trip, we're splitting between Poly and BWI because my husband loves BWI CL and wants to mix it up a bit. But the Luna Park pool will be closed during our stay and we'll have access to SAB instead. We are THRILLED!!! Since my husband often takes a break during our pool time, I'll be the mom at SAB on my own with three boys at the end of January. And I definitely prefer it over the BWI pool.

 

[minnie mum]

I think the whole thing hinges on a couple of questions. How well can the older boys swim? How responsible are they- can they obey any limitations you set and will they check back with you when you say? At their ages, if they are good swimmers and responsible (for their ages) then I think you would be fine at SAB.

 

[Nancyg56]

We just got back from BC on Dec 1st and that pool is huge! I must say that I am a nervous person when it comes to water and my DGD so I very seldom do not have eyes on her but honestly, I ca impressed by the lifeguards and how they watched over the pool. My DGD is 11 and is a very good swimmer so I know that she is fine but at first I was a wreck there. There are blind spots and it is impossible to see everywhere. The lifeguards are stationed so that they can see the entire area they are assigned to. Each one patrols back and forth and there is an independent one that also walks along the pool and does some sort of hand thing (looks like she was checking the bottom). I spoke to one who told me that they are trained to make sure that if they sit they are up within 10 seconds.

The watch is the same at all Disney pools that I have seen. While I would never just leave my DGD at a pool I was not worried if she was out of site for a few moments, the care that is taken at the pools is very good. Disney is the only place I can say this.

You know the ability that your kids have so if they are strong swimmers and you know that they will not get reckless if they are out of your sight for a bit then I would trust the lifeguards to help you watch them.

 

[Colleen27]

With the ages of the kids in your sig I wouldn't worry about it unless the 12 or 14yos are non-swimmers. My kids are 14, 11, and 4 and I wouldn't think twice about letting the older two go off to enjoy the big kid areas together. All three can swim and they know the "buddy system" rules are in effect at all times in the water, and SAB is Disney, home to the most attentive lifeguards I've ever encountered, so I feel very comfortable with the older two being in a different part of the pool while I stick to the shallow end with the baby.

 

[JJsmama]

Ok, you guys are making me feel better about it now. Yes, the older ones are good swimmers and the youngest is just now becoming an independent/ no life jacket swimmer, so all should be fine by summer. I guess one thing that concerns me is the size/ spread out nature of the pool and trying to gather them all back up and it therefore Not being a very relaxing time. (Obviously, I will be glued to the youngest.)

On another note by way of choosing: the BWI pool slide looks much longer/ more fun than the shipwreck slide in the photos. Is this the case In real life? (Only speaking of the slide. My olders love a good water slide.)

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

I cannot speak of the BWI slide but I can say we did NOT enjoy the SAB slide. DH and I love a good slide but the SAB slide has 2 big downers. A==you have to cross a public walkway to reach the entrance. B--The slide is very hard on your butt. It has lots of joints that are just not smooth.

I echo some of the earlier comments that the pool is just not relaxing. DH and I had to be with our kids at all times given how spread out the pool was and there are many nooks and turns that keep you from being able to see from one area to the next.

Of the 4 resorts we have stayed, I would rank the pools as follows:

CSR
CR
Poly
SAB

CSR pool slide was awesome, the pool is HUGE, and the CS and facilities poolside are A++. CR pool slide was very fun but the ambience was just OK. Poly slide for us is just OK but the ambience and sandy beach are awesome. SAB has some fun areas of the pool but are not relaxing. Also did not care for the facilities or CS there.

 

[kaysmommie]

Ok, you guys are making me feel better about it now. Yes, the older ones are good swimmers and the youngest is just now becoming an independent/ no life jacket swimmer, so all should be fine by summer. I guess one thing that concerns me is the size/ spread out nature of the pool and trying to gather them all back up and it therefore Not being a very relaxing time. (Obviously, I will be glued to the youngest.)

On another note by way of choosing: the BWI pool slide looks much longer/ more fun than the shipwreck slide in the photos. Is this the case In real life? (Only speaking of the slide. My olders love a good water slide.)

I think your kids will love SAB! It's an amazing pool. I took my at the time 10 and 6 year old alone to the pool and it was fine. But I did swim or sit by which ever part of the pool they were in. If your older kids swim together and you swim/watch the 5 year old, that will work out great! Oh the slide at yacht/Beach is the best. Also there is a smaller slide inside the pirate pool section. Your 5 year old may like that one.

 

[brergnat]

FWIW, I found the BWI pool positively snore inducing after SAB. The slide at BWI is very twisty, and it's over in a flash. The slide at SAB is MUCH more fun.

Your 14 and 12 year old boys will much prefer SAB to the pool at BWI. And, they are definitely old enough where you should not feel the need to always be able to see them. Give them some freedom, for goodness sakes! Get the oldest some swim trunks with a velcro pocket, give him a room key, and let the older two loose. Give them a time that they need to be back at your chair spot to leave, and let them know if they are not there within 5 min or whatever, you will meet them back at the room. Let them have some responsibility. In addition to numerous lifeguards at SAB, there are clocks scattered around, so they can keep an eye on the time, or have them wear an inexpensive waterproof watch.

By the time I was 13, my sisters and I were spending entire days at the pool at POR while our parents were god knows where.

 

[housetomouse]

It's a very cool pool, but it's not relaxing. Think of it more like a small water park than a pool. It's really quite the maze to get around there, with turns and bridges etc to get from point A to point B. If you're okay with the kids going off on their own at a small water park, you'll be fine. At the least, though, you will be following your youngest around all the time unless he/she is playing in the sand beach part of the pool (that's the only time I think I sat!).

Also, I didn't like how you had to cross the boardwalk to use the slide.