Boardwalk pool

[BandontheRun]

We have a split stay at the BCV and the BWV in August. Will the BWV pool completely disappoint after being at SAB?

 

[cleophus12]

Well, they are two entirely animals. You don't say the ages of your family members, and your kids may be somewhat disappointed at BW. However, my DD liked the slide at BW better. And if your kids are easily overwhelmed by the size of SAB, they may enjoy the more contained pool at BW just fine. SAB is great fun, but honestly when we are at WDW we don't have enough time at the pools to make a lot of difference. If you think they will be disappointed at BW, then make those days your busy park days leaving little pool time.

 

[pixarmom]

We've stayed at BC/YC many times and BWI three times. Our boys are currently ages 7, 13 and 14, but we've been taking them to Disney since they were tiny. Our boys love BWI CL, and they have always said that pools at WDW are not a main attraction, just an "extra." So they aren't disappointed when staying at BWI.

As much as I love BWI and will continue to stay there, I'm not a big fan of the clown pool. On one hand, it's far easier to keep an eye on your kids at the clown pool because it's so small and contained. And I do think the slide at the clown pool is the best on WDW property. But because it's smaller and the theme is "circus," it feels more crowded and less relaxing. Stormalong Bay is just more pleasant to look at, and we far prefer the atmosphere and theme there.

On the other hand, the quiet pool at BWI is WONDERFUL! It's entirely relaxing, so quiet, and contains a clean and uncrowded hot tub. It's without question my favorite pool at WDW. We go over to the clown pool at BWI for the kids to slide, but in my opinion, there is no better quiet pool than the one in the BWI courtyard.

We've done a split stay between BC and BWI in the past - we just schedule our pool/slide time at BC and then enjoy quick visits to the quiet pool at BWI. But if you're there for a while, it's worth at least one visit to the clown pool for that fun slide!

 

[Deb & Bill]

We have a split stay at the BCV and the BWV in August. Will the BWV pool completely disappoint after being at SAB?

If your kids are small, you will breathe a sigh of relief when you move over to BWV. SAB isn't the best place for a family of less than excellent swimmers of various ages. There are some areas that are eight feet deep with a swift current. The slide entrance is across the sidewalk from the pool. So you'll need to stay right with your younger kids at SAB.

 

[lbv7]

As much as I love BWI and will continue to stay there, I'm not a big fan of the clown pool. On one hand, it's far easier to keep an eye on your kids at the clown pool because it's so small and contained. And I do think the slide at the clown pool is the best on WDW property. But because it's smaller and the theme is "circus," it feels more crowded and less relaxing. Stormalong Bay is just more pleasant to look at, and we far prefer the atmosphere and theme there.

Because SAB is at least 5X as large as the BWI main pool, it has at least 5 times as many people who use it. If anything the SAB is not less crowded and more relaxing than the Clown pool at BWI, unless fighting for a deck chair and feeling packed in like a sardine at SAB is your idea of relaxing and not crowded.

 

[Marthasor]

It really depends on your family. My DS6 really prefers the BW pool over SAB. In fact, when staying at BC/YC, he spends 95% of his pool time in the pool with the little slide as it's perfect for how he likes to swim - better slide for younger kids (he hates the tunnel slide at SAB), he can stand in the water and swim under the water if he wants to. SAB is extremely deep in some areas and he's a bit big for the "baby" section. He LOVES the slide at BW and can also do a little swimming without feeling overwhelmed.

 

[Scott MC]

They really are 2 different animals.

SAB is a mini-water park. You may have trouble pulling your kids away from SAB. It is hectic and wonderful.

Now the LP pool at BWI is perfect for "It's mid-afternoon, it's 4000 degrees out, let's go for a refreshing dip before heading back out again for the evening." The pool area is more compact, and I think it's really lovely. Your surroundings are really relaxing and you really feel like you're on vacation. I like the slide better here also. It's less hectic than SAB, and it's my 2nd favorite pool at WDW. In fact, there are times at SAB when it gets so crazy, I think, "I wish we could just go over to the BWI pool!"

 

[kapoof]

My favorite pool is bwi...best slide at wdw!

 

[gdrj]

Because SAB is at least 5X as large as the BWI main pool, it has at least 5 times as many people who use it. If anything the SAB is not less crowded and more relaxing than the Clown pool at BWI, unless fighting for a deck chair and feeling packed in like a sardine at SAB is your idea of relaxing and not crowded.

We stayed at BCV 2 years ago. SAB is very nice, I was shocked to see some of the idiots there. At the pool opening because you have to show ID it is like a mini- rope drop. I had no idea, I was just going to the pool. I watched as a father of 5 jumped the shrubs tripped over chairs to get a "key spot" , just a complete idiot who thinks rules apply to everyone but him.

I like the pool at both resorts. The pool bar/snack stand at SAB is light years ahead of BW but also can be very crowded.

 

[lsenquiz]

We prefer the BWV pool because it is more relaxing. It is just DH, DS9 and I and when we stayed at BCV I felt like we were running around the pool all the time trying to keep up with DS. At one point I lost DH & DS and it took me 20 minutes to find them! If DS had been alone and it took me 20 minutes to find him I would have been completely panicked.

I love the fact that I can sit in a chair, watch DS go clear up to the top of the BWV pool slide and then come down. There is no where in the pool that I can not see him from a comfortable lounge chair.