Beach Club SAB Pool

[airjay75]

I keep wanting to book Beach Club. I feel like I have heard so many good things about it, and there seems to be a lot of love for it amongst long-time DVC owners. I was going to book it for part of our February stay, but my wife got freaked out when she heard about an 8 ft deep lazy river - ended up cancelling our reservation and dates are no longer available, so no big deal (I've since convinced her there is no need to worry about that). Now, I'm planning a spring break trip - planning to do 4 nights at a WDW resort and 4 nights at Vero Beach. I was all ready to go for BC as soon as my 7-month window opened up for a 1 BR villa. Seems like I'd have a decent shot for a 1 BR if I'm ready to go at the 7-month mark.

But, then I started looking at some FB groups, and started hearing about some real craziness of late - people lining up to "rope drop" SAB, and if you don't, difficult to find a chair. Not enough floaties for the lazy river, so you better bring your own. Not enough shade, so bring your own umbrella. Some people seem to say that if you have younger kids, SAB can feel pretty stressful - pool is busy, somewhat sprawling, and waterslide entrance is outside of the gated pool area. Obviously, spring break season is going to be busy (and our spring break is Easter week, so I don't expect low crowds). But, I'm also not interested in making the crowds/stress worse than they need to be.

So, now I'm rethinking my plan - starting to think about alternatives (RIV/SSR/OKW come to mind most often). Welcome any thoughts about SAB and the pool experiences at BC. Is what I'm reading on FB overblown or does SAB often get pretty busy with "rope dropping" the pool being a pretty common experience if you want to get a couple of chairs? Should I wait to book BC when my kids are a bit older and we're traveling at more of an off-peak time? Or just go for it and see how it goes?

Welcome any thoughts.

 

[crisi]

My own two cents is that SAB is overrated. The lazy river is DEEP and FAST. Its a difficult pool to watch children in - the sightlines are horrible. You either want small kids - small enough that they will be happy in the zero entry part of the pool - or kids who are pretty strong swimmers - or no kids at all. I also hate walking through the lobby in my suit to get to the pool. We haven't been in years so I can't speak to it being nuts - but I suspect it depends on when you go - there are probably plenty of chairs in February. If you want a waterpark resort, skip Disneyworld and go to Aulani.

 

[Mouseforward]

It is not an enjoyable pool as an adult, I prefer the quiet pool by the BC DVC.

 

[VGCgroupie]

We have a resort heavy stay at BCV at the end of the month. I will report back if i absolutely hated it, or loved it. I am not rope dropping a pool chair..

 

[bobbiwoz]

I really enjoy the lazy river at SAB. I brought my friends, and some have said “it’s not lazy,” and they didn’t like it. If I had small children, I would wait until they could swim, so being in the area wouldn’t be so stressful to keep watching them.

The villa pool at BCV is a nice size and seldom very crowded. Sometimes it’s the only pool we have used in a BCV stay. The location and convenience to Epcot and Studios are also reasons to stay there, it’s not only a great resort because of SAB.

 

[Skippyboo]

I have stayed at Yacht Club a couple of times. Didn’t really like Storm a long bay. It’s a bunch of little pools that don’t connect. There is a sand bottom. The lazy river is relatively small and super deep for some unknown reason. The slide is cool but you have to leave the pool area and cross the walkway in front of the hotel to get to the entrance which can be an issue for parents trying to keep an eye out on multiple kids.

They give you a waterpark day on your arrival. I would not stay at Beach Club just for pool. If you are doing HS and Epcot a lot, it’s nice to walk to both parks.

 

[muppets3d]

I have stayed at Yacht Club a couple of times. Didn’t really like Storm a long bay. It’s a bunch of little pools that don’t connect. There is a sand bottom. The lazy river is relatively small and super deep for some unknown reason. The slide is cool but you have to leave the pool area and cross the walkway in front of the hotel to get to the entrance which can be an issue for parents trying to keep an eye out on multiple kids.

They give you a waterpark day on your arrival. I would not stay at Beach Club just for pool. If you are doing HS and Epcot a lot, it’s nice to walk to both parks.

While the free water park admission benefit has been extended to 2026, the dates have not been announced yet - so don't plan on it being available for your stay quite yet.

 

[airjay75]

We have a resort heavy stay at BCV at the end of the month. I will report back if i absolutely hated it, or loved it. I am not rope dropping a pool chair..

Have a good trip! Look forward to your report. I feel the same about "rope dropping" a pool chair. The only reason I'm going to the pool when it opens is because the family actually wants to swim then. But, I have heard some crazy stories on FB - people lining up as far as an hour in advance of SAB opening and then running to get their chair as soon as the gates open. Maybe it is just a few crazy people, but makes me rethink my plans.

 

[airjay75]

If I had small children, I would wait until they could swim, so being in the area wouldn’t be so stressful to keep watching them.

My older kid has become a real fish this past summer and quite the good swimmer. My younger one, OTOH, is a lot more timid and I don't think he'll be swimming on his own by this trip. This combined with the waterslide set up (and the crazy rope dropping stories) is making me think it might be best to wait until the kids are a bit older to give BC a try.

 

[airjay75]

While the free water park admission benefit has been extended to 2026, the dates have not been announced yet - so don't plan on it being available for your stay quite yet.

I'm sort of hoping they don't extend it for the non-summer portion of 2026 (or, more accurately, any part of the year for which they don't have both water parks open). We've got Sorcerer's Passes for the year and added on the water park option, so we can go anytime during our stay. Heard a lot of reports of Blizzard Beach getting to capacity during the spring.

Ironically, we have "rope dropped" both BB and TL, but that had nothing to do with wanting to get good chairs - just knowledge of the fact that early in the day and late in the day are the times when the lines are shortest and wanted to get it in and then head back to our hotel once it got really hot and busy.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We've been enjoying SAB for decades now, and part of what you're reading has some truth and much of it is overblown. Over Easter break, the pool is absolutely going to be popular. But rope drop and wait for an hour to get in? That's probably pretty rare. As for the 8' river? SAB is 3 separate pools - the 'main pool', the lazy river (which is deep), and a more shallow, beach-type pool that our kids have loved over the years. It is most definitely spread out.

If you're concerned about the ages of your kids at this pool, then you might want to wait a year or two. But if you do stay at BCV, you'll also have access to the 'quiet' pool at BCV, and also the quiet pool at BC and YC - plenty of pools to choose from if SAB is a bit much for the kids at this point. Good luck with your decision and have a great trip!

 

[airjay75]

We've been enjoying SAB for decades now, and part of what you're reading has some truth and much of it is overblown. Over Easter break, the pool is absolutely going to be popular. But rope drop and wait for an hour to get in? That's probably pretty rare. As for the 8' river? SAB is 3 separate pools - the 'main pool', the lazy river (which is deep), and a more shallow, beach-type pool that our kids have loved over the years. It is most definitely spread out.

If you're concerned about the ages of your kids at this pool, then you might want to wait a year or two. But if you do stay at BCV, you'll also have access to the 'quiet' pool at BCV, and also the quiet pool at BC and YC - plenty of pools to choose from if SAB is a bit much for the kids at this point. Good luck with your decision and have a great trip!

Thank you! I appreciate hearing this. My younger kid absolutely loves the sand and my older kid thinks an 8 ft. deep lazy river sounds like the neatest thing in the world. Sort of why I want to give BC a try (in addition to just wanting to try out all of the DVC resorts). And I'm sure all pools at WDW are going to be busy the week before Easter. Probably going to go back and forth 1,000x between now and when the 7-month window opens up.

 

[muppets3d]

I'm sort of hoping they don't extend it for the non-summer portion of 2026 (or, more accurately, any part of the year for which they don't have both water parks open). We've got Sorcerer's Passes for the year and added on the water park option, so we can go anytime during our stay. Heard a lot of reports of Blizzard Beach getting to capacity during the spring.

Ironically, we have "rope dropped" both BB and TL, but that had nothing to do with wanting to get good chairs - just knowledge of the fact that early in the day and late in the day are the times when the lines are shortest and wanted to get it in and then head back to our hotel once it got really hot and busy.

Yeah I think they should only offer it when both water parks are open, I agree with that. The scuttlebutt on here is they got complaints over the Winter when the water parks closed due to cold weather, people were unable to use the benefit. So it makes sense they will only offer it during warmer weather anyway. Honestly this was an unusually cold winter for Florida I think.

 

[airjay75]

Yeah I think they should only offer it when both water parks are open, I agree with that. The scuttlebutt on here is they got complaints over the Winter when the water parks closed due to cold weather, people were unable to use the benefit. So it makes sense they will only offer it during warmer weather anyway. Honestly this was an unusually cold winter for Florida I think.

Of course, I'd also be thrilled if they opened both water parks for longer periods of the year! But, as you point out, probably doesn't make sense during Florida's "cool" season.

 

[VGCgroupie]

We get back from Aulani and the leave for WDW 2 days later. I guess I can compare the 2 lazy rivers back to back, but I’m just now learning that BCV lazy might not be real lazy. .

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We get back from Aulani and the leave for WDW 2 days later. I guess I can compare the 2 lazy rivers back to back, but I’m just now learning that BCV lazy might not be real lazy. .

It's short and deep. It's pretty lazy when crowded! TBH, lazy river is not the term that comes to mind when I'm in there. Seems more like floating in a circle....! But fun, so I hope you like it....! I hope to get to the Aulani one some day!

 

[Wedgeout]

The lazy river here is more of just a relaxing float around. Nice loop & the depth keeps it to floating and doesn’t have the Aulani walkers. It’s just one small portion of all the other options from the slide, whirlpool, waterfalls, games area, kiddie fun zone. It’s overall footprint & the sandy bottom is what makes it fun.

Haven’t witnessed the pool rope dropping with our trips being May & Decembers. Hasn’t felt packed either. It’s a good spot to take an afternoon break.

 

[sethschroeder]

Not enough shade, so bring your own umbrella.

If your goal is to sit in a chair under an umbrella just go to the empty DVC pool thats right next to your room.

We were just there for 2 weeks and were at the DVC pool way more than Stormalong Bay. If we are going to SAB its to swim around, go in to the whirlpool (it really moves and its fun and I dont mean the hot tub or lazy river but the whirlpool), do the slide, and possibly grab a tube (which we grab the one time randomly without issue).

They were rope dropping the pool when we were there and thought how dumb it was. In the end I wouldn't worry about it because its not like going to a real beach resort where you want a spot looking at the ocean.

 

[Jodo98]

While the free water park admission benefit has been extended to 2026, the dates have not been announced yet - so don't plan on it being available for your stay quite yet.

yeah i read some place it would only be summer dates for 2026.

 

[achinforsomebacon]

I'm definitely in the SAB is overrated camp. I mean it was neat to check it out since it has a lot going on and some things not available at other WDW pools. But I'm not staying at BC for SAB. I'm staying due to proximity to Epcot, HS, and the boardwalk.

You probably need to keep a better eye on the younger ones or poor swimmers than other pools that are swallower or less crazy. Our kids are good about knowing their limits and I tend to play a lot in the pool with them anyway so we didn't really have issues.

Some people really like the sand pool and I'm sure a lot of kids love it...to me the best part of being in a pool vs the beach is that I don't have to deal with sand. No thanks! And the kiddie pool/slide is outside the main area where you go for the big slide, which is a little inconvenient. As others have mentioned, lazy river isn't really lazy. We enjoyed the one part of the pool I think near where the big slide ends where they had a volleyball net and where they did the daily pool activities.